Shooting Sports
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.
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 Shooting Sports 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.
NCAC Shooting Sports Committee:
Chairman: Demi Pulas
Staff Advisor: Ryan Alford
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 with SSC review and approval (form vers 12): 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 SSC Member to plan your event! All requests to allow or support a shooting sport (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 Shooting Sports Committee. By BSA standards, the event is not authorized for shooting sports unless event approval is received.
**Announcement!** “Online Only” BSA Range Master certification is incomplete as onsite range experience and evaluation is REQUIRED by BSA. 2024 RM training is TBD but should be May and June. Online registration will be available, but if interested, email your District SSC rep, the SSC Chairman, the SSC Vice-Chair for Admin, and your District’s Leadership and POCs for the Cub Day Camp.
We are actively looking active, qualified participation from all NCAC Districts in our committee. To join our meetings or 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 Shooting Sports Coordinators. You may also direct inquiries and comments on the website to the Committee Chairman and vice-chair for administration.
Important NCAC Shooting Sports Committee Documents:
NCAC Shooting Sports Guidelines 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)
NCAC Shooting Sports Standard Operating Procedures 01-24-2018 Revision–Signed
BSA Shooting Sports Reference Links:
Shooting Sports Training in Local Area (Updated)
BSA National Shooting Sports Manual 2022
BSA Shooting Sports Resource Page
Venturing and Sea Scouting Shooting Sports
Age Appropriate Activity Guidelines (Aug 2021)
BSA Briefing for Rifle & Shotgun
**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.
Page Updated 2023-09-23 SSC Webmasters Brian Suddeth & Rus Pittman