Eagle Scout:
Guidance for Parents

What to Expect

• Expect to be given direction from your scout during his project. Again, he is the project leader and is expected to lead all adult and youth volunteers throughout the project.

• Expect there to be hiccups along the way. Be a source of encouragement and guidance, but resist any temptation to problem-solve for your scout. Problem-solving is a valuable life skill that your scout should work through directly, should problems arise.

What to Avoid

• Offering to finance the project, except as a temporary bridge until reimbursed by the sponsoring organization. While fundraising should not be a primary focus for the project, the scout is still responsible to establishing how the project will be funded.  Your scout needs to initiate discussions with his benefactor and investigate his own scout funds (scout bucks) before resorting to mom and dad’s money.

• Developing the plans for his project.

• Building the prototype for his project.

• Scheduling tasks, such as the pickup, delivery, and disposal of materials.

• Supervising his project.  You can help with the manual labor and help transport people and materials, but it is your scout’s project to lead. Let him lead.

How you Can Help

• Be cheerleaders and motivators throughout your scout’s journey to getting to Eagle.

• Encourage your scout to meet with his Eagle Coach.  As a non-parent, the Advisor can often have an easier time communicating with scouts regarding their scouting progress. They are familiar with all the necessary steps that need to be completed and can offer helpful guidance.

• Pay for food during his Eagle project. Snacks/drinks are typically provided by the scout during his project, especially if it is during hot weather. Depending on the length of the work day(s), lunch might also be included.

• Provide moral support with completing requirements, completing his project, and finishing all necessary paperwork.

• Help order materials for his project

• Help take pictures during his work day(s).  

• Assist in project planning, only to the extent you can provide technical expertise specifically related to the project. Remember that this is your scout’s project, not yours.

• Attend the meetings between your scout and his Eagle Advisor, but just listen and do not actively participate in the discussions.

• Plan on accompanying your scout to his Board of Review. While you cannot be in the room with him during the review itself, you will want to be there to congratulate him immediately following the meeting (or to console him in the unlikely event something goes wrong). It is a monumental moment in his life. Pictures are typically taken at the conclusion of the review.