BSA Handbook Review

I know that many different bloggers have already written about the new 12th edition of the BOy Scout Handbook but I would like to say a few things about the handbook.

First off lets take about the organization of the handbook. The organization is much better it is not based on advancement which I believe is important because in the old handbook it said its primary purpose was to be used for Rank Advancement. If you are a true Scout you bring your handbook on every Scout Outing, I know that is a high expectation but you just never know when you are going to need a new skill, brush up on a old skill, have something to read (Sounds boring but it really isn't as bad as a textbook, trust me I know what dry textbooks are all about), or work on advancement. Notice I listed advancement last, this is because advancement has two different purposes depending on who you are. Lets talk about the adult reason first, it one of eight methods the Boy Scouts of America Uses. The method's purpose isn't to cram the advancement information down scouts throats, its purpose is to allow Scouts to grow and learn more and more challenging skills that can be used throughout the rest of your life. If you are adult and think that requirements should be signed off just to keep scouts advancing, then you need to either repeat your basic training or really examine the real purpose. Next lets look at it from the youth perspective, youth first off don't need scouting to be treated like school and the old handbook to me at least made it feel like it was a textbook of sorts.

Now lets look at what type of material and information is in the handbook. In many ways in brought back many of the traditional Scout skills but added a 21st century flare to them which to me is very important especially in a world that moves at light speed.

Finally I have heard from multiple posters that there are a few errors in the book which need to be corrected, I hope that if this is the case, the BSA National Council has come up with a plan, if not then it should be a just fine situation.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08