Eagle Scout invite

[pigget74]

Do you give a gift?

 

[wdwaholic]

Depends on how close you are with the Eagle scout-my 17yo son is having his Eagle Scout Court of Honor in 2 weeks and for those who have asked about giving a gift I've said nothing is necessary but if they insist I've said gas cards would be greatly appreciated-I've also given gift cards to local eateries-I don't give knives or flashlights because if they made it to Eagle they usually have plenty of these lying around
Hope this helps,
Trish

 

[MichelleinMaine]

In my son's troop, not a gift-giving occasion. I usually do a handwritten card of congratulations for a job well done. (Most people don't even do cards; I'm one of the leaders so love the opportunity to share how proud I am of them. )

 

[pigget74]

This is for my son. He and a friend will be having ceremony together. People are asking and I told them not to worry. It just got me curious to see what others do. As a family we are getting him something, but never thought others would. We just want them at the ceremony...since the ones we invited have been a huge part of his life.

 

[wdwaholic]

Congratulations to your son and you alsoknow what you mean about having people there who helped him on the path-my son is very active in scouting-summercamp director,council committees,training staff so right now between these special people,family and friends we are up to over 100 people at his ceremony
Enjoy

 

[SplashMo]

It is really cool to attend in person if possible. Just being there is a very big deal. A gift is optional for sure...

 

[buzz5985]

This is for my son. He and a friend will be having ceremony together. People are asking and I told them not to worry. It just got me curious to see what others do. As a family we are getting him something, but never thought others would. We just want them at the ceremony...since the ones we invited have been a huge part of his life.

Congratulations to your son!!! Great accomplishment. I think no gift is necessary - just the people's continued support is enough.

Hopefully I will be standing in your shoes in a couple of years!!!

Janis

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Congrats to your son! (and a pat on the back to you, too, I'm learning their should be a support group for Eagle candidate moms... how to bite your tongue and stand back even though you want to "fix" things My son just got his proposal approved... you'd think he'd want to just get in there and FINISH the project, but... lol)

Anyway- you could check with the scoutmaster or another recent-Eagle family to see what the norm might be in your area if that makes you feel better. (Though, of course, always appropriate to say no gift necessary. Perhaps if people insist- you could suggest a donation in his name to the organization where his project is?)

 

[wdwaholic]

Congrats to your son! (and a pat on the back to you, too, I'm learning their should be a support group for Eagle candidate moms... how to bite your tongue and stand back even though you want to "fix" things My son just got his proposal approved... you'd think he'd want to just get in there and FINISH the project, but... lol)

Anyway- you could check with the scoutmaster or another recent-Eagle family to see what the norm might be in your area if that makes you feel better. (Though, of course, always appropriate to say no gift necessary. Perhaps if people insist- you could suggest a donation in his name to the organization where his project is?)

I hear you-I've threatened my son that I'm going to pin on a black footprint on his backside @ his court of honor to remind him of my part in his journey-this is my second time around the Eagle circus and it doesn't get any better-just grit your teeth and walk away-told everyone at my first sons ceremony that the Mother's pin should be made of diamonds,rubies and sapphires for all the c**p we had to put up with during our sons trail to Eagle!!

 

[teller80]

On my sons Eagle invite, I worded to say something like in lieu of gifts, a donation may be made to... and I listed 2 charities. A few gave gifts anyway, a few donated, but most just gave a card.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

-told everyone at my first sons ceremony that the Mother's pin should be made of diamonds,rubies and sapphires for all the c**p we had to put up with during our sons trail to Eagle!!

Throw in that I'm advancement chair- so while this is my first time with my own son, I've dealt with many 17.9 year olds who need get their stuff all in and recorded before the big day (or fall of senior year, because they want to be able to put "Eagle scout" on their college apps... thank heavens for internet advancement now! I used to tell them if they wanted next day service, they better be pairing that request with a home cooked meal. (Now it's just it better come with chocolate

 

[Tink9295]

It depends. When my son had his eagle ceremony he received many gifts. He did not receive gifts from everyone. Most of his family gave gifts. Some gave cash, gifts cards and some gifts from the scout store. Others gave cards. It depends on how close you are to the eagle scout. I know he enjoyed reading all the cards from his guests.

I am a former board member. I have done both. It depends on how close we are to the scout and their family. Hope this helps.

 

[pigget74]

I hear you-I've threatened my son that I'm going to pin on a black footprint on his backside @ his court of honor to remind him of my part in his journey-this is my second time around the Eagle circus and it doesn't get any better-just grit your teeth and walk away-told everyone at my first sons ceremony that the Mother's pin should be made of diamonds,rubies and sapphires for all the c**p we had to put up with during our sons trail to Eagle!!

I was the pack leader until he crossed over. Was asked to be continue with the troop, but I declined. He did not need mom everywhere! I feel like I should get some sort huge honor in blinking lights to let the world know...lol We get to start all over again come fall...my youngest son will be a tiger!

 

[aprilgail2]

Whenever I have attended one I have brought a gift and most people I know do also--of course it could be regional but I asked my friend about this when it came up on the boards another time. Her son made his last year and she said only 2 people that came didn't bring some type of gift.
Here the people that come get fed a meal after the ceremony, is that the same everyplace? Its usually no big deal, just like trays of ziti, sausage and peppers, salads, 6 foot hero etc... but always a meal.

 

[lisajl]

My son had his March 19th.
Yes, a gift is nice, but not required! My son got some money, which is great.
The best thing he received, my dad's WWII medals from my brother.

A few of our neighbors gave my son a card. It was wonderful that they thought of him.

Lisa

 

[MBELSANTI]

I hear you-I've threatened my son that I'm going to pin on a black footprint on his backside @ his court of honor to remind him of my part in his journey-this is my second time around the Eagle circus and it doesn't get any better-just grit your teeth and walk away-told everyone at my first sons ceremony that the Mother's pin should be made of diamonds,rubies and sapphires for all the c**p we had to put up with during our sons trail to Eagle!!

OH boy what a stressful time it is. My son did his project last May and completed his Life tenure and finished last Eagle req badges in Sept and it took him this long to turn his book in for approval. His original goal was Eagle before high school and now it is 4 weeks until the end of freshman year. He was lazy writing his life purpose statement...I have a ton of people to invite too as I am a leader and have been through Wood Badge and we're involved in OA so there are tons of people I want to invite that we've met over the years...what are you planning on serving?

 

[christineann]

When my nephew became an Eagle Scout last year, we made a contribution to the local animal shelter in his honor. His project involved the animal shelter, and it was like an extension of the good that came of the project.

There was a reception after the ceremony at the church, and the menu included stuff like finger sandwiches, ham rolls, chips and dip,crackers and cheese, fruit, cookies, etc.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

For those asking food- I'd imagine that varies by region or even troop to troop. The "norm" at ours is cake/punch/coffee, once in a while also with cheese/crackers and a fruit tray. Only one guy had a full meal- which was a pig roast at his house a couple hours after the ceremony. (All were also invited to that, but the timing was a little awkward.)

 

[Maddie2]

I live in the Midwest and have two boys. One dropped out of scouts a couple of years ago We did all we could to encourage him to stay with it, but it just wasn't his thing unfortunately. He just didn't click with the other boys his age in our troop. The scoutmaster at that time was less than ideal as well.

Now though, our DS14 has a much better scoutmaster, has great friends in the troop and plans to Eagle. This is all very interesting reading! We go to 3-5 Eagle ceremonies each year and always give a card with money. I think most people do the same. The food is usually much the same - cake, nuts, mints, m&m's and punch/coffee. Nothing major, just a little something. The ceremonies are usually on either a Saturday or a Sunday at 2:00 and we are home by 4:00.

Not to hijack this thread, but since it seems there are lots of Scout moms here - please tell me about OA. Our son was 'called out' for OA at his camporee just yesterday (along with three other boys). I don't know much about it other than he will go on a special campout in May for it. I'm guessing it is some sort of initiation type of thing? My DH was not at the camporee yesterday, but evidently he is being called out as the adult from the troop and will attend as well.

I was involved a little more when the boys were Cubs, but now let Scouts be more of a father/son thing in our family. They do plenty of things with me, it's nice to see them have this bond with DH in scouting.

 

[PennyInPink]

Since my DH was a Scoutmaster for 9 years, we've seen lots of Eagle Ceremonies, including our own son. Here, we tend to go all out with a big open house type party. Some gifts my son recieved is camping stuff like bag chair, wind up flashlight and radio, a sliver photo fram with the name, date, and Eagle Scout engraved on it, gift cards for places like Cabella's, Gander Mountain, etc, an Eagle Scout t-shirt, even a flag that had been flown over Michigan's capitol building in his honor. A jokester cousin came with a camping port a potty. Like a folding camp stool but with a garbage bag hanging underneath. He usues it for a garbage can in his room!