Boy Scouts of America

Shooting Sports

Purpose of BSA Shooting Sports

The purpose of BSA shooting sports is to teach firearm safety while introducing youth to a variety of shooting sports programs. The BSA’s shooting sports programs are developed and implemented through age-appropriate training and experiences. 

The Boy Scouts of America adheres to its longstanding policy of teaching its youth and adult members the safe, responsible, and intelligent handling, care, and use of firearms, archery, and hand-held throwing sports in planned, carefully managed, and supervised programs for each youth who chooses to participate. 

Shooting Sports Manual *UPDATED 2022*

This revised manual replaces all previous versions and has a revision date of 1/2022. The updated BSA Shooting Sports Manual clarifies who can operate which types of shooting sports programs for which BSA program level. It also serves to clarify the proper supervision and qualifications needed for unit coordinated shooting sports programs.

Reminder: Cub Scouts may only participate in shooting sports at a district or council event or activity. Shooting Sports is prohibited at the Cub Scout pack or den level.

As a reminder the Guide to Safe Scouting states that any shooting sports programs not detailed in our program literature or the shooting sports manual are prohibited.

 Download the Shooting Sports Manual

 

Program Specific Information

Cub Scouts Shooting Sports

Scouts BSA Shooting Sports

Venturing & Sea Scout Shooting Sports

 Scouting Pistol Safety and Marksmanship Participant book #622175– This guide should be handed out to each participant in the BSA Pistol Safety and Marksmanship program. 

Shooting Sports and National Camping School/NCAP

Shooting Sports is an important part of our BSA camping operations. In order to have a safe and fun shooting sports program, the BSA has set forth safety standards and training for all volunteers and staff who will be in charge of Shooting Sports Activities. For a complete list of these standards, see the links below. 

National Camp Accreditation Program

National Camping School

NRA Instructor course listings:

NRA Instructor Course Pre-Requisites: All BSA shooting sports candidates MUST take a basic student class in their discipline before attending the instructor class.   Therefore, before you can attend and be certified as a NRA Rifle and Shotgun instructor, you MUST already have taken and passed NRA Basic Rifle and Shotgun classes. The BSA and NRA offer these courses at discounted prices across the country or you can attend any commercial NRA Basic Rifle and Shotgun classes. To find a Basic Rifle and/or Shotgun course in  your area, please visit: www.nrainstructors.org . 

Once completed you will need to bring proof of completion with you to the instructor course. You will also need to bring your student materials with you to the course. 

The instructor course will ask you to be able to follow a syllabus and instruct materials during the class. The materials will be sent to from the NRA training counselor prior to the course. You will need to have access to use the digital files during your instructor course, so it is recommended that you bring a laptop computer or tablet with you to the course. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to the contact for your course listed below or email shootingsports@Scouting.org .

Hosted by: Southwest Florida Council

Local Council Contact: Lori Laumeyer

Hosted by: Chief Seattle Council

Local Council Contact: Bill Beaumont

Hosted by: Blackhawk Area Council

Local Council Contact: Roman Salamon

Hosted by: Old North State Council

Local Council Contact: Bud Harrelson

Hosted by: Five Rivers Council

Local Council Contact: Karl Ziegenfus

Download Course Flyer

Hosted by: Illowa Council

Local Council Contact: Brittany Simonson

Hosted by: Seneca Waterways Council

Local Council Contact: Liane Richardson

Download Course Flyer

Additional Dates will be added here as they are confirmed. 

BSA Pistol Safety and Marksmanship Training

Marksmanship course listings:

Prerequisites:

  1. Councils wishing to offer the program also need to complete the Shooting Sports Application to be able to offer the program and for the candidate to be admitted to the course. 
  2. The candidate must be approved by the local council
  3. The candidate must agree to help the local council in the year round program
  4. Candidates must be certified in NRA Pistol Instructor and present those certificates,cards to the Chief BSA Scouting Pistol Safety and Marksmanship Instructor. The Chief Instructor will confirm that the candidates are eligible to attend the course based on this information. (Prior to arrival at the course)
  5. The candidates must have read and reviewed the NRA Basic of Pistol Shooting Lesson Plan-ILT and be familiar and read the power points of NRA Basic of Pistol Shooting lesson plans.  
  6. The candidate must have taught the basic of Pistol Shooting Course at least twice in the last six months.  Each of these courses must have a minimum of 2 students. These course must be documented in the NRA Instructors website and confirmed by the Chief BSA Scouting Pistol Safety and Marksmanship Instructor. 
  7. The candidate must bring a copy of the lessons plans and the power points.  The candidate must be proactive before coming to the course.  This means the candidate must have rehearsed delivering syllabuses.  
  8. The candidate must be able to pass the NRA Pistol Instructor course of fire using a .22 cal pistol. 

As a reminder this program requires two individuals both of whom are certified in BSA Pistol Marksmanship and at least one of whom is additionally certified as a NRA Range Safety Officer. 

During the course:
  1.  The candidates will present the entire course to the instructors facilitating the course.  
  2. The instructors will evaluate each candidate for proficiency and competence while teaching the lesson plans. 
  3. The course instructors will make recommendations for improvement and the instructor candidates will present the entire BSA Scouting Pistol Safety and Marksmanship  class to youth.  This instruction will determine whether the candidate will successfully complete the course and be certified. Candidates who are found to be deficient in presenting the lessons plans will not pass this course. 

Hosted by: North Florida Council 

Local Council Contact: Eli Rivera

Hosted by: Illowa Council

Local Council Contact: Brittany Simonson

Additional dates will be added here as they are confirmed.

Additional information regarding BSA Pistol Shooting activities, training and requirements 

Chalk Ball, Sporting Arrows, Pistol Safety and Marksmanship program, Cowboy Action Shooting 

If your council plans to offer these programs, you must complete the Shooting Sports Application  prior to offering these activities. (This application must be submitted annually)

Additional Shooting Sports Resources

BSA Range Design Standards

Download the design document: range design

Your council must engage an architect or engineer locally to ensure your final design incorporates local geography and is meeting all local standards and laws for your county or state.  The guidelines established are minimum standards, the final design must contain the projectile within the range. Designing an all-purpose range is not desirable because of the specific differences in the disciplines.

 

Procedures to Use Public or Private Property for a Shooting Sports Range

This worksheet must be used to determine if public or private land is suitable for use as a shooting sports range.

Contact at: shooting.sports@scouting.org

 

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.