Boy Scouts Handbook

Published in 1911, “Boy Scouts Handbook: The First Edition”, compiled by the Boy Scouts of America, is the immensely popular and widely influential guide for young boys entering the organization. The first edition of the “Handbook” appeared a year after the Boy Scouts were formed in 1910 and offered practical advice on all manner of outdoor activities, including swimming, camping, hiking, sailing, woodcrafting, and outdoor survival techniques. The “Handbook” also explained how the Boy Scout organization worked and provided direction on how Scouts should be well-rounded, informed, chivalrous, resourceful, and honorable. While some of the information and advice reflects the time in which the book was written and the scientific knowledge available, the first edition of the “Handbook” endures as a helpful and detailed guide for many skills that have changed little over the past century, such as horseback riding, building a fire, and identifying trees and plant life that can aid in outdoor survival. The Boy Scouts had a profound influence on generations of young men who went on to become national heroes, presidents, and leading scientific figures and the “Boy Scouts Handbook: The First Edition” remains a valuable resource for understanding the organization and its goals. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.