Eagle Gifts from Troop?

[Scoutingmama 10]

We are a new troop that just had our first Life Scout pass his BOR. Do troops normally give a gift to their Eagles? If your troop does, what kind of gift do you give?

 

TIA,

Dawn

[ccjj 13]

Our troop just had its first Eagle Court of Honor. The troop committee decided to purchase the Trail to Eagle plaque with all the rank badges on it for each Eagle Scout.

 

Since we had to rent a hall for the CoH, the troop also decided to put up the deposit for the hall to help out.

 

My son enjoyed his CoH, and we had just over 100 people there.

 

ccjj

[SemperParatus 1]

Our Troop pays for the Eagle Scout Presentation Kit (badge, medal, parent and mentor pins), the embroidered Eagle Scout neckerchief and slide, and membership in the National Eagle Scout Association. We also provide a $50 stipend to the family to apply to reception expenses. Totals $100 per scout.

[scoutingagain 20]

The unit I serve typically buys a cake for the ECOH, the Eagle Award kit, and Flowers for the mother of the Eagle.

 

SA

[jr56 92]

In the past the unit I was associated with contributed 50.00 towards the cost of conducting the Eagle COH.

I would personally purchase the Eagle Neckerchief and present it to the new Eagle.

[John-in-KC 311]

Eagle Presentation Kit, sufficient Eagle patches for all his uniforms (we have some kids who do camp staff and have more than 1 uniform), and Eagle Neckerchief.

 

We also help get the State Legislature resolutions of congratulation and the Congressional resolutions of congratulation.

 

We also provide an experienced Eagle COH parent to assist in planning the ECOH. We give the young men as much flexibility in who and how as we possibly can.

[hotdesk 10]

Our scouts get to use their Scout Account for their Eagle Court of Honor Expenses (even if it's held after they turn 18). This includes programs, invitations, cake, eating ware, etc.

 

The troop will purchase the Eagle Presentation Kit and each Eagle's name is engraved on a small "name tag" that is put on the troop's Eagle Plague. We have a Life to Eagle Coordinator that works with the scouts in planning their Eagle Court of Honor.

 

Many of our scout families will give the new Eagle Scout a card and some money.

[Bob White 20]

"Do troops normally give a gift to their Eagles? If your troop does, what kind of gift do you give?"

 

There are thousands and thousands of troops in the BSA each with their own ways of celebrating Eagle Scouts. There is no right or wrong thing to do as a gift. It is the choice of the unit. A good place to get ideas of what is available is online at scoutstuff.org or at the National Eagle Scout Association website @ www.nesa.org

 

[Scoutingmama 10]

There are thousands and thousands of troops in the BSA each with their own ways of celebrating Eagle Scouts. There is no right or wrong thing to do as a gift. It is the choice of the unit.

 

 

Bob, I know there is no right or wrong way, but since we are a new troop and the only Eagle we currently have Eagled over 30 years ago, we just wanted to get a feel for what the thousands of other troops are out there are doing. We want to start traditions and we want them to be tradirions we can keep when our troop is lucky enought to be 50 years old.

 

Thanks for the ideas so far!

 

Dawn

[Trevorum 24]

We do the same as John and hotdesk.

 

Also, a nice idea would be to take this opportunity to invest in your troop's first perpetual plaque with the new Eagle's name nicely engraved on the topmost plate.

[SMEagle819 10]

We buy the new Eagle a NESA neckerchief. Our quondam scoutmaster makes each Eagle a neckerchief slide out of walnut in the shape of a square knot to replace the one earned by the scout when he became tenderfoot (same slide, but made of pine). We do have an Eagle plaque, now on its second board, that the Eagle's name goes on.

[John-in-KC 311]

Agree with Trev on starting a perpetual plaque. Many units have this in a prominent place ... at their Chartered Partner! (Helps them to see what's happening with the youth organization they sponsor).

 

Also agree with scoutingagain about buying flowers for Moms.

 

Some of the things we've discussed here aren't quite gifts, but are expenses the unit needs to plan to absorb, or to pass along ... I know one Troop which charges the Eagle family a $200 fee for its ECOH package

[Scoutingmama 10]

John, That budget part (planning on the troops part)is part of the reason I asked the question. The reality is a new troop doesn't have money... we were blessed with spring popcorn sales ( first time our district has ever done spring sales) so now we have some operating cash ( helpful, eh )

 

In addition to this Eagle who just met his BOR, we have two down the pike ( one who only lacks his project) that will complete within the next year. So, we need to start planning for that now!

 

The other reason I asked, is because we really do want to start traditions. It's nice to see what others are doing, if for no other reason than a board from which to jump off and start our own.

 

Great helpful answers!

[SemperParatus 1]

Dawn,

 

In addition to the Troop gifts mentioned previously, our Troop has developed some other traditions of things that happen at our ECOHs.

 

The Scout removes tape covering his engraved plate on our Eagle plaque.

 

The Scout signs our Eagle Banner that includes the signatures of all of our prior Eagle Scouts.

 

A blue star is added to our Troop Seal to honor each Eagle Scout.

 

When the time comes for the badge to be pinned on the Scout, we ask that he stand on our Circle of Honor - basically a dial constructed from a 36" pine tabletop with a large BSA decal covering it. Each Eagle Scout from our Troop has also signed the dial.

 

An American flag flown at the site of his first summer camp (or other place of significance) is presented. With each fold of the flag, a point of the scout law is stated.

 

Our Troop is now 8 years old with 8 Eagle Scouts (soon to be 12). It is important to start building traditions that can be carried on for the decades to follow.

 

Congratulations.

[scoutmaster52 10]

The current Troop That I'm with buys a embroided hoodie with the eagle medal over the heart with the writing Troop 52 Eagle Scout.