HOME—BSA Handbooks & Handbook Covers—Scout Fieldbook

A Brief Background of the Scout Fieldbook (BSA)

2nd Edition—Fieldbook (1967-1984)

After letting the Fieldbook be out of print for 8 years, BSA brought out a Second Edition in 1967. No author credit is given. The book is also lavishly illustrated with black-and-white photos, and has a brief "Quick Reference Key" on the back cover. There were two cover variants, plus the BSA allowed Workman Publishing to produce a commercially available version with a third cover. The commercial version also included a 16-page color insert of Norman Rockwell Scouting paintings.

2nd Edition Summary and Printing History

• title from title page—Fieldbook (commercial edition was called Boy Scout Fieldbook)
• author uncertain
• three cover variants: printings 1-5—color photo of Scouts hiking; printings 6-14—photo of camp scene on a lake; commercial version—portion of the 1957 Rockwell painting "High Adventure"
• 1967-1984 (17 years)
• 1 260 000 copies printed
• size 137x203x23 mm (5-3/8x8")
• 14 printings:
  —1st printing (Apr 1967, 400 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —2nd printing (Feb 1969, 100 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —3rd printing (Jul 1970, 85 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —4th printing (Jun 1971, 40 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —5th printing (May 1972, 80 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —6th printing (Sep 1973, 80 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —7th printing (Jan 1975, 70 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —8th printing (Jan 1976, 70 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —9th printing (Jan 1977, 65 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —10th printing (Dec 1977, 65 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —11th printing (Apr 1979, 55 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —12th printing (Jul 1980, 50 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —13th printing (Sep 1981, 50 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —14th printing (Sep 1983, 50 000 copies)—565 numbered pages
  —commercial printings (May 1978, ?? copies)—565 numbered pages

Actual 2nd Edition Table of Contents

• 1 Hit the Trail
• 2 Ready for Hiking
• 3 Map and Compass
• 4 Camping Gear
• 5 Camping
• 6 Woods Tools
• 7 Ropework
• 8 Fires
• 9 Cooking
• 10 Physical Fitness
• 11 Swimming
• 12 Watercraft
• 13 Safety and First Aid
• 14 High Adventure
• 15 Winter Camping
• 16 Survival
• 17 World of Nature
• 18 Plant Kingdom
• 19 Animal Kingdom
• 20 Conserving Resources
• 21 The Earth
• 22 Weather
• 23 The Heavens
• 24 Between Adventures
• Books
• Credits
• Index

---

Last Revision to This Page: 7 January 2020
Text copyright © 2006 by Jeff Snowden
Web format © 2006-20 by Troop 97 BSA
Handbook pictures copyright © by Boy Scouts of America