NCAC adheres to the Boy Scouts of America’s longstanding policy of teaching its youth and adult members the safe, responsible, intelligent handling, care, and use of firearms, air rifles, BB guns, and archery equipment in planned, carefully managed, and supervised programs.  BSA target and range activities covered in the Scouts America Shooting Sports Manual include: Archery, BB, Airguns, Slingshot, Catapult, Rockets, Rifle, Shotgun, Pistols, Tomahawk, and Knife Throwing.

From Cub Scouting to Venturing and Sea Scouting, all program divisions use responsible outdoor activities to promote character development and values-based leadership training. Shooting sports have the ability to attract and retain youth in the movement. Millions of young people participate in one or more of the sports annually guided by adult volunteers who have the training and knowledge to provide quality programs in a safe and effective way.  The NCAC Range & Target Activities Committee verifies qualified supervision, appropriate planning, approved ranges, and proper equipment is available for all shooting sports events.  The committee supports the Council’s goals of ensuring training opportunities for leaders to help them support safe and authorized marksmanship activities.

Let us help YOU to promote range sports and safety in YOUR PROGRAM CALENDAR!

NCAC Target & Range Activities Committee (A Sub-Committee of the NCAC Camping Committee):

Chairman:  Demi Pulas
NCAC Staff Advisor: Elisabeth Warren
Vice-Chair Training: Drew Trent
Vice-Chair Equipment: Steve Crowe
Vice-Chair Admin: Brian Suddeth

Events Supported: All Council events (NCAC Resident Camps, Day Camps, Powder Horn, Expos, Cub Leader Range Master Courses)

Other events supported by T&RA review and approval (form vers 12c): OA events, Exploring and Venturing events, District Camporees, Unit level shooting sports (Scouts BSA and above).  Reviews and planning take time, so contact us well in advance of your planned event.  Work with your District’s T&RSC Member to plan your event!  All requests to allow or support a target or range activity (archery, rifle, pistol, shotgun, slingshot, BB, tomahawk/knife throwing or other range sports) at ANY event held in NCAC (Council, District, Unit) must be authorized by the Chairman of the Council Target & Range Sports Committee. By BSA standards, the event is not authorized for target or range related activities unless event approval is received from the Council Target & Range Activities Committee Chairman and may risk loss of BSA insurance.  (Note: The BSA Shooting Sports Manual has no specified standards on use of model rockets, however, there is some health and safety guidance for Rocket Safety.  Accordingly the Shooting Sports Committee will not require a prior request application. https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/safety-moments/rocket-safety/ & https://www.nar.org/safety-information/model-rocket-safety-code/) 

**Announcement!** 
2024 NCAC BSA Range Master courses are complete for this year.

NOTE: “Online Only” BSA Range Master certification is incomplete as onsite range experience and evaluation is REQUIRED by BSA.  BSA Range Master may be taught by NRA and USA Archery certified instructors AFTER receiving authorization for the course from the Chairman of the Shooting Sports Committee.  BSA Training Cards for the course may only be issued by a BSA certified Shooting Sports Director authorized by the Target & Range Sports Committee chairman per BSA standards.   For information, please contact your District T&RA Committee rep, the T&RA Chairman, or the T&RA Vice-Chair for Admin.

JOIN US!  We are actively looking active, qualified participation from all NCAC Districts in our committee. To join our meetings or NCAC BaseCamp, have questions regarding shooting sports training, instructor certifications, seek Council authorization for adding shooting sports to a scout activity or similar shooting sports questions, please contact your District’s Target & Range Activities Coordinators. You may also direct inquiries and comments on the website to the Committee Chairman and vice-chair for administration (see above).

Important NCAC Target & Range Sports Committee Documents:
BSA Shooting Sports Guidelines – NCAC Tri-Fold Handout 2023
NCAC Unit / District Shooting Sports Event Planning & Review Form
NCAC – So You Want to Hold a Scouting Shooting Sports Activity? (Oct 2020)
NCAC BSA Where to Shoot BSA (May 2020) (Note the list is availability not approvals and is being updated)
NCAC Shooting Sports Standard Operating Procedures 01-24-2018 Revision–Signed

NCAC University of Scouting T&RS Presentations: Cubs – Scouts BSA – Venturing & Sea Scouting

Instructor Training in Local Area:
Baltimore Council, Chester County Council  Shenandoah Area Council (Pistol, Shotgun, Rifle), IWLA – NoVA, Many Others
Contact Drew Trent and Demi Pulas
 

BSA Shooting Sports Reference Links:
BSA National Shooting Sports Manual 2022
BSA Shooting Sports Resource Page
Cub Scout Shooting Sports
Scouts BSA Shooting Sports
Venturing and Sea Scouting Shooting Sports
Age Appropriate Activity Guidelines (Aug 2021)
BSA Briefings for Archery, Rifle, Shotgun & Muzzle Loading

**NOTICE** Merit Badge Counselors must ensure qualified and certified supervision according to Guide to Safe Scouting standards in order to run any shooting activity (rifle, pistol, shotgun, archery) under BSA rules. Per BSA standards, for Scouts BSA and above this means current certification by USA Archery for Archery sports, and NRA Certified Instructor / RSO for Rifle, Pistol or Shotgun including muzzle loading, and for Cubscout District events BSA Range Master certification or higher is required.  See BSA Guide to Advancement 7.0.1.1 Qualifications of Merit Badge Counselors (pg 43) and the requirements in the BSA National Shooting Sports Manual 2022.

UPCOMING 2024 NCAC T&RSC SUPPORTED EVENTS (Demi Pulas):
Arrow Fletching & PIZZA parties at CWBS
NCAC University of Scouting
NCAC OA Spring Lodge Fellowship
April & May Cub Family Camps @ CWBS
Goshen Work Weekend?
Multiple Full Day Range Master @ CWBS
Goshen Inspection / Training / Equipment Maintenance / Inventory – Staff Week
Goshen Memorial Day Family Camping
CWBS Staff Training
NCAC Cub Day Camps
NRA and USAA basic and instructor courses at multiple locations
Goshen Shooting Sports Directors each week
Friends of the NRA Meetings MD & VA
NCAC Merit Badge Week
Goshen Labor Day Family Camping
NCAC Sporting Clays Tournament?
NCAC Powder Horn
NCAC OA Fall Lodge Fellowship
Fall Goshen Inspection / Equipment Maintenance / Inventory
October & November Family Camps @ Snyder
And many unit, district, and council level events and camporees year-around!

Let us help YOU to promote range sports and safety in YOUR PROGRAM CALENDAR!

Page Updated 2024-06-07 T&RA Webmasters Brian Suddeth & Rus Pittman