Eagle Resources

How do I find an Eagle Project?

That’s one of the first questions a Life Scout has when he first starts thinking about becoming an Eagle Scout. The first thing to consider are the types of activities you and your family enjoy. Do you have a favorite park? Is there an organization you and your family already help regularly? Maybe someone in your family benefitted from an organization or group and you want to return the favor in some way. Do you have a desire to give back to your church or your school?

Once you have identified a potential organization or recreational area, contact them and ask if they need anything. Many municipalities, parks & recs departments, state parks, and non-profit organizations maintain “wish lists” of projects they would love for someone to offer to complete for them.

Or maybe you have a project in mind, but you need to find a beneficiary. Consider the same questions above, (places and activities you frequent, your church, your school) and see if you think any of those could benefit from what you have in mind. Contact one or more until you can find a match.

The last thing to keep in mind when searching for a suitable project is to make sure it is something that you can feel passionate about. You will be spending lots of hours researching, planning, and leading this project. Make sure it is one that you can feel excited about, and not just another chore.

If you are still stumped, there are plenty of resources on the web with lots of ideas. For example, here’s a list of about 100 ideas from meritbadge.org that can be developed into Eagle Projects.

Sample Projects

Or check out this website. Answer a few simple questions, and it will generate a list of potential project ideas.

My Project Finder

* MyProjectFinder.com was developed as part of David Harkins’ Wood Badge Project (SR-1016).

Remember to be professional when contacting someone about your potential Eagle Project

When reaching out to someone or an organization you want to make sure you present yourself well. Use all of the good communication skills you have learned through school and scouting. Be Clear and Concise. Make sure they know who you are, what organization you are contacting them from (Troop 511), where we are in Wake Forest (St. Catherine’s of Siena). Be sure you tell them why you are reaching out and what you hope to accomplish. This isn’t a form letter that you are sending out to everyone in the information below, it should go to the organization that you have identified to try and help. Be sure to leave your contact information at the bottom of the email, and thank them for their time.

Starting your search:

Below are some places that are always in need of assistance and have a growing list of projects that are always on their “To Do” list.

Local Historical Societies

US Army Corps of Engineers

The US Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for maintaining dams, inland waterway channels, the Great Lakes and inland harbors. They restore create enhance or preserve thousands of acres of wetlands annually. Research and develop technologies to protect our nation’s environment and enhance the quality of life.

Visitor Center by Falls Dam

11405 Falls of
the Neuse Road, Wake Forest, NC

919-846-9332 x232

Municipalities

Parks & Recreation Departments

Parks and Recreation departments maintain all of the greenways, public parks, walkways, etc., that are open to the public in the towns and cities they serve. Each one always has a growing list of improvements that they need done in order to keep them in the best condition possible. Below are some local contacts that may help you in your search.

Wake County

State Parks

All NC State Parks have a Volunteer Coordinator. If there is a particular park you wish to complete a project for, contact that park. This can be accomplished by:

• Phoning their main number, and asking to be connected to the Volunteer Coordinator
• Sending an email to the general park email.

Another option is to contact the Regional Education Specialist, Brian Bockhahn. He maintains master lists and plans for all manner of wildlife or construction projects, and occasionally works directly with the individual Parks’ volunteer coordinators.

Brian Bockhahn
Regional Education Specialist
North District Office
North Carolina State Parks
12700 Bayleaf Church Rd Raleigh, NC 27614
(919) 841-4060
www.ncparks.gov
Brian.Bockhahn@ncparks.gov

Below is a listing of a few state parks in order to get you started.