The Boy Scouts of America Scrapbook from K&Company is a sturdy, fabric-covered album that would be a welcome part of any Scout or proud parent's collection. The 3.75" die-cut highlight window on the front cover is accented nicely by a metal emblem.

The Scrapbook comes with 10 top-loading 12x12 inserts that would work equally well for displaying photos or scrapbooking materials. The scrapbook seems capable of holding twice the number of acid-free pages that come with it, and I almost wish it did come with more. Extra inserts can be purchased from the K&Company website.

Overall, this fabric scrapbook in the colors of the Boy Scout Uniform is well-made and designed with the Scouting® lifestyle in mind. 

P.S. Facebook user Christi M. offered this great advice for caring for your scrapbook "a hint: cover the metal emblem with paint tape and use fabric protector spray to keep it clean. :)" 

Thanks for the tip

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An Eagle Scout Coin Knife by Northwest Territorial Mint makes a great gift for someone achieving the rank of Eagle in scouting. The minted die-struck coin casing is durably designed, with a high-quality finish. The coin knife has a solid weight to it without being bulky, and the tools pull out easily without sticking or being too loosely hinged. The coin knife comes equipped with a small scissor, a file, and matching thumbnail-size knife blade. The blade is not sharp and would be better utilized as a piercing or extraction tool than an actual cutting blade. Though less than half an inch in length, the scissors managed to easily cut through a thick envelope on the first try. The two-sided file is the same shape as the knife blade, but twice as thick, to provide the needed rigidity for filing. The best thing about this tool is it's sleek construction, reminiscent of the hidden-compartment spy coins of the WWII era. If you're looking to purchase a practical, everyday pocket knife for camping and survival situations, you'd probably want something more like this. However, if you want a novel gift that fits comfortably in any pocket and provides a handy tool in a pinch, this Eagle Scout coin knife is for you.

 

Since the early '80's, the Northwest Territorial Mint has been known for quality die-struck collectibles. This Eagle Scout Hiking Stick Medallion 

is no exception. I like the idea of an Eagle Scout placing their medallion on something practical, like a hiking stick, since time

outdoors in nature is so integral to the lifestyle of a Scout. Plus, it becomes a sign of achievement an Eagle can take anywhere without having to worry about the keepsake falling out of a pocket or day pack. Since it is meant to be taken on hikes, this medallion is naturally lightweight, without sacrificing strength or rigidity. The face of the medallion is curved inward slightly to allow it to hug a hiking stick for a flush fit. The colors of the emblem are rich and the detail in the lettering and on the eagle are very good for a medallion this size (1.25" round). I didn't try attaching this medallion to a stick, but it does come with three small brass nails for that purpose. If nails are not the preferred method of fastening, the holes drilled into the edges of the medallion are large enough that any number of things, cord, wire, or screws could also be easily used to attach the

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You can keep your Scouting life organized with this offering from official licensee, It Takes Two®. The Boy Scouts Pocket Planner is a convenient two-year calendar and appointment book that is the size of a standard cheque book. It's perfect for keeping track of important meetings and events on the go. The outer cover is made of durable, stain-resistant vinyl, guaranteeing that the planner will stay looking new. Upon flipping through the planner, I was pleased to discover that the pages are made of high-quality, recycled paper that is not too thin. Each page contains the days of one month, an inspiring quote, the birthstone and flower of that particular month, and important holidays. The flower/birthstone references were an unexpected extra. For the planner's size, the squares for each day contain enough white space to write a phone number, address, or quick reminder, but for longer entries you'd probably want to use the lined "Notes" section in the back. This section is only one page long, but there is also additional pages for recording important names and numbers. This planner also contained one of my favorite features, blank pages in the very back that can be used for note-taking, or torn out and given

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This was one of the funnest book reviews I think I've ever done! I always love off-the-wall books that present you with facts and figures you thought you'd never know. And when those facts are zany and trivial, it makes it that much better. That's exactly the type of book we are reviewing this week in DK Publishing's, "The Unofficial Official Handbook For Boys."

There is no plot, no storyline and no rhyme or reason to the scores of quirky factoids, jokes, mind-twisters, tips and tricks for boys that pack this handbook from cover to cover. This is a truly random and outlandish book of facts, figures and information that is going to be gracing the rooms of boys, armchairs and coffee tables for a long time! From the very first page, this book grabs your attention and doesn't let it go until you reach the back cover.

Pick up this book and you're going to discover a very wide variety of factoids - like how long of a line you can draw with a single pencil, what chickens have in common with dinosaurs, whether or not frogs have ears, what to do if you

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Published by DK Publishing, Be Prepared Fishing is a fisherman's dream guide! Covering everything from rod basics to vertical jigging and fly fishing, this book covers it all.

The first thing we noticed when we opened the book for the first time is that it is absolutely jam-packed with information. And not only does it give you all the information you need, it does so with amazing pictures and detailed illustrations. Of course, nothing beats getting out there on the water and learning things first-hand, but this guide will give any angler the information they need to do it the right way.

As we mentioned above, the book begins with the basics by teaching you about things such as tackle shops, fishing licenses and baits & lures. It doesn't get into great detail about these things, but it definitely presents the information in such a way that anyone can quickly grasp the concepts.

It continues by discussing even more angling information such as the fundamentals of rods and reels, knots, tackle and even how to carry your

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From the popular Boys' Life Series, "Let's Go Geocaching" is a great introduction for those who are just discovering the quickly growing pastime of geocaching. Geocaching is sometimes described as a modern-day game of "hide and go seek", where players use a handheld GPS device to seek out and find hidden containers of various odds and ends. Once found, you can sign the logbook you find inside, and you can swap something inside the container with something you bring from home of equal or greater value.

"Let's Go Geocaching" describes the details of beginning geocaching, while explaining them in a manner that children can easily understand. With full color pictures and engaging stories, this book not only introduces children to geocaching, it helps develop their reading skills and love of reading.

The book begins with a basic introduction to geocaching by telling a story of a geocacher seeking out and finding a geocache. The story grabs your attention immediately and doesn't let go until the end of the book. It continues by describing the GPS handheld device, its controls, how it works and how to use it. It even goes into detail about the satellites

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It is important for everyone to be knowledgeable in first aid. But a Scout has a higher chance of meeting up with an unfortunate incident that requires first aid, either for himself or someone else.

Emergencies can spring up at any time, so being skilled in first aid allows you to take control of a situation, treat a person in need and most importantly, save a life.

"Be Prepared: First Aid" is written so that anyone can read and understand many different types of emergencies - from bug bites and minor scrapes to broken bones, burns and life-threatening emergencies.

It is broken down into 8 different sections:

1. 1. First Aid Principles - The basic ideas and fundamentals.
2. 2. Life Saving Techniques - CPR, rescue breathing, Heimlich, etc...
3. 3. Wounds and Bleeding - Scrapes, cuts, bleeding, stabs, etc...
4. 4. Environmental Injuries - Burns, heat exhaustion,

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The first thing I noticed when I opened the box of the Huntsman is that this is no everyday pocket knife! Measuring over 3 inches long, this sturdy yet elegant knife is loaded with tools!

We chose the Huntsman Boy Scout Swiss Army Knife as our first knife to review because of its overall ability to be put to use in everyday life. Of course, it is great to have when you're hunting, camping or doing anything in the great outdoors, but it also has a ton of practical, everyday uses as well.

But above all, we like this knife because it is made by Victorinox who, for over 100 years, has been manufacturing top-quality Swiss army knives that have a serious reputation of lasting for decades. Just holding this knife in your hand, you can tell how sturdy and well built it is.

If I had to say something negative about the knife, the only thing I can think of is that the tools are hard to get open when brand new. Be careful if you have long nails. I have been told, however, that they loosen up and become much easier to open over time as they are used.

Here is a list of the

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Scouting is a very dynamic activity, and you never know when you may find yourself in need of an extra light source. As Baden Powell said, you always need to, "be prepared."

Whether you are camping out at night, stuck in a storm with no power, or you just need a few more minutes of light as the sun is going down, having a crank flashlight handy can make all the difference in the world.

One of the best features of this little LED flashlight is its small, compact size. It's small enough to stow away in any pack, yet packs a punch with its 3 very bright LED bulbs. And you never have to replace the bulbs or worry about batteries!

How many times have you gone to use something powered by batteries only to find that it is completely dead when you need it the most? Not with this light!

Turning the handle for just 30 seconds will create enough energy for 15 continuous minutes of super bright light.

With this handy flashlight's small size, bright light, low maintenance and eco-friendly attitude, we give it 2 thumbs up and definitely suggest this as a

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