Interactive Boy Scout Handbook 

With all the advancements in technology and the internet I think it would be a great time for an interactive Boy Scout Handbook. I am not suggesting that we do away with the printed version of the handbook, but supplementing and enhancing it with a web based interactive version. This handbook supplement could include things like how-to-videos, interviews with noted outdoors men and women, tutorials from different outdoor gear suppliers, and so on. There are many reasons why this would be beneficial to the overall program.

First: I have seen many new leaders come to Scouting who do not have the background or proficiency in the outdoors. This would be an opportunity for us to offer how-to-videos on things like starting fire, first aid, swimming and life saving skills, lashings, orienteering and map reading, etc. Practically every still photo illustration in the printed version of the handbook could be supplemented with some form of how-to-video or tutorial that could show how it is actually done. This would help improve the program for those scouts and leaders who are visual learners and allow them mimic what they see in the videos. Now, I know that we have Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills, but not everything is covered in that short weekend to fully orient the leader on what to do in the outdoors. Plus these videos could be a great resourse for Roundtables and Universities of Scouting.

Second: This would allow us to partner with national organizations like the Red Cross, North Face, R.E.I., or Kelty (or another gear company) for gear, USDA, Leave No Trace, and other groups that would like to instruct Scouts and leaders in the proper way of performing certain skills. This would also offer the youth special access to these companies/ organizations for special training and insights that would not be available to the average person. I propose something like an online Red Cross first aid certification that each Scout could earn through the enhanced version of the handbook, or something along those lines.

Third: These how-to-videos and tutorials could be produced by Scouts from troops across the country. We could put out a notice for scout troops to shoot videos of them performing certain Scout skills and then have them upload it to a website or Youtube. This could be billed as a national contest and as an opportunity to earn the cinematography merit badge. I would think that Scouts learning from other Scouts would be more entertaining for the youth and get them excited about being like the young men they see on our training videos.

These are just a few of the possibilities that exist by having an enhanced version of the handbook. We could also make the progress tracking sheets in the back of the handbook into savable PDFs that each youth could then track their progress electronically. There is also an opportunity for us to promote this change as the Boy Scouts are “Going Green” by attempting to limit the amount of paper we use. I think the possibilities are endless.