Every Eagle Scout is a unique creation. Commemorate your Eagle Scout with the perfect Court of Honor ceremony that will feel special and unique to them. 

Every Eagle Scout is a unique creation. Even twins who climb the trail to Eagle together take different paths to the summit, choosing different merit badges, planning different service projects, and learning different life lessons. Sadly, the same can’t be said for every Eagle Scout Court of Honor. All too often, troop leaders dust off the same ceremony script they’ve been using for years, simply filling in the blanks with the names of the current crop of presenters. Or parents go online and grab the first script they find, even if it’s a hot mess with more spare parts than AutoZone.

In 1996, I wrote the first edition of The Eagle Court of Honor Book with a single goal: to help troop leaders and parents plan ceremonies carefully tailored to the Scouts they were honoring. Two decades and two editions later, that remains my goal. Although the current edition contains eight complete ceremony scripts, I encourage readers to go off script, so to speak, to create the perfect court of honor for this Scout, an event that celebrates the unique journey that he—or she—has taken.

So, how can you make your ceremony fit your Scout? Here are my four top tips.

1. Focus on the script
2. Consider who to invite
3. Choose a meaningful location
4. Tell their story

Whether you write the ceremony script yourself or find one on the internet, it should reflect the honoree’s personality and accomplishments. Years ago, for example, I planned a joint court of honor for three Scouts in my troop who were decidedly chill and had no interest in the usual pomp and circumstance. After they asked if they could have a couch on stage for the event, I wrote a script reminiscent of a late-night TV show. The emcee (a fairly new Eagle Scout who was then in college) interviewed each honoree for a few minutes, asking about Eagle projects, most embarrassing or memorable moments, pranks they’d played on a popular adult leader, and college plans. (This court of honor evolved into the Late Night script in The Eagle Court of Honor Book.)

When you attend an Eagle court of honor, it’s a pretty sure bet that the senior patrol leader will lead the flag ceremony, the Scoutmaster will present the Eagle badge, and an adult Eagle Scout will give the Eagle charge. There’s nothing wrong with those choices, but they might not be the best options. Before you pencil in any names, think about the perfect cast of characters, and then start recruiting. If the honoree’s grandfather is an Eagle Scout, he might be a great choice to give the Eagle charge. If the previous Scoutmaster worked with the honoree through most of his Scouting journey, perhaps he should present the badge instead of the current Scoutmaster. And don’t feel constrained by the number of presenters a script calls for. I’ve done a Scout Law candle ceremony with as few as two Scouts and as many as 13.

It’s easy to default to your regular meeting place when choosing a court of honor location, but how well does it fit your Eagle Scout, the ceremony you’re planning, and the crowd you expect? If your honoree did his or her Eagle project at a nonprofit agency that’s especially meaningful, perhaps that would be an ideal location. Maybe an outdoor chapel would be appropriate if he’d rather camp than eat. (Be sure to have a rain plan.) If she’s coming back from college for her court of honor and you expect a small crowd, there’s nothing wrong with holding the ceremony in someone’s home. (The College and Career script in The Eagle Court of Honor Book is designed for just such a situation.)

Finally—and most importantly—be sure the court of honor tells the honoree’s story. And that doesn’t mean simply reciting a list of merit badges he earned and leadership positions he held. Instead, it means giving guests a glimpse into his heart and soul. Whether it uses anecdotes, slideshows, the honoree’s own words, and/or the questions posed by a would-be Stephen Colbert, the ceremony should allow guests to really get to know the new Eagle Scout. They should walk away understanding the journey he or she has been on and how their journey was unique—even if their twin brother is receiving their Eagle badge at the same court of honor.

From expert tips on planning the perfect Eagle Scout Court of Honor Ceremony to Eagle Scout gifts, party supplies, awards, and handcrafted Church Hill Classic frames, ScoutShop.org is your one-stop shop for all things Eagle Scout. Be sure to share your Court of Honor photos with us on social - tag us using #ScoutShopBSA for your chance to be featured!  Congratulations to your Eagle Scout, and happy planning—we hope your Eagle Scout has the ceremony of a lifetime!