National Camping School

The short-term camp administrator oversees aspects of the short-term camp with respect to the purpose of the camp, the training of the staff and the overall safety of the camp. They may also be involved in the program planning detail. The short-term camp administrator training will equip participants with the skills to oversee these camps.

Highlights include:

•  NCAP process for short-term camp
• Program planning
• Fiscal management
• Facilities
• Risk management

This training will be available through a local council or online through the Outdoor Programs department of the BSA. Interested participants should contact the local council for availability. Pricing varies slightly by location. 

Prerequisites: meet all eligibility requirements listed above for National Camping School attendance and be at least 21 years old. 

Course fee is $55 for in person at a local council; $75 for online.

Councils interested in hosting Short- term Camp administrator training should visit https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/camping/short-term-camp/

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/

The Cub Scout Day Camp Administration section of National Camp School is for day camp directors, day camp program directors, and council day camp professional staff advisors and administrators. This is a comprehensive training course on all aspects of the day camp operation, including methods of day camping, program scheduling and resources, staff organization, recruiting and training, and health and safety practices.

To be nationally certified as a day camp director, program director or staff adviser, individuals must complete a three-part training curriculum. 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.

The three part training includes:
• Part 1: Online training module
• Part 2: Council-led training module, facilitated by local council leadership
• Part 3: In-person two-day training held at locations around the country (Courses begin at 9 a.m. on Day 1 and conclude at 2 p.m. on Day 2.)

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.   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 (any Cub Scout leader position-specific training is acceptable)
• Youth Protection Training available in the BSA Learn Center available through My.Scouting. A copy of the certificate(s) or training record is required.
• Part 1: NCS online training module
• Part 2: NCS council-led training module

This course is designed for:

• Camp directors
• Reservation directors
• Assistant camp directors
• Business managers

Required for resident (long-term) camp leadership
Prerequisites:

• Complete online “NCAP assessor training” module that can be found on the BSA learn center through my.scouting.org
• Complete Unlawful Harassment training 

Highlights include: 

• NCAP
• Employment management and staff training
• Business practices and fiscal management
• Health and wellness
• Cultural competencies

7-day course: begins with lunch Day 1; ends Day 7 after breakfast
Course fee: $499

This course is designed for:

• Camp program directors
• Assistant camp program directors

Required for resident (long-term) camp leadership

Prerequisites:

• Complete online “NCAP assessor training” module that can be found on the BSA learn center through my.scouting.org
• Complete Unlawful Harassment training 

Highlights include: 

• Implementing National Camp Accreditation Program
• Customer Service
• BSA brand management
• Diversity and Inclusion
• The Leading EDGE
• The Teaching EDGE
• Program management and planning

7-day course: begins with lunch Day 1; ends Day 7 after breakfast
Course fee: $499

This course is designed for:

• Resident (long-term) camp aquatics directors
• Pool directors
• Waterfront directors

Highlights include:

• The roles of the camp aquatics director operating as the lead professional lifeguard, including lifeguard management and lifeguard instruction
• Lead instructor for aquatics and aquatics area manager
• Safe and effective supervision of all program activities in, on, and under the water 
• Skills and teaching of swimming, water rescue, and paddle sports

Prerequisites for Aquatics Section Enrollment
Before acceptance into the Aquatics section on the opening day of the National Camping School, an Aquatics section participant must:

• Be 18 years of age or older. Note: You must be 21 to hold
  the position of aquatics director in a local council camp.
• Present evidence of a current lifeguard certification (BSA Lifeguard, Red Cross Lifeguard, YMCA Lifeguard, Starfish Aquatics Institute StarGuard, Ellis & Associates International Lifeguard Training Program Lifeguard Certification, or equivalent).
• Present evidence of completion of 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 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.

Failure to satisfy any of the above criteria will prevent acceptance of the participant into the Aquatics section.

This specifically includes failure to provide evidence of a current lifeguard certification. The Aquatics Instructor– BSA program prepares the participant to be a BSA Lifeguard Instructor. A current lifeguard certification is a prerequisite so the participant has the base level knowledge and lifeguarding experience to successfully complete the Lifeguard Instructor training.

7-day course: begins with lunch Day 1; ends Day 7 after breakfast
Course fee: $645

Aquatics Instructor–BSA Retraining

A retraining section is available for those certified in Aquatics Instructor–BSA. Candidates for retraining must meet all the prerequisites as outlined for Aquatics
section enrollment.

4-day course: begins with lunch Day 1; ends Day 4 after lunch

Course fee: $535

This course is designed for those who will be leading climbing/rappelling programs. Successful candidates may also assist in providing training for level 1 climbing instructors at the council level.

Highlights include:

• Initiative games
• Climbing
• Bouldering
• Rappelling
• Anchor systems
• Belaying using either natural sites or constructed facilities.

Prerequisites for Climbing Director Section Enrollment
Participants must:

• Be in good physical condition as indicated on the Annual Health and Medical Record.
• Climbing Level 1 Instructor OR
• Have working knowledge of the council climbing program

7-day course: begins with lunch Day 1; ends Day 7 after breakfast
Course fee: $500

Climbing Director Retraining

A retraining section is available for those currently certified as Climbing Director. Includes an update of items related to camp program administration, standards, policies, and procedures.

4-day course: begins with lunch Day 1; ends Day 4 after lunch
Course fee: $395

This course is designed for those who will be leading COPE (challenge course) programs. Successful candidates may also assist in providing training for Level 1 COPE instructors at the council level.

Highlights include:

• Initiative games
• Spotted challenge course elements (low COPE)
• Challenge course elements using life-safety systems (high COPE)
• Bouldering
• Climbing/rappelling activities using constructed facilities

Prerequisites for COPE Director Section Enrollment
Participants must:

• Be in good physical condition as indicated on the Annual Health and Medical Record.
• COPE level 1 instructor OR
• Have working knowledge of the council COPE course

7-day course: begins with lunch Day 1; ends Day 7 after breakfast
Course fee: $500

COPE Director Retraining

A retraining section is available for those currently certified in COPE. Includes an update of items related to camp program administration, standards, policies, and procedures.

4-day course: begins with lunch Day 1; ends Day 4 after lunch
Course fee: $395

This course is designed for those who will be instructing Level 2 COPE or Climbing Instructors to lead COPE or climbing/rappelling programs at the council level.

Highlights include:

• Learning instruction methods
• Working with other program trainer candidates to complete pre peer review paperwork
• Demonstrating teaching skills on course, tower, and or rock with peers
• Learning the most recent standards and industry practices
• Being qualified to provide Peer to Peer review of another council’s program

During this course participants will be sharing information about the councils COPE or Climbing course and the participant’s training plan with the other participants receiving peer to peer feedback on the program and giving peer to peer feedback on the other participants programs.

Prerequisites:

• Be in good physical condition as indicated on the Annual Health and Medical Record.
• Hold current certification from National Camping School in COPE or Climbing Director training AND 
• Have working knowledge of your council’s COPE or
  Climbing Program
• Have Portfolio demonstrating 50 hours of face to face COPE or Climbing instruction with participants as a NCS Director or Level I or II instructor within the last 3 years. No more than 5 hours can be in administrative
  activities.

This 4-day course: begins with lunch Day 4; ends Day 7.
Course fee: $395

This course is designed for those who will serve as ecology director or staff. This course is also valuable for any staff who will be administering ecology programs for weekend or year-round programs.

Highlights include:

• Training in planning and developing ecology/conservation programs
• Soil and water conservation
• Forestry
• Fish and wildlife management
• Nature trail construction
• Weather station operation
• How to lead a staff
• A model ecology area
• Effective teaching skills

7-day course: begins with lunch Day 1; ends Day 7 after breakfast
Course fee: $510

This course is designed for those who will direct outdoor skills including first- year camper areas.

Highlights include:

• An overnight experience
• Knots and lashing
• Fishing
• Cooking
• Camping
• Wilderness survival
• First-year camper program plan
• Hands-on skills in an outdoor classroom that will meet many of the requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class rank
• How to lead a staff
• A model outdoor skills area
• Effective teaching skills

Participants should bring personal overnight camping gear.
This course will qualify individuals to serve as first-year camper and outdoor skills directors.

7-day course: begins with lunch Day 1; ends Day 7 after breakfast
Course fee: $415

This course is designed to meet the alternate requirements of SQ-407. This course is designed for those who are NOT NRA instructors prior to attending National Camping School.

Course includes:

• NRA Basic Rifle training
• NRA Basic Shotgun training
• NRA Instructor Rifle training
• NRA Instructor Shotgun training
• USA Archery Level 1 training

This course is designed to meet the alternate requirements of SQ-407. Use of this person as a shooting sports director requires an approved waiver from the National NCAP committee. This course is an NRA course and is valid for two years only.

8-day course: Students must arrive ONE DAY Early for this course. (in most cases Friday) begins with lunch on Day 1: Ends Day 8 after breakfast

Course fee: $525

This course is designed for shooting sports directors for a council camp or council shooting sports committee.

Highlights include:

• USA Archery Level I
• NRA Muzzleloading Rifle training
• BSA merit badge instruction plan

Prerequisites for Shooting Sports Director Section Enrollment

• NRA Basic Rifle training
• NRA Basic Shotgun training
• NRA Instructor Rifle training
• NRA Instructor Shotgun training

Evidence of these trainings MUST be presented before participants will be allowed to enroll in NCS (may be presented on-site). Participants without proper
credentials will not be allowed to participate in NCS or will be enrolled in the Shooting Sports NRA track.

For information about these courses, please visit www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/shooting-sports 

7-day course: begins with lunch Day 1; ends Day 7 after breakfast
Course fee: $525

For dates and locations of NRA Rifle and NRA Shotgun instructor training courses, please visit the BSA Shooting Sports website at www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/shooting-sports/

Shooting Sports Recertification

A recertification course is available for those currently certified as shooting sports directors.

Course includes an update of items related to shooting techniques, range management, policies, and procedures.

Prerequisites for Shooting Sports Retraining

• Score of 80% or higher on open book written test
• Current certifications in NRA Rifle, NRA Shotgun, NRA Muzzleloading Rifle, and USA Archery Level I

Failure to pass the written test will require participation in the full-week course.

4-day course: begins with lunch Day 1; ends Day 4 after lunch
Course fee: $420

For dates and locations of NRA Rifle and NRA Shotgun instructor training courses, please visit the BSA Shooting Sports website at www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/shooting-sports/

This course is designed for the person who will serve as or train staff guides for trek programs.

Highlights include:

• Training in emergency procedures
• Environmental ethics
• Interpersonal relationships
• Managing risk

7-day course: begins with lunch Day 1; ends Day 7after breakfast

(Course in New York state starts on Thursday to comply with New York state laws and runs nine days.)

Course fee: $557