Raising Kids Activities Parent's Guide to Eagle Scouts Everything Parents Need to Know About Their Boy Scout's Path to Eagle By Jackie Burrell Updated on June 25, 2020 Fact checked by Elaine Hinzey, RD Print The Eagle award is Boy Scouts' highest honor and the culmination of years of dedication and work. It can help bring a young teenager to manhood, instill in him some of the finest principles upon which Boy Scouting is based - and drive parents to new heights of frustration and distraction along the way. Ideally, Boy Scouts is a boy-driven enterprise and the path to Eagle is one your son completes on his own. In reality, troop leadership is critically important and most parents are involved in the path to Eagle in at least an advisory capacity. So here's everything you need to know about the process. 1 An Eagle Scout Timeline Almantas Vilbikas / EyeEm / Getty Images An Eagle Scout applicant must amass 21 or more merit badges, create and complete an Eagle project, write essays, request recommendations, compile an application binder and undergo an Eagle board of review. Here's what to do and when. 2 The 12 Badges Required for Eagle Boy Scouts is all about camping, hiking, and adventure, but it's also about acquiring the skills to not only survive in the wilderness but to contribute to society as a whole. Eagle Scouts must complete a minimum of 21 merit badges, including 12 in these specific areas. 3 11 Insider Tips on Completing Eagle-Required Badges In the world of Boy Scouts, merit badges can be adventures, but they also direct a course of study. That said, some Eagle-required badges are considerably more fun than others. Some can be done in a matter of days, while others take three months, minimum. And some are best done at Boy Scout camp, not at home. So here are 11 insider tips on how to get those 12 Eagle-required badges done in a timely fashion, without driving either the Eagle applicant or his parents crazy. 4 16 Sample Eagle Projects From schoolyard construction and trailheads to bicycle rodeos, here's a list of 16 sample Eagle projects, which have been approved by various troops and councils across the nation. 5 The Eagle Scout Binder The very word "binder" sounds so homeroom-ish, but the Eagle binder *is* the application. It contains everything needed to advance to the Eagle Board of Review, from resumes and project spreadsheets to letters of recommendation and the all-important approval forms. Here's what needs to go in there. 1 Source Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Boy Scouts of America. Eagle Scouts rank requirements 2019. By Jackie Burrell Jackie Burrell is a former education and parenting reporter, experienced in issues around parenting young adults as a mother of four. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Helpful Report an Error Other Submit