I bought the Tenth edition. It has so much basic informtation on Campfires, Cooking, Ropes, Knots, Hiking, Backpacking, Cycling, Swimming, Safety Tips, Canoeing, Observing Nature, Physical Fitness, Ecology, Leadership Skills, and much, much more.

Maybe there are more complete books out there, but this one is VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE IT IS WRITTEN SO THAT ANY 11-YEAR OLD BOY CAN UNDERSTAND IT...

--George Stancliffe

I was a scout in the mid-to-late 1980s, and I never forgot the sheer usefulness of the Boy Scout Handbook. From knots to map-and-compass use; from general camping and wilderness survival skills to other 'survival' knowledge (e.g., the BSH is where I learned to tie a necktie), this modest book is a compendium of useful knowledge written in easily understandable prose. An essential book for ANY person interested in outdoor activity!

It is a xtremely complete book, it has an ease understanding language, and it covers a lot of aspects of the outdoor world; knots, packing, wild animals, wild plants, outdoors hazards, map interpretation, orientation, cooking, axe and knife use, first aids, wilderness survival, and and many other important topics.

It is a must have for scouts, specially starting ones, and will serve for any outdoor enthusiast as a good guide for the outdoors, even if you are an experienced one.

This book is simply the best. It has nature activities in all areas of science. Trees, birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, astronomy, animals, etc. A how-to guide for the amateur naturalist.

The book gives a brief history of Norman Rockwell's connection with Scouting and is one of the few, if not only, complete book of all of his Boy Scout works. "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt does an excellent job of telling the story and how Norman Rockwell told the Scouting Story. A must for all Scouter's libraries.

Having gone through almost the entire scouting program (from cub scouts, boy scouts, venture scouts, order of the arrow, and on to my eagle scout rank, philmont, national jamboree, and woodbadge leader training WE3-27-00) I never heard the whole story of Lord Baden-Powell. While attending woodbadge I was told of this book that was written by William Hillcourt (a.k.a. green bar bill)with the help of Olave, Lady Baden-Powell(his wife also founder of the girl scouts)and His mother. Green bar bill (Gbb) also wrote from knowing Lord Baden-Powell (B-P) and B-P own writting from his pamphlets, books, and notes. So in using first hand knowledge it was not weighed down with the fog that contimporary writers will place on their own books. I found it to be very delightful to read. B-P is the only person that I know of to be a true ledgend in his own time. B-P was not only a scouter but a spy, a british general, a writer,an artist among other things. He also knew famous people like Cecil Rhodes and Winston Churchill before their own fame. B-P really did live more than one life and he is certainly a hero.

Who would have thought that a general, who in his time achieved the same stature that Eisenhower did after World War II, would turn his attention when he was in his 50s to a completely new journey - and create a system to engage boys in purposeful fun at a time when so many were being offered only the mean streets of turn-of-the-century industrial England! Having recently returned from a trip to Kenya, where we visited Paxtu, B-P's last home, and his gravesite, we experienced a pilgrimage fulfilled. To see how this great man and his wife (who herself led the worldwide Girl Scout movement) lived in such simple, humble accommodations there, surrounded by their version of wealth - nature - provides a stark contrast to our end-of-the-century obsession with material wealth. This is about as good a read as it gets - whether you're involved in Scouting or not. I've used it as a gift for members of my Wood Badge patrol. The purchase price is worth every cent. Enjoy!

A thorough discussion of the history of the man that started the Scouting movement in Britain, which spread throughout the World. This book gives the background on the man and his morals, and inspires us all to do better in all we do.