As the highest Scouting rank, Eagle, shows what a Scout has learned through the Scouting experience through leadership and service, including the Eagle Project. This website has provides guidance and forms needed for the Eagle Rank.
Information listed here is what a Scout needs to do for their Eagle Advancement:
- Eagle Project Proposal, Plan, and Report
- Eagle Rank Application and Attachments
- Council Eagle Project Map Entry, Project Picture, and Scout Picture
- Eagle Board of Review
Caution Note:
IMPORTANT – USE ONLY THE PROCEDURE STEPS AND FORMS ON THIS PAGE.
DO NOT USE ANY OTHER COUNCIL’S OR OTHER WEBSITE’S FORMS, AS YOU MAY MISS INFORMATION OR CREATE ERRORS.
Where to Submit
All Eagle Project Proposals, Eagle Advancement Applications, Workbook Files, Council Eagle Project Map Entry, Eagle Application Attachments, and Reference Letters should be sent to the Council Office to Nikki Burk. Reference Letters collected by Scout must be submitted in sealed envelopes and should not be read by the Life Scout.
By e-mail: Nikki.Burk@scouting.org
By US Mail:
Gateway Area Council
2600 Quarry Rd
La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601
Paperwork Drop-off to Council Office:
2600 Quarry Rd, La Crosse
Documents
Eagle Project Map
Register for a program, buy uniforms and equipment, manage advancement and purchase awards at the Council Service Center, 2600 Quarry Road, La Crosse, WI 54601.
The Life to Eagle Process
The Eagle Scout process requires a Life Scout to complete 21 merit badges, serve in a leadership role for six months, and plan, develop, and lead a major community service project before turning 18.
1. Prerequisites and Requirements
- Rank: Must be an active Life Scout for at least six months.
- Merit Badges: Earn 21 total merit badges (14 specific required ones like First Aid, Citizenship, and Camping, plus 8 electives).
- Leadership: Serve in an approved position of responsibility for six months.
- Scout Spirit: Live by the Scout Oath and Law. Make sure you understand the expectations for what Scout Spirit may be from your Unit Leadership.
- Service Project: Complete the service project.
- Scoutmaster Conference: This is the opportunity for a unit leader to determine whether it is appropriate for any Scout to advance to the next rank and ensure all requirements for the rank have been met. A Scoutmaster conference could be held multiple times to help support a Life Scout or any Scout to the next rank and in some instances would be appropriate to have a Scoutmaster Conference before a Life Scout begins the path to completing a service project.
2. The Eagle Service Project
- Initial Planning: Download the official Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, read instructional pages 2-5, research project ideas, use the proposal form’s questions to help lead a conversation with a beneficiary for a project’s consideration.
- Proposal: Fill out the proposal section, and secure signatures from your beneficiary, unit leader, and troop committee. Submit the proposal to the Scout Office for formal approval before starting any work, fundraising, or purchasing. An Eagle Scout Project Coordinator will reach out with further instructions. If you feel you will for sure need to do fundraiser, you may go ahead and submit an Eagle Scout Project Money Earning Application to the Scout Office with your proposal to save time with the approval process.
- Plan: Use the plan section to further figure out the needs of your section. Remember to use guidance from your unit’s leadership, beneficiary, and from the Eagle Project Coordinator. Sometimes a project has unforseen challenges after your initial proposal. It is appropriate to include those changes in your plan. Remember to stay in contact with your Eagle Project Coordinator, Unit Leadership, and the Beneficiary for any changes from the initial proposal. Your proposal may have shown that you need to have a fundraiser. You must submit an Eagle Scout Project Money Earning Application to the Scout Office. Make sure to document your project with attendance reports and pictures.
- Report: Lead others to complete the project, log your hours, and write any final details into the final project report. With your report form, plan form, and approved proposal form along with any other supporting documentation (ie. pictures, videos, thank you letters, etc…), organize them into your final Eagle Scout Service Project Report. Remember, you should only seek signatures on your report after you have completed your project. Failure to complete a project and gain final signatures could have an impact at your Scoutmaster Conference or your Eagle Board of Review.
3. Application and Review
- Review: Using Scoutbook, review your status with the Rank of Eagle Scout.
- Scoutmaster Conference: Hold a formal meeting with your Scoutmaster to review your journey and future goals.
- Paperwork: Submit to the Scout Office your Eagle Scout Rank Application and your Eagle Scout Service Project Report. Print the official Eagle Scout Rank Application from Scoutbook, attach your personal statement of ambitions and life purpose, and and have confidential reference letters (from parents, religious leaders, teachers, and employers) submitted to the Scout Office. If you gather your reference letters, you should not read them and they should be handed to you in a sealed envelope. Reference letters may also be emailed to Nikki.Burk@scouting.org.
- From the Eagle Application: Your ambitions and life purpose and a listing of positions held in your religious institution, school, camp, community, or other organizations, during which you demonstrated leadership skills. Include honors and awards received
during this service.
- From the Eagle Application: Your ambitions and life purpose and a listing of positions held in your religious institution, school, camp, community, or other organizations, during which you demonstrated leadership skills. Include honors and awards received
- Board of Review: Once your paperwork has been submitted to the Scoutoffice, it will be reviewed, and the Eagle Board of Review will reach out to invite you to your board.
- Map: Directly after your Board of Review make sure to submit your project to the Eagle Scout Project Map.
- After the Board: When a Board of Review has been completed and the rank was approved, the Board will give all of your paperwork back to the Scout Office where it will then submit the application to the National Scout Office for their final approval. The National Scout Office will then send a recognition certificate to the Scout Office for presentation. Once the certificate has been recieved, the Scout, family, and Unit may purchase all the needed supplies for an Eagle Scout Court of Honor.
- Court of Honor: It is the responsibility of the Eagle Scout to actively participate and lead in the planning of the Eagle Scout Court of Honor. Please ensure you coordinate with your Unit Leadership.
Requesting an Extension
Requesting an extension of time to complete the Eagle Scout rank requires proving that unforeseen, severe circumstances outside the Scout’s control prevented completion before their 18th birthday.
Eligibility and Tests
To qualify for an extension, a petition must meet three strict tests outlined in the Scouting America Guide to Advancement. Please see the Request for Extension of Time form for further guidance.
The Extension Process
- Continue Working: The Scout must keep working on all remaining Eagle requirements while the extension request is pending.
- Complete the Form: The petitioner fills out the official Request for Extension of Time form with all dates, roles, and signatures.
- Draft a Position Statement: A detailed position statement must accompany the form, explaining the gathered evidence and how the requested extra time (typically 1 to 6 months) was calculated.
- Submit to the Council Office: The local council advancement committee reviews the packet, votes, and forwards a recommendation to the Scout Executive for final local approval or denial. (Note: Complex or national-level appeals follow specific secondary review paths per advancement guidelines).
