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The Boy Scout Handbook, 1910-Today (continued)
11th Edition—Boy Scout Handbook (1998-20??)
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.
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 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
- 1998-20?? (9+ years)
- 2,895,000+ copies printed (average 322,000 copies printed per year so far)
- size 137x216x20 mm (5-3/8x8-1/2x3/4")
- 8+ printings:
—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 (Mar 2002?, 350 000? copies)—472 numbered pages
—6th printing (?? 2003?, 230 000? copies)—472 numbered pages
—7th printing (Oct 2004, 250 000 copies)—472 numbered pages
—8th printing (?? 2005, 275 000? copies)—472 numbered pages
—NOTE: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 printing information indicates the same quantity and date as the 7th printing (250M1004), even though the attached Parents Guide is a 2005 printing. So at this point, there are several question marks about 11th Edition print quantities.
Grand Total for all 12 Handbook Editions
- 39 005 000+ copies printed (through 2006) *
*—For unknown reasons, BSA added 100 000 copies to the grand total at the time of the 11th Edition, 5th printing. They do not indicate where this number came from.
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
Last Revision to This Page: 19 April 2007
Copyright © 1980, 1990, 1999 by Jeff Snowden
Web format © 1996-2007 by Troop 97 BSA
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