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HOME—BSA Handbooks & Handbook Covers—Boy Scout Handbook—11th Edition

The Boy Scout Handbook, 1910-Today (continued)

11th Edition—Boy Scout Handbook (1998-2009)

Cover art is photograph of two Scouts hiking with a snow-capped mountain in background, with photos of a bald eagle and green oak leaf superimposed. Back cover shows photos of a Scout campsite, a Scout kayaking, some colorful pebbles, and a tiger salamander.
11th Edition, back cover 11th Edition Cover

The 11th Edition is a logical continuation of the 10th Edition, continuing trends but not changing anything significantly. The advancement requirements were updated effective April 1, 1999, but the changes were minimal. More cooking was placed in Tenderfoot, and the Eagle-required merit badge list dropped Safety and Sports, made Personal Fitness mandatory (it had been optional), and added Hiking and Cycling as options for those who prefer not to earn Swimming. The book also makes slight adjustments to the explanatory wording of the Scout Law.

The book is organized by rank (most requirements for each rank are covered in that rank's chapter), but also has extensive chapters on skills such as first aid, hiking, camping, cooking, citizenship.

This is the first Handbook to mention GPS (global positioning system), but it still recommends learning map and compass. It also adds a little information about BSA's new "Leave No Trace" (low impact camping) outdoor ethic. There is more information on water filters, information and guidance on using the Internet, guidance on being home along and on babysitting ("caring for younger children"), and new first aid precautions (need for goggles, mouth barrier, and latex gloves as part of any first aid kit).

Besides the need for water filters, this Handbook emphasizes stove use even more than the last Edition, and strongly de-emphasizes fire building.

There are no merit badge requirements, but only pictures of the Eagle badges, and a listing of all other merit badges (complete requirements are contained in a separate requirements booklet).

Much of the Fieldbook-type information in recent editions has been removed to reduce the massive size of the previous edition (the information is still available in the Fieldbook). Poisonous snakes are not identified in this Handbook (though treatment for poisonous snakebite is covered). There is no stars information except a brief section on finding your way by using the North Star.

Drug abuse and child abuse information is similar to that in the 10th Edition. This Handbook mentions AIDS and STDs (sexually-transmitted diseases), and expressly states that there should be no sex before marriage, much as in the previous Edition.

The pages are brighter than the previous edition, and the paper is thicker and nicer.

Like the 10th Edition, and unlike all previous Handbooks, the cover artwork does not show any Scouts in full uniform (rather they are shown wearing what many troops call "Class B" uniform).

11th Edition Summary and Printing History

title from title page—Boy Scout Handbook
by Robert Birkby
cover art is several photographs
1998-2009 (11 years)
2,760,000 copies printed (average 307,000 copies printed per year)
size 137x216x22 mm (5-3/8x8-1/2x7/8")
10(?) printings:
NOTE:The printing record for the 11th Edition is so badly messed up that I have been unable to figure out dates or quantities. Most printings of the 11th Edition have both incorrect dates and quantities. The 9th printing indicates that there are 3,140,000 copies of the 11th Edition, but using the numbers printed the first printing of the 12th Edition would indicate that there were only 2,760,000 11th Edition copies printed. There are multiple errors on the back of the title page from the 5th printing on, concernng printing identification and quantities. The 5th printing information indicates the same quantity and date as the 4th printing (300M0302), although the grand totals on the page imply that the 5th printing was actually 350 000, not 300 000. The 8th, 9th, and 10th printings both indicate the same quantity and date as the 7th printing (250M1004), even though the attached Parents Guide is a 2005 printing.
—1st printing (Dec 1998, 750 000 copies)—472 numbered pages
—2nd printing (Oct 1999, 365 000 copies)—472 numbered pages
—3rd printing (Sep 2000, 375 000 copies)—472 numbered pages
—4th printing (Mar 2002, 300 000 copies)—472 numbered pages
—5th printing (?? 2003?, ?? copies)—472 numbered pages
—6th printing (?? 2003?, ?? copies)—472 numbered pages
—7th printing (Oct 2004, 250 000 copies)—472 numbered pages
—8th printing (?? 2005?, ?? copies)—472 numbered pages
—9th printing (?? 2007?, ?? copies)—472 numbered pages

10th printing

Actual 11th Edition Table of Contents

(chapters also referred to as "Trailheads")

Scouting—The Ultimate Adventure
1. The Adventure Begins
2. Your Patrol and Troop
Climbing to New Heights
3. Tenderfoot Scout
4. Second Class Scout
5. First Class Scout
6. Star, Life, and Eagle Scout
7. Merit Badges
Scouting's Skills—Ready for the Great Outdoors
8. Hiking
9. Camping
10. Cooking
Scout Service: Doing Your Part
11. First Aid
12. Citizenship
Personal Development—Prepared for Life
13. Making the Most of Yourself
14. Getting Along with Others
15. Physically Strong
Adventure and Opportunity
16. Outdoor Adventures
17. Awards and Recognitions
18. Opportunities for Older Scouts
History of the Boy Scouts of America
19. History of the BSA