21 Ideas For Eagle Scout Service Projects

by Dave Tracewell
Senior Editor

The following are some ideas that can help you in choosing an appropriate Eagle Project. There is no minimum time requirement set by the National Office of the Boy Scouts of America, but the project should be of “lasting value” and should “demonstrate leadership” by the Life Scout. The project should also be helpful or fulfill a need of the religious institution, school, or community. While the following projects were all successful Eagle Scout Projects for other Eagle Scouts, this is not a complete list and many others have been, and can be just as successful.

Bike Trail Map –
Design, publish and distribute a map of bicycle trails, including “bicycle lanes” on public streets within your community.

Bike Safety Rodeo –
Organize and conduct a bicycle safety event within your school or community. Include bicycle maintenance ins-pection, licensing, and safe riding seminars.

Hiking & Riding Trail Map –
Design, publish and distribute a map of hiking and horseriding trails for a park or wilderness area in your community. Possibly provide a multi–lingual version of the map for non–English speaking members of your community.

Emergency Supply Containers –
Provide or build a storage container, and stock it with emergency supplies for local schools. This project could involve developing an inventory control system to monitor and replace perishable water, food and medical supplies, as well as getting local agencies or organizations to sponsor certain aspects of the project.

Collect Children’s Books –
Collect children’s books and toys and setup a play area at a public hospital neighborhood clinic.

Flag Pole –
Build or provide a flag pole for your school, park, or local community building.

Gravestone or Marker Restoration –
Repair and/or replace broken gravestones in a local historic graveyard. Help identify lost or stolen gravestones and markers.

Drowning Prevention Class –
Hold a Drowning Prevention Class in your community. Distribute drowning prevention bro-chures at shopping centers and in neighborhoods. Work with local agencies to get information out to the public.

Paint Fire Hydrants –
Paint fire hydrants and clear away any high grass and/or debris around them in your community.

Historical Museum Exhibit –
Create and build a museum display concerning local history.

Fingerprint Children –
Working with your local Police depart-ment, conduct a program for children about dangers of abduction and fingerprint them for their parents

Acquire Computers –
get local companies to donate old computers and software to local schools. Make sure the computers are in good working order and have the proper software installed. Deliver and set up the computers in the schools.

Historic Rehabilitation –
Restore or rehabilitate an old historic structure or site within your community.

Trail Building –
Build or make a trail in a local park or wilderness area and install trail signposts for a Community Hiking and Riding Trail System.

Build Benches or Tables –
Build new benches or tables for a local park. Possibly repair broken benches or tables, and refinish them.

Historical Markers –
Make and install, or restore signs identifying local historic landmarks.

General Repairs –
Repair fencing or sidewalks for your local school or church

Repair a Church Sign –
Repair a church sign and relandscaped around it.

Handicap Ramp –
Build a handicap ramp or special access for your school or church.

Street Number Stenciling –
Stencil street numbers on the curbs so police and firefighters can more readily find addresses in your community in case of emergencies.

Storm Drain Labeling/Stenciling –
Paint anti-pollution message on curbs at storm drain inlets.

Obviously, these are just a few suggestions. There are literally hundreds of other ideas that may be better suited to you and your community. These ideas simply give you an idea of some of the Eagle Projects that have been done successfully. Some rules you need to keep in mind are that your service project cannot be done for your Troop, District, or Boy Scout Council. This includes Council Boy Scout Camps. They cannot be for a friend or family member, or for the Scout either (cleaning out a Scoutmaster’s garage is not a good Eagle Project). Remember, this is the Life Scout’s Eagle Project; not the Scoutmaster’s, his dad’s, or anyone else. It should reflect something that is of “lasting value” to the community, should be planned and coordinated by the Scout, and performed by Scouts, Scouter’s, and volunteers. The Life Scout should show leadership in directing the people who are helping him complete the project, and should keep accurate records of every ones time and contributions.