Eagle is about persistence and growth. The merit badges are probably the easiest part, you just have to decide to complete them. It takes time and some discipline but they are not hard. There are no tests assocaited with them. The pamphlets are now available online so you have the resource you need for completing most of the MB. Scouts in the DMV area are noramlyl able to knock out most merit badges at summer camp. Most Troops in this area have counselors for all the Eagle required merit badges in the Troop. There are merit badge classes offered through rec centers and programs in this area.

There is a check list that you need to complete for each rank. It takes time but it is more about following the checklists.

Leadership is the most time-consuming part of ranking up, you will need to serve in a leadership position for at least 15 months. What this means can be Troop dependent. In our Troop, the scouts in leadership positions are responsible for planning meetings and camping trips. They learn a lot about how to think about what goes into planning a meeting and what goes into planning a trip.

The hard part of earning Eagle is having access to the merit badges you need, this is a big challenge for kids in various parts of the country but not an issue in the DMV, and the persistence to complete the steps. The Eagle project can be hard for a Scout but is doable if they leave themselves enough time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not hard

+1

Have relative who has been a long-term Scout Master or whatever the head of the program is called. Earning Eagle Scout status takes a lot of time and probably means that the scout has no other ECs. Most of the kids whom I saw have very little if any athletic talent. None had girlfriends--so lots of free time.

Wow - way to judge and make assumptions. Our Troop has 6 kids in the most senior group right now. 5 of the 6 play varsity sports; 3 of those 5 are three-season varsity sports kids. The 6th kid is in the school drama program (fall and spring shows every year), which is just as time intensive. I don't know about their girlfriend status, but my own son had a girlfriend his entire senior of high school (and 2 seasons of sports), which is when he made Eagle.

My experience is actually that the kids who are involved in sports or another activities are more likely to reach Eagle than those who aren't. Not because athletic skills are required, but because kids who learn to manage their time and work through difficult tasks are able to apply those skills across many aspects of life.

+3 to 11:09

OP yes it is challenging. Think of the journey in three parts. Focus on #1 first. Also, the best thing you can do is learn the structure of scout troops (age 11+). There is no den leader. Not all merit badges are recommended to be done during middle school. Plan to volunteer more, not less, than the other parents. Support your kid, who might need more help than other kids. Good luck!

1. skill building (knot tying, cooking, getting proficient putting up and taking down a tent, basic merit badges, packing for a campout, taking responsibility for washing your mess kit and being safe, asking for help to complete a goal)

2. self-management (goal setting, planning, time management, more advanced merit badges, leading small groups to complete goals in meetings or at campouts, helping younger scouts, communication and collaboration)

3. leadership (project management, advanced teamwork at high adventure campouts, complex communication, higher level service)

Anonymous wrote:It does take several years of dedicated work. It's not "hard" in the sense that nearly every kid can do each piece of it ... the hard part is not losing interest and quitting.

For the ones you mentioned, each Scout can choose between earning the swimming merit badge OR the cycling merit badge OR the hiking merit badge. If he can do any one of those three, that's enough. They do also need to pass a basic swim test regardless of which merit badge they choose for that requirement, 75 yards of any forward stroke (it can be a dog-paddle, they don't care about technique) plus 25 yards backstroke. Some Troop leaders may be able to provide assistance, but lessons aren't included in the normal program plan.

Those are probably the most physically demanding requirements. There are a lot of other skills taught in the various ranks - compass navigation, knots, basic first aid, etc. I've never seen a kid not be able to make it through those, the Troop leaders will keep working with him until he gets it. It takes some kids longer than others, but that's ok. Those lessons are included in the normal program, you're not expected to learn those on your own.

The Eagle project itself doesn't have to be super complicated or difficult, but does need to demonstrate leadership, planning, and benefit to a community organization.

I've seen plenty of Scouts with similar diagnoses. Working with one right now who has autism, and I am highly confident that he'll get Eagle. It takes him a bit longer to get through some requirements than his peers, but he keeps working at it and gets there at his own pace. The more important factor is how interested and dedicated the person is. This kid is highly motivated, so he'll get there.

Want to emphasize the statement from the post above: The hard part is not losing interest and quitting.The main culprits are girls and sports. Eagle Scouts helps to get kids away from screens (phones, TV, & video games) which I see as a public service.

The 11:09 post is spot on. It takes years and years of persistent work, and there are a lot of merit badges required -- each merit badge has like 10 different requirements. Some of them are quite time consuming, although I agree that any child CAN do it, if they have the commitment to it.
I think part of the reason that colleges and employers like it is because it demonstrates grit and stick-to-it-ness.

It does take several years of dedicated work. It's not "hard" in the sense that nearly every kid can do each piece of it ... the hard part is not losing interest and quitting.

For the ones you mentioned, each Scout can choose between earning the swimming merit badge OR the cycling merit badge OR the hiking merit badge. If he can do any one of those three, that's enough. They do also need to pass a basic swim test regardless of which merit badge they choose for that requirement, 75 yards of any forward stroke (it can be a dog-paddle, they don't care about technique) plus 25 yards backstroke. Some Troop leaders may be able to provide assistance, but lessons aren't included in the normal program plan.

Those are probably the most physically demanding requirements. There are a lot of other skills taught in the various ranks - compass navigation, knots, basic first aid, etc. I've never seen a kid not be able to make it through those, the Troop leaders will keep working with him until he gets it. It takes some kids longer than others, but that's ok. Those lessons are included in the normal program, you're not expected to learn those on your own.

The Eagle project itself doesn't have to be super complicated or difficult, but does need to demonstrate leadership, planning, and benefit to a community organization.

I've seen plenty of Scouts with similar diagnoses. Working with one right now who has autism, and I am highly confident that he'll get Eagle. It takes him a bit longer to get through some requirements than his peers, but he keeps working at it and gets there at his own pace. The more important factor is how interested and dedicated the person is. This kid is highly motivated, so he'll get there.

Anonymous wrote:Not hard

+1

Have relative who has been a long-term Scout Master or whatever the head of the program is called. Earning Eagle Scout status takes a lot of time and probably means that the scout has no other ECs. Most of the kids whom I saw have very little if any athletic talent. None had girlfriends--so lots of free time.

Anonymous wrote:
There are different ranks of eagle scouts, and you need to spend at least 6 months at each rank before you can advance to the next one.
During those six months you need to have a leadership position (some are more time consuming than others), achieve merit badges, and other requirements before you can test for the next level.

Sorry, I mean to say "different ranks of BOY scouts (I guess now just "scouts") not different ranks of Eagle Scouts. You have to acheive all the ranks of boy scouts to become an Eagle scout.

There are different ranks of eagle scouts, and you need to spend at least 6 months at each rank before you can advance to the next one.
During those six months you need to have a leadership position (some are more time consuming than others), achieve merit badges, and other requirements before you can test for the next level.

Not hard

You can be an Eagle Scout with a diagnosis. It is a lot of work, to balance with school etc. I don't think den leaders teach that so you'll have to use some outside resources. Does he like the outdoors, camping? By 11 he should be able to set up most of the tend himself, pack a bag for camp out, plan some food/meals to bring and make. This is worked on at Cub scouts. Is he community minded and enjoys participating and contributing (volunteering)? A lot of those are scout attributes that are built on and instilled. As PP said, he will have to be self motivated to complete this as parent pushing can only go so far. Has he done cub scouts already?

If done properly, it's a lot of work, but it can be a great experience. If he is interested, then I'd look at where he is now in scouting and work out a realistic plan for how he will complete the badges and rank requirements. Some of the badges require weeks of work (physical fitness, personal management, etc.) so you can't just crank them out in a few days.

Also, make a plan to go to summer camp next summer and participate on as many camping trips with the troop as possible.

He doesn't have to earn the swimming merit badge to make Eagle, but I'd highly recommend it just from a water safety prospective (but I understand it isn't so simple with the asd&adhd diagnosis).

Our troop has had multiple kids with similar diagnosis earn Eagle, but it has to be something that the scout is highly motivated to do and you as the parent will need to be involved in the troop.

As for the actual Eagle project, it should be something that speaks to the scout and is personally meaningful to them.

As far as I can tell you just build something wood and leave it there to rot.

DS would love to become one. How challenging is that? I just take a quick look at the requirement. For example, he probably can't earn the cycling badge because he can't even bike at age 11. Swimming is just okay, only can swim pool, but not to the point to save anyone or in ocean. Do scouts have to take lessons to learn swimming and cycling lessons on their own or den leader could teach them? He also has asd & adhd, do anyone know kids with diagnosis become eagle scout? The empathy part and volunteering part might be challenging for him to understand and executive to help others.