Chisholm Trail (CT) Advancement Committee Overview

The Chisholm Trail Advancement Committee provides support for Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venturing advancement. There are three subcommittees: Eagle Scout Advancement, Chisholm Trail Belt Loop Bonanza, and Chisholm Trail Merit Badge Fair.

The goal of the Eagle Scout Advancement subcommittee is to provide advice to units on Eagle Scout Advancement questions, review and approve Eagle Scout Service plans, and lead / conduct Eagle Scout candidate boards of review.

The goal of the Chisholm Trail Belt Loop Bonanza subcommittee is to organize and and lead the annual Belt Loop Bonanza event in support of Cub Scout Advancement. This event is also intended to support the CT Membership committee and the CT Activities committee.

The goal of the Chisholm Trail Merit Badge Fair subcommittee is to organize and lead the annual Merit Badge Fair event in support Boy Scout Advancement. This event is also intended to support the CT Activities committee.

In addition to these specific subcommittees, the CT Advancement Committee is charged with promoting advancement throughout the entire scouting program. This includes promoting advancement, providing guidance on advancement procedures for individual units and the district in general, supporting the CT Training committee for advancement procedures, and recommend youth members and unit / district scouters for special awards and recognition.

Eagle Scout Board of Review Process

The Boy Scouts of America Life to Eagle Process is explained in the Guide to Advancement and in the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook. The latest version of both of these documents and the Eagle Scout Rank Application can be downloaded from the BSA National Council forms web page: https://www.scouting.org/resources/forms/ .

The Chisholm Trail District Eagle Advancement Subcommittee Chair is Bob Rauner, bob_rauner@dell.com.

The following instructions are consistent with the current Guide to Advancement and the policies of the Capitol Area Council.

Complete requirement #1 to #6 as listed on the most recent official eagle application. Listing personal references (part of Requirement #2), writing the life statement (Certification by Applicant), and filling out/submitting the eagle application may be completed after your 18th birthday but all other requirements must be completed before your 18th birthday. Your Eagle board of review must be held no later than 90 days after your 18th birthday.

Completing the Application, Holding a Board of Review

  1. If your troop uses Troopmaster, Scoutbook, or other advancement tracking software, request a copy of the Eagle Application Assistance Report from the troop. This will have most or all the dates you need to fill out the Eagle application.
  2. Complete the most recent official Eagle application form (fillable pdf is preferred), sign it, and obtain signatures from your scoutmaster and troop committee chair. 
  3. Take the completed application with original signatures along with your life statement to Ms. Smeaton at the council office. It may be helpful to also include a copy of the Eagle application assistance report or equivalent if you have one available. Ms. Smeaton will verify the advancement and registration dates on your Eagle application and sign it for the council. She will then send a copy of the “verified” Eagle application to you in an email. 
  4. Pick up the original “verified” Eagle application from the council office. Bring the original application to your Eagle board of review to be signed.
  5. Contact the district Eagle subcommittee representative assigned to your troop to schedule a board of review. Some troops have an adult leader contact the district representative to arrange the board of review date. This will usually be several weeks in the future so there is sufficient time to contact your personal references.
  6. Provide an electronic copy of your verified eagle application to the district representative. The district representative will contact your listed references. In addition, you may invite your personal references (or others) to send formal letters of reference to the district representative (they should never be sent to or shared with you). 
  7. The district representative will work with your troop leaders to arrange for other board of review members.
  8. Bring three copies of your project workbook (all three sections including approval signatures for the proposal and project completion), life statement, and verified Eagle application to your district Eagle subcommittee representative. 
  9. After passing your board of review, the board members will sign your original application. Take the original signed application to Ms. Smeaton at the council office. She will process it and notify you when she has received your Eagle credentials from the BSA national office and award for you (or your troop leaders) to pick up.

 Ms. Smeaton’s contact information is 512-617-8610 or keri.smeaton@scouting.org.

Note: You may not use electronic signatures on the Eagle project workbook; the original document must be signed in ink.
Questions regarding this process can be directed to the district eagle advancement subcommittee chair.  Committee members are available to meet with troops to discuss the Life to Eagle process.

Also Note: Currently, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the national office of BSA has approved use of copies of signed documents (physically sign, then scan or take a picture) for your eagle project and eagle application. Once that has been rescinded, original signatures on original documents will again be required.

Finding an Eagle Scout Project

If you are a Life Scout in Chisholm Trail District, and you are having trouble finding an Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project, don’t despair. Eagle Scout Projects are available…county, city, and community non-profit organizations in the Williamson County/Travis County area have projects ready for you to do. Here are some excellent sources of Eagle Scout Leadership Service Projects which include funding by the non-profit organization:

City of Round Rock Parks and Recreation Department

301 W. Bagdad Street, Suite 250, Round Rock, TX 78664
Contact: Randy Gordon, Parks Manager
Phone: (512)218-5540 Direct line: (512)341-3340
Website

Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department

350 Discovery Blvd, Suite 207, Cedar Park, Texas 78613
Contact: Gary Boyd, Director
Phone: (512)260-4226 Direct line: (512)260-4226
Website

Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District

16318 Great Oaks Drive, Round Rock, TX 78681
Contact: Rachel Hagan
Phone: (512)255-7871 Direct line: (512)388-5607
Website

Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farm

10621 Pioneer Farms Drive, Austin, Texas 78754
Contact: Mike Ward or Miss Celeste
Phone: (512)837-1215
Website

Round Rock Cemetery

Round Rock, Texas 78681
Contact: Mike Chatron
Phone: (512) 680-8064
Website