Board of Review Training includes Eagle Boards of Review

Guides for this webinar are:

• Guide to Advancement Chapter 8
• Notes for Eagle Project Approvers, Unit Leaders and Boards of Review. at the Grand Canyon Council Eagle page
• Board of Review Presentation Slides (PPT)

Upcoming Advancement Webinars

Upcoming Advancement Webinars

Board of Review Training (includes Eagle Boards) (Webinar): 8/18/2015 7 PM - 8:30 PM

http://www.grandcanyonbsa.org/event/1761233

Merit Badge Counselor Training (Webinar): 9/8/2015 7 PM - 8:30 PM

http://www.grandcanyonbsa.org/event/1780224

Recordings of previous sessions of these webinars are available here at this site; just keep scrolling down

REMEMBER – There is No Retesting at Boards of Review

From the Guide to Advancement: 8.0.1.1 Not a Retest or "Examination"

Though one reason for a board of review is to help ensure the Scout did what he was supposed to do to meet the requirements, it shall become neither a retest or “examination,” nor a challenge of his knowledge. In most cases it should, instead, be a celebration of accomplishment. Remember, it is more about the journey. A badge recognizes what a young man has done toward achieving the primary goal of personal growth. See "Personal Growth Is the Primary Goal," 2.0.0.3. It is thus more about the learning experience than it is about the specific skills learned. See also "Mechanics of Advancement: In Boy Scouting and Varsity Scouting,"4.2.0.0.

A Scout must not be rejected at a board of review for reasons unrelated to advancement requirements. For example, he must not be rejected just because he did not bring his Boy Scout Handbook with him or because he was tardy for a board of review, but the reason for his tardiness may certainly be a topic for discussion.

From: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/GuideToAdvancement/BoardsofReview

By the way, this is NOT a new policy.  Similar wording was in the 1990, 1970, 1968, 1947, and 1936 Scoutmaster Handbooks

Tenderfoot through Life boards of review should take approximately 15 minutes, but not longer than 30 minutes.

Eagle boards generally last 30 minutes or somewhat longer. This is the highest rank a Scout may achieve; there should be a discussion of his successes, experiences, and future plans, but rarely should one last longer than 45 minutes.  (also from the Guide to Advancement)

BOARDS OF REVIEW SHOULD BE A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE

You should make Boards of Review at any level a positive experience for the Scout. Here are some pointers when conducting Boards of Review

1. Keep them short.  Tenderfoot through Life Rank and Palm boards should be approximately 15 minutes, and no longer than 30 minutes.  Eagle boards are usually about 30 minutes long but rarely longer than 45 minutes.
2. They are not inquisitions
3. They are not trial boards
4. Don’t lead a Scout in to thinking you will reject him if you are not
5. Keep the board friendly
6. Your job is to get the Scout to relax, not to make him more nervous than he already is.