The next important piece of Scouting gear is the Scouts BSA Handbook.  The Troop provides Scouts with their handbook at the first meeting they attend after joining the Troop.  The Handbook provides important information about Scouting and the skills Scouts need to demonstrate to complete rank requirements.  

The Scouts BSA handbook is also a Scout’s primary record keeping tool.  Rank requirements are physically signed off in the handbook and pages are also provided for Scouts to track service hours, hiking miles, and camping nights.  

Scouts should bring their handbook to all Troop events and activities so completed advancement requirements, service hours, hiking miles, and camping nights can be signed off by authorized signers (more on this topic in the Advancement module)

Marking Your Handbook

Every Scout in the Troop and at Scouting events has a copy of the Scouts BSA handbook and they all look the same.  We recommend that you take some time as soon as you get a handbook to write your name in several places. 

• One of the first pages in a Scouts BSA Handbook provides you a location to write your name and contact information.  
• We also have Scouts use a permanent Sharpie marker to write their name on the head, fore edge, and tail (the sides) of your book so you can quickly identify it is yours.

Protecting Your Handbook

As mentioned previously, the Scouts BSA Handbook is the Scout’s advancement record.  Therefore, it is important to take care of it and protect it.  Make sure you have labeled your book, know where it is, don’t leave it in the rain or where it can be lost.

Consider purchasing a Handbook Cover or similar product to limit the Handbook’s exposure to the elements.