Life to Eagle (LiTE)

These are the steps for earning the Eagle Scout rank in Troop 57 and 4057.

After you have earned your Life Scout rank:

1. Work on completing Eagle required MBs and other, non-project requirements.
2. Get assigned a LiTE Advisor by emailing LiTECoordinator@troop57.net
3. Be thinking about your project.
4. Review your project idea with your LiTE Advisor.
5. Write up your Eagle Project Proposal using the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook (see link below), and use it to start your Eagle Project Binder (see info below)
6. Review and get approval of Eagle project proposal from LiTE Advisor.  Get signatures from 1) LiTE Advisor (signs for Unit Leader), 2) Beneficiary, and 3) Committee Chair (CommitteeChair@troop57.net), preferably in that order.
7. Meet with and get a signature from District Representative, see contact information for Eagle Project Workbook below. You must have these 4 signatures on your proposal before you can proceed with your project.

8. Finish Eagle project plan using the Eagle Project Workbook. 
9. Review project plan with LiTE Advisor before proceeding

10. Set a date for the project, then contact TCorganizer@troop57.net to request a sign up sheet and trip coordinator to assist with the project setup. Please provide them with this info: Date(s), Time, Location, Short description of the event and the names of 2 registered adults who have agreed to be present at the site of the project for the entire time.
11. Recruit scouts to help, making sure they sign up and submit the proper paperwork.
12. Do the project. Take lots of photos!
13. Report volunteer hours on Outings and Events Tracker and notify ActivitiesRecorder@troop57.net
14. Finish writing up the Project Report in the Eagle Project Workbook.  
15. Get beneficiary’s signature, confirming project is complete, in the Project Report Section.
16. Get LiTE Advisor signature (signs as Unit Leader) in Project Report Section for final Eagle Project Completion
17. LiTE Advisor – Sign off in Scoutbook the Eagle Project is complete or ask Advancement Recorder, unitadvancementchair@troop57.net, to sign off in Scoutbook that the project has been completed.
18. Have all non-project Eagle requirements complete.
19. Get a copy of your Scouts BSA History Report from Scoutbook (under “Reports”). Ask Unitadvancementchair@troop57.net if you need help with this.  
20. Write “Statement of Life Purpose” and on a separate page, provide a list of non-BSA Leadership Positions (See Eagle App. Req. 6.) 
21. Complete Eagle Application, but wait to get signatures from Scoutmaster and Committee Chair until after the Eagle SMC (see below). We strongly suggest using the Reports function in Scoutbook which will download your Eagle Application and pre-populate lots of data for you (name, leadership positions, merit badges, etc.). From your personal Scoutbook page, click on Reports and then on Eagle Application. However, if you need the blank template you can download a blank version here: BSA Forms and Uploads
22. To prepare for council submission the council would like you to prepare 5 documents: your Eagle Rank Application, Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook (including supporting documents and photographs), Statement of Ambitions and Life Purpose, list of Non-BSA leadership positions and awards, and your Scouts BSA History Report. Separate these documents into five separate .pdf files with your last name, first initial and document name as file name: e.g.: Smith.J.Eagleapplication.pdf, Smith.J.Eagleprojectworkbook.pdf, Smith.J.Statementofpurpose.pdf, Smith.J.leadershipawards.pdf, Smith.J.BSAhistoryreport.pdf.
23. Review and get approval from LiTE Advisor that the Eagle Binder is complete. These days, the “Binder” is a soft copy of the 5 – 6 documents you prepared as part of your Application submission. Before COVID, a physical binder of hard copy documents was prepared.

24. Request Eagle SMC from LiTECoordinator@troop57.net . You will be assigned two ASMs to conduct the SMC.

25. E-mail completed soft copy of binder to each ASM prior to SMC  (minimum 24 hours before the meeting).
26. Have the SMC. After successful completion, email Unitadvancementchair@troop57.net that you have completed your SMC, cc the ASMs that conducted the SMC.
27. Modify Eagle Binder, if needed, based on any suggestions from the ASMs who conducted your Eagle SMC. Download a new BSA History Report showing all of your requirements completed (except for the Eagle BOR)
28. Sign and date your Eagle Application. The date should be the date you completed your last Eagle requirement, other than your Eagle BOR. This should normally be your Eagle SMC date.
29. Get signatures for your Eagle Application from Scoutmaster and Committee Chair. They must sign after everything else is completed. This is the final troop-level approval.
30. Turn in soft copy of Eagle Binder and request your Eagle BOR via e-mail to:  David.You@scouting.org and cc Elizabeth Thompson:  elizabetht6@gmail.com.  Here is a link to Council guidelines: Eagle Binder Submission. PLEASE FOLLOW THE SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Break up files as listed above, DO NOT send Google Drive Link – please attach files as pdfs to your email. (You can send Eagle Project pictures as a separate, 6th .pdf file if attaching pictures to your Eagle Workbook pdf is difficult.)

Double check:

• Make sure all signatures on proposal and application are complete, including yours.
• Make sure Eagle application is complete with Eagle SMC date and signed by you.  
• The Eagle Board of Review Coordinator from the Stanford District will contact you within ~4 weeks to schedule your Eagle BoR which are conducted virtually. [Note: if you turn in your Binder before the 1st of the month, then you will usually be assigned to the BOR later that same month]

30. After successful completion of BoR, email LiTECoordinator@troop57.net , Unitadvancementchair@troop57.net , and Scoutmaster@troop57.net .

Useful BSA or Troop57 Eagle Links and Information:

Eagle Project Resource Deck – provides additional information on how to come up with and execute your Eagle Project
BSA Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook – download your Eagle Project Workbook from this link
Contact Info for Eagle Project Workbook – Troop specific contact information requested on page 9 of the Eagle Project Workbook
BSA Service Project Safety Checklist – Review these guidelines to make sure your Project is conducted safely
Safe Project Tools Use – Table showing which power tools and other tools are appropriate or not appropriate for Scouts to use. Following these guidelines is mandatory.

Reminder that your Eagle Application Form should be downloaded from your personal page on Scoutbook. Click on Reports and then Eagle Application.

Eagle Project Binder (soft copy version)

For your Eagle Binder include the following items in order:

1. Eagle Scout Application pdf
2. Eagle Service Project Workbook (Project Approval and Signature Page, Final Plan, Report and Final Signature Page) pdf
3. Photos of your Eagle Project (ideally: before, during and after it is completed), and any drawings, expense sheets, etc supporting your Eagle Project. If you have trouble inserting these into your Eagle Project Workbook pdf, these can be compiled into a separate pdf.
4. Statement of Ambitions and Life Purpose pdf
5. List of leadership positions and awards outside of BSA (for Eagle App. Req. 7, see below) pdf
6. Scouts BSA History Report pdf from your Scoutbook account

Notes on Statement of Ambition and Life Purpose

In preparation for your board of review, prepare and attach to your Eagle Scout Rank Application a statement of 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.

Eagle Application, under “Certification By Applicant”

Here’s a helpful link:  http://www.ehow.com/how_4814388_write-eagle-scout-personal-statement.html

Writing Tips

1. Type or print legibly. If you use a computer, don’t forget to use spell check.
2. Use your own words. Write in a way that reflects your personality. Strive for a friendly, confident tone, not too stiff or too casual.
3. Have a parent, teacher or trusted friend read through your finished statement to check grammar, spelling and clarity.

Composing Your Statement

1. What are your ambitions through high school and beyond? Will you attend college? What career do you hope to pursue? What talents will you develop? Do you plan to start a family, open a business or give back to your community? Be specific. Think big. How do you want to change the world?

• Aim for about 500 words. This portion should be in essay form, organized into paragraphs. 

• Focus on one main idea per paragraph. For example, discuss goals for personal development in one paragraph, career goals in the next. Include stories or personal experiences that have shaped your character and ambitions, but keep them brief and relevant.

2. List positions in which you demonstrated leadership skills. Include roles such as camp counselor, student-body officer, community volunteer, mentor or project leader. Don’t worry about being modest. This is your chance to shine. This portion of your statement can be presented in bullet form. Limit each bullet point to the type of organization, the position held, responsibilities and length of service.

3. List any awards or honors received. According to www.eaglescout.org, honors aren’t limited to medals and plaques. They can include a newspaper article, a letter of thanks or anything that made you feel special. Use bullet form. Stick to one or two sentences per bullet point.