Eagle Court of Honor Dilemna

[ceehnis]

Hi,

 

I'm new to the site so bear with me.

 

Recently, another scout and I from our very small troop earned the rank of Eagle. While both of us were waiting for our troop committee to plan the ceremony, we were told by our Assistant Scoutmaster that the other scout and I had to plan our own Court of Honor.

 

Has anybody ever heard of this happening before? What do you suggest he and I do?

 

Thanks much

[Miami_Chief]

Welcome to the forums and congrats on your achievement of the rank of Eagle Scout.

 

Having the new Eagle and his family make arrangements for the Court of Honor is pretty standard. It allows you as the new Eagle to make the event your own and not have just any old ceremony that was just like the last. There are countless suggestions on scripts, ceremonies, invite lists, decorations, and every other thing you could possibly imagine for the event. There was even a book put out at one time with script ideas and event planning suggestions. Some Eagle parents have joked that it's a good warm up for wedding planning, but there's no need to be that elaborate if you don't want to be.

 

When it was my turn to plan my ECOH I actually did some cut and paste with a few different ceremonies. I found parts I liked and made them work together. I've seen big, elaborate ones with a catered meal, I've seen others that were a simple, 10 minute ceremony at the church where the Troop met. The most recent one I went to was for a young man who was very involved with his OA Lodge, so he arranged for an OA Eagle Ceremony done by boys from the Lodge in full regalia. It was cool to see. No two ECOHs I've attended have ever been the same.

[King Ding Dong]

This is your lucky day! You guys get to do whatever you want. If you want to let your moms show pictures of you with your first PWD car fine, otherwise have fun.

[ceehnis]

Do you have any suggestions of what to do? We might have a total of 4 scouts there, including the other eagle and I.

[Brewmeister]

What do you want to do? What is memorable and meaningful to you from your scouting experience thus far? What kind of pictures can you put together?

 

With a small group, do you want to do something less formal? Do you have interests outside scouting (sports, hobbies, etc.) in common with the other Eagle candidate that could make for an outing/COH?

 

I think the place I would start is asking myself and the other Eagle what we think would be cool to do. Then, do a little Googling to find a ceremony text that fits and pick your favorite parts from it to read & do sometime during the event. You have a unique opportunity to do something tailored to you and your Scouting colleague without worrying about a lot of details, if you don't want to, and have some fun.

[qwazse]

Remember, if you feel stuck, ask for help. Are you two really creative? Write a script. Do you like tradition? Follow a pattern of something already written. Ask previous Eagles in your troop what they have done. Something I haven't seen that I would like, is a panel discussion format. But that's just me. What I think you should do is ask around if there is a scouter who has MC'ed a ECoH for your troop before. They may have some good ideas.

[Stosh]

Boy-led! Eagle Scout - proven leadership - this is your day you can plan it out anyway you want! Kinda like a wedding, you make up the rules as to what's important for you for that day. Held in the woods with all Dutch oven food for the reception? That would work!

 

While dating my wife, we had a bench we would sit on in the woods every day for lunch. When it came time to get married, that's were we were sitting. Our kids thought we were nuts, so what, we got to pick! Wedding anniversary is January 7, and the Mrs. was disappointed it wasn't snowing on our wedding day! Our kids know us really well.

 

Stosh

[Tampa Turtle]

I get so sick of cookie cutter Eagle ceremonies! What a great opportunity. I like jblakes idea--outside would be good. Maybe he could come over in a canoe with drums.

[Tampa Turtle]

Boy-led! Eagle Scout - proven leadership - this is your day you can plan it out anyway you want! Kinda like a wedding, you make up the rules as to what's important for you for that day. Held in the woods with all Dutch oven food for the reception? That would work!

 

While dating my wife, we had a bench we would sit on in the woods every day for lunch. When it came time to get married, that's were we were sitting. Our kids thought we were nuts, so what, we got to pick! Wedding anniversary is January 7, and the Mrs. was disappointed it wasn't snowing on our wedding day! Our kids know us really well.

 

Stosh

Ahhh. My wife and I used to hang out on a swing in the park across from campus. One year she gave me a little paperweight of a couple in a swing dressed in clothes like we wore in ancient times. So I know she remembered too.

[qwazse]

Remember, if you feel stuck, ask for help. Are you two really creative? Write a script. Do you like tradition? Follow a pattern of something already written. Ask previous Eagles in your troop what they have done. Something I haven't seen that I would like, is a panel discussion format. But that's just me. What I think you should do is ask around if there is a scouter who has MC'ed a ECoH for your troop before. They may have some good ideas.

I think I get what you are saying. You are concerned about small numbers. Don't worry about that. Everyone participates! If one of the other two scouts is really good at communications, he can be the Master of Ceremonies (MoC). Otherwise ask if one of the adults do that. The MC basically walks everyone through the program. And introduces each participant. Also if you have friends in other troops, you could invite them to participate. Here is one way to make everything work:

 

Have one of the boys be "Sergeant at Arms" (SaA). At the MoC's request, he leads the assembly in the pledge of allegiance, and scout oath and law. (It's up to you boys how to set that up. You may want a color guard bring the flag forward, or you may have it already there. He may want to light some candles as each point of the law is said, or not. He may then ask a minister of your choosing to lead an opening prayer.)

Then, when the opening is complete and everyone is seated, the SaA returns the floor to the MoC by saying something like "Sir, the court has been assembled."

At this time, the MoC will invite guests who you would like to speak for a few minutes on behalf of you and your fellow Eagle. They could be one or two of your teachers, other scouters, or beneficiaries of your projects. When I do this, I hand the medal(s) to each speaker so that they hold it while the have the floor. To me it symbolizes all the hands that went into you boys making this achievement.

Then the MoC will ask the SaA to escort you and your parents forward to give you the medal. The only constant in all of the ceremonies I've seen, is mom pins on your medal, and you give her a kiss. (Let's not fool ourselves, she deserves it. ) Usually dad will put on your Eagle neckerchief and slide. Again there's a whole lot of variation in how this is done. Sometimes the ceremony includes an "Eagle Charge" and "Eagle Oath", if there is a senior scouter.

The MoC will then ask the SaA to bring the assembly to a close. That may include asking a minister to lead the benediction, asking the color guard to retire the colors, inviting the audience to stay for a snack afterwards (at this time recognizing any committee, or sisters, who helped in preparation), and dismissing the troop,

 

So you see, just because it's boy-led does not mean you have to exclude the adults. It means you work with adults so that everyone feels like they are part of this great accomplishment. The real trick is setting a time and location for it far enough in advance so that both of your families can attend and you boys can organize everything.

[Stosh]

I get so sick of cookie cutter Eagle ceremonies! What a great opportunity. I like jblakes idea--outside would be good. Maybe he could come over in a canoe with drums.

I'll check my calendar to see if I'm available. Would I have to stand up in the canoe?

 

Stosh

[Tampa Turtle]

Maybe Stand-up Paddle Boards. More stately. And a giant Eagle puppet.

[Eagledad]

I even attended a ceremony done in the Scout's house with his family. They had BBQ after. It is all up to you, but you can Google up some ideas to start. We've have many outdoor ceremonies and they are nice, but keep a back up in mind for rain. It's all fun.

 

 

 

[koolaidman]

I echo all the above:

 

Use the small size of your troop to your advantage. It makes doing anything so much easier. You could have your ECOH at your favorite camping spot, bowling alley, skate park, horse ranch, on a boat. Start thinking with your Eagle buddy, "It would be REALLY cool if________________". and go from there. If you've ever been to an ECOH, think of the stuff you'd take out, then add some stuff you'd like to have.

 

It would be really cool if I had my ECOH on the Tooth of Time...

[qwazse]

I even attended a ceremony done in the Scout's house with his family. They had BBQ after. It is all up to you, but you can Google up some ideas to start. We've have many outdoor ceremonies and they are nice, but keep a back up in mind for rain. It's all fun.

 

 

Graduation parties are big around here. Since Son #1 pushed to his 18th b-day in the spring, we had the ceremony at the CO, then instead of having a reception there, we invited everyone over to the house to kick off the first party of the summer.