What is Boy Scouts coming to?

Okay so I was readying a story in my local paper (the Press Enterprise) and I saw that a 14yr boy was working on his Eagle Project. Now I am an Eagle Scout and have been for over 7 years my project consisted of rebuilding some trails in the LA Mountains. I like some of the projects that are out there and some are really not true projects (in my eyes).

My problem with what I read was that the kid is 14, I know how I was at 14 and I know I could have done my project but I waited. I realized that it was important for me to grow more and to know what I was doing. I have seen scouts at the age of 13 getting Eagle and do not like it. I would love for BSA to put in the books that you must at least be 16 I think that 16 you can understand what you are doing.

I wonder truly who is the one doing the project, is it his parents? Working on Eagle is a huge challenge and is extremely important; if the parents are helping with the project and are helping their child in the correct direction I know most would see no problem with it. I on the other hand know that with my parents (one of whom was my Scoutmaster) not pointing/pushing me to get Eagle and not showing me how it is done I have learned more than if they had hand held me through it.

I have seen Eagle Projects go in front of the board where the scout has painted a US map on the black top of their local school, or go around collecting glass' for the needy. These may be needed but I do not see them to be worthy of being classified as an Eagle Project. What I do see as being true Eagle Projects (I know I won’t get them all but you will understand what I am saying) are;
*Fixing local trails for hikers or others who will use the trails
*Animal Conservation (Water for animals, Homes for wild animals)
*Forest Re-Planting, This would be replanting of trees in burned or other places that would need new trees to sustain life
*Forest Ground Clearance, now this may not be the right name but you go in and clear all dead bushes around trees and clean off limbs of trees that are close to the ground so fire is less likely to take out trees.
*Rebuilding Campgrounds

My main goal would be to see more of the Physical labor done. Don't do something that could be done by your troop on a weekend for fun.

My Troop (549 out of the LAAC District in Norwalk California) normally went and repaired trails for the heck of it. We logged in over 50,000 Man hours with the United States Forest Service. This is what we did. I know not every troop can do it but we did.

Here is the link to the article from my local paper.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/morenovalley/stories/PE_News_Local_C_revive2...