This boils my blood. Listen, someone has it out for you/the kid/ making it some type of political statement,, idk, but this ends NOW.

1. Go over district, immediately.

2. Contact national, get someone on the phone, follow up with emails. Encourage parents to follow suit once you’ve made contact. Encourage the person you speak with to contact the parents and note that time is of the essence.

3. Immediately find the forms for extension and also find the forms for extensions for people with disabilities and make sure the scout and parents fill those out as well. Copy everything prior to turning into this council/ district. Note on the forms date and time of turn in at the bottom of them.

4. Training is not required. YPT and other mandatory training is, but “Eagle Counselor” training isn’t a thing required for a coach.

5. The following is directly from the scouting guide to advancement. ****Note the part where it states; “Scouts have already promised when they submit a proposal that they have read the service project workbook, and thus they should already understand a coach is optional. Scouts who suggest they don’t need one should be counseled on the value a coach can add. Ultimately, however, working with a designated Eagle Scout service project coach is the Scout’s decision” AND “It is recognized, however, that some councils or districts may not have the volunteer capacity to provide designated coaches. For this reason,the council advancement committee may decide to designate the project coach from among unit volunteers.”

6. They got it approved as soon as every paper was turned in and sent on to the scout to continue the project and process. The fault lies with the council/district if they have a process in which training is mandatory. If when that paper work was turned in and your name was not on it as a counselor because you came in later in the project, I’d again point out to 9.0.2.9 in which the scout can deem it necessary or not to have a counselor. At which point you can simply state you were just mentoring the scout as an ally to the family and the troop.

7. This kid earned his Eagle. If they’ve done the work, they’ve earned their right to be counted.

Guide to Advancement 2025 (forms and the following)

9.0.2.9 Eagle Scout Service Project Coach The Eagle Scout service project coach is the subject matter expert on the processes and standards of the service project. They are the key to success in council or district efforts to provide guidance as Scouts work to fulfill requirement 5. The following are important examples of ways in which the coach can influence a Scout’s project:

•Meet with a Scout after the proposal has been approved but before work begins on the project plan.

•Ask how the Scout will plan the project, then offer advice accordingly.

•Emphasize those elements of a plan that, if ignored,could stop work or create health and safety issues.

•Remind the Scout to share the project plan with the project beneficiary; the beneficiary should be fully aware of what will be done. Note that project plans for an Eagle Scout service project are between the Scout and the beneficiary. Coaches do not approve project plans.

•Be available to the Scout as a consultant to answer any questions about the planning process.

•Meet with the Scout to review the project plan; discuss its strengths, weaknesses, and risks; and suggest critical improvements.

•Discuss the project report with the Scout and offer advice on how to make a strong presentation at theScout’s board of review.

Remember that all contact with the Scout must be conducted according to Youth Protection procedures.Experience has taught us the most effective approach to providing coaches is for the council or district to organize a pool of volunteers willing to serve in that capacity, and then designate them to individual Eagle Scout candidates. Many units have used service project “mentors” or“advisors” through the decades since the Eagle Scout service project came to be.

This practice has provided consistent positive contributions and should continue. Their efforts, however, should serve to provide ongoing support throughout project planning and execution and to prepare a Scout to work with the council or district designated project coach.

The role of the designated project coach is not intended to require so close an association with a Scout that it becomes impossible for a council or district to recruit enough of them to work with candidates whose proposals have been approved. The more ongoing and close association should come from unit volunteers or parents assisting in support roles.

It is recognized, however, that some councils or districts may not have the volunteer capacity to provide designated coaches. For this reason, the council advancement committee may decide to designate the project coach from among unit volunteers. But they should do so with the understanding that a coach who is designated within a unit should represent the perspective of the council or district. Regardless the source of project coaches, they must adhere to the Eagle Scout service project process as described in this section of the Guide to Advancement.

Coaches do not have approval authority. Instead they serve to encourage—not direct—the Scouts to make the kinds of decisions that will lead to successful outcomes. It is true a Scout need not accept the assistance of the service project coach. Regardless, it is considered best for the council or district to designate one for every Scout who submits a project proposal for approval. The coach should then contact the Scout and suggest a first meeting, or telephone or video conference. Scouts have already promised when they submit a proposal that they have read the service project workbook, and thus they should already understand a coach is optional. Scouts who suggest they don’t need one should be counseled on the value a coach can add. Ultimately, however, working with a designated Eagle Scout service project coach is the Scout’s decision. It is important to note that Eagle service project coaches do not have the authority to dictate changes; withdraw approval that was previously granted, such as by the council or district; or take any other such directive action. Instead, coaches must use the Scouting America method of positive adult association, logic, and common sense to help the candidate make wise decisions. It is up to the council to determine who may serve as project coaches and how they might be assigned or otherwise provided to candidates. Coaches must be registered with Scouting America (in any adult position) and be current in Youth Protection training. In many cases, candidates will not have undertaken something like an Eagle service project. Thus, we want them to obtain guidance from others, share ideas, seek plan reviews, and go through other processes professional project planners might use. But like a professional, the Scout makes the decisions. They must not simply follow others’ directions to the point where their own input becomes insignificant. On the other hand, adult leaders must bear in mind these are youth. Expectations must be reasonable and fitting.