OVERVIEW

To begin, there are three documents every Scout must use and reference:

• January 2026 is the CURRENT Eagle Scout Rank Application (#512-728) found here https://www.scouting.org/advancement  OR pre-populate through Scoutbook Plus --Scouts are to follow this guide under the section FINALIZE AND SUBMIT YOUR EAGLE SCOUT RANK APPLICATION.  Instructions to pre-populate the Eagle Rank Application from Scoutbook Plus are found in this section.  *This is the preferred method for preparing Eagle Rank Applications.   
• Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook (#512-927) found here https://www.scouting.org/advancement
• Guide to Advancement (#33088). This answers common questions about the rank and the project.-found here https://www.scouting.org/resources/guide-to-advancement/

ONLY the most current version of the Application and Workbook will be accepted by Boards of Review and the Council.   

• Scouting America's explanation on the discontinuation of the Citizenship in Society Merit Badge is also found in the above link next to the Eagle Rank Application.-- If any clarification is needed just call the Council office 845-762-3801or send an e-mail to ghv.eagles@scouting.org

*All Eagle Paperwork submissions receive confirmation e-mails of receipt within 2-4 business days.  If you do not receive a reply within this timeframe please call the Council Office. 

The Greater Hudson Valley (GHV) Council has established a few local procedures. The procedures vary slightly by District; however, all of this is done in harmony with the official sources mentioned above.  In addition to the information on this page, here is a Clarification and Adherence Guide for District and Troop Leaders.

Our Council does not require that you use an Eagle Mentor (who advises on the whole Eagle process) or an Eagle Project Coach (who advises only on the Project). Many troops use Mentors and Coaches actively while others do not. Speak with your Scoutmaster to decide whether to use one. Our Council does not require Mentors or Coaches to submit applications to serve, but those individuals must comply with all Youth Protection Guidelines.

We generally refer to Scoutmasters in this document, but if you are a Sea Scout you should substitute Skipper and if you are Venturer then we mean Crew Advisor. 

COMPLETE ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE EAGLE RANK

• Requirements 1 – 6 on the Eagle Rank Application must be completed before a Scout’s 18^th birthday and can be worked on in any order.
• A Scout must be registered through the time the Scout is completing requirements but need not be registered thereafter or when their board of review is conducted.
• Requirement 2, Letters of Reference
  • All 4 spaces for references must be listed.
  • Anyone of any age may be listed as a reference.*Exceptions noted below
  • The Scout will request letters from these people at a later time-
  • *More detailed information on Letters of Reference is below.
• Requirement 3, Merit Badge Requirements
  • Be sure all spaces are properly filled in-*Date earned=the completed date signed by the Merit badge Counselor
• Requirement 4, Position of Responsibility
  • The only acceptable positions are those listed on the Eagle Scout Rank Application.
  • *MUST have a beginning and an end date that add up to at least 6 months. List only positions served after Life board of review date.
  • The six-month element of the requirement may be met through a combination of non-concurrent positions served in a troop, crew or ship.
• Requirement 5, the Eagle Scout Service Project
  • This creates lots of questions, so we provide detailed information below.

THE EAGLE SCOUT SERVICE PROJECT (EAGLE SCOUT RANK REQUIREMENT #5)

The Eagle Scout Service Project - Project Proposal

Scouts MUST read the Service Project Workbook and then fill out the Project Proposal. The most important guideline that an Eagle candidate must follow is to get approvals on their Project Proposal before beginning detailed planning and work. If you start work without approval, you may be required choose a new project. The process and the approvals take lots of time. Plan ahead! Do not get close to your 18^th birthday to start planning.

Write up your proposal and consult with a parent, relative, Scoutmaster and/or a Project Coach and then SUBMIT your Eagle Project Proposal to your District Eagle Chair (found below by your District name) for review. 

To be approved, a Project Proposal requires signatures from:

• Your unit leader (Scoutmaster, Skipper or Crew Chief)
• Your unit committee (typically Committee Chair)
• Beneficiary (a representative of the organization that will benefit from your project)
• Your District’s Eagle/Advancement committee or an officially appointed District representative. The other signatures can be obtained in any order, but this one must come after the others.

The procedures for the District project approval vary by District. Consult with your Troop’s Scoutmaster or official District representatives for advice.

The District Eagle Chairs are:

Once your project proposal has been approved by your officially appointed District Representative or District Advancement Committee, a copy should be sent to your Scoutmaster, Troop Advancement Chair, the Eagle Chair (if your unit has one) and your unit’s Committee Chair, so they are aware that your project proposal has been approved.

NOTE: INSURANCE-If you are asked for a certificate of insurance for a fundraising event or the actual Eagle Project follow this link here to make this request to Council -can take up to 2 weeks to obtain the required certificate 

The Eagle Scout Service Project - Fundraising

See attachment here for full Fundraising Guidelines -Dated 2025

If fundraising will occur, you must fill out the fundraising application. The application is in the Project Plan section of the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook.  Read Procedures and Limitations on the form for details and exceptions to this requirement.

• If raising less than $500, your District Committee or District Advancement Chair will approve at the time of your proposal review
• Amounts of $500 or more require Council Advancement Committee approval-
  • Only submit this after your project is approved by your District.
• . In this case, send the approved project proposal workbook pages (the Cover page that has your name and project name with pages B through H) and fundraising application (as PDF Attachments) to the Council Service Center Email: ghv.eagles@Scouting.org *Be sure to copy the Unit Leadership on this submission.
  • *e-mail a single, consolidated SCANNED PDF ATTACHMENT (do not send in photos or google documents) Best if done from a Computer Scanner.  Other Helpful Scanning Options: How to Scan to PDF from i-phone: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210336    from Android: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9308884?hl=en

The Eagle Scout Service Project - Prepare Your Project Plan and execute your project

Only after receiving the District approval described above on your Project Proposal, complete the Project Plan and then execute your project. During the project, keep records of dates, times, names of helpers and when they worked, supplies, costs, challenges and successes, etc. Don’t forget to take before and after photos.

The Eagle Scout Service Project - Prepare the Eagle Scout Service Project Report

After completing your project, complete the report section of the Workbook. Document any changes from your plan. Proofread it carefully as your Board of Review will read it. Sign and date the Candidates Promise on the Project Report Page and get signatures from the Benefactor and your Scoutmaster.

Requirement 6.  While a Life Scout, complete a unit leader conference. *This is a formal meeting with the Scoutmaster (or another designated unit leader) to discuss the Scout's progress towards the Eagle rank. -The Scout should be prepared to discuss their completed work, including the service project write-up, and their future goals and aspirations.

Certification by Applicant: Scouts must review the wording above their signature on the application and write the required Statement of Ambitions and Life Purpose, and list of any leadership positions held outside Scouts, list of any Honors and Awards received during service outside Scouts. (can be a simple bullet listing)   If no leadership or Honors & Awards outside Scouting, this should be noted on the submission e-mail.

SIGNATURES: The Scout must first sign the Eagle Rank Application and then obtain the Scoutmaster and Committee Chair Signatures -All must be dated after all Eagle Requirements 1-6 were met.

Parent Signing off on the Eagle Scout Rank Application:

•  The 2025 Guide to Advancement notes " If the unit leader or committee chair is also the Scout's parent, it is recommended they delegate signing the Eagle Scout Rank Application to an assistant unit leader or committee member for additional adult-interaction opportunities for the Scout."

FINALIZE AND SUBMIT YOUR EAGLE SCOUT RANK APPLICATION 

*All applications should be submitted directly by the Scout and not via a third party and at least one unit leader should be copied on the submission along with a parent or guardian. 

• You must complete requirements 1-6 by your 18th birthday.
• You may gather signatures on your application and submit it after you turn 18 but please don’t wait.  *All signatures must be original and cannot be computer-generated or digital, unless they are marked as digitally signed with the proper software.
• Carefully read and complete all sections. You must submit a 100% complete application. Many Scouts have their approval delayed because they’ve submitted an incomplete application.
  • You must:
    • Ensure accuracy of all dates by matching dates in official Scoutbook Plus records, working with troop leadership as needed. Use Scoutbook Plus to pre-populate the application INSTRUCTIONS HERE .   
      • *NOTE: Every registered Scout/Leader/The Parent-who registered their scout, already has an account with an ID # they just need to log in and set up the username and password.  The username and password are the same to log into for my.scouting and Scoutbook Plus.  Follow instructions here-
    • Be certain to list your full name, your phone number and your own email address-*Do not use school e-mails
    • Have applicant, Unit leader and Committee Chair signatures (can be dated after 18^th Birthday)
    • Include your statement of ambitions and life purposes AND a positions and awards listings.  As noted on the application above the Scouts Signature Line "Certification By Applicant" 
  • You do not need to submit any of these with your application:
    • your Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook (this is for your Board of Review)
    • Reference letters (these are for your Board of Review; more info below)
    • blue cards /prior advancement records.  *These may be asked for if something is missing in the digital records
    • NOTE: before scanning in to submit be sure to PRINT OUT  the 2-page application to review all information is legible and not cut off.  If you cut and paste any information it may not format properly, you must type in detailed sections of information to format in the spaces.
  • Submit the application to GHV Council for review and verification by emailing a single, consolidated SCANNED PDF ATTACHMENT *Council needs to be able to print this as a clear copy that will be signed and used at the future Eagle Board of Review (do not send in photos or google documents) Best if done from a Computer Scanner.  Other Helpful Scanning Options: How to Scan to PDF from i-phone: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210336    from Android: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9308884?hl=en
  • Send this e-mail to GHV.EAGLES@scouting.org copying your unit leader and a parent
  • Council will review your application for completeness and will verify all dates.
  • Once Council signs off that the requirements have been met, a verification letter along with the Council signed application will be sent to the Scoutmaster and the District Eagle Coordinator. *Only then will the District begin to work with your Scoutmaster to schedule your Board of Review.

LETTERS OF REFERENCE FOR THE BOARD OF REVIEW

• The Scout is responsible for requesting references--this is an update in the 2025 Guide to Advancement.  Noted in the Guide as a "valuable life lesson".  Here is a Sample Letter the Scout can use
•   Parents and other relatives are strongly discouraged from serving as references.  The current leader and committee chair are not eligible to serve as references; their signature on the application is their endorsement *
• Anyone else of any age may be listed as a reference.
• Requested references may be received by the Scout in a sealed envelope, or sent to a designated unit, district, or council adult for safekeeping until the Eagle Board of Review.
• Sealed letters are to be given to a designated representative of the Board of Review upon arrival of the scheduled Eagle Board.
• The only people authorized to view references are members of the Board of Review. Once the Board of Review has been held (and the Eagle Credentials are received by the Troop) ,the letters should be destroyed by the Chair of the Board of Review if the Scout earns the Eagle Rank. If the Scout does not earn the rank, the references must be returned to the Council office so they are available in case the Scout appeals.
• Electronic submissions are allowed only if all stages of confidentiality at all stages is guaranteed. They are permissible but are strongly discouraged because it is harder to avoid them being shared inappropriately and harder to ensure they are destroyed after the BOR is complete.
• If, after a diligent effort, no response is received on a reference request, the BOR proceeds without it.

BOARD OF REVIEW

• Only after the Council Service Center representative signs your application to verify it is complete, speak with your Scoutmaster about the scheduling of your Eagle Board of Review.
• The Board of Review may occur, without special approval, up to 24 months after the Scout’s 18th birthday.
• Scouts must secure that the required letters of reference will be received in time for the future EBOR and held for safekeeping in sealed envelopes.
• Scouts should bring copies of their Eagle Service Project Workbook – fully signed Proposal, the Plan, the signed Fundraising Application (if applicable) and the Project Report (which should include pictures, logs, etc.). The District Advancement Chair will determine how many copies are required. Discuss expectations with your Scoutmaster and the Chair of the Board of Review.

AFTER THE BOARD OF REVIEW

• If the Scout earns the rank of Eagle Scout, the Chair of the Board of Review and the Council/District Board Representative sign the application
  • As the Eagle application only has space for those two signatures, but since rank advancement (Boards of Review) requires three signatures, the Chair of the Board of Review should also fill out the “Advancement Report #34403” and gather the three signatures. If the meeting was conducted remotely, the board chair may write in the other names. The form is here.  This is a sample of a completed advancement report 
  • In addition, so it is recorded and known who was part of each Eagle Board of Review....on the advancement report in the middle section on any of the lined spaces…PRINT full name of those that conducted the Eagle Board with relevant registered position or other title;   example:  District Member at Large or Community Representative or Troop Parent, etc... ,
• The District Chair of the Board of Review (or designee)  returns the signed 2 page Eagle Rank application and completed advancement report to the Council Service Center. This can be a PDF scanned in copy e-mailed to GHV.Eagles@scouting.org or it can be mailed or dropped off to the Council Service Center.
• Once the Scout Executive reviews/signs off on the application, all gets submitted to the National office for certification.  The receipt of Eagle Credentials from National to Council Office normally takes 2-3 weeks from when the application is submitted .
• Once the Eagle Credentials arrive from National to the Council Service Center, an email will be sent to the Scoutmaster and Committee Chair asking if they want to come and pick up or have mailed.
• A Scout is not officially an Eagle Scout until the National Certification is complete.

SCHOLARSHIP AND RECOGNITION OPPORTUNITIES These two documents are continually updated with information for the Scouts to reach out to for Scholarships and Recognition Opportunities-Document with Links to confirmed sites and Letters sent to us to reach the Scouts

EAGLE PALMS

• On the Eagle Scout Rank emblem Patch sewn on the Youth Scout Uniform
• Attached to the ribbon on the Eagle Scout Medal -Worn on special occasions
• As an Adult- on the Eagle Square Knot

EAGLE COURT OF HONOR

• An Eagle Court of Honor should be scheduled only after the candidate has successfully completed the Eagle Board of Review.
• As noted above, a Scout is not officially an Eagle Scout and no credentials or congratulatory letters will be available until the National Office certifies the application. The Court of Honor must not be held until credentials are received from National-OR Council has confirmed the certification-call or e-mail Council for this confirmation. .
• Eagle Packets are created by Council and picked up by or mailed to a Troop representative. With that in hand, troop leadership can purchase Eagle Kits (medal, patch and pins) from the Scout Shop.
• The Eagle Court of Honor is planned by the Scout Family and his or her unit.

QUESTIONS?

• Council Eagle Contact Information

GHV.Eagles@Scouting.org  / Main Office Phone # 845-566-7300

Direct Assistance for Christine Maurer # 845-762-3801

The Council address-18 Westage Drive, Suite 19 Fishkill, NY 12524