Did you know that Cub Scout handbooks are available online? Find out how to get them as well as why a leader should have an electronic copy.
If you have the 2015 version of the handbook, you can download (or print) the addendum with the current requirements.
Electronic Versions of Cub Scout Handbooks
People often search for a pdf or electronic version of the Cub Scout handbooks. I’m excited to tell you that BSA has made the new Cub Scout handbooks and leader guides available in a Kindle version.
If you don’t have a Kindle, don’t worry! There are free Kindle reader apps available for your tablet, smartphone or computer! Just click on over to Amazon to download them. I’ve been reading Kindle books on my iPad for years.
I love the fact that the new Cub Scout handbooks downloads are now available! As a Cub Scout parent, it’s great to be able to look up a requirement quickly.
And as a den leader, you can make sure you’ve covered all of the requirements if you don’t have your book handy.
Now, I don’t believe that these should take the place of the hard copy of the book for the boys, but it’s great to have the information available at your fingertips.
You can order the
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Physical Copies of Cub Scout Handbooks
You can purchase physical handbooks at your local Scout Shop or online if you don’t have yours already. Below are the links to the 2018 copies of the handbooks.
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You may want to grab a handbook cover too. They work great for protecting your child’s handbook.
Right now, use caution if you want to order the hard copies of the handbooks from Amazon. Most (if not all) of the physical handbooks being sold on Amazon are through third party sellers, and many of them are still selling the old handbooks.
You want to make sure you get the new 2018 Cub Scout handbooks. They’re the ones with the plain covers.
Yours in Scouting,
Sherry
P.S. If you’re a leader, you can get your leader guide electronically too! Check them out!
Samantha Hiller says
Thank you for your ideas. I’m a cub master and love finding new things for the boys.
Sherry says
Glad I could help! And I would love to hear about things you’re doing in your pack that are working well. Thanks in advance!
Jean Fraser says
Are these links to a downloadable PDF handbooks still working? Sometimes my PC is quirky… but I’m not able to view any of the books….
I would LOVE to be able to have an online view of each of the books. I have several families in my pack, that cannot afford to purchase new books every year… Would LOVE to be able to print off sample pages for those families!~
I just signed myself up, I’m looking forward to scouting around your web site, and learning new things!
thank you!!
Sherry says
Hi, Jean! Yes, they’re still working for me. Are you clicking on the links before the “P.S.” or the ones after? If you’re clicking on the ones above the P.S.” and they aren’t working for you, try this.
Instead of left clicking on the link, try right clicking. Then select “save link as.” A box will pop up asking you where you want to save the file. Hopefully, that will work for you!
Let me know if this works for you.
Jean says
Sherry,,,
THANK YOU SO MUCH,,,
I took your advise and did a right click… “save target as”… and IT WORKED!
Thank you , thank you!
This means a lot to several families in our Pack!
Sincerely,
Jean F
Cub Master Pack 438
Sherry says
Great! So glad I could help.
ScottyK says
Thanks for these links! I was able to copy the Wolf handbook to my son’s tablet, now he can read it anytime he wants and he loves that.
Sherry says
What a great idea! I didn’t even think about putting the books on the boys’ tablets. Thanks so much for sharing!
Melissa Turner says
I believe that the above linked PDF for the Wolf Handbook is outdated. The hard copy handbook that we bought at the scout shop has many more achievements listed.
Sherry says
Hi, there! I just compared the online version to the copy that I bought for my son at the beginning of this summer, and I didn’t see any differences. The version I have is copyright 2003 and is a 2011 printing.
Can you let me know what the differences are? I want to make sure that what I have is correct. You can either reply here or email me at sherry@CubScoutIdeas.com.
Thanks so much for letting me know!
Marc Samuels says
Great resource that Unit Commissioners should forward to their units.
Edward Schweiger says
Thanks for the PDFs on the handbooks I’m the COR and sometimes I get questions directed towards me and need to look up something but I don’t need to purchase all 4 books, these really come in handy for looking up a quick answer to a question…..
Sherry says
You know, I never thought about someone like a COR or even a CM or CC who might need to look something up for a rank they don’t work with! I’m going to share that idea on social media! Thanks for the heads up and for reading!
Sam says
COR in Cub Scouts? Check the Guide to Advancement; there are no Courts of Review in Cub Scouting.
Sherry says
Hi, Sam! By COR, we mean Chartered Organization Representative, not Courts of Review.
Pollyanna Eyler says
Thanks for posting the legitimate book links. Many at the Council office thought they were illegal until I showed them one that I had found on scouting.org but because of their url labeling system, I could never find the other Den books and had to resort to getting them from other Packs or Councils that had made private pdfs and I never felt good about handing those out to parents who can’t afford books. Appreciate you sharing this, and passed it along to those in need.
Sherry says
So glad it was helpful. Yes, I was a bit worried about that too, but since they were on scouting.org, I knew it was ok to share.
I never want money to be the reason a boy isn’t a Cub Scout, so thank you for passing this on! And thanks for reading!
David says
I can understand why BSA would want you to stop offering the pdf downloads. But, if the pdfs are availble on Scouting.org, I can imagine it would be all right to post links to those. Do you have links to those you can post for us CubScoutIdea fans? Thanks.
Sherry says
Hi, David! Thanks so much for being a fan. BSA has removed the pdfs from their site as well. 🙁
Jaimia says
That sucks. I’m sure they raised a stink about your links and removed the PDFs from their site as well because it meant they weren’t turning a profit from it. That is really selfish considering they have plenty of money for what they need, but there are so many families that struggle with the registration fees, pack dues, uniform expenses, and other activity costs, and yes, even the handbooks. Especially the parents with multiple kids. It can greatly affect a family’s financial situation enough to just drop out of scouts altogether. But BSA doesn’t care about all that. They just want to keep getting rich. We just put our son into scouts and I hope my personal opinion and wallet don’t make me change my mind later.
Jess W. Speaker, III says
It was nice to be able to print a 8.5 by 11 copy of the book. It was easier for my son to read and also nice for teaching from.
Sarah says
This is so helpful! Thank you for posting.
Sherry says
You’re welcome!
April says
bear handbook pdf and wolf links do not work (english)
Sherry says
Oh, my! Thanks so much for letting me know. I talked to someone at the national BSA office, and I don’t we’re going to get them back. 🙁 But I’ll keep an eye out just in case we do.
Sherry says
Fortunately, I was able to find copies of the handbooks. They’ll only be used until next May, but hopefully, having them online will help your families this year!
VIcki says
Do you think they will clearance out the old books for anyone who might want to use them for personal or supplemental purposes??
VIcki says
Thank you for these links. I am glad to be able to have them on my kindle for those times when my son can’t remember where he put his book and we have to go to a meeting! 😉 Mama doesn’t lose her Kindle.
Joel Sager says
This is unfortunate, I use these as a resource for planning purposes, I always buy the manuals but I find them much easier to search in PDF format. I wish they would reconsider having them online.
Sherry says
I agree, Joel. Maybe they’ll make them available to purchase as a pdf or e-book.
Edward Schweiger says
you might have to get rid of the books but there re plenty of other places to get the PDF from just search for example Bear HandBook PDF = this came right up http://pack155.com/resources/Handbook-3Bear.pdf and there we maybe 20 more like it and new ones every day so f you need a copy just go look you’ll find it…
Jen H says
I’m very thankful for this! I have two kids (a cub scout and a daisy). Between working 6 days a week and coming home to a mess, I’ve needed to purchase a second handbook chronically. This year I only have the one so far, but I found out Wednesday it has gone missing. Going into this morning I couldn’t find the Bear Handbook and NEEDED it (no stores are open). You are our hero!
Stan says
Jaimia, spend your time with the local council and the pack or troop and you’ll know how silly it is to say the BSA is rich. If the organization had as much money as you think, the kids wouldn’t have to sell popcorn or run other events to raise money. It costs a lot to support a scout, and as the events get bigger (camping, boating, etc.) they go up.
I spend a lot of time as a den leader and in other local pack committee roles. The parents that actually care about these kids know how much it takes, and many of us spend additional money outside of standard costs.
Local councils also have plans in place for families in need. No boy should be unable to take part because of financial hardship. But unless you step in our shoes don’t assume what you don’t know.
Joan says
I have to say this, my father contacted me about a district eagle award he had received. He was upset because it cost $700. This was awarded to him for some reason by the council.. If they can afford to give out $700 awards not counting silver beavers and other awards that are given out to mature scouters I think they could provide an online scout book for each level and stop pitching a fit.
Angela K says
Thanks for the tip about downloading the handbook to the boys’ Kindles! Great idea!!
Karla says
I am the Cub Master of our group. I have searched Pinterest on many different sites and for many different reasons. I like the set up of your site.
Would you be willing to help me set up a site for my group?
Thanks.
Karla
Sherry says
Send me an email with more of what you want to do, and we’ll talk further!
Liz Harman says
Den Leader Guides are available online (and free!) at the Cub Hub under Learning Library – https://cubscouts.org/learning-library/
Not the pdfs, but a good resource for the COR or other leader filling in for a meeting and doesn’t have the guides.
David Wilkinson says
Do you guys know if the kindle version is searchable?
Sherry says
Yes, it is! And another cool thing is that you can take notes too. Then when you read back through the book, you’ll see a little box where your notes are!
David Wilkinson says
Even though I have the new physical book for each rank, I just purchased the Kindle version for the Tiger and Bear. Pretty decent, not GREAT.
I do like that I can copy from the Kindle PC application and paste into Word. That was helpful the other day while putting together some materials for our new Parent orientation.
I think the hard copy is still the way to go for our boys but the Kindle version is great for leader reference.
Scott says
Bummer that the Handbook PDFs aren’t available and they have opted to go Kindle only. I really don’t like the Kindle app. This also forces DRM, so every leader needs to drop $3 for a digital copy and they can’t be passed down. I found it useful to have all the books as PDF to reference when planning Pack activities. It is possible to get the info other ways, but not as easy. We still buy hard copies and hand those down, but they get a bit worn after a couple years.
The new Den Leader Guides ARE available as a PDF, but requires some extra hoops to jump through. Each Adventure has to be downloaded separately. This is still good, because my hardcopy of the Webelos Leader Guide is missing some pages, and the issue is corrected in the Learning Library PDFs.
Ranae Hawkins says
Useful analysis , I was enlightened by the details . Does someone know where my assistant would be able to get a fillable Eagle Scout Service Project Worksheet – Boy Scouts of America document to work with ?
Matt says
These electronic book versions are useless because they do not coincide by page number with the paper books. So when the scout leader (who always has a paper book) says do page 27 or refer to page 32 we are always lost. I love the idea of electronic versions but as it stands still have to use paper. Please try to make them 1 for 1 and add page numbers for the next version so its actually useful.