Eagle project question.

[Crossramwedge]

My son was approached by a community orginization and asked if he would be interested in landscaping an area for a community medical clinic that provided free services to people who needed medical care. The building is not built but construction is to begin very soon. All of the landscapeing supplies have been previously donated. He would be planting several small trees, designing and planting a couple of fairly good size plant groupings and may be laying down sod.

 

My question is since all of the supplies have already been donated I am wondering what the District Advancement person would think of that since he does not have to work and gather up donated supplies? Then how would he list them on the project supply list?

[GKlose]

Sounds like a perfect question for the District Advancement person (I'd guess that answers to this question vary widely from person to person). But also consider that the supplies already gathered may not be 100% of what is needed. An enterprising young Life scout may want to inventory what has already been gathered, and then think of what else might be needed, including tools.

 

Something similar is going on in our troop right now. One recent Eagle Scout built a trail (actually uncovered a relatively unused trail that already existed), along with installing a picnic area, and (I think) a small bridge. A kiosk was to be supplied by the local conservation commission, but it wasn't delivered in time.

 

The head of the conservation commission called me a few months ago, and told me that now had several new kiosks (for several trails in town), and was looking for a Scout searching for a project, to install them. I passed it along to our committee chair, who passed it to the next Life Scout in line for a project. I've stayed away, but as far as I know he is following up on that request.

 

Guy

[scoutldr]

As long as he can show adequate leadership in a "Project Manager" role, I don't think it matters how the supplies got there...fundraising just won't be part of his project. Sounds like they already know what they want and where they want it, and are just looking for someone to provide grunt labor. The challenge will be to show enough leadership and planning.

[Eagle92]

We have very similar Eagle projects in this area. Our larges manufacturing plant created a wildlife habitat and camping area out of a parcel of land. They also donated some supplies, when the economy was good, but had no labor force. Well I beleive 3 or 4 projects were creating campsites: shelters, tables, waterlines etc. The Candidate inventoried the supplies, got additional ones if needed, created the layout using health codes, got it approved by all parties, organizewd the labor force, etc.

[shortridge]

And if it doesn't meet Eagle project standards, it could still be a great troop or patrol service project.

[Stosh]

Fund raising does NOT have to be part of an Eagle Project.

 

I had one boy survey military tombstones for the Veteran's Administration and report on their condition. He then applied for 30+ new stones which the VA provides free for the veterans. He was not expected to even install them, the sextons of the cemeteries are responsible for that.

 

A lot of work, a lot of planning, a lot of coordination, a lot of follow-up, but no fund raising.

 

He did the job well enough to make the front page of the second section of the state-wide newspaper.

 

Stosh

[John-in-KC]

Agree with Stosh and GKlose on this one. EagleSon's project required NO money, just time, and he was able to get parking passes for the folks who donated labor on work days.

[red feather]

Sounds like a possible project. Ditto on the planning and execution of supervising the labor force. Might want to consider as part of the project the sending of Thank You letters to those who donated the material. Could be a good touch.

 

yis

[sherminator505]

I would have some doubts about this flying as an Eagle project. You should be sure that there is an adequate opportunity for the Eagle candidate to show leadership in setting up the project and playing a part in the planning. If the plans are already laid out and all the Eagle candidate had to do was call on other people to show up, then there would be some doubt in my mind as to whether the candidate had the opportunity to demonstrate leadership.

[scoutingagain]

"He would be planting several small trees, designing and planting a couple of fairly good size plant groupings and may be laying down sod. "

 

Depending on the potential hours of work and number of people likely to be involved this project would likely be approved in our District. In the Eagle project workbook just list the estimated value of the materials that were donated, and indicate they were donated by the benefiting organization. There have been several similar projects performed in our District where materials are purchased by a school or church. The Eagle candidate usually arranges for delivery based on his project schedule, designs the landscaping with approval of the benefiting organization and organizes and leads a labor force. Most have been a few hundred labor hours when all is said and done.

 

Get some before and after pictures for the workbook. For the project plan, it would be good to have a sketch of the finished area.

 

SA

 

SA