NCS RESOURCES
- Outdoor Programs
- Outdoor Programs/Properties
- Trail to Adventure Blog
- The BSA Family Adventure Camp
- ATV Safety Program
- Aquatics
- Awards
- Biking
- Camping
- Conservation & Environment
- COPE and Climbing
- Fishing
- Leave No Trace
- National Camping School
- National Camp Accreditation Program
- Outdoor Ethics Guide
- Outdoor Ethics/Leave No Trace
- Safety Policies & Guidelines
- Shooting Sports
- What’s New
National Camping School
The purpose of National Camping School (NCS) is to provide adults with a learning experience and training related to the operation of council camp. The key staff members will, in turn, train and supervise other staff personnel in your council camping program.
Training is offered for staff members who will serve as Short-Term Camp Administrators, Day Camp Administrators, Long-term (Resident) Camp Directors, Long-term (Resident) Program Directors, Aquatics Directors, Climbing Directors, Project COPE Directors, Ecology Directors, Outdoor Skills Directors, First-Year Camper Directors, Trek Directors, and Shooting Sports Directors.
(not all schools will offer all sections. Refer to the Brochure for a list of schools, sections offered and locations)
2021 Brochure
Use this link to download the latest NCS brochure. As additional opportunities are added, the brochure will be updated, so make sure you have the latest here.2021-NCS-brochure (Updated 2-3-2021).
NCS Certification extension request form – Use this form to request a one season extension for an expired NCS certification.
Questions about National Camping School? – email ncs@scouting.org
Prerequisites for Resident Camping School
In addition to all requirements to attend National Camping School the following are additionally required:
- Hold a current lifeguard certification
- Complete BSA Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat training.
- Upon arrival at NCS
- Be able to complete the 100-yard swimmers test.
- Immediately after completion of the swimmers test, swim continuously for an additional 450 yards.
- Immediately after completion of the 450-yard swim, tread water for two minutes.
- Starting in the water, swim 20 yards using a front crawl or breaststroke, surface dive 7 to 10 feet, retrieve a 10-pound object, surface, swim with the object 20 yards back to the starting point, and exit the water within one minute and 40 seconds.
- Be in good physical condition as indicated on the Annual Health and Medical Record
- COPE Level 1 Instructor
- Be in good physical condition as indicated on the Annual Health and Medical Record
- Climbing Level 1 Instructor
- Complete online NCAP training module – Information on the link is found in your confirmation email
- Complete Unlawful Harassment training
Shooting Sports BASIC Track –
- Basic knowledge of shooting sports
- This course is an NRA course and certification is valid for 2 years only
Shooting Sports Director –
- NRA Basic Rifle Training
- NRA Basic Shotgun Training
- NRA Instructor Rifle Training
- NRA Instructor Shotgun Training
For information about BSA/NRA courses or to register for a course visit https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/shooting-sports/
Shooting Sports Director Retraining
- Score 80% or higher on open book written test (test will be sent by section director)
- NRA Rifle Instructor Training
- NRA Shotgun Instructor Training
- NRA Muzzleloading Rifle Training
- USA archery Level 1
- Be in good physical condition as indicated on the Annual Health and Medical Record
- Have a working knowledge of council’s COPE or Climbing program
- Current Certification in NCS COPE or Climbing
- Provide portfolio demonstrating 50 hours of face to face COPE or Climbing instruction with participants as a NCS Director or Level 1 or Level 2 instructor within the last 3 years. Not more than 5 hours can be in administrative activities.
2021 Resident (Long-Term) Camping Schools
Resident Camp Schools will begin on SATURDAY unless noted. Recertification sections will also be offered for the following sessions when the Full-Week session is offered: Aquatics, COPE, Climbing, Shooting Sports. NOTE: In 2021 there is a new syllabus for Camp Directors and Program directors and there is no recertification course offered. If you have further questions about the school, please contact your School Director or email ncs@scouting.org
Register for National Camping School
Local councils will register participants for National Camping School – To help in this process, fill out this personal information sheet – NCS Worksheet – fillable and return it to your council to be registered to attend.
Every Participant at National Camping School needs the following:
- BSA Medical form – download here – Bring to NCS
- Personal Resource Questionnaire NCS – Bring to NCS
- Equipment Needed – List of recommended items for your section
- Download the “Age Appropriate Guidelines” (opens new site)
- Download the Scouter Code of Conduct
- Self assess using the Pre-event Medical Screening Checklist
- Self assess using Model Pre-Event Medical Screening Checklist (COVID -19 version) – NOTE: the local council or host location may have additional medical screening protocols. Please contact the host council for additional information not listed below.
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The fees listed on the registration site are the on-time registration fees. Payment will be collected at the time of registration when the council approves the registration. In addition:
- A registration completed fewer than 14 days prior to the start of the school will incur a $50 late charge.
- Cancellations filed more than 14 days in advance of the course will incur a $50 processing fee per registrant. All other paid fees will be refunded. Refund requests must be in writing to NCS@Scouting.org.
- Late Cancellation: No-shows and cancellations filed fewer than 14 days prior to the start will incur a $100 no-show/ cancellation fee. Refund requests must be in writing to NCS@Scouting.org.
Hosted by: National Council BSA
Location: Islamorada, FL
Course Director: Alan Sanders
Local Council Liaison: Tim Stanfill
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, Aquatics has been postponed to a later date in the spring TBD.
Welcome letter: 2021 NCS Welcome Letter – FL Sea Base
Hosted by: Crossroads of the West Council
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Course Director: John Van Dreese
Local Council Liaison: Josh Haacke
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, COPE, Climbing, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports
Welcome letter: 2021 NCS Welcome Letter Camp Tracy
Hosted by: National Council BSA
Location: Glen Jean, WV
Course Director: Greg Leitch
Local Council Liaison: Larry Boggs
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, COPE, Climbing, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports
Welcome letter: 2021 NCS Welcome Packet – SBR April
Hosted by: Connecticut Rivers Council
Location: Ashford, CT
Course Director: Rick Poirier
Local Council Liaison: Michael Brown
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, Aquatics, COPE, Climbing, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports
Welcome letter: 2021 NCS Welcome Letter – Webster
Hosted by: Lincoln Heritage Council
Location: Shepherdsville, KY
Course Director: Thomas Barrington
Local Council Liaison:Sarah Flowers
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, Aquatics, COPE, Climbing, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports
Welcome letter: 2021 NCS Welcome Letter – Crooked Creek
Hosted by: Heart of America Council
Location: Osceola, MO
Course Director: Clifford Crismore
Local Council Liaison: David Riker
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, Aquatics, COPE, Climbing, COPE and Climbing Program Trainer, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports, Trek
Welcome letter: 2021 NCS Welcome Letter – H. Roe Bartle
Hosted by: Capitol Area Council
Location: Bastrop, TX
Course Director: Linda Dieguez
Local Council Liaison: Teresa Northcutt
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, Aquatics, COPE, Climbing, COPE and Climbing Program Trainer, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports
Welcome letter: 2021 NCS Welcome Letter – Lost Pines
Hosted by: Atlanta Area Council
Location: Covington, GA
Course Director: Jeremy Palazolo
Local Council Liaison: Charity Drabik
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, Aquatics, COPE, Climbing, COPE and Climbing Program Trainer, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports
Welcome letter:
Hosted by: Samoset Council
Location: Rhinelander, Wi
Course Director: Scott Domino
Local Council Liaison: Troy Seehafer
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, Aquatics, COPE, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports, Trek
Welcome letter: 2021 NCS Welcome Letter – Camp Tesomas
Hosted by: Old Hickory Council
Location: Mount Airy, NC
Course Director: Tim Harper
Local Council Liaison: Hunter Day
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, Aquatics, Climbing, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports, Trek
Welcome letter: 2021 NCS Welcome Letter – Raven Knob
Hosted by: Greater Los Angeles Area Council
Location: Cedar Glen, CA
Course Director: Matt Bear
Local Council Liaison: Charlie Wilson
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, Aquatics, COPE, Climbing, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports, Trek
Welcome letter: 2021 NCS Welcome Letter Hubert Eaton
Hosted by: National Capital Area Council
Location: Goshen, VA
Course Director: Rob Stone
Local Council Liaison: Philip Barbash
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, Aquatics, COPE, Climbing, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports, Trek
Welcome letter: 2021 NCS Welcome Letter – Goshen Scout Camp
Hosted by: Mount Baker Council
Location: Mount Vernon, WA
Course Director: Todd McDonald
Local Council Liaison: Eric Buher
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, Aquatics, COPE, Climbing, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports
Welcome letter: 2021 NCS Welcome Letter Fire Mountain
Hosted by: Greater New York Councils
Location: Narrowsburg, NY
Course Director: Jay Garee
Local Council Liaison: Wayne Holmes
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, Aquatics, COPE, Climbing, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports
Welcome letter: 2021 NCS Welcome Letter – Ten Mile River
Hosted by: Seneca Waterways Council
Location: Tupper Lake, NY
Course Director: Gary Decker
Local Council Liaison: Aaron Vikemyr
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, Aquatics, COPE, Climbing, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports, Trek
Welcome letter:
Hosted by: National Council BSA
Location: Cimarron, NM
Course Director: Jeff Doty
Local Council Liaison: Nick Hutchinson
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, COPE, Climbing, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports
Welcome letter: 2021 NCS Philmont Welcome Letter – Sept
Cub Scout Day Camp
For Cub Scout resources and information about Cub Scout Day Camp – click HERE
Register for In Person National Camping School
Local councils will register participants for National Camping School – To help in this process, fill out this personal information sheet – NCS Worksheet – fillable and return it to your council to be registered to attend.
Cub /Webelos Scout Day Camp Administration
To be nationally certified as a day camp director, program director or staff adviser, individuals must complete a three-part training curriculum. This includes an online course, a council-led in person training session and then a day and a half at a National Camping School. This three part curriculum, combined with the required pre-requisites listed below, will enable individuals to serve in a leadership role at their day camp. If you have a current Day Camp Administration certification that has not expired, you do not have to take this training. This format and curriculum is for anyone who is not yet certified. All three sessions, online, in-person local council session and the 1.5 days at NCS are required to be fully certified and they should be taken in that order when possible. Once individuals register for national camp school, they will receive the link for the online training course.
Prerequisites:
Participants must have completed Cub Scout Leader Training and Youth Protection Training available in the BSA Learn Center available through My.Scouting. A copy of the certificate(s) or training record is required.
Cancellation and late registration:
The fees listed on the registration site are the on-time registration fees. Payment will be collected at the time of registration when the council approves the registration. In addition:
A registration completed fewer than 14 days prior to the start of the school will incur a $50 late charge.
Cancellations filed more than 14 days in advance of the course will incur a $50 processing fee per registrant. All other paid fees will be refunded. Refund requests must be in writing to NCS@Scouting.org.
Late Cancellation: No-shows and cancellations filed fewer than 14 days prior to the start will incur a $100 no-show/ cancellation fee. Refund requests must be in writing to NCS@Scouting.org.
2021 Day Camp Administration School Dates:
Hosted by: Circle Ten
Location: Pottsboro, TX
Course Director: Jennifer Anderson
Local Council Liaison: Michael Prachar
Welcome letter: 2021 Camp James Ray Welcome Letter
Hosted by: Transatlantic Council
Course Director: Dennis Kampa
Local Council Liaison: John Erskine
Welcome letter: 2021 TAC CSDCS Welcome Letter
Hosted by: Illowa Council
Location: Illinois City, IL
Course Director: Jay Oakman
Local Council Liaison: Amy Borgstede
Welcome letter: 2021 Camp Loud Thunder Welcome Letter
Hosted by: Sam Houston Area Council
Location: Coldspring, TX
Course Director: Jennifer Mikes
Local Council Liaison: Vincent Manning
Welcome letter: 2021 CSDCS Camp Strake Welcome Letter
Hosted by: not a council
Location: Greensboro, NC
Course Director: Jennifer Evans
Local Council Liaison:
Welcome letter: 2021 Camp Weaver Welcome Letter
Hosted by: National Capital Area Council
Location: Haymarket, VA
Course Director: Chip Smith
Local Council Liaison: Philip Barbash
Welcome letter: 2021 CSDCS Camp Snyder Welcome Letter
Hosted by: Rocky Mountain Council
Location: Pueblo, CO
Course Director: Dennis Kampa
Local Council Liaison: Travis Emery
Welcome letter: 2021 Estes Service Center Welcome Letter
Hosted by: Not a council
Location: Black Mountain, NC
Course Director: Wendy Henderson
Local Council Liaison: Sue Persons
Welcome letter: 2021 YMCA Blue Ridge Welcome Letter
Hosted by: Greater St Louis Area Council
Location: High Ridge, MO
Course Director: La Donna Hudson
Local Council Liaison: Suzie Voss
Welcome letter:
Hosted by: Atlanta Area Council
Location: Covington, GA
Course Director: Stephanie Daniels
Local Council Liaison: Charity Drabik
Welcome letter: 2021 CSDCS Bert Adams Welcome Letter
Hosted by: Middle Tennessee Council
Location: Spencer, TN
Course Director: Linda Goff
Local Council Liaison: Ron Turpin
Welcome letter: 2021 Latimer Welcome Letter
Hosted by: Northern Lights Council
Location: Hotel
Course Director: Sheryl Oakman
Local Council Liaison: Darin Steindl
Welcome letter: 2021 Northern Lights Welcome Letter
Hosted by: Heart Of America Council
Location: Kansas City, KS
Course Director: Jeff Tyler
Local Council Liaison: Tanner Fuson
Welcome letter: 2021 CSDCS Welcome Letter – Naish
Hosted by: Central Florida Council
Location: Paisley, FL
Course Director: Charlene Neuterman
Local Council Liaison: Leigh Taylor
Welcome letter: 2021 CSDCS La-No-Che Welcome Letter
Hosted by: Michigan Crossroads Council
Location: Clare, MI
Course Director: Dianna Marsh
Local Council Liaison: Corrie Groth
Welcome letter: 2021 CSDCS Camp Rotary Welcome Letter
Hosted by: Three Harbors
Location: Oconomowoc, WI
Course Director: Jim Tobakos
Local Council Liaison: Wally Smith
Welcome letter: 2021 CSDCS Welcome Letter-Three Harbors
Hosted by: Quapaw Area Council
Location: Damascus, AR
Course Director: Jamie Green
Local Council Liaison: Butch Walker
Welcome letter: 2021 Camp Rockefeller Welcome Letter
Hosted by: Spirit of Adventure Council
Location: Boston, MA
Course Director: Angela Rzeszut
Local Council Liaison: Darrin Johnson
Welcome letter: 2021 CSDCS NEBC Welcome Letter
Hosted by: Pacific Harbors Council
Location: Olympia, WA
Course Director: Cheri Pepka
Local Council Liaison: Warren Waddell
Welcome letter: 2021 CSDCS Thunderbird Welcome Letter
Hosted by: Greater Los Angeles Area Council
Location: Cedar Glen, CA
Course Director:Debbie Spohn
Local Council Liaison: Charlie Wilson
Welcome letter:
Hosted by: Laurel Highland Council
Location: Sharpsburg, PA
Course Director: Bill Hendrick
Local Council Liaison: Kim Daniher
Welcome letter: 2021 CSDCS Camp Guyasuta Welcome Letter
Hosted by: Southwest Florida Council
Location: Bradenton, FL
Course Director/Local Council Liaison: Bruce Hassy
Welcome letter: 2021 Camp Flying Eagle Welcome Letter
Hosted by: Crossroads of the West Council
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Course Director: Linda Vaughn
Local Council Liaison: Jeremy Bell
Welcome letter: 2021 Camp Tracy Welcome Letter
Hosted by: Greater Yosemite Council
Location: Modesto, CA
Course Director: Toni Welch
Local Council Liaison: Robin Wilson
Welcome letter:
Hosted by: Greater New York Councils
Location: Alpine, NJ
Course Director: Dan Albert
Local Council Liaison: Wayne Holmes
Welcome letter:
Short-Term Camp Administrator Training
To register for Short-Term camp administrator training visit the short-term camp website at https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/camping/short-term-camp/
National Camping School Staff Resources Page – password protected
Select your National Camping School Branded Gear HERE.
NOTE: To place an order for any of the products above, please email NDCSupply.Orders@scouting.org
