This is the culmination of your Eagle service project efforts. Your handbook doesn't mention the report as part of the project, but it is required as part of the application "package" you are asked to submit when you are applying for the Eagle Badge and requesting a Board of Review. The report takes considerable effort and is best done as you work on the project. If you keep the report in mind as you begin planning and as you perform the project itself, it will be much easier to write it than if you wait until later. This point is particularly true if you are getting close to your eighteenth birthday and not much time will remain to draft a report after completion of the project.

Objective of the Report

By now you have no doubts that the Eagle service project is different from anything else that you have done in your Scouting career. There are no specific skills to master, no specific steps to take, no crank to turn. Yet, as you've seen, there are general requirements that you have to meet. Those who will review your candidacy for the Eagle Badge need some basis to evaluate whether you met those requirements and your report serves this purpose. Remember, most of these people will not be familiar with your effort, and it won't be obvious to them exactly what you did or how you went about it. You have to tell them.

Guidelines

There are two separate reports - The Eagle Scout Project Workbook (from the Scout Shop) and a more detailed binder with photographs. Your approach to writing these reports should be similar to writing a story for your school newspaper. Journalism students learn that the items required in a good news story are answered by the "5 W's and the H". These are the "Who, What, When, Where, and Why and How." When drafting your report look at the required elements of an Eagle service project and then apply the journalism formula to make sure that you have provided the reviewer all of the necessary information. While there is no prescribed format for your report, you do need to give the report some order. It is helpful to begin by explaining what the report is (a report on your Eagle project and then describe your project in general terms. This introduction can then be followed by a description of your plan and how to carry it out. Elements of a comprehensive report include:
 

• An explanation of why the project was selected
• An explanation of who will benefit from the project (both primary and secondary beneficiaries, if any)
• An explanation of how the project benefits its intended audience
• An explanation of how you developed the idea for the project and how it got approved
• An explanation of how you planned the project activity
• An explanation of your approach to performing tasks and how the work was carried out. Did the project follow the plan?
• An explanation of problems you encountered and how you dealt with them. No one can anticipate everything but a mark of the successful planner is dealing with the unexpected. If you feel that you would choose another course of action, explain why and what you would have done differently.
• Tables summarizing information, such as:
  • The names of helpers and the hours expended in both planning and execution
  • A calendar giving timelines for planning and execution
  • Resources available and/or used
  • Expenses
  • Donations of contributions of materials, money, or loan of equipment by individuals and businesses
  • Copies of letters you sent and received
  • Discuss what you learned from this experience
  • Include captioned photographs, maps, or other graphic images where they help the reader
  • Obtain a letter of acknowledgment from the beneficiary of the project
  • Summarize at the end and draw any conclusions which your feel are appropriate. Sell yourself and the project!

Tables, figures, and other attachments should have a title and should be referenced from within the body of the text. All or part of these could be made into appendices rather than incorporated into the body of the text. Generally if the information is background or supporting material an appendix is better, but if it helps in making a point it should be in the body of text.

Length

The report need not be lengthy. If you can accomplish the objectives in a short report, so much the better. Being concise and to the point is the mark of a good communicator. But, be sure you accomplish the objective.

Grammar, Neatness, and Computers

Be careful of your use of first and third person, I and it/the/they. For example, "The paint was purchased from a local hardware store" is third person, and "I purchased the paint from a local hardware store" is first person. Often writing in the third person is preferred. It's not required, but might make the report better. However, be sure to make it clear what you did and what others did, so the reader learns how you provided leadership. Acting as a supervisor or coordinator or making assignments can be work and it is important that you mention this.

The report should use good grammar and it should be neat and well written. Topic headings can help the reader to understand what you are going to discuss next. A nice cover can dress up the image you present. It should be a report which is worthy of the Eagle badge. It does not have to be typed, but that doesn't hurt. In this day of home computers and word processors, it can be much easier to get your report into final shape if you use one, but that is up to you.

Computers are especially useful if you are going to make changes because you don't have to re-enter everything. Rather, you just need to modify what is there already. Many people write directly into the computer as they compose, and then fix it when they are ready to do that. They may print out several drafts before they are done.

Revising, Revising, and Revising

There's another way in which this report may be different from what you are used to in school. Perhaps you are used to writing and modifying your papers once, sometimes with help from your parents, and then turning in your final product and getting a grade. You are not going to be graded on your Eagle service project report, though it could affect the decision of your Eagle Board of Review. You are likely, though, to be asked to make changes perhaps several times, by your troop leaders and troop committee, the district advancement committee, and/or your board of review. Again the idea is to make the report say the right thing--not just to see how well you do on your first submittal. Here's where that computer can help. It is best to have your English teacher review your write-up.

Record Keeping

It's a good idea to take notes of what happens, beginning with your efforts to develop an idea. Keep records. A diary may be helpful, and the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook is another excellent place to keep notes. Checking your facts when you get around to writing by looking them up instead of relying on your memory will make it easier to be accurate. You're also less likely to forget something. This is another mark of a good leader.

Conclusion

At this point in your Scouting career, you are probably aware of what Scouting has been trying to do with you, working through your troop leaders and your family. It's no secret. Scouting has been trying to instill in you Character, Participating Citizenship, and Physical, Mental and Emotional Fitness, all to help prepare yourself to be a leader in America in the next generation. As an Eagle candidate, the job is well along its way, though it is certainly not complete. That will be a lifelong quest. You have learned a lot in the process and had a lot of fun while you were at it.

SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY:
 

1.	Working in cooperation with the state energy office and a local director of energy conservation, a pamphlet was printed on conservation of energy in the home and distributed to 10,000 homes by Scouts. The Scouts raised the money to print the information flyer and coordinated the distribution to homes.
2.	The U. S. Marine Veteran's Hall had become damaged by flood waters. Because this hall was used by many community groups, an Eagle candidate set out to restore and repair the building. Damaged chairs and tables were sanded and refinished, cracked and damaged floor tiles were replaced, duck walks were built for the kitchen, and molding and ceiling tiles were replaced. A scrap metal drive financed the project.
3.	Dividing the town into sections, a survey of homes was made to see how many had smoke detector alarm systems installed. The candidate developed a survey sheet and had it printed. Along with the survey, information on the importance of smoke detectors and simple instructions on how and where to install them were passed out. This Scout recruited college students to assist in the survey.
4.	An Eagle candidate directed a house-to-house energy survey and audit for the state energy authority. Scouts distributed energy questionnaires to homes and explained their use. The residents completed the forms and returned them to the energy authority where the results were run through a computer. Computer printouts were returned to the homeowners with information on how to conserve energy in their particular home.
5.	A local cavesite had become unsightly with trash and debris and graffiti on the walls. This Eagle project was planned to use acid to remove the graffiti and a group of Explorers hauled off the trash. This group worked in cooperation with the local speleological society and park commission.
6.	To aid local departments responding to emergency calls, Scouts spent more than 100 hours painting house numbers on curbsides. The Scouts provided the paint, the stencils, and the manpower.
7.	Scouts were used to completely reorganize the storage room of the American Red Cross. The Scouts sorted out damaged folding cots and restacked the good ones. Blankets were refolded and emergency service equipment was inventoried. The Scouts also built new storage shelves to utilize all available storage space.

SERVICE TO THE ELDERLY
 

1.	One candidate planned and supervised the planting of a vegetable garden at a senior citizen center so the residents could enjoy the garden and the vegetables it produced. The work involved buying the seeds and plants, tilling the soil, planting, and caring for the garden. They also planted a dozen blueberry bushes for the center.
2.	At a home for senior citizens, outdoor furniture was sanded and painted, a shuffle board court was constructed, and Scouts completed a house cleaning of all buildings.
3.	A picnic area and walking trail were constructed adjoining an apartment development for the elderly so residents could enjoy fresh air and exercise.

SERVICE TO HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES
 

1.	A large metropolitan hospital needed clothing for indigent, poor patients to wear release from the hospital. Clothing was collected, laundered, and folded neatly for hospital use. The collection ran throughout the community for 3 months. Flyers delivered to homes and newspaper articles advertised the collection and Scouts made the pickups and deliveries.
2.	Trays were made to attach to wheelchairs for disabled veterans at a VA hospital.
3.	Using plastic bottles, pull toys were made for a children's hospital. The bottles were painted, felt ears and eyes were glued on, wooden wheels were attached, and pull strings were glued to the bottle caps.

SERVICE TO THE HANDICAPPED
 

1.	One Scout took part in a 1-week training course at a Muscular Dystrophy Association camp. During that period, he had responsibility for 24-hour-a-day care on one afflicted person. This included assisting the patient with all motor functions -------- eating, drinking, sleeping (turning him every 2 hours), toilet duties, and daily activities. After returning from training, he trained the Scouts of his troop in caring for handicapped people. Following the training period, they organized activities for the crippled children's hospital, including swimming, horseback riding, dancing, and races.
2.	An Eagle candidate adapted an aquatics training program to the needs of blind, autistic, and otherwise handicapped students. By teaching the handicapped students skills of breathing and floating the project helped dispel their fears of the water and gave them the skills to prevent drowning. This project involved several highly qualified Scouts over a period of several months.
3.	In cooperation with the Volunteers for the Visually Handicapped, games were constructed from wood for use by the visually handicapped.
4.	An Eagle candidate recruited a crew of volunteers to provide counselors for a day camp for mentally and physically handicapped children. The group worked 4 weeks in the day camp supervising arts and crafts, swimming, and games. The volunteers had to take part in special training before camp opened.

SCHOOLS AND SERVICE TO EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
 

1.	Developing an educational nature trail called for a survey of land adjoining school property and securing legal agreements for land use from landowners. The nature trail included ecological stream habitats, lowland forests, and pine forest. The help of a botanist, a geologist, and a biologist was secured to properly identify trees, shrubs, plants, rocks, and ecological sites on the trail. Appropriate signs and trail markers were installed.
2.	Spectator benches were built and painted at a school athletic field.
3.	Scouts earned the money and purchased the needed supplies to paint four square games on the blacktop of a playground of an elementary school and to install three tetherball standards. The work was done by Scouts and parents and supervised by the Eagle candidate.
4.	To build an outdoor classroom for his school, one candidate and his crew, removed and relocated a lawn sprinkler system, built concrete steps, and constructed classroom benches on cement bases.

SERVICE TO CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS
 

1.	To aid handicapped worshipers, an access ramp was built at a church to accommodate wheelchairs. The project included securing all of the required supplies and developing an approved plan for construction.
2.	One project called for planning, purchasing all required supplies and erecting a flag pole on church property. After erecting the two-section, 22-foot flag pole with a 3-inch gold ball on top, a 36-foot halyard was connected and a new 3 ft. X 5 ft. American flag was raised. To accomplish this project, approximately $200 had to be raised from yard sales, bake sales, and a car wash.
3.	A toy cupboard was constructed for a church nursery and filled with handmade wooden puzzles, toys, and games.
4.	The ladies of the church needed quilting stands to make quilts for their missionary project. An Eagle candidate organized a group of Scouts who mowed lawns to earn money needed to purchase the lumber, nails, bolts, and other supplies. Then they secured a pattern and constructed the needed quilting frames and stands.
5.	An old storage room at a church was cleaned out and renovated to make a meeting room for the church's youth group.
6.	Playground equipment was constructed on a church playground and fenced in to make a safe play area for younger children.
7.	The repair and painting of a storage building on church property saved the church money and provided many hours of work for an Eagle candidate and his helpers. Thirty Scouts and leaders helped on this one.
8.	All of the pews and kneeling stands were sanded and revarnished to help restore the beauty of one of the oldest churches in the community.

SERVICE TO THE STATE PARKS, NATIONAL FORESTS, AND CAMPS
 

1.	Building a sturdy bridge in a county park provided quite a challenge. The candidate secured the posts, planking, concrete, and transported the supplies to the bridge site. After surveying all of the angles and approaches, post holes were dug, concrete chips placed in the holes, and poles were set in cement. After several more days of work---drilling holes, hand sawing boards, and setting planks in place---the county park had a much-needed new bridge.
2.	Another project consisted of planting 1000 Virginia pine trees and 18 crepe myrtle trees. In addition, the construction and installation of birdhouses along a nature trail in a state park was completed.
3.	An Eagle project built a new day camp site for the YMCA. Brush was cleared, trails were built to campsites, gravel was spread on the roadway, a 10 ft. X 12 ft. camp office was built, an archery range and council ring were constructed, a bridge was built, and the entrance gate and fence were painted.
4.	The rehabilitation of a stream proved to be a major project. Scouts repaired the stream banks, filled in ruts, removed silt from the stream bed, changed the angle of water now, and seeded the banks to prevent future erosion.

SERVICE TO CHILDREN'S HOMES AND INSTITUTION
 

1.	A project to collect, wash, mend, iron, sort, and deliver good used clothing for children 14 through 17 years of age who reside at a county home for neglected and dependent children ended with more than 300 articles of clothing presented to the home.
2.	A group of Scouts were trained and supervised to visit an orphanage to teach outdoor skills to a group of boys. The project culminated with a campout. The purpose was to provide program activities for the home and to develop community contacts and friendships for the residents.
3.	Working through his church, families were asked to invite individual children from a local children's home to visit in their home on holidays and weekends. The visitation program was coordinated with the superintendent of the children's home.

4 July 1998