Eagle Palm Information - Greater Colorado Council, Boy Scouts of America

Advancement Committee

Policy for Approval and Processing of Eagle Scout Palm Applications (ESPA)

Effective: May 20, 2015

Amended: January 17, 2018

An ESPA must be complete and properly filled out before verification by the Greater Colorado Council. Included must be unit information and signatures of the Unit Leader.
An ESPA must be verified by the Greater Colorado Council prior to purchasing the palm.
Once an ESPA is verified by the Council, it may be taken to the Scout Shop to purchase awards/credentials.
If an ESPA is earned within a specific calendar year (i.e. 2014) properly documented and received by the Council office. That information will be entered into the Scouts profile.
Any ESPA for a Silver Palm earned in a specific year (i.e.2014) but turned in to the Council office after January 31st of the next year (i.e. February 1, 2015), the Scout will be invited to the Silver Palm Breakfast of the following year (i.e. 2016). The Scout profile will reflect the date earned, however, the Silver Palm ribbon and Council wall plaque will reflect a 2016 date.

Policy for Approval and Processing of Eagle Scout Palm Applications (ESPA)

Effective: August 1, 2017

What’s changing?

A new Eagle Scout can instantly receive, alongside his Eagle medal, all Eagle Palms he has earned for merit badges completed before he became an Eagle Scout. These Palms recognize additional merit badges earned before completing the Eagle board of review. Previously, an Eagle Scout needed to wait three months between each Palm — even if he earned the extra merit badges before becoming an Eagle. This meant that, under the old rules, a young man who became an Eagle Scout at 17 years and 10 months, was mathematically unable to earn any Eagle Palms.
- Example: Glenn, a 16-year-old Life Scout, has 36 merit badges at the time of his Eagle Scout board of review — 15 more than required. Previously, he would’ve needed to wait three months after his Eagle board of review to receive his Bronze Palm, another three months for his Gold Palm and another three for his Silver Palm. Under the new rules, he can get that Silver Palm (representing 15 additional merit badges) along with his Eagle medal at his Eagle Scout court of honor. No wait required.
- Note: After becoming an Eagle Scout and receiving the Palms already earned, additional Palms may be earned by completing the revised requirements, including the three months tenure between awarding each Palm.
The three-month tenure requirement has been expanded to allow active participation in any BSA program — not just the troop and patrol.
- This recognizes that as some Scouts get older, their Scouting participation shifts to the Order of the Arrow, summer camp staff or elsewhere.
The leadership requirement has been broadened to include “accepting responsibility” as well as “demonstrating leadership.”
The Eagle Palm board of review has been eliminated.
- Eagle Palms are not ranks, so the Eagle Palm board of review was an unnecessary step. A unit leader conference is deemed to be sufficient and may be conducted at any time during the tenure requirement.

Eagle Palms: The Official Requirements

Effective: August 1, 2017

After successfully completing your Eagle Scout board of review and being validated as an Eagle Scout by the National Service Center, you will be entitled to receive an Eagle Palm for each additional 5 merit badges you have completed before your Eagle Scout board of review. For these Palms only, it will not be necessary for you to complete any of the requirements stated below.

After becoming an Eagle Scout, you may earn additional Palms by completing the following requirements.

Be active in the Boy Scouts of America for at least three months after becoming an Eagle Scout or after the last Palm was earned. **
Since earning the Eagle Scout rank or your last Eagle Palm, demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Tell how you have done your duty to God and how you have lived the Scout Oath and Scout Law in your everyday life.
Continue to set a satisfactory example of accepting responsibility or demonstrating leadership ability.
Earn five additional merit badges beyond those required for Eagle or last Palm. ***
While an Eagle Scout, participate in a Scoutmaster conference. *

Notes

*For Varsity Scouts working on Boy Scout requirements, replace “Scoutmaster” with “Varsity Scout Coach.” For Venturers working on Boy Scout requirements, replace “Scoutmaster” with “crew Advisor.” For Sea Scouts working on Boy Scout requirements, replace “Scoutmaster” with “Skipper.”

**Eagle Palms must be earned in sequence, and the three-month tenure requirement must be observed for each Palm.

***Merit badges earned any time since becoming a Boy Scout may be used to meet this requirement.