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.

Are the Adults in Your Unit Trained?

Scouting needs lots of leaders to help each unit run smoothly. Each scouting position is important to help the unit succeed. Each leader in these positions is to be trained on how they can be more effective in helping their scout unit.

As a district we are finding most of the leaders who are not trained are those who are serving as committee members. These members do not often work directly with the youth but have a big impact on how the program runs.

As a district we encourage all scout leaders to go to the National Scout site and login to My.Scouting.org and see what you need to do to be fully trained in your position.

The following is useful information for all scout leaders.

Where do I go online for more information?

There are two main sites for information about your troop. Each of these sites help you access different information to help you in your scouting position. It’s like being a member of two different banks. Depending on what you need, you should go to that site for the right information.

The National Scout site is your My.Scouting.org bank. This site lets you know what training you need for your position; what training needs to be completed and it also updates your personal Scouting profile. You need to set up a username and password to login to the account. This site also helps current District and Council positions in seeing who needs training and be a support to the adult scouts they serve.

Scoutbook requires the same username and password as your My.Scouting.org account. Scoutbook is your unit’s access to the advancements for all scouts in Pack, Troop or Crew. The Key Three in the scout unit have the rights to login to Scoutbook and can add three additional members of their unit to have access. For example, the Den leader could be added to mark advancements or changes for their den members and the Advancement Chairman will also need access. A scout parent can see their child’s advancement.

Special note: Scoutbook has main scout positions that have the right to be able to have access for your unit. If a person cannot login it may be that National does not have them listed in a curtain scout position to gain that access.

Eagle Scout Service Project Contact Page Pitfalls

Our tip for this month is to help our unit leaders, old and new, to avoid common pitfalls while helping our scouts complete the contact page in the Eagle Scout Service Project workbook. This information helps the scouts to know who will help them receive signatures, get answers to questions about the project and to prepare for their Eagle Scout Board of Review.

We hope this information will be saved by all unit leaders helping their scouts with the Contacts page.

The following areas are often left blank when workbooks are submitted to us:

• The date they earned their Life Scout rank must be typed in
• All information for the scout's unit leaders should be typed in, including:
• Address
• Phone number
• Email. The scout needs to be able to find you if needed.
• The beneficiary is the organization the scout is serving. Information should include
• Name 
• Organization address
• The beneficiary representative is the person the scout contacts in behalf of the beneficiary organization. They should provide
• Address
• Phone number 
• Email
• The council information is:
• Crossroads of the West,
• Phone 801-479-5460 
• Address: 1200 East 5400 South Ogden, UT 84403 
• Email address is : programoffice@scouting.org . All of this information needs to be listed.
• The council or district representative is:
• Debra Henrie
• Phone: 435-512-5905 
• Email: dafhenrie@gmail
• Address: 100 Pinewood Drive Logan, UT 84321 
• This address will be needed for the Eagle Scout recommendation letters needed for their Eagle Scout Board of Review

We encourage unit leaders to save this information and give it to their scouts as they are filling out their Eagle Scout Service workbook.

We look forward in serving your scouts as they prepare to become an Eagle Scout.