He is helping a family member that he typically helps. earn the Eagle Scout Award, a Boy Scout must complete dozens of requirements over a period of several years. It is run separately by the national Boy Scouts of America organization, and not by our local council. There’s no verbiage allowing us to limit the project to a given opportunity. There appears to be two issues related to this discussion topic: In the Voice of Scouting article “Scouting and How Good Turns Have Blessed America - National BSA Good Turns”, By Darryl Alder, Apr 28, 2017, Mr, Alder quotes BSA’s first Chief Scout Executive, James E. West, who in 1928, believed that there was a, difference between normal household and other chores, and actual Good Turns. During these challenging times, the Boy Scouts of America needs you more than ever. MAIL: 1325 W. Walnut Hill Lane, Irving, TX 75015-2401. We turn to the BSA’s Advancement Team for the full explanation. My inclination is to find out more about helping his grandfather take the trees down. On the other hand, with my own sons, I’ve usually (not always) sent their scoutmaster (or the committee chair, if he’s absent) e-mail briefly describing any proposed service, and never had a project disapproved. Online member registration for new adults leaders will be available as of August 15, 2020. A couple more ideas I did not see listed: Good Turns can be big or small (Scout Handbook). The project Plan, lead, and carry out one significant project in natural resource conservation, from one of the project categories. Here are some more examples of conservation service projects (under the Environmental Dimension of the Messengers of Peace award): https://www.scouting.org/international/messengers-of-peace/service-project-ideas/. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! [ Emphasis added ] The Award is made for noteworthy service of exceptional character to youth by registered Scout Volunteers within the territory … As of June 6, 2017, online member registration for new Scouts to join Scout units in the Occoneechee Council is available. Basically, if it helps conserve the environment in some way, then it can probably count as a conservation-related service project. One of the requirements for advancement for Life Rank is to have at least six service hours that are preapproved by the scoutmaster - three of which are conservation. What is the BSA policy for this? For a service project to be considered for a William T. Hornaday award, it must be a conservation project. Life, requirement 4: Six hours of service, at least three of which are conservation-related (changed from six hours, period) While a Star Scout, participate in six hours of service through one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. The Council Administrative Office is closed. My.Scouting.org is a portal for adults and leaders providing access to their account data, online training, and more. The part I’d be worried about is it being for his own grandfather. The Boy Scouts of America, acting through the National Court of Honor, award the Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service to youth. Acceptable goals with activity throughout the program: “I will volunteer as a counselor at a scout camp for 12 days. Here’s the official language from the requirements: (Life Scouts plan an Eagle Scout service project, which is its own separate form of service project.). The short answer: The Scoutmaster is correct. Just a heads up, though - all content, information, and opinions shared on this forum are those of the author, not the BSA. Community service is sometimes offered as an alternative to facing jail time. Also, please take note of this line in the Guide to Advancement: “Counting service hours for school or elsewhere in the community and also for advancement is not considered double counting since the hours are counted only once for advancement purposes.”. Scout service project, and some believe that an Eagle Scout service project is the largest project a Scout will ever undertake. I will learn about and practice good conservation of soil, waters, forests, minerals, grasslands, wildlife, and energy. I found this in the Scout Handbook in the section on the Outdoor Code (in the Outdoor Ethics section): Be conservation-minded. © 2021, Boy Scouts of America. Service to Council Scout Camps make a great conservation project and help keep our camps in the kind of great condition that will benefit scouts for years to come. This forum has a treasure trove of great info – Scouters helping Scouters! This also includes nonprofit daycare centers that provide childcare to the general public if substantially all the childcare is provided to enable parents and … If a Scout, say, builds a house with their church youth group or delivers meals with their student council, can those hours count toward Scouts BSA rank advancement? Projects can take many forms. You might take part in a community cleanup; repair a place of worship, a museum, or the home of an elderly person; improve a wildlife habitat; volunteer at a hospital or with a public safety group; organize a recycling effort; or conduct a clothing pickup or food drive.”. I was just hoping to find something clearly defined from the BSA. The intent behind service projects is to serve others, so you could have a policy that would allow credit for a Scout who does chores for an elderly or disabled neighbor (this would be an example of a Scout helping the community, but not necessarily done for or as part of an organization). the section on sample conservation projects. MichaelAstfalk October 29, 2019, 12:43pm #1 One of the requirements for advancement for Life Rank is to have at least six service hours that are preapproved by the scoutmaster - three of which are conservation. This checklist can be used for all Scouting service projects (Order of the Arrow, Distinguished Conservation Service Award, Eagle Scout, and individual or unit service). How to monitor your Scout’s spending and benefit Scouting, More museums should be like this Scout-friendly one in Oregon. While a Star Scout, serve actively in your troop for six months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility (or carry out a unit leader-assigned leadership project to help the troop): Mr. Alder quotes Baden-Powell of Gilwell, the founder of the Scouting movement, who refers good turns as being different from service to the community. Going forward, I’ll have to define it for the scouts and get the PLC to possibly approve some conservation related projects for the troop to do together so there is no guessing and it’s official. So, while we can’t change any of its functionality, we can help you navigate this tool and, if necessary, pass along your recommendations make it better. In my County there is non profit Vine Cutting Club. At least three hours of this service must be conservation-related.” (Life Scouts plan an Eagle Scout service project, … The Boy Scouts of America, acting through the National Court of Honor, award the Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service to youth. The West Bay Scout Shop is open Tuesday - Saturday to assist with your in person Scouting needs. Can the Scouts earn service hours outside the troop, and how do we get those to “count” if they are allowed to be accrued by the Scout? For example, there might be some good service projects that could be done helping elderly neighbors. You could also define “conservation-related” to exclude routine yard maintenance. For a service project to be considered for the BSA Distinguished Conservation Service Award, it must be a conservation project. The volunteer clean-up work day at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area scheduled for Saturday, March 13th has been postponed due to recent rains. The checklist is I am the scoutmaster. I see it more as a community project or a good deed project and not a family/home project. LOL - it is funny how quick an SPL can start pitching Conservation ideas when he is working on Life. Sharing information is one of the best ways to learn, so discuss with your fellow Scouts how conservation guides your decisions. I think the “Scoutmaster approved” can give you the freedom - I would at the same time talk with PLC about setting something you feel is more conservation based up though, I think it meets the smell test for a conservation activity. Conservation related is a subset of that requirement. Again, approval must be obtained from the unit leader; this is how service hours are counted and accounted for. At least 3 hours of this service must be conservation related. Is there a clear definition on what is to be counted as these hours, especially the conservation hours? I also will serve as an assistant scout leader for one year.” In order to qualify, activities coordinated by a church, synagogue or mosque must provide service to the community as a whole.