The Scoutmasters Handbook

The Scoutmaster Handbook is a valuable source of understanding and insight into the development of boys and the deeper objectives of the Scouting program. It is both practical and clearly written. The material below is excerpted from the 1990 Printing.

"A new Scoutmaster is likely to approach his Troop with self-confidence. He anticipates that his enthusiasm will excite his young charges to get the most they can out of Scouting. Learning about the characteristics of boys, how to motivate them, how to deal with their behavior, and how to help them with their problems will give the Scoutmaster the insights necessary to enjoy working with his Scouts".

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1st Edition(1914-1920)

The covers are tan-colored hardbound or red leather. with a photo of a Scout holding a stave on the cover. The author credit simply states. "Published under the supervision of the Editorial Board Representing the National Council". Editorial Board members are listed as William D. Murray (who later wrote the BSA's first history. in 1937). George D. Pratt and Frank Presbrey.

The book is unusual in containing many black-and-white photographs. though some were of poor quality. The book includes 4 pages of military drills, plus a page-and-a-half of "order of the staff" (exactly corresponding to the Army's drill with rifles). this despite Baden-Powell's recommendation that drill not be a part of Scouting.

Table of Content

I Organization
II Scout Requirements
III Principles and Methods
IV The Adolescent Boy
V Troop and Patrol Management
VI Training of Patrol Leaders
VII Suggestive Programs for Scout Masters
VIII Drills and Demonstrations
Manual of Marching
Order of the Staff
First Aid Drill
A Scout Field Day
IX Chivalry and Morality
X Suggestive Course of Study
Bibliography of Books

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2nd Edition (1920-1936)

The covers are all leather in varying colors. with gold lettering and a gold First Class badge. As before. the author credit simply states. "Published under the supervision of the Editorial Board Representing the National Council". Editorial Board members are listed as William D. Murray. Frank Presbrey. and Dr Henry Van Dyke.


Like before. the book contains many black-and-white photographs. and 4 pages of military drill (though no more "order of the staff"). The book is thorough. Only limited updating was done over the book's 18 printings.

Table of Content

PART I. Troop Method and Technique
I. Scouting—A National Service
II. Bird's-Eye View of Scouting
III. Early Objectives
IV. Hikes and Meetings
V. Scoutcraft. Alternative Methods
VI. Class Requirements—Standardization
VII. The Scout Troop and Patrol
VIII. Scouting and the Community

PART II. Problems of Reaching Boys
IX. The Scoutmaster
X. Boys
XI. The Scout and His Life Work
XII. Physical Welfare
XIII. Scout Contests
XIV. Games
XV. Drill
XVI. The Scout Uniform
XVII. The Scout Camp
XVIII. Story Telling
XIX. Some Rural Problems
XX. Sea Scouting

PART III. Scouting—A National Movement
XXI. History of the Boy Scouts of America
XXII. System of Organization of the Boy Scouts of America
XXIII. Policies
XXIV. National Constitution and By-Laws

Appendix
I. Troop Charter
II. Local Council Constitution
III. Uniform Specifications
IV. Letters from Sir Robert Baden-Powell
V. Scout Publications
VI. Cross Index

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3rd Edition (1936-1947)

The covers are all tan hardbound. with a black and white drawing of a Scoutmaster carrying a stave. The only color is his red neckerchief.

This book was unique in being printed in 2 volumes. Interestingly. volumes 1 and 2 were never printed at the same time. Indeed. there were only 11 printings of volume 2. while during the same period there were 13 printings of volume 1.

This book is even more extensive and thorough than the 2nd Edition. and each chapter is called a chat. The "Presentation Note" near the front of each volume give primary author credit to William Hillcourt, while noting that such a book results from the efforts of many. The book contains many black-and-white photos.

Table of Content

PART I—Scouting
Chapter 1—The Origin of Scouting
Chapter 2—The Game of Scouting
Chapter 3—The Elements of Scouting
Chapter 4—Giving the Boy Scouting

PART II—EARLY DAYS
Chapter 5—Building a New Scout Troop
Chapter 6—The Rise of the Troop
Chapter 7—The New Scoutmaster in an Established Troop
Chapter 8—Organization in Rural Areas

PART III—Leadership
Chapter 9—Troop Leadership
Chapter 10—The Troop Committee

PART IV—THE PATROLS IN THE Troop
Chapter 11—The Patrol Method
Chapter 12—The Patrols and Their Leaders
Chapter 13—The Troop Leaders' Council
Chapter 14—The Working of the Patrol Method

PART V—THE Boy IN Scouting
Chapter 15—His Entry
Chapter 16—His Attendance and Tenure
Chapter 17—His Growth

PART VI—SPECIAL FEATURES
Chapter 18—The Scout Uniform
Chapter 19—Financing the Troop
Chapter 20—Other Features

PART VII—RELATIONSHIPS
Chapter 21—Relationships with the Community
Chapter 22—The Scout Group: Cubbing. Scouting. and Senior Scouting

PART VIII—GROWTH OF THE Scoutmaster
Chapter 23—Scoutmastership Training

PART IX—HISTORY AND POLICIES
Chapter 24—History
Chapter 25—Policies

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4th Edition(1947-1959)

All covers were dark brown and blue with a drawing of a Scoutmaster talking with a Scout (wearing red neckerchiefs). Both were wearing campaign hats in the first 6 printings. and overseas caps in the final 5 printings. Author again was William Hillcourt. The book is back to a single volume. and the 3rd Edition's volume 2 has been converted to "The Scoutmaster's Tool Chest". a 150-page section with 20 "tools" to help the Scoutmaster.

The tool entitled "Scout Drill" at last does away with military drill. and introduces a minimum of formations and silent signals to arrange them. The book contains many black-and-white photos.

Table of Content

INTRODUCTION
What Scouting Is: The Boy. the Man and the Job

PART ONE—The Scoutmaster's FIRST Job: Helping Boy leaders to make the PATROL METHOD work
I—How the Patrol Method Works
Chapter 1—Why the Patrol Method
Chapter 2—Setting Up the Patrol Method
II—Leadership
Chapter 3—The Troop Leaders' Council
Chapter 4—Other Leaders and Helpers
III—Planning the Work
Chapter 5—Planning for the Year
Chapter 6—Planning for the Month
IV—The Life of the Patrol
Chapter 7—The Patrol Carries On
V—The Life of the Troop
Chapter 8—Troop Meeting Tonight
Chapter 9—The Troop Goes Hiking
Chapter 10—Camping Overnight
Chapter 11—The Summer Camp Adventure
Chapter 12—Other Things to Do

PART TWO—The Scoutmasters SECOND Job: Helping each individual Boy to grow
I—The Boy Becomes a Scout
Chapter 13—The Boy Joins
II—The Boy in Scouting
Chapter 14—The Boy Stays
Chapter 15—The Boy Grows

The Scoutmaster's TOOL CHEST
Tool 1—Setting Out with the Troop
Tool 2—Chartering and Registration
Tool 3—Patrol Leaders' Training
Tool 4—Patrol Recognition
Tool 5—Financing the Troop
Tool 6—Troop Equipment
Tool 7—Troop Meeting Room
Tool 8—Troop Records
Tool 9—Uniforming the Troop
Tool 10—Program Themes
Tool 11—Games and Projects
Tool 12—Troop Hike Ideas
Tool 13—Wide Games
Tool 14—Ceremonies
Tool 15—Scout Drill
Tool 16—Singing
Tool 17—Story Telling
Tool 18—Troop Mobilization
Tool 19—Literature Helps
Tool 20—Scout Requirements

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5th Edition (1959-1972)

All covers were dark blue with the beloved Norman Rockwell painting. "The Scoutmaster" (unusual in that he is wearing a yellow neckerchief instead of red). The Author again was William Hillcourt, and this was a mild update of the 4th Edition. as can be seen from the table of contents. One new tool is added on how to take over an old Troop.

Table of Content

INTRODUCTION
What Scouting Is
The Boy. the Man. and the Job

PART ONE—The Scoutmaster's FIRST Job: Helping Boy leaders make the PATROL METHOD work
I—How the Patrol Method Works
Chapter 1—Why the Patrol Method?
Chapter 2—Setting Up the Patrol Method
II—Leadership
Chapter 3—The Patrol Leaders' Council
Chapter 4—Adult Assistance
III—Planning the Work
Chapter 5—Planning for the Year
Chapter 6—Planning for the Month
IV—The Life of the Patrol
Chapter 7—The Patrol Carries On
V—The Life of the Troop
Chapter 8—Troop Meeting Tonight
Chapter 9—The Troop Goes Hiking
Chapter 10—Camping Overnight
Chapter 11—The Summer Camp Adventure
Chapter 12—Other Things to Do

PART TWO—The Scoutmaster's
I—The Boy Becomes a Scout
Chapter 13—The Boy Joins
II—The Boy in Scouting
Chapter 14—The Boy Stays
Chapter 15—The Boy Grows

The Scoutmaster's TOOL CHEST
Tool 1—Program Tools
Tool 2—Chartering and Registration
Tool 3—Patrol Leaders' Training
Tool 4—Patrol Recognition
Tool 5—Financing the Troop
Tool 6—Troop Equipment
Tool 7—Taking Over an Old Troop
Tool 8—Troop Meeting Room
Tool 9—Troop Records
Tool 10—Uniforming the Troop
Tool 11—Program Themes
Tool 12—Games and Contests
Tool 13—Troop Hike Ideas
Tool 14—Wide Games
Tool 15—Ceremonies
Tool 16—Scout Drill
Tool 17—Singing
Tool 18—Storytelling
Tool 19—Troop Mobilization
Tool 20—Scoutmaster Growth
Tool 21—Scout Requirements

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6th Edition (1972-1981)

All covers were a two-tone light green/dark green. with only the title and a small cartoon of a Scoutmaster talking with a Scout in the corner. All handbooks of this era had the same two-tone color scheme. This monotonous and dull look was further emphasized by the dull look of the recycled paper inside. This book contained no photos. replacing them with a lot of cartoon-like drawings. all of them black-and-white-and-dull-green. Most of the content is useful material for the Scoutmaster. but the book is filled with the new and awkward "politically correct" terminology that reflected the disastrous Scouting Program of the 1970s (ranks became "progress awards". Scoutmaster conference became "personal growth agreement conference". etc; and BSA lost 1/3 of its membership between 1972 and 1978).

Table of Content

PART ONE
Chapter One. THE Scoutmaster's ROLE
Chapter Two. WHAT IS Scouting?
Chapter Three. Leadership
Chapter Four. UNDERSTANDING THE Boy
Chapter Five. COUNSELING
Chapter Six. STARTING OUT AS A Scoutmaster

PART TWO
Chapter Seven. Program PLANNING
Chapter Eight. Troop MEETINGS
Chapter Nine. RESOURCES
Chapter Ten. THE PATROL METHOD
Chapter Eleven. Troop ORGANIZATION
Chapter Twelve. ADVANCEMENT
Chapter Thirteen. THE OUTDOOR Program
Chapter Fourteen. Troop ADMINISTRATION
Chapter Fifteen. CEREMONIES
Chapter Sixteen. GAMES AND Activities
Chapter Seventeen. UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA
Chapter Eighteen. TECHNIQUES OF INSTRUCTION
Chapter Nineteen. A SHORT HISTORY OF Scouting

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7th Edition (1981-1990)

The cover is a full-color reproduction of a Joseph Csatari painting of a Scoutmaster teaching first aid to 3 Scouts. The book's contents are much like the last handbook. but the paper is much brighter. and the cartoons have been replaced with simple line drawings.

Table of Content

Introduction to the World of Boy Scouting

Part 1. LEADING THE Troop 1. The Scoutmaster's Role
2. Starting Out as a Scoutmaster
3. Troop Organization and the Patrol Leaders' Council
4. The Patrol Method
5. Troop Meetings

Part 2. HELPING THE Boy
6. Aims and Methods
7. Leadership
8. Understanding the Boy
9. Counseling

Part 3. TOOLS TO DO THE JOB
10. Program Planning
11. The Outdoor Program
12. Advancement
13. Training Junior Leaders
14. Troop Administration
15. Games and Activities
16. Ceremonies
17. Uniforms and Insignia
18. Scouting Resources

A Short History of Boy Scouting

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8th Edition (1990-1998)

The cover is an unbelievably contrived and over-posed photo of a Scoutmaster "helping" a Scout over a rock. Inside is an attractive book filled with full-color photos throughout. This was the last true Scoutmaster Handbook.

Table of Content

Introduction
Chapter 1. The Visit
Chapter 2. The Troop Makeup
Chapter 3. All About Patrols
Chapter 4. Using Junior Leaders
Chapter 5. Training Junior Leaders
Chapter 6. The Aims and Methods of Scouting
Chapter 7. Program Planning
Chapter 8. Advancement
Chapter 9. The Outdoor Program
Chapter 10. Understanding Boys
Chapter 11. Troop Administration
Chapter 12. Scouting Resources
Chapter 13. Uniforms and Insignia
Chapter 14. History of Scouting

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9th Edition (1998-Today)

The cover is a color photo-montage of smiling Scoutmasters, and Scouts hiking. It's attractive. with full-color photos throughout. But its huge size (8.5x11"). and the fact that it must be placed in a ring binder when you remove it from it's clear wrapping. makes it awkward to use. No Scoutmaster will bring this thing to a campout. or be likely to take it with him to Troop meetings.

Table of Content

1. Welcome. Scoutmaster!
2. The Adventure of Scouting
3. The Boy-Led Troop
4. The Boy-Led Patrol
5. Troop Meetings
6. Program Features
7. Training Junior Leaders
8. Troop Program Planning
9. The Outdoor Program
10. Advancement
11. Working with Boys
12. Membership
13. Opportunity for Older Scout
14. Awards and Recognitions
15. The Uniform and Insignia
16. Chartered Organizations and Troop Committee
17. Troop Finances
18. Scoutmaster Support
19. Community Service
20. Resources