A Field Guide to Making the Eagle Scout Centennial a Local Story

2012 Eagle Scout Centennial Playbook A Field Guide to Making the Eagle Scout Centennial a Local Story

OVERVIEW Building upon the success of the Boy Scouts of America centennial celebration, the Eagle Scout centennial year offers another opportunity to highlight the BSA and the positive impact the organization makes on our nation. For 100 years, Boy Scouts have strived to attain the highest level of Scouting by becoming Eagle Scouts. The Eagle Scout rank is reached by less than 4 percent of all Scouts, yet this elite group has contributed more than 400 million hours of service over the course of its 100-year history.

THE OPPORTUNITY The Eagle Scout centennial year presents a significant opportunity for local councils, districts, and even units to tell your story to your communities, media, current and potential donors, council board members, schools, and other Scouting advocates. The story of Eagle Scouts and how they have benefited your community, as well as the nation at large, should be communicated in your local community.

As we celebrate the centennial of Eagle Scouts, new research by Baylor University has just been completed that details the long-term value of being an Eagle Scout. The results of that study will be wrapped into messaging about the Eagle Scout centennial and will help increase interest in Scouting as a whole.

On April 10, 2012, the National Council will distribute a national news release. Immediately following that, and throughout the rest of the year, this playbook will serve as your field guide to making the story of the Eagle Scout centennial year a local one—to promote the good works of Eagle Scouts nationally while highlighting the many contributions Scouting makes in your community to the media, local organizations, board members, and other advocates and friends.

(NOTE: All information in this playbook, including the news release, is under EMBARGO until the national news release is distributed on April 10, 2012.)

STEP ONE: MAKE THE STORY YOURS

No doubt your council has a long and storied history of Eagle Scouts. Because 2012 marks the centennial year for all Eagle Scouts across the nation, it is an excellent time to highlight your past and present local Eagle Scouts and how they have made a difference in your community and others. Look for or organize such events as Eagle Scout reunions, and compile a list of several notable Eagle Scout projects from within your council. They can be a mix of past and recent projects. In fact, you may want to identify a compelling and highly visual project “in progress” and invite reporters to talk to the Scout about the Eagle journey while showcasing— or even participating in—the service project. Contact prominent local Eagle Scouts to see if they

1 would be willing to serve as spokespeople in interviews regarding the Eagle Scout centennial and the impact of Eagle Scouts on your community.

STEP TWO: SHARE THE NEWS OF THE EAGLE SCOUT CENTENNIAL WITH THE MEDIA

PREPARE A LOCAL PRESS KIT TO SHARE THE NEWS WITH MEDIA. At the end of this playbook, you will find various documents that can be personalized to put press kits together for the media. These documents will serve to provide the media with relevant information that will aid in forming a solid story. Press kits can be shared with the reporter in electronic format or hard copy. If materials are shared via hard copy, it is recommended that all press kit materials be housed together in a BSA-branded folder.

Materials to include, many of which can be found in the Resources section of this playbook, are:  Local news release. Be sure to personalize the news release with local information and quotes and add contact information so reporters can follow up with questions and interview requests.  Details of the Baylor University Eagle Scout research study. Use statistics and information from the study to help add background, detail, and a national perspective to your own local stories of Eagle Scouts.  Eagle Scouts fact sheet. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Eagle Scout rank. Use this fact sheet now and throughout the year any time you’re highlighting Eagle Scouts.  Graphic assets. This includes an information graph which illustrates the impact of Eagle Scouts nationally.

MAKE A MEDIA CONTACT LIST. You may already have an existing media list from which you work on a regular basis. If not, with a little research, you can create one to aid you in pursuing media outreach across your market. Your media list should include all major daily and community newspapers in the area, along with local broadcast news affiliates (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, etc.). Include reporters and editors with whom you have an existing relationship and also round out the list to include:

 Community/metro reporters  Youth reporters  News assignment editors

REACH OUT TO REPORTERS WITH A COMPELLING PITCH. When sending your press kit to the media, you should use the opportunity to grab the reporter’s or editor’s attention with a brief but compelling pitch. Why does this matter to the reporter? Why should they care? What does this have to do with the local community? This is your opportunity to make the case for your story and why it should be considered.

2 We’ve included sample language in the Resources section of this playbook for your reference. You should feel free to personalize the pitch to your tone and voice as much as possible. This language is simply a starting point. But remember, be brief and keep it relevant.

PREPARE POTENTIAL INTERVIEWEES. It will be important to identify Eagle Scouts, unit leaders, council staff, and key volunteers that can be available for interviews should the reporter request it (they usually do). Having a list at the ready also adds meat to your pitch, promising a better, more localized, and more humanized story.

In advance of any interviews, make sure the spokespersons are familiar with the topic of the Eagle Scout centennial and can speak about it from a personal standpoint. To help you, there are key messages included for your review in the Resources section. But, adding personal tone and flavor to these messages will be important. Perhaps you offer the reporter an interview with an Eagle Scout who has recently completed his service project, a local civic/business leader who is an Eagle Scout, and/or a community group that has benefited directly from an Eagle Scout project.

MAKE A PERSONAL CONNECTION WITH THE REPORTER. After your pitch and press kit have been sent to reporters, follow up via phone to make a personal connection and gauge any interest they may have in the story. At this time, you can reinforce the assets you’re making available, such as an invitation to interview an Eagle Scout.

STEP THREE: TALK ABOUT THE EAGLE SCOUT CENTENNIAL TO YOUR COMMUNITY

The Eagle Scout centennial presents an ideal opportunity to share the story of Scouting with your local community at large. It can also help to get Scouts interested in staying in the program and reaching the Eagle Scout rank. Certain activities will be more appropriate for older Scouts than younger Scouts. We’ve included some thought starters below:

DISCUSSION TOPICS DURING UNIT MEETINGS  Why are Eagle Scouts important to the BSA/our unit?  Share the story of a local Eagle Scout who has gone on to success in business/government, and discuss why it is important to tell others about how Eagle Scouts and Scouts in general benefit the community.  Encourage Scouts to talk about Eagle service projects and to share information about the most interesting ones they’ve heard about. The National Eagle Scout Association website (http://nesa.org/) can be a good resource for Scouts to learn about some of the top recognized Eagle projects in the nation each year.

ENGAGING OTHERS VIA SOCIAL MEDIA  Share links to the Eagle Scout centennial news coverage with followers on the council, district, and/or unit’s social media channels.  Use your social media channels to highlight local notable Eagle Scouts and current local Eagle Scout projects.

3  Use the hashtag #EagleScout on Twitter when sharing tweets about the Eagle Scout centennial.  For Eagle Scouts that have active social media accounts like Facebook and Twitter, encourage them to use social media to share their stories of why being an Eagle Scout is important. (NOTE: Adhere to terms of service guidelines for age requirements on social media sites.)  Engage individuals/Scouts in discussion about Eagle Scouts through the unit, district, or council social media channels. Invite fans/followers to talk about the impact of Eagle Scouts on their lives, and identify Eagle Scouts (age 13 and over) to weigh in.  Post a blog or story about Eagle Scouts on council websites.

RESOURCES

On the following pages, you will find key documents and templates that will aid you in localizing the Eagle Scout centennial and sharing it with key audiences. These documents include:

 Key messages  Eagle Scout centennial news release template  Sample media pitch language  Sample op-ed to give to local media  Eagle Scout fact sheet  Information from the Baylor University study on Eagle Scouts  Information graph

KEY MESSAGES

 The road to becoming an Eagle Scout is one filled with service, challenges, and real-life experiences that create exceptional young men and leaders who are committed to their communities.

o The hard-earned rank of Eagle Scout is widely recognized as a mark of distinction.  The accomplishments Eagle Scouts have achieved and the service they have provided since 1912 underscore the importance of Scouting to the prosperity of our nation and our communities.

o A 2012 independent research study conducted by Baylor University found that Eagle Scouts are more likely to be involved in their community, hold leadership positions, and have closer relationships with family and friends than men who have never been in Scouting.  Over the past century, the contributions of Eagle Scouts have made a significant impact on our community and nation.

4 o Since the first Eagle Scout Award was earned in 1912, more than 2 million young men have gone on to achieve the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank, contributing more than 400 million service hours to our country.

EAGLE SCOUT CENTENNIAL NEWS RELEASE TEMPLATE

PRESS RELEASE Media Contact: [Name] [Phone] [Cellphone] [Email address] NEW RESEARCH ILLUSTRATES TREMENDOUS IMPACT OF EAGLE SCOUTS ON COMMUNITIES LIKE [insert local community name], NATION

2012 marks 100 years of Boy Scouts’ highest rank, Eagle Scout

[Use dateline where local council is.] CITY, State(April 10, 2012)—One hundred years after Arthur Eldred of New York earned this nation’s first Eagle Scout Award, new, independent research demonstrates the significant, positive impact Eagle Scouts have on society every day. Since it was first awarded in 1912, more than 2 million young men have achieved the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank. [Include total number of local Eagle Scouts since the origin of your council.] of those young men earned their Eagle Scout rank here in [LOCAL COUNCIL]. The study conducted by Baylor University, Merit Beyond the Badge, found that Eagle Scouts are more likely than men who have never been in Scouting to:  Have higher levels of planning and preparation skills, be goal-oriented, and network with others  Be in a leadership position at their place of employment or local community  Report having closer relationships with family and friends  Volunteer for religious and nonreligious organizations  Donate money to charitable groups  Work with others to improve their neighborhoods

“Eagle Scouts have made their marks throughout history—from walking on the moon and working behind the desk in the Oval Office to running the bases in the major leagues. And while we’re proud to claim some truly great men in American history among our ranks, we’re even more proud that everyday Eagle Scouts become wonderful husbands, fathers, and citizens,” said Bob Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America. “This research validates for the world something we’ve known about Eagle Scouts for years. They lead. They vote. They donate. They volunteer. They work hard and achieve their goals. In short, Eagle Scouts are exceptional men.”

[Include quote from local Scout executive or key volunteer.]

5 Baylor University’s Program for Prosocial Behavior received a grant from the John Templeton Foundation to measure the lifelong effects of being in the Scouting program, and more specifically, of attaining the rank of Eagle Scout.

“Our study measured if achieving the rank of Eagle provides an advantage and benefits throughout a Scout’s life,” said Dr. Byron Johnson, lead researcher, Baylor University. “We found that the effort and commitment required to earn this rank produces positive attributes that benefit not only these men in their personal and professional lives, but also benefits their communities and the country through the service and leadership they provide.”

The Eagle Scout badge has become widely recognized as a mark of distinction both within and outside of Scouting. Once earned, it is worn for life. About 4 percent of Boy Scouts earn the Eagle Scout rank. To do so, Scouts must demonstrate their understanding of leadership, service, character, personal fitness, and outdoor skills at multiple levels.

In addition to the 21 life skills merit badges required to earn the Eagle Scout rank, each Scout must complete an extensive self-directed service project. The Scout must plan, organize, lead, and manage the entire service effort prior to his 18th birthday. The average number of hours spent on Eagle Scout projects is 130. In 2011, more than 51,000 young men earned the Eagle Scout Award nationally, which means that Eagle Scout service projects alone represented almost 6.7 million hours of community service. Locally in 2011, more than [Include the number of local new Eagle Scouts in 2011.] earned the Eagle Scout Award and completed [Include the total number of local service hours, which is the number of local new Eagle Scouts x 130 hours.] hours of service.

Among the 21 required merit badges to earn the Eagle Scout rank are First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communication, Environmental Science, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Camping, and Family Life.

Some of the more notable Eagle Scouts are President Gerald Ford; Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton; explorer Steve Fossett; Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation co-chair Bill Gates Sr.; MLB all-star Shane Victorino; and actor Jon Heder, who starred in the independent film Napoleon Dynamite. Local Eagle Scouts of note include [Name any well-known local Eagle Scout business/community leaders, sports stars, actors, musicians, etc.].

While not a household name, a clear example of what Baylor University found in its research is [Include the story and quote of a recent local Eagle Scout project such as the following example: 16-year-old Eagle Scout Nicholas Kulick. He led an effort to design and install a small computer network at the Enkijape Primary School in Maasailand, Kenya. Kulick worked with fellow students and teachers from Highland School in Warrenton, Virginia, and members of the Maasailand Preservation Trust in Africa to install equipment and train students and teachers on iPads and laptops. Because the impoverished east African village didn’t have electricity, everything was connected wirelessly to a cellular Internet router that was powered by solar panels. Kulick worked with corporate and government organizations in the U.S. and Kenya to ensure the equipment would bring the school desperately needed reading material— and a new window to the world.

“Completing my Eagle Scout service project had to be one of the most challenging and most rewarding experiences of my life,” Kulick said. “I designed the project myself, so I was able to choose something

6 that I believe is really important. And I built it myself, so I had to work through all of the issues that came up. Of course, that also means I got to be there to see what an incredible difference it made on the lives of others.”]

About the Boy Scouts of America The Boy Scouts of America provides the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, which helps young people be “Prepared. For Life.™” The Scouting organization is composed of 2.7 million youth members between the ages of 7 and 21 and more than a million volunteers in local councils throughout the United States and its territories. For more information on the Boy Scouts of America, please visit www.scouting.org.

About Baylor University Baylor University is a private Christian university and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The university provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 15,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating university in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 11 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.

For more information about the Baylor University Institute for Studies of Religion, Program on Prosocial Behavior, please visit www.baylorisr.org. To review the Eagle Scout research, please visit www.scouting.org/About/Research/EagleScouts.aspx. # # # SAMPLE MEDIA PITCH LANGUAGE

Media Pitch (General)

Subject: [CITY] Eagle Scouts Celebrate 100-Year Anniversary of Scouting’s Highest Rank

Hello,

Eagle Scouts of [CITY] are joining with hundreds of thousands of other Eagle Scouts around the nation this year to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the highest rank in Scouting. The road to becoming an Eagle Scout is one filled with service, challenges, and real-life experiences that create exceptional young men and leaders who are committed to their communities.

A 2012 independent research study conducted by Baylor University found that Eagle Scouts are more likely to be involved in their community, hold leadership positions, and have closer relationships with family and friends than men who have never been in Scouting. Indeed, from contributions of prominent local Eagle Scout [INCLUDE NAME OF PROMINENT LOCAL EAGLE SCOUT BUSINESS/CIVIC LEADER.] to service projects like [INCLUDE BRIEF MENTION OF RECENT LOCAL EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT.], Eagle Scouts have made a huge impact in [CITY].

Would you be interested in speaking with [NAME OF PROMINENT LOCAL EAGLE SCOUT] to talk about the impact of being an Eagle Scout on his life and on the success of this community? We can also provide you with details of a/several current Eagle Scout project(s) being completed in our community. Please let me know if you’d like to set up a time to talk about the impact Eagle Scouts have made locally.

7 Media Pitch (Event) What do television personality Mike Rowe, Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, and former President Gerald Ford have in common? All three achieved the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank—Eagle Scout—and using the leadership skills they learned, went on to do incredible things that impacted our country’s history.

This [DATE], the Boy Scouts of America will bring together [DESCRIBE GROUP] to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Eagle Scout in [CITY]. [DESCRIBE EVENT]

Many outstanding Eagle Scouts will be there, both old and young, including [CURRENT SCOUT]. He’ll speak about [OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT OR SERVICE PROJECT].

We invite you to attend the event and speak with [SPOKESPERSONS], who can discuss how Scouting helps young men develop critical skills that allow them to succeed in the workforce.

I’ve included a media advisory below with details. Please let me know if you have any questions.

OP-ED

Instructions: An opinion editorial (op-ed) is a 500- to 600-word article that expresses the opinion of an individual or group.  It is a prewritten piece that will be printed as-is in your local newspaper(s).  It can be authored by the local Scout executive; however, the op-ed may have a better chance of getting placed if it is authored by the board president or a top volunteer.  First, customize the op-ed by filling in all of the blanks with information about your local council. When customizing and thinking of local Eagle Scouts to feature, please consider recent Eagle Scouts and seasoned Eagle Scouts who continue to give back.  Then, identify the correct contact at the newspaper that receives op-eds for consideration. This is normally the editorial page editor and will likely be the same contact who receives letters to the editor.  It often takes a week or two for newspapers to run an op-ed after it’s received, so plan to submit it earlier than you would like it to run in the paper.

Op-Ed for Customization: RESEARCH PROVES EAGLE SCOUTS ARE LIKELY TO BECOME LEADERS OF TOMORROW; [LOCAL COUNCIL] EAGLE SCOUTS DEMONSTRATE WHY

By [NAME], BOARD PRESIDENT, LOCAL VOLUNTEER, OR SCOUT EXECUTIVE, [NAME] Council

What makes a good leader in the community? Is it time spent giving back? Passion for improving the community? Perhaps it’s quality time spent with children? There is no one

8 answer, but most of our community’s leaders have a combination of these characteristics and share a similar drive to make our community an even better place to live and work. For [NUMBER] years, I have been [VOLUNTEERING OR WORKING] for the [NAME] Council of the Boy Scouts of America in [CITY] and have seen the development of this type of model citizenry at a very young age. Throughout my tenure, I have witnessed boys in [CITY] become men that exemplify the Scouting way of life by demonstrating character, leadership, and service. Those who thrive on giving back, those who want to achieve even more, those who will be our future leaders, rise to the challenge of advancing through Scouting to reach the BSA’s highest rank— Eagle Scout.

Becoming an Eagle Scout is no small feat. Young men must earn 21 merit badges; serve six months in a troop leadership position; plan, develop, and give leadership to a service project; take part in a Scoutmaster conference; and successfully complete an Eagle Scout board of review. The road to becoming an Eagle Scout is not short, but it’s one that impacts young men and shapes them into the model citizens that we all should strive to become.

Since the first Eagle Scout received his badge in 1912, more than 2.1 million Eagle Scouts have contributed more than 400 million hours of service through their leadership projects. In [CITY] alone, we have [NUMBER] Eagle Scouts among us who have completed [NUMBER] hours of service to make [CITY] an even better place to live.

Working with Eagle Scouts day in and day out, it’s easy to see why they go on to become the future leaders of this country, involved parents, and community members who give back.

Now, I’m pleased to see what I’ve known for years has actually been scientifically proven. A recently released research study conducted by Baylor University found that Eagle Scouts are more likely to be involved in their community, hold leadership positions, and have closer relationships with family and friends than men who have never been in Scouting. According to the study, Eagle Scouts are approximately 55 percent more likely than non-Scouts to have held a leadership position at their workplace and are around 76 percent more likely than non-Scouts to have held leadership positions in the local community. Eagle Scouts are 34 percent more likely than non-Scouts to have donated money to a non-religious institution or charity in the community within the last month, and Eagle Scouts are 56 percent more likely than non-Scouts to work with others in their neighborhood to address a problem or improve something.

[INSERT LOCAL STORY OF RECENT EAGLE SCOUT AND OLDER EAGLE SCOUT SUCH AS:] Take for example the story of Warrenton’s very own Nicholas Kulick. To achieve the Eagle Scout rank, Nicholas led an effort to design and install a small computer network at the Enkijape Primary School in Maasailand, Kenya. The 16-year-old Scout involved our community by working with fellow students and teachers from Highland School in Warrenton and members of the Maasailand Preservation Trust in Africa to install equipment and train students and teachers on iPads and laptops. Kulick worked with corporate and government organizations in the U.S. and

9 Kenya to ensure the equipment would bring the school desperately needed reading material— and a new window to the world.

And while [NAME:] Nick is one of [CITY]’s newer Eagle Scouts, [INSERT NAME] is one of our more seasoned Eagle Scouts. Although he completed his service project more than [NUMBER] years ago, his desire to give back continues to grow. Today, [INSERT NAME] still contributes to the betterment of our community by [INSERT LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY, ETC.].

These are just two examples of the many Eagle Scouts in [CITY] who live their lives by the values instilled in them through Scouting. As we celebrate 100 years of this remarkable achievement, and the impact that these men have had on our nation, I encourage all of us to take a moment to recognize an Eagle Scout for the great service he has provided to our community. And if you don’t know an Eagle Scout, please encourage the young men in your life to think about working toward this esteemed honor. We’ll all be thankful for it in the long run.

To learn more about Eagle Scouts, visit the National Eagle Scout Association website at http://nesa.org/.

EAGLE SCOUT FACT SHEET

The Boy Scouts of America® helps its 2.7 million youth members to be Prepared. For Life.™ The value of that preparation lives in the heart of every person involved in Scouting who has ever overcome one of life’s challenges, and it helps inspire a lifetime of character and service.

Nowhere is this better exemplified than in the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest attainable rank in Boy Scouting. Scouts must demonstrate proficiency in leadership, service, and outdoor skills at multiple levels before achieving the Eagle Scout rank; fewer than 4 percent of Boy Scouts earn the coveted rank. Over the past century, the hard-earned rank has become widely recognized—both in and outside of Scouting—as a mark of distinction.

History The Eagle Scout badge was first given in 1912 to Arthur Eldred, a Scout from Brooklyn, New York. By 1982, more than 1 million young men had reached the rank, and the 2 millionth Eagle Scout was recognized in 2009. In 2011, the BSA welcomed more than 51,000 new Eagle Scouts. The organization has averaged more than 50,000 new Eagle Scouts per year over the past six years.

Requirements Scouts must complete two primary components to earn the Eagle Scout rank:

1. Service and responsibility. The Scout must plan, organize, lead, manage, and complete an extensive service project that benefits an organization outside the BSA, all before his

10 18th birthday. In 2011, Eagle Scout projects alone represented more than 6.7 million hours of community service.

2. Merit badges. Of the 128 merit badges available, 21 must be earned to qualify for Eagle Scout. Required badges include First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communication, Environmental Science, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Camping, and Family Life.

Character and Contributions A 2012 independent research study conducted by Baylor University found that Eagle Scouts are more likely to volunteer, donate money to charity, vote, and work with others to improve their neighborhood than men who have never been in Scouting. They were also found to be more goal-oriented, have higher levels of planning and preparation skills, and be more likely to take a leadership position at work or in their local communities. On a personal level, Eagle Scouts report closer relationships with family and friends and are more likely to regularly participate in recreational activities in their free time.

Notable Eagles Throughout the past century, Eagle Scouts have gone on to become Olympians, surgeons, civil rights leaders, Pulitzer Prize winners, and paragons of business. Some notable Eagle Scouts are:

 Mike Rowe, television personality and host of the Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs”  Shane Victorino, Major League Baseball all-star  Gerald Ford, former president of the United States  James Lovell, former astronaut and commander of Apollo 13  Robert Gates, former secretary of defense  William Gates Sr., co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation  Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club  Jon Heder, Napoleon Dynamite actor  Rex Tillerson, ExxonMobil CEO and current BSA president

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY RESEARCH SUMMARY AND KEY FINDINGS

For more than 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America has sought to encourage and instill the values necessary to help young people make and continue making ethical and moral choices over the entire course of their life. The objective of Scouting, therefore, is to promote the positive and pro-social development of youth that carries over into adulthood and influences all of society. This lasting influence—enhancing youth’s values, ethics, decision making, relationships, and personal development—is even more significant for youth who attain the rank of Eagle Scout. The Boy Scouts of America has always maintained that achieving Scouting’s ultimate rank would result in additional benefits for Eagle Scouts when compared to Scouts that do not achieve this rank, as well as to youth who have never participated in Scouting. To assess the influence, if any, of participation in Boy Scouts on men in later life, adult men

11 representative of the U.S. population were surveyed, with the only difference being that some had participated in Scouting and some had not.

Analysis of the nationally representative survey reveals significant differences between Eagle Scouts and other Scouts as well as non-Scouts. Eagle Scouts consistently indicate their experience in Scouting contributed to positive and pro-social development as measured by responses to a wide range of issues and subjects, including the following:

 Eagle Scouts are more likely than other Scouts and men who were never Scouts to indicate they have built character traits related to work ethics, morality, tolerance, and respect for diversity.  Eagle Scouts show higher levels of planning and preparedness than do Scouts who never attained the rank of Eagle Scout and men who were never Scouts.  Eagle Scouts exhibit an increased tendency to participate in a variety of health and recreational activities.  Eagle Scouts show a greater connectedness to siblings, neighbors, religious community, friends, co-workers, formal and informal groups, and a spiritual presence in nature.  Duty to God, service to others, service to the community, and leadership are traits that are especially strong in Eagle Scouts.  Eagle Scouts are more likely to engage in behaviors designed to enhance and protect the environment.  Eagle Scouts are more likely to be committed to setting and achieving personal, professional, spiritual, and financial goals.

In sum, when compared to Scouts and non-Scouts, Eagle Scouts exhibit significantly higher levels of health and recreation, connection, service and leadership, environmental stewardship, goal orientation, planning and preparedness, and character.

KEY FINDINGS:

 Eagle Scouts are approximately 55 percent more likely than non-Scouts to have held a leadership position at their workplace and are around 76 percent more likely than non- Scouts to have held leadership positions in the local community.

 Eagle Scouts are roughly 29 percent more likely than non-Scouts to report they achieved a professional goal in the last year and are 49 percent more likely than non-Scouts to say a financial goal was achieved in the last year.

 Eagle Scouts are 53 percent more likely than non-Scouts to have donated money to a religious institution in their community within the last month and are 34 percent more likely than non-Scouts to have donated money to a non-religious institution or charity in the community within the last month.

12  Eagle Scouts are 66 percent more likely than non-Scouts to volunteer time to a religious organization and are 62 percent more likely than non-Scouts to volunteer their time to a non-religious organization.

 Eagle Scouts are 90 percent more likely than non-Scouts to have CPR certification.

 Eagle Scouts are 95 percent more likely than non-Scouts to report camping.

 Eagle Scouts are 92 percent more likely than non-Scouts to be active in a group that works to protect the environment and are 50 percent more likely than non-Scouts to agree they find a spiritual presence in nature.

 Eagle Scouts are 45 percent more likely than non-Scouts to agree they always treat people of other religions with respect.

 Eagle Scouts are 73 percent more likely than non-Scouts to have voted in the last presidential election.

 Eagle Scouts are 39 percent more likely than non-Scouts to read books.

INFORMATION GRAPH

To help tell the story of the impact of Eagle Scouts, we’ve developed the following information graph (we’ve attached this as a separate file).