need an eagle scout present -- what's appropriate and in budget?

[Grumpy's Gal]

A special young man in our lives is getting ready to have his eagle scout ceremony.

I know it's a HUGE recognition. I need ideas for gifts. If your son has had an eagle scout ceremony, can you please let me know what kinds of gifts he received? And I'd rather not give money. I'd rather give something he can keep forever.

 

[Sandy61]

A knife (pocket and multipurpose) would be useful for Scout activities. Have his certificate framed for him (do they get a certificate?). A below zero sleeping bag is also useful. A carved walking stick for hikes. Camping gear like backpack or cast iron skillet. Go to the local Scout shop store and look around or ask.

 

[erincon23]

Go to http://www.scoutstuff.org/, they have an online store with all kinds of great items. My DH was an eagle and has letters from tons of public figures (including presidents) recognizing him -- maybe there's a nice album with the eagle logo. On p. 9 of the "gifts" there's an Eagle ornament; on p. 10, there's a belt buckle and other things. I didn't look through the whole site.

Maybe you can ask if you can pay for part of his summer camp that year?

 

[Earstou]

My son received his Eagle his senior year. Some of his gifts were college-related items (shirts, mugs), a few knifes, and mostly money gifts. One aunt bought him an eagle statue.

From the Scout store: his grandparents bought him a frame for his certificate and medal, an aunt bought him an Eagle lapel pin, and we bought him the coin knife, which I had engraved with his name and the date of his ceremony.

I've given all our Eagles from the troop an eagle ornament.

 

[Sadie22]

Your attendance at the event, words of congratuations, and a nice card may be gift enough. In our area only family members and Scoutmasters give gifts.

It is extremely likely that an Eagle Scout has all the camping equipment he needs. To make Eagle, he's already done a lot of camping. You should ask the parents if there is something that you might purchase if you want to give a gift.

Many of these young men are planning for college and some extra cash is always helpful if you want to give a gift that will not end up collecting dust. This is a tremendous achievement, but it need not be acknowledged by objects. Help with the next big step in the young man's life is always good.

My sons received items during their years of Scouting, and handcarved gifts from Scoutmasters are especially precious. However, they don't have room to display all of the items they received in their years of Scouting. Most of them are boxed up.

 

[Tink9295]

A good gift is the shadow box that holds his certificate and his badge.

Other than that, my son really appreciated cash or gift certificates. Most of the scout at the scout store will eventually end up in a box in the attic. He's proud of his achievement, but knick knacks are not his thing. He did recieve some items from his college. Actually the college he was accepted to sent him a gift box with lots of college items. Very nice!

 

[marthachick]

I know you said budget, but one thing DS got was a silver Eagle dollar for the year he got his Eagle. Not sure the price on those but he really treasures it. And he probably does have a lot of knives, camping equipment, etc. But DS says you can never have too many knives.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

I know you said budget, but one thing DS got was a silver Eagle dollar for the year he got his Eagle. Not sure the price on those but he really treasures it. And he probably does have a lot of knives, camping equipment, etc. But DS says you can never have too many knives.

When I said budget, I meant we couldn't offer to pay for his whole camping experience for the summer or anything like that.

We do want to get some nice gift, not money or gift card.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

one thing DS got was a silver Eagle dollar for the year he got his Eagle. Not sure the price on those but he really treasures it.

where would you be able to get one of these?

 

[SplashMo]

If you are being there then that is enough. If you wanted to give a gift I would give a knife. Likely a single blade folding or fixed blade. Although aprove the fixed blade with parents...

The silver dollar is cool to...

 

[aprilgail2]

If you are being there then that is enough. If you wanted to give a gift I would give a knife. Likely a single blade folding or fixed blade. Although aprove the fixed blade with parents...

The silver dollar is cool to...

I guess that varies by area you are in- here I don't know anyone that went to a ceremony empty handed- most give a card with a cash gift or a gift card.

 

[Tooth Fairy]

A membership to the National Eagle Scout Association is very nice for a young man that is really into scouting and plans to continue to be involved in scouting. We gave our son a lifetime membership.

 

[eileen2664]

Dh became an eagle scout in highschool. He got several eagle figurines as gifts. One has a glass cloche over the top of it and was engraved with his name and year. I think another has a small engraved brass plate on the base of it. 18-ish years later he still treasures those eagles. As his wife I'm not thrilled with the eagle decor, but they do all reside on a shelf in our family room I'm not sure where you would find something like that, but that would be my recommendation.

 

[Sadie22]

A membership to the National Eagle Scout Association is very nice for a young man that is really into scouting and plans to continue to be involved in scouting. We gave our son a lifetime membership.

Many parents do this. The lifetime membership has gone up to $250 a year the last time I checked.

 

[arthuruscg]

What is your price range?
How about the Victorinox Classic Swiss Army Knife, the small kinfe with the date he made eagle scout engraved on it? They are about $20, but the version with the pen and led is around $45. And the classic red is great looking. I am an eagle scout and the small knife is perfect to keep with me all the time (unless flying).

Does he have his own knife sharpening stones? I still don't have a good set and keep borrowing my dads.

 

[3boymthr]

I know you said budget, but one thing DS got was a silver Eagle dollar for the year he got his Eagle. Not sure the price on those but he really treasures it. And he probably does have a lot of knives, camping equipment, etc. But DS says you can never have too many knives.

Is your son friends with mine?

I like the idea of a Silver Eagle Dollar. They can be had for about $50 at any legitimate coin shop. You can also order from the US Mint where they have a variety of options. http://catalog.usmint.gov/webapp/wc...storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&identifier=1000

DS is working on his eagle right now. He has his eye on a couple of cool items for when he finishes his Eagle - in particular he wants the Eagle Scout ring. My brother has wanted one of these for year as well but never got one because of sizing issues (he wears a 13 ring). They are pricey if you go through the scout shop to get one (and are made by Jostens as last check), but the older versions (sterling silver, no less) can be had for under $100 on ebay. Also, if you decide to go with something like this do a google search before buying so you know what the different authorized versions are. Scarily enough collectible scout items, particulary eagle scout items are frequently faked.

 

[Eastern]

My son is an Eagle (as are several of his friends). We typically give $25 and it has always been appreciated. He received the same from several others and we thought it was a nice gesture. Other gifts he has received include a pocket knife and a framed picture of him and a friend in their uniforms. We have TONS of camping equipment, knives, compasses, sleeping bags (at least 8) tents, cookstoves, etc. from years of being in the scouts. Unless you know otherwise, money is practical and appreciated.

 

[tyniknate]

My DS is about to receive his Eagle Scout next month. There are some beautiful frames that can be found online at various places. Or I love the idea of the Silver Eagle Dollar. I also agree with the pocket knife idea. My son can never have enough pocket knives.

Most important, though, is the fact that you will be there for him.

 

[Disney Hot Mama]

My son received his Eagle rank last year. At his ceremony his favorite gifts were cash... I am not someone who like to give cash however he used his money received to purchase a new digital camera that was on his wish list. He was a happy camper and in all his thank you letters written he told the cash givers what he used their fund for. This is a gift he will use for a long time. He also received several gift cards to the local movie theater and a few local fast food places. He has a bunch of knives already and has more than he needs of camping equiptment and scout related items.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

My son is working on his Eagle (and we've been to many Eagle CoH.) They are not a gift giving occasion in our parts. A nice card is the norm- a handwritten congratulations is extra nice. (I had an Eagle write me a thank you for the letter I wrote saying how proud I was of him. )

If you want to give a gift- as others have said- by the time they make Eagle, they have done years of camping and likely have all the gear they could need (IMO, including knives.) Unless he's got some big, unusual trip coming up- say a Florida kid going winter camping in Minnesota? , he is probably set.

I'd also caution about the keepsake things at the scout shop (excluding possibly an album or frame/shadowbox.) I know such knicknack sort of things would unfortunately end up buried in DS's room somwhere.