Advancement – Life To Eagle Resources

Overview of Advancement from Scouts BSA

Guide To Advancement - https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/33088.pdf

Scouts BSA Advancement Website - https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/advancement-and-awards/ Alpine district Advancement Committee - https://seattlebsa.org/mountain/mountain-advancement/ Trail To Eagle, guide for Eagle Scout Candidates - https://bit.ly/3ILUf2h

Eagle Workbook - https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/EagleProjectWorkbook2023a.pdf (Edit in Abode only! Do not edit in a browser pdf editor!)

Chief Seattle Letter of Recommendation Template - https://seattlebsa.org/download/85/advancement/46973/chief seattle-council-lor-form-updated-7-23.pdf

Life to Eagle – FAQs

Everything you need to know can be found in the links above. There are few steps in the process that many scouts struggle with. These FAQs will help you avoid these common pitfalls or mistakes.

Eagle Workbook Questions

Do I have to use the Eagle Workbook? Yes, it is required to be filled in completely. Any portions not applicable to your project should be documented as such. Write something to the effect, “Not needed for my project.”

Do I need approval from the district advancement committee before starting my project, or can I just get my troop committee approval to start the work? Yes, the district advancement committee must approve that you have chosen a valid beneficiary, not all groups are acceptable Eagle Project candidates. You would be disappointed after completing a project to then find out that your beneficiary does not qualify for Eagle Projects. The Guide to Advancement list requirements for who your beneficiary can be. The district advancement committee is the gate keeper for making sure that you are following the beneficiary rules.

How complete does the Eagle Workbook need to be? Can I hand write it or should I type it? You will share your Eagle Workbook and photos with the Eagle Board of Review. Think of the Workbook as your capstone to your Scouting Journey. It is the summation of everything you have learned and done in Scouts. It needs to be professional looking, meaning it should be typed.

The pdf filler is deleting some content every time I save the file. What am I doing wrong? Do not use a browser pdf viewer to edit the pdf workbook – this is the primary cause of missing content. Reopen your project in adobe acrobat reader and edit the text box with missing data, sometimes the data will reappear, if you modify the text it should stay

visible. There is no guarantee that the information will stay after you have retyped it, even in Adobe Reader. Always print a copy, physical or in pdf form, before closing your file to make sure your content is not lost.

Do I need to fill out the fundraising application? If your fundraising effort involves contributions only from the beneficiary, you, your parents or relatives, your unit or its chartered organization, or parents or members of your unit,

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then you do not need a fundraising application. The Chief Seattle Council does not require a fundraising application if no more than $500 is sought to be raised. If your fundraising plan is to seek donations of more than $500 or from others outside of the list of donors above, you must fill out a fundraising application and submit it for approval by your district Eagle Scout service project approver. If you do not need to fundraise, enter “Not needed for my project” on the fundraising form.

Can I get electronic signatures on my workbook? It is recommended that All signatures physically written. Digital signatures can lock your document, preventing you from making any edits to it. You will email a copy of the proposal to the District Advancement proposal review contact (email pages 7, 9-15 to the reviewer – page 15 must include the other 3 required signatures). Once approved, the review will print, sign, scan, and return just the signature page to you in email.

Do I have to include the address of the contacts on the Workbook Contact page? You should attempt to get the information. If the contact does not want their address listed, you can leave that section blank. At a minimum you need to have the contacts email and phone number listed.

Is there a final review to approve my workbook is complete? Ask the troop committee chair to review your Eagle workbook for any missing data , you only need to show them pages 1,7,9-23, 26-29 (2023 version of workbook). They will verify that all your data fields are complete and that all signatures are included.

Save a backup copy of your workbook. When you have all sections of the workbook completed and printed, including the signatures, scan just the pages you filled in, and store it in a safe place. You only need to scan pages 1,7,9-23, 26-29 (2023 version of workbook). After you scan those pages, email it to yourself and parents, so that you have backup copies in email in case your computer crashes. You do not want to lose it before your BOR. (This has happened, and scouts have had to recreate their Eagle Workbook, it is not fun.)

Do I need to email my completed workbook to Chief Seattle Council or the Advancement Chair? No, you keep a copy of your workbook and bring a printed copy with you to your Eagle Board of Review. You only need to bring pages 1,7,9- 23, 26-29 (2023 version of workbook). You will also need to bring photos of your project, either printed or on a laptop/ipad to share with the BOR committee.

Eagle Application Questions

Note: Always include your Committee Chair in all communications with the District Advancement Board and Chief Seattle Council.

Is there a fast way to fill out the form? Yes, there is a button in Scoutbook that will print the Eagle Application with your Merit Badge dates, BOR dates, Scoutmaster conference dates, and leadership dates. However, if you print the application before any of the information is entered into Scoutbook, those dates will not be filled in and you need to make sure that they are filled in completely, in both Scoutbook and on the application, before submitting the application to council. If you have any missing dates in either Scoutbook or on the application, the application will be returned, and you will have to correct it before it is accepted by council.

Do I have to list 6 individuals for recommendations? Yes. The email address is required at a minimum, provide the other information if able. For the religious reference, this does not need be a religious leader, it can be anyone that knows you personally and can provide a character reference for you.

Which signatures do I need before submitting my application? You need a total of 3 signatures: your signature, your Scoutmasters, and your Committee Chair. Don’t forget YOUR signature! The other 2 signatures will be completed by council and national employees after you submit it.

Do I need submit my Eagle workbook with my Eagle application? No, you will bring a printed copy of workbook and project photos (digital or printed) with you to your Eagle Board of Review.

What else do I need to submit with my Eagle application? Read the application fully. Just above your signature it states you need to also attach “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.” If you need help starting this process, see Guide Post Six in the Trail to Eagle Guide - https://bit.ly/3ILUf2h

Where do I submit my Eagle Application and writing response? membership@seattlebsa.org, and CC your Committee Chair and parents.

Eagle Recommendation Letter Questions

Who will email the letter of recommendation to the individuals listed on the application? Before you email the letter of recommendation, talk in person to your mentor, and ask if they are willing to write you a recommendation for your Eagle Board of Review. This is an important step in communicating the importance of their support to you. They may have questions for you that will help them write a better recommendation. Once they say yes, you will email the letter of recommendation template to them.

You will need to modify the letter of recommendation template with the following information before sending the letter to your contacts.

• On page 1, enter your name and troop #.

• On page 2

• Name of District Designee: Deborah Meehan
• Address of District Designee: enter “use email”
• Email Address of District Designee: alpine.advancement@seattlebsa.net

Save the file and rename the file to LOR-YourName, ex. LOR-DrewSmith.pdf. Send an email to your contacts with this form attached. In the email be sure to:

• Mention the form is not to be returned to you, it is to be completed and sent to Deborah Meehan at alpine.advancement@seattlebsa.net

• Add a “Please respond by date” Your Eagle Board of Review will not be scheduled until all the recommendations are received. You should give your recommenders at 7-10 to respond.

• Ask reviewers to notify you that they have completed and submitted the recommendation.

• Thank the recommender for the time.

If you haven’t heard from your recommenders after 10 days, check in with them. Maybe they didn’t get the original email, or they forgot. Usually, they will fill it out right away if you check in with them after the 10 days and they haven’t done it yet.

Should I email my recommenders the letter of reference before submitting my Eagle Application? It is not necessary, but you certainly can and will speed the process of getting your Eagle Board of Review scheduled.

It has been 2 weeks and I haven’t been contacted by the district advancement chair? You can email alpine.advancement@seattlebsa.net to get status on your Eagle Application. Always CC your committee chair when emailing the Advancement Chair, if you continue to have questions or there is further delay, ask your Committee Chair if they have additional information about the status of your application/BOR.