NCAC adheres to the Scouting America 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.  Range and Target Activities covered in the Scouting America Range & Target Activities 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 Range & Target 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

**Announcement!** 
2024 NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR RANGE & TARGET ACTIVITIES HAVE CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2024! Review the updated National Manual, contact our committee, your District’s representative on our committee, or you District Executive (Scouting Professional) to learn about changes ESPECIALLY to the Venturing and Sea Scouting program activities. Changes include a new required training course to be available soon.

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

Other events supported by R&TA 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 Scouting America standards, the event is not authorized for target or range related activities unless event approval is received from the Council Range & Target Activities Committee Chairman and may risk loss of Scouting America insurance.  (Note: The National Range & Target Activities Manual has no specified standards on use of model rockets, however there is some health and safety guidance for Rocket Safety.  Accordingly the R&TA 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/) 

NOTE: “Online Only” Range Master certification is incomplete as onsite range experience and evaluation is REQUIRED by Scouting America (BSA). Range Master may be taught by NRA and USA Archery certified instructors AFTER receiving authorization for the course from the Chairman of the Council’s R&TA (Shooting Sports) Committee.  Training Cards for the course may only be issued by a BSA certified Shooting Sports Director authorized by the Range & Target Sports Committee chairman per BSA standards.  

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 Range & Target 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 Range & Target Sports Committee Documents:
NCAC Unit / District Shooting Sports Event Planning & Review Form– BEING REVISED 2024

NCAC Shooting Sports Standard Operating Procedures 01-24-2018 Revision–Signed– BEING REVISED 2024

NCAC University of Scouting T&RS Presentations: Cubs – Scouts BSA – Venturing & Sea Scouting– BEING REVISED 2024

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 Range and Target Activities (R&TA) Manual – 08/30/2024
BSA R&TA Resource Page

Age Appropriate Activity Guidelines (Sept 2024)
BSA Briefings for Archttps://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BSA-Archery-Safety-Briefing.pptxhery, 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 Range & Target Activities Manual 2024.

UPCOMING 2024 NCAC R&TA Committee SUPPORTED EVENTS (Demi Pulas):
NRA and USAA basic and instructor courses at multiple locations
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 2024-09-07 R&TA Webmasters Brian Suddeth & Rus Pittman