Work with Eagle Scout Coordinator before Project Proposal

Scouting can offer many things to the youth who join Scouting, some of these are activities that spark interest in the outdoors, camping, learning new skills, making new friends, achieving goals, and earning awards and ranks.  

The highest pinnacle of the scouting rank is that of Eagle Scout. When the youth start working on this achievement the scout unit leaders are supported by the District and Council leaders. In

this way, the scout is learning to work outside of their unit and utilizing other adults that will also help guide them to this highest rank. The scout begins to see beyond their own unit and meet others who become another level of support.

As the scout begins seeking a project that excites them to use as their Eagle Scout project, they

should include the Eagle Scout Coordinator. The Eagle Scout Coordinator helps the scouts from approving the Eagle Scout project to being prepared for their Eagle Scout Board of Review. The Eagle Scout coordinator receives guidance from the Council in their monthly meetings. They receive knowledge from the Council in helping the scouts meet the guidelines of having a project that is worthy of an Eagle Scout.

As the ES coordinator and District Advancement committee approve the project and prepare the

scouts for their Eagle Scout Board of Review. (ESBOR) We have identified a few things we would

like to focus on this year. We will address each one of them in greater depth in future Newsletter articles to help the unit scout leaders help us in achieving them.

Here are the top five areas we will be addressing as we start our year:

1. Contacting the Eagle Scout coach of a scout working on their Eagle Scout Service Project workbook, before they turn it in to the coordinator. This will help to ensure that basic information is in place. This helps the scout receive the Eagle Scout project approval quicker.
2. Selecting Eagle Scout Coaches from the unit leadership to help guide scouts that understand the process of the trail to Eagle.
3. Knowing the order and importance of having all signatures and dates of the Eagle Scout project proposal and project report.
4. Understanding the importance of the whole Eagle Scout service workbook and why it needs to be completed and given to the Eagle Scout coordinator before the Eagle Scout Board of Review.
5. Why Scouting has an Eagle Scout project and the importance of stating a project goal in the proposal.

We look forward to learning together how we each can improve our performance of, On My

Honor I Will Do My Best, as we serve perspective Eagle Scouts.

2023 Eagle Scout report

 The Old Ephraim District would like to congratulate the 2023 class of Eagle Scout rank recipients. The Grand total of service hours of these 33 Eagle Scout were: 3,864!

The Eagle Board members had a wonderful time visiting with each recipient. We always ask them at the end of their board of review if they could name one word to describe their scouting experience what would that word be? Here are their answers:

Teaching Helpful Do It Again Honorable Effort

Motivational Excellent Ecstatic  Confidence Breathtaking

Adventure Fun  Challenging Incredible Exhilarating

Growth Educational Bonding Enlightenment

Fulfilling Life Changing Awesome  Friendship

The Eagle Scout Coordinator and District Advancement committee plan to recognize 4 Eagle Scouts for their Outstanding Eagle Projects at the Old Ephraim District Dinner that will be held in March. 

We look forward to continue serving Eagle Scouts this coming year!

Here are the Eagle Scout rank recipients for 2023:

Troop 1 Austin Bodrero Cohen Kuester Raymond McNabb Troop 2 David Audd Troop 21 Joseph Hammer Eyan Parry Troop 47 Thatcher Jones Mateo Webb-Barragan Troop 110 Case Holmes Easton Secrist Eli Neslen Bryce Brotherson

Troop 110 Jordan Hansen Dillon Hansen Gabe Stidham Bridger Beeton Troop 123 Hyrum Anderson Adam Rowe Joshua Tippetts David Diaz Troop 314 Hayden Francis Troop 314 Girls Aleksia Nielsen Troop 589 Seth Barton Ryder Hansen

Troop 589 Stockton Hurd Isaiah Carr Korver Hurd Easton Bodily Troop 1011 Jack Davidson Bretton Petersen Troop 2119 Girls Katie Latvakoski Boys Troop 2319 Andrew Thornley

Why Probing Questions are Necessary for Eagle Service Projects

In the Eagle Scout Service Workbook on page 4 it says:

“Questioning and probing for their understanding of the project, the proposal, and what is to be done, shall be conducted in a helpful, friendly, courteous, and kindhearted manner. We will respect the Scout’s dignity. Scouts will be allowed, if they choose, to have a parent, unit leader, or other adult present as an observer at any time while they are discussing their proposal or project with someone who is reviewing it.”

Also, on page 2 it reads under The Project Plan:

“Your project plan can also be important in showing your Eagle Scout board of review 
that you have planned and developed your project as required.”

The questions the unit leaders, district and council ask are to help the scout be successful with their project. Everything they have been working on up to this point in Scouting leads to the Eagle Scout service project. Merit Badges like communication, personal management, and having scout leadership roles all prepare them in leading a group of volunteers in serving the community with the Eagle Scout service project they have chosen.

The questions asked should be helpful for the scout in doing the following:

1. Help them know their project meets the requirements of an Eagle Scout Project
2. Helps the scout be forward thinking in seeing all aspects of the project, not just getting the job done. That means, having all materials, supplies, tools, and meeting safety issues while doing their project. The workbook helps scouts think through this process by filling out all sections
3. Questions help scouts develop their Eagle Project in depth by seeing phases that need to take place in an orderly manner to be effective. It teaches them how to plan large projects and see them be successful in a safe framework of scouting
4. These probing questions also help the scouts work through problems that might arise during the project. With guidance of adult leaders, the scout can put into place safety help they might have not seen

We hope this information is helpful to Eagle Scout coaches, scoutmaster and parents who help guide the scouts through the Eagle Scout process.