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Service projects are required for Second Class, Star, Life, and Eagle rank advancement. Often Scouts do not know the Requirements for Service Projects.

BSA Policies On Service Projects

Second Class Rank. For the Second Class Rank, a Scout must participate in a service project or projects approved by his Scoutmaster. The time of service must be a minimum of one hour. This project prepares a Scout for the more involved service projects he must perform for the Star, Life, and Eagle Scout Ranks.

Star and Life Ranks. For Star and Life ranks, a Scout must perform six hours of service to others. This may be done as an individual project or as a member of a patrol or troop project. Star and Life service projects may be approved for Scouts assisting on Eagle service projects. The Scoutmaster approves the project before it is started.

Eagle Scout Rank. For a service project to qualify as an Eagle Scout service project, the Scout, while a Life Scout, must plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project benefiting any religious institution, school, or community. These projects, of course, must conform to the wishes and regulations of those for whom the project is undertaken. (also see Troop 23's Guide For Eagle Rank Advancement)

The Eagle Scout service project provides the opportunity for the Eagle Scout candidate to demonstrate the leadership skills he has learned in Scouting. He does the project outside the sphere of Scouting.

As a demonstration of leadership, the Scout must plan the work, organize the personnel needed, and direct the project to its completion.

Service to others is important. Work involving council property or other BSA activities is not acceptable for an Eagle Scout service project. The service project also may not be performed for a business, or be of a commercial nature, or be a fund-raiser.

NOTE: Fundraising is permitted only for securing materials or supplies needed to carry out the project.

Routine labor, a job or service normally rendered, should not be considered. There is no minimum number of hours that must be spent on carrying out the project. The amount of time spent must be sufficient for the Scout to clearly demonstrate leadership skills.

The Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, No. 18-927, must be used to meet this requirement.

The Scout must secure the prior approval of his unit leader, his unit committee, and the benefactor of the project. The project must also be reviewed and approved by the district or council advancement committee or their designee to make sure that it meets the stated standards for Eagle Scout service projects before the project is started. This pre-approval of the project does not mean that the board of review will approve the way the project was carried out.

Upon completion of the project, the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, properly filled out, is submitted with the Scout's Eagle application to include the following information:

• What was the project?
• How did it benefit others?
• Who from the group benefiting from the project gave guidance?
• Who helped carry out the project?
• What materials were used and how were they acquired?

Although the project idea must be approved before work is begun, the board of review must determine the manner in which the project was carried out. Questions that must be addressed include:

• Did the candidate demonstrate leadership of others?
• Did he indeed direct the project rather than do all the work himself?
• Was the project of real value to the religious institution, school, or community group?
• Who from the group benefiting from the project may be contacted to verify the value of the project?
• Did the project follow the approved plan or were modifications needed to bring it to its completion?

All the work on the project must be done while the candidate is a Life Scout and before the candidate's 18th birthday, unless a time extension has been allowed.

The Eagle Scout service project is an individual matter; therefore, two Eagle Scout candidates may not receive credit for working on the same project.

The variety of service projects performed throughout the nation by Scouts earning their Eagle Award is staggering. For ideas and opportunities regarding service projects, the Scout can consult people such as school administrators, religious leaders, local government department directors, or a United Way agency's personnel.

The district or council advancement committee also can be helpful by identifying possible projects.

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