Good Ole Buff

I agree that it would be difficult to get people in the Troop to help at an Eagle project if they dont know who you are and that could be an incentive but he wasnt planning on really inviting the Troop to help anyway. He knows he isnt required to have Scout help so he was going to rustle it up somewhere else. I told him it was his project and it is his right to do that but we have chewed a lot of the same dirt together and we feel like we have a lot of time and interest invested in helping him do the best he can. We want to be there to support him (and to make sure the project goes well). I

Hairy cow? You must be confusing this stately, beautiful animal with something else! The buffalo is a proud, noble beast. The mere mention of the name congers up thoughts of the vast and wild American west, majestic power, and thundering hooves. The lowly beaver, on the other hand, was chosen to represent..well, give me a minute and Im sure I can think of something appropriate. They made great hats at one time I understand. :-) Seriously, I appreciate your comments. I have always had a bit of a problem with kids that have come back at the last minute to complete their Eagle because

Thanks to you for the reply. I guess I do get a little hung up and I agree that it should be a far wider lens. I have been trying to take that view more and more and convince the hard cases in my Troop of the same. Scouting is a small part of the whole, as you have said probably 1% or less. On the other hand I have a hard time extrapolating the benefits of the Scout Law in his everyday life without a full consideration of it in his Scouting life especially when BSAs own definitions cover both. Does his everyday life take president over Scouting because he spends most of his time outside o

Just to be clear it is not attendance that is the issue but his attitude of every man for himself. As I stated before, I understand that attendance and Scout spirit, as defined in the handbook, is what it is as related to everyday life. That is something that has taken YEARS for me to come to grips with and awhile to sink into my skull. I have also researched the 12 a lot to see what the official definitions are and was surprised that, while a lot of Troop sites will proudly list them, many dont define them so, to help answer the question of what part of the law I think he not living up to,

I really appreciate your input and experience. This is a 15 year old that has met every requirement for Eagle, including a leadership position, except his project. He has no interest in Scouts except for getting the rank that he knows will help him down the road and is vocal that once he gets his, he is out (at least he is being honest about his motivation). I have also have read with interest and agree that Scout spirit is what Scout spirit is, nothing more and nothing less but how can his attitude be consistent to living the law and oath in your everyday life. I want the rewards and dont

I've read with great pains comments on both Scout Spirit and attendance and agree we should not add or subtract from what the handbook describes both to be. I have a young man that has been absent for about a year that is coming back to get his Eagle. Great! I'm all for that will help him anyway I can. He will not participate in meetings except to show up to talk about his project and has said he is only coming now to get his Eagle, then he is out of here. Knowing what I know it is still hard to say this is living according to the law and oath. Is he active? Yep, he's chartered so he is ac