Eagle Service Project Training

1. Eagle Service Project Training T453 Xuejun Ying

2. Summary • Timeline: • Highly recommend to start in 10th grade (don’t wait). • Proposal approval may take 2-6 months. • Must finish so SMC can be completed before 18th birthday. • Key requirements: • The project must offer significant help to religious institution, school, or his community (Beneficial organization). • Need direct interface to the Beneficial Organization (not 2nd hand). • Budget: • Typically a few hundred dollars • Savings from work, garage sale, etc (effort based). • Can not ask for donation, but can accept help. • Fund raising needs special approval from council (don’t do it unless for a big project). • Demonstrate leadership: • The life scout needs to plan and develop the project mostly by himself. • The project needs to have enough scope to show leadership. • The life scout needs to lead enough people in the actual execution of the project. • Typical scope: 150-300 man.hour. Xuejun Ying

3. Why do it before 11th grade • Class • 2-5 AP classes/semester • AP test preparation • HW. • SAT • SAT I • 2-3 SAT II subjects • 6 month active requirement • Doing EP is best way to keep troop engagement. • Need to participate in PLC/troop meetings. • Some camp outs. • The key thing is to show your heart in your patrol, our troop, and our community. Xuejun Ying

4. What does it take to get approval? Xuejun Ying

5. Proposal signatures Xuejun Ying

6. Xuejun Ying

7. Projects not suitable for Eagle projects. • It cannot be a project for BSA. • It cannot be routine labor or a job or service normally rendered such as maintenance. • The service project may not be performed for a business or an individual. • It is not of a commercial nature. • It can not be a fund-raiser. Xuejun Ying

8. Funding sources • Self funding with efforts: • Take jobs for fund is encouraged (do not need approval) • Tutoring, car wash, • Fund from personal or family/friends is ok. • Getting fund by sale is good (Garage sale, donut/drink sale). • Asking discount in the name of BSA is ok (HomeDepot, etc). • Accept vs asking for donation • The scout can not actively seek donations. • Donations can be accepted when given voluntarily. • Special form is required and needs to be approved by council for funding raising activities if a scout really wants to do so. Xuejun Ying

9. Key steps • Develop ideas with potential B.O. • Discuss w/ SM to get the idea approved. • Detailed written plan/proposal • Eagle project advisor reviewed. • B.O. signature. • Committee review and approval • Minimum 10days notice. • Project scope, feasibility, and safety. • SM/Unit commissioner signatures. • District Advancement review and approval. • Scheduling and scout sign up (PLC). • Material procurement and project execution. • Write up final projects and get sign-offs Xuejun Ying

10. Step 1: develop ideas • Be serious about the idea selection. • Contact your local schools, parks and other non-profit organization for project worthy ideas. • Develop the basic scope of the project. • Get the BO approval for the project. • Watch out if permits are needed. Xuejun Ying

11. Useful links • Links to Eagle Leadership Service Project Resources • Project Leadership Service Guide http://home.flash.net/~smithrc/eagleprj.htm • Project Leadership Service Guide http://www.cnjc-bsa.org/eagle/soar.pdf • Requirement number 5 http://www.eaglescout.org/project/project.html • Selecting a project: http://www.eaglescout.org/project/select.html • Scoutorama Project Ideas http://www.scoutorama.com/project/ • Another website for ideas:  Buckskin project ideas  • Some potential project benefitting organizations: • McClellan Ranch or other City of Cupertino Park parks@cupertino.org or (408) 777-3120 • Santa Clara County Parks & Recreationhttp://www.sccgov.org/portal/site/parks/parkschp?path=%2Fv7%2FParks%20and%20Recreation%2C%20Department%20of%20%28DEP%29%2FVolunteer%20Opportunities • San Jose Water Districthttp://www.valleywater.org/Water/Watersheds_-_streams_and_floods/Taking_care_of_streams/Adopt_A_Creek/FAQs.shtm • Trail Center http://www.trailcenter.org/volunteer.htm • Midpeninsula Open Space District http://www.openspace.org/volunteer/volunteer.asp • Henry Coe State Park http://www.coepark.org/volprogram.html • Bay Area Ridge Trail http://www.ridgetrail.org/volun.htm • Hidden Villa (Los Altos Hills) http://www.hiddenvilla.org/Assets/volunteers.htm • San Francisco Save the Bay http://www.savesfbay.org/ • South Bay Restoration http://www.southbayrestoration.org/index.html • Eagle Leadership Service Project Workbook • PDF http://www.nesa.org/trail/18-927.pdf • Word Doc http://www.nesa.org/trail/18-936.doc • RTF http://www.nesa.org/trail/18-936.rtf Xuejun Ying

12. Step 2: get SM approval on the idea • Service: • The project has to benefit the BO directly and sifnificantly. • Project scope: • Actual man.hour excluding planning. • Leadership • Are there enough contents to demonstrate leadership. Xuejun Ying

13. Step 3: detailed written plan • Use the BSA eagle service project work book. • Seek help from eagle project advisor (current or former ASMs/SM/CM leaders). • Detailed planning: • Description with pictures to show projects in details. • Real dimensions for construction projects with accuracy. • Demonstrate the project is feasible without doubt. • Materials/cost in table. • Schedules with detailed work hours. • Safety and transportation issues. • Check that NO fund raising. Xuejun Ying

14. Our troop emphasis completing as much as possible on the EP proposal before CM review. Xuejun Ying

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17. Detailed drawings Xuejun Ying

18. Safety • Two-deep adult leaderships with at least one youth protection trained • Proximity to emergency services (scout should research and provide this information, but adults should be informed) • Equipment and tools (in good working order; knowledgeable safe use; size or strength consideration?) • Check the site for any special safety considerations (habitat for dangerous plants or animals? mosquitoes? • Weather • Adequate drinking water • Protective Gear • First aid kit Xuejun Ying

19. Step 4: CM review • Proposal sent to SM for review 10 days in advance. • SM sent the proposal to CM chairs to schedule CM review. • CM approve, conditional approve or reject the proposal. Xuejun Ying

20. Step 5: SM/UC signoff • Scout to revise his proposal to address concerns from the CM review. • Get SM signoff. • Get unit commissioner sign off. Xuejun Ying

21. Step 6: District approval • Scout to send the final proposal to District to schedule a review. • Get approval and address concerns. Xuejun Ying

22. Step 7: Scheduling • Send approved proposal to SPL/troop historian/SM. • Discuss the proposal in PLC or troop meeting. • Schedule the project with BO and SPL. Xuejun Ying

23. Step 8: plan execution. • Procure building materials/tools. • Arrange scouts attendance and adult supervision (follow BSA rule for scouting event). • Arrange food. • Manage the project execution. Xuejun Ying

24. Step 9: Final report/signatures • Write final report. • Obtain signatures. • Send the final report to various organizations (including troop historian). Xuejun Ying

25. Eagle advisor • The Eagle Advisor's role is similar to that of an AIC, to guide the scout as best as he/she can in the preparation and execution of the EP.    • Each scout should have an Eagle Advisor, who can be current or prior ASM or CM leaders. • Scout needs to find his Eagle Advisor who has lots of interest in his project and be able to give good technical advice on ways to design and to effectively & efficientlty accomplish the EP. • Scout needs to work with his Eagle advisor to plan and manage the Eagle project, including arranging the adults for supervision. • The Eagle Advisor should contact the SM if back up advisor is needed (example: schedule conflicts or complicated EPs (>3 days of work). that the Scout's • Parent should not be advisor to his/her own son. They should be as familiar and knowledgeable of the EP as possible so that they can provide logistic support. The socut has to lead in the actual project. • The Scoutmaster needs to be familiar and knowledgeable of the EP before he approves it, as it is his/her signature which is required on the EP Proposal Application, for the approval of the EP.  Xuejun Ying

26. Eagle Advisor (more) • Be very clear in your communications • Make sure that he is documenting your discussions and also keep notes for yourself. • Provide feedback on the scope and details of the project • Additional resources for the scout? • Are there missing elements in the planning? • Do the plans have enough detail? • If the project will require building permits or approvals from your organization, you will at least need to inform the Scout, and may need to support or assist him in this process. • Be the “big eye” that watches for issues such as safety. Xuejun Ying