Trail to Eagle
Unit Eagle Mentor and Coach Training
Traditionally, knowledgeable unit leaders often worked with Life Scouts as informal Eagle Mentors to encourage and advise Eagle candidates on their trail to Eagle. New Eagle advancement procedures encourage each Eagle candidate to work with a trained and approved Eagle Coach to support their Eagle Service Project. The Patriots’ Path Council Advancement Committee recommends that unit leaders review the attached Eagle Mentor Training material (powerpoint and pdf, updated 2025), as preparation for both the broader Eagle Mentor and project-focused Eagle Coach roles.
Community Service Reporting
Units are strongly encouraged to submit information about each Eagle Scout service project via the Community Service website.
Eagle Documents
See the Council Eagle Paperwork Policy page for information on how to submit.
Eagle Rank Advancement Process
As of January 2024, all PPC Districts now follow the same process.
Eagle Scout Forms & Information
- Eagle Scout Rank Extension Requests
- Application for Alternative Rank Merit Badges
- Community Service Reporting
- Council Eagle Paperwork Policy
- Eagle Board of Review (and Eagle Palm) Advancement Report
- Eagle Palms
- Eagle Rank Application
- Eagle Service Project Workbook (including Fundraising Application)
- Guide to Advancement Website
Safety
Information for Eagles
Guide to Advancement
In order to stay current with National’s continuing improvements to forms and documentation, we refer you to their authoritative website, especially for the Guide to Advancement.
Our aim is to make pertinent forms and information available at this site for the Eagle Scout candidate. Much of the content is related to the Eagle Scout service project. We strongly encourage each Scout and their unit leaders to utilize this resource to better understand the process. Too often a candidate will wait too long to begin the process of developing and obtaining approval of a project proposal. To increase the probability of successfully completing the service project requirement for the rank of Eagle Scout, we recommend planning to have the project proposal approved at least 6 months before the Scout’s 18th birthday.
The proposal must be approved before the Scout starts any fundraising or work on the project.
Health and Safety Considerations
All Eagle Scout service projects constitute official Scouting activity and thus are subject to Scouting America policies and procedures. Projects are considered part of a unit’s program and are treated as such with regard to policies, procedures, and requirements regarding Youth Protection, two-deep leadership, etc. The health and safety of those working on Eagle projects must be integrated into project execution. See the sidebar for more information.
Timeline
- All requirements for the Eagle Scout rank, except the board of review, must be completed prior to the Scout’s 18th birthday.
- The board of review must be conducted within 24 months after the Scout’s 18th birthday. Although reasonable efforts are made to accommodate a candidate’s schedule, the Scout should be prepared to be available at times when the board can convene. Procedures for scheduling boards of review and checking references vary by district. The candidate should contact the district advancement committee for details.
Service Project Fundraising
An Eagle Scout Service Project Fundraising Application must be used by the candidate to obtain prior approval for fundraising or securing donations of materials, supplies or tools for the Eagle Scout service project. For more specific information about what is required, see the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook for the “Procedures and Limitations on Eagle Scout Service Project Fundraising” and the Eagle Scout Service Project Fundraising Application form.
An application or approval is not necessary for contributions from the candidate, the Scout’s parents or relatives, the Scout’s unit or its chartered organization, parents or members of their unit, or the beneficiary. All donations left over, regardless of the source, must be given to the beneficiary.
All fundraising efforts, whether or not an application or approval is required, must be conducted in accordance with the standards specified in “Procedures and Limitations on Eagle Scout Service Project Fundraising”.
The Patriots’ Path Council has delegated the Council’s approval of applications that meet the standards specified by the Scouting America as follows:
- If the candidate expects to raise contributions of moneys, materials, supplies or tools that in the aggregate will not exceed $2,500.00, approval is delegated to the candidate’s Unit Committee or Unit Committee Chair, according to Unit policy.
- If the candidate expects to raise contributions of moneys, materials, supplies or tools that in the aggregate will not exceed $10,000.00, approval is delegated to the District Advancement Committee or District Advancement Committee Chair, according to District policy.
- If the candidate expects to raise contributions of moneys, materials, supplies or tools that in the aggregate will exceed $10,000.00, approval of the Council Finance Committee or Council Finance Committee Chair is required.
If an Eagle Scout Service Project Fundraising Application is required, no solicitation of donations may occur until after the completed application is approved in writing by the beneficiary, the unit leader, and the Council (as per the delegation of approval specified above).
The candidate’s approved Eagle Scout Service Project Fundraising Application is required to be submitted to the Council with the candidate’s completed Eagle Scout application and completed Eagle Scout Service Workbook prior to the scheduling of the candidate’s Eagle Scout board of review.