Boy Scout Handbook

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The Boy Scout Handbook

First edition: 1911 Latest edition: 2016, 13th Edition, 488 pages –Perfect-Bound –Perfect-Bound (Spanish) –Kindle BSA Supply Number: 34006

The Boy Scout Handbook #34006 is the official handbook of the Boy Scouts of America. It is a descendant of Robert Baden-Powell's original handbook, Scouting for Boys, which has been the basis for Scout handbooks in many countries.

The new edition of the Boy Scout Handbook is not just a guide to the outdoors - but a guide for life that addresses issues such as alcohol and drug abuse, respecting others, and using the Internet appropriately.

The Boy Scout Handbook contains the requirements and great resources for each rank from a new Scout earning Scout rank through Eagle to Eagle Palms.

The rank requirements in this book are official as of Jan. 1, 2016. Scouts who joined the Boy Scouts of America on or after Jan. 1, 2016, MUST follow the rank requirements as printed in this Boy Scout Handbook or in the current year's Boy Scout Requirements book.

Scouts who joined the BSA prior to Jan. 1, 2016:

• Who are working on the Tenderfoot through First Class ranks MAY continue to follow the old requirements, but MUST convert to the current requirements upon attaining First Class.
• Who have completed the First Class rank MAY complete the rank they are currently working on in the old requirements, but MUST convert to the current requirements for subsequent ranks.
  

Beginning Jan. 1, 2017, all Scouts MUST use the current requirements regardless of rank.

The requirements for merit badges and other awards are in the Boy Scout Requirements book (2018), #33216].

Previous editions

Edition	Title	Published	Author or editor
Loose-leaf and various bindings	Official Handbook	July 1910 – March 1911	Ernest Thompson Seton
1st	The Official Handbook for Boys First official publishing	June 1911–1914	BSA Editorial Board
2nd	The Official Handbook for Boys	1914–1927	BSA Editorial Board
3rd	Revised Handbook for Boys	1927–1940	H. W. Hurt, editor
4th	Revised Handbook for Boys	1940–1948	H. W. Hurt, editor
5th	Handbook for Boys	1948–1959	Ted Pettit, editor
6th	Boy Scout Handbook	1959–1965	William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt
7th	Boy Scout Handbook	1965–1972	William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt
8th	Scout Handbook	1972–1979	Frederick L. Hines
9th	Official Boy Scout Handbook	1979–1990	William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt
10th	Boy Scout Handbook	1990–1998	Robert Birkby
11th	Boy Scout Handbook	1998–2009	Robert Birkby
12th	Boy Scout Handbook	2010–2016
13th	Boy Scout Handbook	2016–

External links

• The Boy Scout Handbook Perfect-Bound Edition — ScoutShop.org
• El Manual Boy Scout (Spanish) Perfect-Bound Edition — ScoutShop.org
• The Boy Scout Handbook Kindle Edition — ScoutShop.org

This article contains content that is covered under the GNU Free Documentation License.