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Merit Badge Forum Internet Advancement STEM
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Due to COVID-19 restrictions special advancement plans have been put into place to
insure we are adhering to the BSA and CDC guidelines.
IH District Eagle Scout Service Project Approval
Schedule: Project proposals can be submitted electronically at any time. Project reviews and
approvals will take place on or about the first and third Thursdays of each month.
Process: Please follow these steps to submit your Eagle Service Project Proposal and receive approval by the district.
1. Make sure you are using the most current project workbook dated January 2021. You can get a copy from BSA at https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/512-927_fillable.pdf or from HOAC at https://www.hoacbsa.org/advancement-resources-forms/.
2. After you have completed the proposal and received all of the signatures except the one from the district, scan the proposal section and signature page of the service project workbook in to a PDF file.
3. If the scout plans on doing a fundraising, please scan and include that page too. It is not required to submit this form now, but can submit the form later if they decide to use a fundraiser.
4. Send the PDF files to Mr. Quinn Greenhalgh at IHEagleProcess@gmail.com.
a. Include your name and unit number in the body of the email.
b. Make sure to copy your parents and unit leader (as required by the Guide to Safe Scouting) on the email.
This also lets them know where you are on your project.
5. A member of the District Advancement Committee will review your project proposal. If they have any questions, they will reply to All on the email.
6. Once the project is approved, the committee member will reply to All on the email with two signed documents. Those documents are the signed copy of the Signature Page from the workbook, and PDF copy of the Iron Horse District Eagle Service Project Approval Form. Please add both documents to your Eagle Scout Project binder.
IH District Eagle Scout Final Application Turn-In
Schedule: Final application turn-in can be submitted electronically at any time. They will be processed on or
about the first and third Thursdays of each month.
Process: Please follow these steps to turn in your Application, Statement of Life’s Ambition, and Project
Workbook to request your Eagle Board of Review.
1. Scan the Project Report section of the service project workbook in to a PDF file.
2. Scan the Eagle Application and the Statement of Life’s Abstentions in to a PDF file.
3. Send the scanned copies to Mr. Quinn Greenhalgh at IHEagleProcess@gmail.com.
a. Include your name and unit number in the body of the email.
b. Make sure to copy your parents and unit leader (as required by the Guide to Safe Scouting).
4. A member of the District Advancement Committee will review Project Report and Application. If they have any
questions, they will reply to All on the email.
5. The district will submit the all applications to the HOAC Office to be approved so that the board of review can
be conducted.
6. Once the application has been approved by HOAC an email will go out to the scout, parents, and unit leaders letting them know of the status. Important: We have 3 options for holding your board of review. The normal third Thursday of each month will be the default, but if you or your family want, you may choose either Video Conference or you can select a different date and location for your board of review. We prefer that all boards are held during the third week each of the month. The unit will need to schedule and arrange for a location if needed when any option other than the normal board night is selected. Coordinated that with Mr. Quinn Greenhalgh.
7. All Letters of Recommendations must be emailed by the Unit Leader or the author of the letter to Mr. Quinn Greenhalgh at IHEagleProcess@gmail.com. No paper copies will be accepted. Having electronic copies will make doing the video boards of review easier.
We are now able to start holding in person Eagle Boards of Review on our regular 3rd Thursday of each month in limited numbers, at the Colonial Presbyterian Church.
There will be no project approvals or final paperwork submission that evening, please follow the instructions above.
We must keep our numbers small therefore boards are the only thing that will happen that evening.
Below are the Pre-COVID procedures. Please see above for the updated
IH District Eagle Scout Project Approval and Final Submission Process
Project Approvals: Iron Horse District Advancement Committee Members will review project proposals on the third Thursday of the month (except in the month of July) at Colonial Presbyterian Church at 135th and Quivira. We will start at 6:45 PM, but please don't send your Scouts earlier than that. This just adds to the stress for the Scout. Since our team is comprised solely of volunteers, the speed at which we can review Eagle proposals depends entirely on how many volunteers we have at that evening. The Scout should have:
- The contact and proposal section completed, including signatures.
- Neatly arranged in a three-ring binder.
Final Eagle Workbook Turn-in: We will also accept Final Eagle workbook turn-in on the third Thursday of the month (except in the month of July) at Colonial Presbyterian Church at 135th and Quivira. This is when the Eagle Candidate has completed everything and is ready for us to schedule the Eagle Board. This is not his Eagle Board of Review! The Scout does not need to show up in full uniform with all board members in tow! The Scout will need:
- Their completed Eagle workbook (planning and final report), with final pictures and all required signatures.
- Their completed Eagle Application, including committee signatures and scoutmaster conference date.
- Their statement of life goals and ambitions.
- Their letters of recommendation (optional; these may be brought to the Board of Review if that is more convenient).
If everything is approved, Iron Horse District Advancement Committee leadership will keep the workbook and application at this meeting and, on the Scout's behalf, that district volunteer leadership will submit the application to the Heart of America Council Service Center for approval before the Board of Review.
Eagle Boards of Review: Eagle Boards of Review are held on the third Thursday of the month at Colonial Presbyterian Church at 135th and Quivira. We hold boards at 6:30 and 8:00. Candidates are notified 3 to 4 weeks in advance as to their time slot. Some adjustments can be accommodated. Final reviews handed in are normally scheduled for review the following month. An example would be Final reviews in January are submitted to council for approval, and the boards are scheduled for February. Again, there are always exceptions, but we try to stick to this for consistency. This gives the candidate time to do the following:
- Notify their troop/crew as to their desire to sit his Eagle Board of Review, and, according to unit policy, have three board members selected. (Many units have unique processes to select Board Members).
- Arrange for letters of recommendation to be delivered to a troop contact for eventual delivery to the Board chair on the night of the Board.
- Arrange for "friend of scout" (optional).
- Arrange for their parent/guardians to be present for pictures afterward.
If the Scout has a successful Eagle Board of Review, Iron Horse District Advancement Committee leadership will take the signed and approved application and the completed information form (the Scout will get this form at the Board of Review) the Heart of America Council Service Center to be recorded and submitted to National.
Situations often arise with varying mitigating circumstances that may hinder a Scouts's advancement toward the rank of Eagle Scout. Conditions that may hinder advancement could include special needs (physical, mental, behavioral, and/or emotional needs), a Scout approaching the age of 18, or a Scout who has completed everything required except his Board of Review who is past the age of 18. Specific questions or concerns about these circumstances or others concerning advancement to Eagle Scout for a Scout should be addressed as quickly as possible to either Doug Machamer, IH Advancement Chair or Quinn Greenhalgh, IH Eagle Board of Review Chair
Additional Forms and Resources for work on the Eagle Scout Rank can be found by clicking HERE!
The Merit Badge program allows any Scouts BSA or any qualified Venturer to learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers as you earn merit badges. Scouts will also pick-up some valuable life skills along the way as they earn these merit badges.
Youth, are you looking for a Merit Badge Counselor? Click HERE to search for a Merit Badge Counselor!
Merit Badge Counselors work with Scouts on their selected merit badge(s). The Merit Badge Counselor is qualified to teach the merit badges he/she offers to teach, usually as a result of a professional background in the subject matter, being a hobbyist in the selected merit badge, or having a great deal of personal experience with the merit badge. A Merit Badge Counselor must complete the following requirements to be a Merit Badge Counselor:
Please contact Mike Schmitt (mikeschmitt01@gmail.com) the Iron Horse District Merit Badge Counselor Trainer by email or phone (913.948.1116) and a training session can be arranged for you or your troop.
For additional information about serving as a Merit Badge Counselor or to contact the Heart of America Council for more details, click HERE!
Iron Horse District holds an annual Merit Badge Forum, thank you to all the Scouts and Counselors that participated in the 2021 Virtual Merit Badge Forum!
Reporting advancement is a requirement of the Boy Scouts of America, and entering it directly into the BSA system through an Internet portal is the most straightforward way to get it done. Internet Advancement has served as the portal since 2006. Internet Advancement has been available for reporting Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, and Sea Scout ranks; Venturing advancement awards; merit badges; and many other awards available across the BSA programs.
All advancement must be reported to local councils. This is important in keeping member records up to date, and it assures an accurate count in the Journey to Excellence performance recognition program. When this is done, it alleviates issues in documenting progress as Scouts submit Eagle applications or transfer from one unit to another within a council. Consistent and constant reporting also assures accurate records for use by commissioners, other district and council volunteers, and the National Council.
These are critical in evaluating unit health, adjusting service delivery, and researching changes in programs and requirements. It is recommended that units report advancement at least monthly with a final annual report each December. These reporting cycles are important because they support local and National Council data collection for the Journey to Excellence program as well as statistical analysis.
Currently, the Heart of America Council is developing is STEM program offerings. For more on our STEM Camps, click HERE!
If you are interested in becoming a Supernova Mentor, click HERE!
Please look forward to some new and exciting information from the Iron Horse District STEM Team to help you provide your unit with some additional programs!
Zac Lavicky
IH STEM Chair
lavickyz@gmail.com
National and council awards may be presented to members of Scouting for displaying unusual heroism, skill or bravery made for outstanding and unusual acts. Details of the various awards can be found by clicking HERE!
Several awards for service by adults to Scouting and to other organizations while a Scouter are available. Click the links below for more information on all these various awards: