Eagle scout?

[sherry7]

My nephew recently obtained the rank of Eagle Scout. We live several hundred miles away, so we won't be going to the ceremony.

Is a card appropriate, or is this normally a gift giving occasion? Our families don't typically exchange gifts for birthdays, Christmas, etc.

 

[Sadie22]

Achieving the rank of Eagle Scout is very important to the young men who earn that. I would reconsider and attend the Court of Honor if you possibly can. If not, please let your nephew know that you acknowledge its importance and would attend if time allowed, etc. Your presence or your acknowledgment with a card or letter is definitely called for. Whether to give gifts can be family custom. This is definitely a milestone and needs to be recognized as such.

 

[Falltime]

I asked my DH your question since he is heavily involved in Scouts and this was his reply:

It depends. Gifts are common, but not required. A card can be perfectly acceptable, especially when you don't usually do gifts for Christmas or birthdays.

On the other hand, earning Eagle is a much bigger deal than growing a year older. It is an accomplishment. If you would consider sending a graduation gift, then I would suggest an Eagle gift.

So, in summary - if you are comfortable sending a gift, send a gift. If you are not, send a card. Either is fine. As a Scoutmaster and an Eagle, I am biased towards offering a gift.

 

[cglaura]

I asked my DH your question since he is heavily involved in Scouts and this was his reply:

It depends. Gifts are common, but not required. A card can be perfectly acceptable, especially when you don't usually do gifts for Christmas or birthdays.

On the other hand, earning Eagle is a much bigger deal than growing a year older. It is an accomplishment. If you would consider sending a graduation gift, then I would suggest an Eagle gift.

So, in summary - if you are comfortable sending a gift, send a gift. If you are not, send a card. Either is fine. As a Scoutmaster and an Eagle, I am biased towards offering a gift.

This is what my friend, also a Scoutmaster said...gauge it by what you might do/give for their high school graduation. It is a huge accomplishment. And, if you can be there, I'm sure it would be appreciated.

 

[drgreene1096]

What an incredible accomplishment! I would say a gift would be appropriate and I would do everything in my power to attend. It is such an honor for the young man....the dedication that it took to reach this point is nothing short of amazing.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

It is a huge accomplishment for a young man - I agree with the PP who suggested a gift comparable to graduation. It takes a lot of dedication to achieve Eagle Scout. DH is an Eagle, and we were so proud of our nephew when he became an Eagle Scout.

If you don't normally exchange gifts, I'd at least send a congratulations card.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

My son should (please, Lord!) be making Eagle this year. I do not expect gifts from any but close relatives, if that. I hope friends/relatives would send a card, though.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Awesome accomplishment, BRAVO to him!!

If you can attend, wonderful. If you afford it, a gift/check is in order. If you can't. then send a card, .perhaps with a special note!

 

[farmermr]

I may be a little biased, being that I am an Eagle Scout. I remember recieving a lot of things at my Court of Honor, but to tell you the truth the one gift that I remember most is an old BSA handbook and compass from a co-worker of mine and my fathers, as he was a scout as well. An acknowledgment of the accomplishment is definitely in order, and if gifts are or are not the norm in your family, go with that. I can't speak for others, but I know that I did not work toward the rank of Eagle Scout to receive gifts.

 

[dsanner106]

Acknowlege the achievement in the best way you can. Gifts are appropriate and nice, not 100 percent necessary. This is a minimum 7 year commitment to reach this goal. Colleges view this as the strongest plus in admissions, it adds serious points to their score. The military admits Eagle scouts as officers. A good friend was in a pool of 200 for a particular major city job and was told that as the only eagle scout in the group he had first dibs on the job. He was younger than every other candidate and though experienced, did not have the years in. Consider this the equivilent of any other life goal.

D

 

[marthachick]

DS received his Eagle in 2008 & it was one of the proudest days of my life. We had many family members & friends in attendance at his Court of Honor. He received some gifts and several cards. He was as appreciative of the cards as he was the gifts. Hallmark has some cards that are specific to Eagle Scouts or some were just generic "Congratulations" but he appreciated them all. HTH

 

[shirleyb]

I asked my DH your question since he is heavily involved in Scouts and this was his reply:

It depends. Gifts are common, but not required. A card can be perfectly acceptable, especially when you don't usually do gifts for Christmas or birthdays.

On the other hand, earning Eagle is a much bigger deal than growing a year older. It is an accomplishment. If you would consider sending a graduation gift, then I would suggest an Eagle gift.

So, in summary - if you are comfortable sending a gift, send a gift. If you are not, send a card. Either is fine. As a Scoutmaster and an Eagle, I am biased towards offering a gift.

This is good advice. I'm the proud mom of two Eagle Scouts, and I would say my sons received a lot of nice gifts, but a card acknowledging their accomplisment would also be appreciated. Congrats to your nephew!

 

[lisajl]

My son should (please, Lord!) be making Eagle this year. I do not expect gifts from any but close relatives, if that. I hope friends/relatives would send a card, though.

We are here, too. My DS is just finishing a last merit badge and then he will move to get his Eagle. He did his project last June, so we are almost there.

Congrats to you, your family and especially your son!

To the OP-a gift would be very nice but a card will do. Both my nephews are Eagles and we gave them gifts.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

The military admits Eagle scouts as officers.

No, they don't. Unless they have a college degree and have finished officer candidate school, graduate from a military academy, or go through ROTC.

However, if an Eagle Scout enlists in the military, he will enlist at the rank of E2, unless he has some college credit or JROTC training, then depending on the amount, will be an E3.

OP - Attaining the rank of Eagle Scout is a major accomplishment and definitely warrants giving a nice gift.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

My DH is an Eagle Scout and a Scoutmaster for my son's Troop. DS should get his Eagle Scout this year.

As Scoutmaster, we are invited to a lot of Eagle Court of Honors and/or ceremonies.

One nice thing you could send would be an Eagle Scout knife, available from your local Scout Office, or available from the BSA online.

It is an amazing accomplishment, and I am very proud of both of my "boys"!

 

[sbaldasare]

Speaking of knives - here's an Eagle Knife originally 24.99 marked down to 9.98. Might be able to pick it up at the local scout store and save on shipping.
A scout can never have too many knives (at least according to my boys who are Life and Scout)

http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply...UCTS&c2=CAMPING&c3=KNIVES&c4=&lv=3&item=24083

 

[Dizzyworld]

First of all, congrats to all that have Eagle Scouts in their families. My DS will be sending in everything for the final project review, and then he will be joining that group of achievers. What my DS has told us when I asked him about us getting a gift for him, his response was the rank was his gift. In his troop people mostly give cards. Close family and friends give gifts or gift certifactes that can be used for college especially if they are moving to college. If he is a person who likes to read, he might enjoy this book Legacy of Honor: The Values and Influence of America's Eagle Scouts. You can read parts of it on Amazon.com. The more I have learned about this rank over the years, the more I am impressed with the guys that went the distance. Congrats to all. I hope you can go and enjoy the ceremony.

 

[edk35]

Acknowlege the achievement in the best way you can. Gifts are appropriate and nice, not 100 percent necessary. This is a minimum 7 year commitment to reach this goal. Colleges view this as the strongest plus in admissions, it adds serious points to their score. The military admits Eagle scouts as officers. A good friend was in a pool of 200 for a particular major city job and was told that as the only eagle scout in the group he had first dibs on the job. He was younger than every other candidate and though experienced, did not have the years in. Consider this the equivilent of any other life goal.

D

The military does not admit eagle scouts as "officers". You would go in as an E2 vs. and E1 in the enlisted ranks. In order to be an officer in the military, you need a 4 year college degree plus attend/pass officer candidacy school OR attend a military school. (Naval Academy, West Point etc. ) Of course achieving Eagle scout is a HUGE accomplishment and should be awarded/acknowledge. I am not trying to diminish the accomplishment of making Eagle Scout... I just wanted to clarify that Eagle Scouts aren't admitted into the military as an officer unless they have the 4 year degree and officer candidacy school also.