Resources on the Web

	Title	Description
	Boy Scout Handbook – Boy Scouts of America	The 12th (and current) Edition of the Boy Scout Handbook. This edition adds new, updated information, links to resources on the web at www.boyscouthandbook.org, and returns to many classic Scout Skills, including text from “Green Bar” Bill Harcort. Please keep in mind that this book is over 400 pages long. As Troop 501 provides each new Scout that crosses over into the troop a copy of the current Boy Scout Handbook, it is highly recommended that you DO NOT PRINT this file. However, you may wish to print certain sections, checklists, tracking sheets, etc.
	Scouting for Boys by Sir Robert Baden-Powell	The definitive manual for Scouts. This is the book that started Scouting. Complete with original illustrations by B-P. 1954 “Brotherhood Edition”. The book consists of introductions for Scouters, 26 “Campfire Yarns” for Scouts and a summary.
	Boy Scout Handbook – Boy Scouts of America	The 1911 First Edition. This is the ORIGINAL Boy Scout Handbook of the Boy Scouts of America. It is a great resource.
Program Support These books are essential to the support of an active Scouting program.
	Fieldbook – Boy Scouts of America	The 2004, 4th Edition (current, as of the date of this writing) of the BSA Fieldbook. Based on experiences of millions of Scouts and leaders, this book holds essential information for every outdoor enthusiast. A comprehensive reference, this handbook includes sections on trekking, preparation and adventures, appreciating our environment, and more. The Fieldbook is available for download, by clicking the title to the left. However, it IS NOT recommended that you print the book, as it is 579 pages long. If you wish to have a printed copy, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you purchase a copy for $9.99 at your local Scout Shop, or online at www.scoutstuff.org. It is available, spiral bound, for slightly more. The printed edition has 614 pages (including index) of detailed “How To” knowledge of the outdoors, conservation, and the backcountry. Throughout this edition of Fieldbook, an arrow icon alerts you to further information – including books, organizations, websites, periodicals, and audiovisual materials – available online. The Fieldbook website, www.bsafieldbook.org, can be used in tandem with this book to help you make the most of your outdoor experiences. You can also download individual chapters, below: Leadership and Trek Preparation: Chapter 01 – Organizing for Adventures Chapter 02 – Outdoor Leadership Chapter 03 – Becoming Fit Chapter 04 – Planning a Trek Chapter 05 – Outdoor Menus Chapter 06 – Managing Risk Leaving No Trace: Chapter 07 – Implementing Leave No Trace Chapter 08 – Using Stoves and Campfires Chapter 09 – Hygiene and Waste Disposal Chapter 10 – Traveling and Camping in Special Environments Trek Adventures: Chapter 11 – Gearing Up Chapter 12 – Navigation Chapter 13 – Cold-Weather Travel and Camping Chapter 14 – Hot-Weather Travel and Camping Chapter 15 – Backpacking Chapter 16 – Watercraft Adventure Safety Chapter 17 – Canoeing Chapter 18 – Kayaking and Rafting Chapter 19 – Sailing Chapter 20 – Bicycle Touring and Mountain Biking Chapter 21 – Riding and Packing Chapter 22 – Ski Touring and Snowshoeing Chapter 23 – Mountain Travel Chapter 24 – Caving Chapter 25 – Fishing Chapter 26 – Search and Rescue Appreciating Our Environment: Chapter 27 – Understanding Nature Chapter 28 – Observing Nature Chapter 29 – Examining the Earth Chapter 30 – Monitoring Weather Chapter 31 – Plants Chapter 32 – Wildlife Chapter 33 – Watching the Night Sky Chapter 34 – Being Good Stewards of Our Resources
	Troop Program Features Volume I – Boy Scouts of America	The Troop Program Features include 36 Monthly Themes with Troop Meeting and Activity plans. Using this program, a troop will explore dozens of merit badges and Scout Skills each year. Your Patrol Leaders’ Council can pick and choose the themes that interest them. Then for each theme they can tailor their own plan from a variety of resources in the chapter.Each program is designed to let older Scouts teach newer Scouts the associated Scout Skills for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class. Older Scouts are encouraged to continue to explore the related Merit Badges for each topic.By using this three-year program rotation, every Scout Skill is reinforced and Scouts are introduced to almost every merit badge. Some programs such as Camping, First Aid, and Emergency Preparedness will probably be annual themes for new Scouts with older Scouts teaching and doing the related merit badges.Volume I covers the following Program Features: Aquatics Athletics Backpacking Boating/Canoeing Business Camping Citizenship Communications Cooking Cultural Awareness Emergency Preparedness Engineering
	Troop Program Features Volume II – Boy Scouts of America	The Troop Program Features include 36 Monthly Themes with Troop Meeting and Activity plans. Using this program, a troop will explore dozens of merit badges and Scout Skills each year.Your Patrol Leaders’ Council can pick and choose the themes that interest them. Then for each theme they can tailor their own plan from a variety of resources in the chapter.Each program is designed to let older Scouts teach newer Scouts the associated Scout Skills for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class. Older Scouts are encouraged to continue to explore the related Merit Badges for each topic.By using this three-year program rotation, every Scout Skill is reinforced and Scouts are introduced to almost every merit badge. Some programs such as Camping, First Aid, and Emergency Preparedness will probably be annual themes for new Scouts with older Scouts teaching and doing the related merit badges.Volume II covers the following Program Features: Environment First Aid Fishing Forestry Health Care High Adventure Hiking Special Hobbies Sports Leadership Mechanics Nature Orienteering
	Troop Program Features Volume III – Boy Scouts of America	The Troop Program Features include 36 Monthly Themes with Troop Meeting and Activity plans. Using this program, a troop will explore dozens of merit badges and Scout Skills each year.Your Patrol Leaders’ Council can pick and choose the themes that interest them. Then for each theme they can tailor their own plan from a variety of resources in the chapter.Each program is designed to let older Scouts teach newer Scouts the associated Scout Skills for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class. Older Scouts are encouraged to continue to explore the related Merit Badges for each topic.By using this three-year program rotation, every Scout Skill is reinforced and Scouts are introduced to almost every merit badge. Some programs such as Camping, First Aid, and Emergency Preparedness will probably be annual themes for new Scouts with older Scouts teaching and doing the related merit badges.Volume III covers the following Program Features: Physical Fitness Pioneering Public Service Safety Science Shooting Cooking Tracking Wilderness Survival Wildlife Management Winter Camping
	Troop Program Resources – Boy Scouts of America	The Troop Program Resources book contains a variety of The Scoutmaster’s Minute(s), many games, a plethora of ceremonies, ideas for Interfaith Worship Services, a glossary of Scouting terms, Pearls of Wisdom—quotes from Baden-Powell, information about the founders of the BSA, forms, and Scouting clip art for use in troop meetings and activities.
	2012 Requirements –Boy Scouts of America	The official requirements for all BSA ranks, badges, and other awards, effective January 1, 2012.
	Guide to Advancement – Boy Scouts of America, 2013	While the 2012 Requirements book outlines the requirements for various BSA awards and ranks, this publication details how the advancement program is to be administered.
	Guide to Safe Scouting – Boy Scouts of America	March, 2013 (online version, at is updated quarterly). The purpose of the Guide to Safe Scouting is to prepare members of the Boy Scouts of America to conduct Scouting activities in a safe and prudent manner. The policies and guidelines have been established because of the real need to protect members from known hazards that have been identified through 100 years of experience. Limitations on certain activities should not be viewed as stumbling blocks; rather, policies and guidelines are best described as stepping-stones toward safe and enjoyable adventures. All participants in official Scouting activities should become familiar with the Guide to Safe Scouting and be aware of state or local government regulations that supersede Boy Scouts of America policies and guidelines. The Guide to Safe Scouting provides an overview of Scouting policies and procedures rather than comprehensive, standalone documentation. For some items, the policy statements are complete. Unit leaders are expected to review the additional reference material cited prior to conducting such activities, and a copy of the Guide to Safe Scouting must be present at all activities. (A copy of this PDF on your smartphone meets this requirement).
	Guide to Leader Training – Boy Scouts of America	This new guide outlines the basic responsibilities for volunteer leader training committees and the methods of BSA volunteer training. To be sure that information is up-to-date, the guide does not include the forms and other resources that are more easily available, and more current, via Scouting.org. The training pages of Scouting.org will help you find the current resources, forms, and courses available—as well as the latest in BSA training.
General Interest These books are of historical and general Scouting interest. They contain a look into the history of Scouting, and provide a window into the past, while also giving us a foundation for our own Scouting activities and units.
	Be Ye Perfect	1950 book, by E. J. Rowland. Talks on the Scout Law and Promise.
	The Scout’s Reciter and Elocutionary Instructor	1922 – How and what to recite.
	Things Scouts Can Do	1960 book, edited by F. Hadyn Dimmock.
	A Book Of Scouting Adventures	Jack Blunt’s 1935 book on Scouting adventures.
	Mixed Grill	Jack Blunt’s 1949 book on Scouting activities.
Scouting Skills These books, while most are older even than our faithful Scoutmaster, contain a wealth of information important for all Scouts to know, and skills that each would do well to possess.
	The Scouts’ How-To-Do-It Book	A short book with loads of hints on general Scouting knowledge – 1953.
	Standing Camps	1949 – Manual of Camping for Scout Troops.
	Week-end Camps & Hikes	1935 book, by C. H. Young. A Handbook for Patrol Leaders.
	The First Class Hike	A short pamphlet from Boy Scouts Assoc Canada on the 1st Class Hike.
	Scout Mapping	1963 book, by P. W. Blandford. The Scout Self Taught Series #3.
	The Scout and His Axe	John Thurman’s booklet on the axe.
	Pioneering	A compendium of Scout Pioneering resources.
	The Scouts’ Book of Gadgets and Dodges	1946 – A treasure house of ideas and sugggestions which the active outdoor Scout will find a real help.
	Pioneering Projects	1961 book, by John Thurman.
	Pioneering Principles	1962 book, by John Thurman.
	Progressive Pioneering	1964 book, by John Thurman.
	Fun With Ropes and Spars	1956 book, by John Thurman.
	Rope Splicing	1953 book, by P. W. Blandford. Everything you want to know about Rope Splicing.
	Ropework Booklet	This booklet gives nice photographs, illustrations, and instructions for tying a number of knots.
	Winter Scouting	The 1950 Boy Scouts Association of Canada manual on Winter Scouting.
	Recreative Training for Scouts	By Colonel R.B. Campbell (1949).
	Tumbling for Scouts	The 1931 book regarding one of the lost aspects of physical development in Scouts.
	Saving Life	1910 book, by a “B.P.” Scout. Vol. III. The Boy Scout’s Library.
Games These books are full of Scouting games, leadership games, team-building games, as well as games just for fun. These books feature both indoor and outdoor games, games for all ages, and all group sizes.
	Scouting Gamesby Sir Robert Baden-Powell	A collection of games written by the Founder specifically for boys.
	Boy Scout Games	BSA – 1958.
	Gilcraft Book of Games	A 1928 compendium of over 350 popular Scout and Cub games. You will be amazed how many already are the favorite of your troop and how many will become the “new” favorites.
	Gilcraft’s Wide Games	The 1944 version of Gilcraft’s Wide Games
	Outdoor Games for Scouts	The 1952 Gilcraft book on Outdoor Games for Scouts.
	Sixty Indoor Games for Scouts	The 1932 book on the most popular indoor games for Scouts.
Campfire These books contain campfire yarns and stories, or serve as a guide in putting on an organized campfire program.
	The Boy Scout’s Book of Campfire Stories	1921 book of campfire stories – published by BSA.
	Woodsmoke at Twilight	A collection of short stories suitable for Cubs and younger Scouts. Inspirational as well as slightly entertaining, they aim to give practical examples in prose of the Scouting Spirit and the qualities of a Scout or Cub as well as application of their Promises in their lives. It is decidedly dated (1955-1965), but nevertheless still useful.
	Yarns for Boy Scouts	Yarns told round the campfire – by B-P – 1910.
Stunts, Skits, Performances, Etc
	The Scout Book of Stunts and Ideas	Jack Blunt’s 1935 book on Scouting stunts and ideas.
	More Stunts and Ideas	Jack Blunt’s 1938 book on more Scouting stunts and ideas.
	More Concert Items for Scouts and Cubs	For playacting – by H.L. Davies (1932).
Troop Leadership The books in this section are for Patrol Leaders, Senior Patrol Leaders, Assistant Patrol Leaders and Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders, and adult troop leadership.
	Patrol Leader Handbook – Boy Scouts of America	This is the 2002 Fourth (and current) Edition of the Patrol Leader Handbook published by the BSA.
	Patrol and Troop Leadership – Boy Scouts of America	This excellent guide to patrol leadership, published for Scouts in 1972, is still very useful even though it is a bit dated, and remains arguably the best guide for youth leadership ever published by the BSA.
	Patrol Leaders’ Handbook	John Thurman’s 1950 The Patrol Leaders’ Handbook – Full of photos, drawings, charts and yarns to help your Patrol Leader be a Leader.
	Golden Arrow Training Handbook	Training Manual for Patrol Leaders 1960 first edition.
	The Patrol System and Letters to a Patrol Leader	The 1917 book by Capt. the Honourable Roland Philipps regarding the most important topic in the Scout section – the Patrol.
	Working the Patrol System	1943 – A short booklet on how to make the Patrol System work.
	How to Run a Patrol	A Handbook for Scoutmasters & Patrol Leaders – 1939.
	How to Run a Troop	Ernest Young’s book with 39 preplanned Troop meetings – 1923.
	Running a Senior Scout Troop	Melville Balsillie’s 1964 book on Senior Scouting.
	Scouting Out of Doors	Written primarily to encourage Patrol Leaders to carry on their Scouting out of doors. Gilcraft #3 1932
	Ideas for Scout Troops	Jack Cox’s 1961 book on the Scout program, and what to do with Scouts.
	How to Run a Boy Scout Camporee	A short booklet by BSAC – 1959.
Books for Scoutmasters and Other Leaders
	Scoutmaster Handbook – Boy Scouts of America	1998 (9th/current edition). This resource serves as the Scoutmaster’s primary guide and contains a helpful section about advancement, including the merit badge program.
	Scoutmaster’s First Year	The 1948 edition of this popular and informative manual for new Scout Leaders
	Aids to Scoutmastership by Sir Robert Baden-Powell	The fundamental manual for Scout Leaders. Describes the purpose and methods of Scouting. Complete with original illustrations. 1945 “Brotherhood Edition”.
	The Scouter’s Five Minutes	1953 collection, published at the same time as the Scouters Series.
	Troop Committee Guidebook –Boy Scouts of America	This is the 2000 printing of the 1998 (and current) edition.
	Troop Scouters’ Handbook	Boy Scouts of Canada’s comprehensive 1958 reference book for the Troop Scouter.
Books from Other Scouting Organizations These books have information that can be very useful to all Scouts
	BPSA-US Pathfinder Handbook	This is the Official 2012 handbook of the Pathfinder section (Boy-Scout aged boys and girls) of the Baden-Powell Service Association, here, in the US. The requirements substantially follow those of the Baden-Powell Scouting Association of Canada, and are similar to those of the United Kingdom
	The Boy Scout & Wolf Cub Proficiency Badge Reference Book	A small booklet from BSAC (1940).
	Tenderfoot to Queen’s Scout	1955 edition of the basic Canadian Scout manual.
Rank Tests At one time, in the US (in as late as the Sixth Edition of the Boy Scout Handbook), and to this day, in many Scouting organizations, a Scout must pass tests in order to advance from one rank to another. In some of those organizations, the Scout must also re-test prior to advancing to the next rank, or on some sort of a schedule. While “Testing” is not conducted in the BSA, the books below contain a wealth of information that will aid the Scout in advancing from Scout through First Class Scout.
	First Steps in Scouting	1940 – Complete Instruction in Tenderpad and Second Class Tests.
	Starting to Scout	1944 Edition of Tenderfoot and Second Class Tests.
	How to Get Your Second Class in 20 Weeks	1961 book, by R. Hazelwood. The Scout Self Taught Series #1.
	The Gateway To All The Scout Tests	1950 book, by A. V. Brook and W. Hamblin.
	Gilcraft’s Tenderfoot Book	Gilcraft’s Tenderfoot Book
	Gilcraft’s Second Class Book	Gilcraft’s Second Class Book
	Gilcraft’s First Class Book	Gilcraft’s 1945 First Class Book.
	The First Class Scout’s Book	Boy Scouts of Canada booklet for the First Class tests. – 1931
	First Class Tests and How to Pass Them	1953 – Boy Scouts Association.
Rovering Rovering was the original “Older Boy” program. There are many ideas that can borrowed from Rovering.
	Rover Scouts	What They Are and What They Do.
	Rovering to Success by Sir Robert Baden-Powell	The foundation of the Rover program. “A guide for young manhood. Religion, sex, gambling, etc.”