NCS RESOURCES
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 Camp Directors, 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) \
2020 Brochure
Click HERE to download the 2020 NCS brochure (updated 1-22-2020). We will continue to make updates as we add additional sections and locations. Please make sure to download the latest brochure.
Questions about National Camping School? – email ncs@scouting.org
Register HERE
Click the button below to register for National Camping School. NOTE: when you submit your registration your Scout Executive will receive an email to confirm your attendance.
2020 Resident Camping School Dates:
Every Participant at National Camping School needs the following:
- BSA Medical form – download here – Bring to NCS
- Personal Resource Questionnaire NCS 2020 – Bring to NCS
- Equipment Needed 2020– List of recommended items for your section
- Download the “Age Appropriate Guidelines” (opens new site)
- Download the Scouter Code of Conduct
Hosted by: National Council
Location: Glen Jean, WV
Course Director: Greg Leitch
Local Council Liaison:Larry Boggs
Welcome letter: 2020 NCS Welcome Packet – SBR Early May
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, Aquatics, COPE, Climbing, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports
Hosted by: Heart of America Council
Location: Osceola, MO
Course Director: David Riker
Local Council Liaison: David Riker
Welcome letter:H.-Roe-Bartle-NCS-Welcome-Letter-2020
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, Aquatics, COPE, Climbing, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports, Trek
Hosted by: Capitol Area Council
Location: Bastrop, TX
Course Director: Linda Dieguez
Local Council Liaison: Teresa Northcutt
Welcome letter: 2020 Participant Welcome Lost Pines
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, Aquatics, COPE, Climbing, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports
Hosted by: Atlanta Area Council
Location: Covington, GA
Course Director: Jeremy Palazolo
Local Council Liaison: Charity Drabik
Welcome letter: 2020 Welcome Resident Camp Participant Letter – Bert Adams
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, Aquatics, COPE, Climbing, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports
Hosted by: Samoset Council
Location: Rhinelander, WI
Course Director: Scott Domino
Local Council Liaison: Troy Seehafer
Welcome letter: Welcome Letter Camp Tesomas 2020
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, Aquatics, COPE, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports, Trek
Hosted by: Connecticut Rivers Council
Location: Plymouth, CT
Local Council Liaison: Michael Brown
Sections Offered: COPE/Climbing Program Trainer
Hosted by: Old Hickory Council
Location: Mount Airy, NC
Course Director/Local Council Liaison: Keith Bobbitt
Welcome letter: NCS Welcome letter Raven Knob 2020
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, Aquatics, Climbing, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports
Hosted by: Los Angeles Area Council
Location: Cedar Glen, CA
Course Director: Michael Oehmke
Local Council Liaison: Charlie Wilson
Welcome letter: 2020 NCS Welcome Resident Camp Participant Letter Hubert Eaton
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, Aquatics, COPE, Climbing, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports, Trek
Hosted by: National Council
Location: Glen Jean, WV
Course Director: Philip Barbash
Local Council Liaison: Larry Boggs
Welcome letter: 2020-NCS-Welcome-Packet-SBR-May-30th
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, Aquatics, COPE, Climbing, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports
Hosted by: Mount Baker Council
Location: Mt. Vernon, WA
Course Director: Jim Hill
Local Council Liaison: Eric Buher
Welcome letter: 2020 NCS Welcome Letter Fire Mountain
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, Aquatics, COPE, Climbing, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports
Hosted by: Greater New York Councils
Location: Narrowsburg, NY
Course Director: Jay Garee
Local Council Liaison: Wayne Holmes
Welcome letter: 2020-Ten-Mile-River-Welcome-Resident-Camp-Participant-Letter
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, Aquatics, COPE, Climbing, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports
Hosted by: Seneca Waterways Council
Location: Tupper Lake, NY
Course Director: Gary Decker
Local Council Liaison: Aaron Vikemyr
Welcome letter: 2020-Massawepie-Camp-School-Welcome-Letter-
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, Aquatics, COPE, Climbing, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports, Trek
Hosted by: National Council
Location: Cimarron, NM
Course Director: Matt Conlon
Local Council Liaison: Nick Hutchinson
Welcome letter:2020 NCS Philmont Welcome Letter – Sept
Sections Offered: Camp Director, Program Director, COPE, Climbing, Ecology, Outdoor Skills, Shooting Sports
Hosted by: Greater New York Councils
Location: Alpine, NJ
Local Council Liaison: Chris Guarniere
Sections Offered: COPE and Climbing Program Trainer
Prerequisites for Resident Camp 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.
- COPE Level 1 Instructor
- Climbing Level 1 Instructor
- Complete online NCAP training module – Information on the link is found in your confirmation email
- Complete Unlawful Harassment training
Depending on whether or not you are currently NRA Basic and Instructor certified in the rifle and shotgun disciplines, we have created three separate “tracks” to be certified as BSA Shooting Sports Director certification in 2020.
Option 1: BSA Shooting Sports Director Basic Track (Select this option if you are NOT currently NRA Rifle and Shotgun Basic and Instructor certified)
- All shooting sports participants needing NRA Basic training and NRA instructor training will be required to arrive one day early (Friday by noon) in order to accommodate this change.
- The NRA Basic Rifle and NRA Basis Shotgun certification will be added to the curriculum for NCS in 2020.
- The NRA instructor syllabus for Rifle and Shotgun will be added into the curriculum for the NCS certification in 2020
- The 2020 syllabus for BSA Shooting Sports Director Basic will NOT INCLUDE the following:
- Muzzle loading certification
- Chalkball
- Cowboy Action Shooting
- If the council plans to operate any of these disciplines or a pistol program, additional training is required in addition to NCS.
- The training day will extend to no earlier than 9 pm each day in order to meet all NRA training hour requirements.
Option 2: National Camping School –BSA Shooting Sports Director Regular Track (Select this option if you ARE currently NRA Rifle and Shotgun Basic and NRA Instructor certified)
- Participants arrive on Saturday of the course
- This track will include:
- In-depth merit badge facilitation instruction
- Muzzle loading Co-op Rifle certification
- Chalkball program training
- Cowboy Action Shooting program training
Option 3: BSA Shooting Sports Director Recertification Track (for those who are current NCS shooting sports directors)
- Individuals must meet the requirements for a recertification: participant must hold a current card in that section or have a card that expired no more than six months prior to the course.
- Score 80% or higher on open book written test (test will be sent by section director)
- NRA Rifle instructor,
- NRA shotgun
- NRA Muzzleloading Rifle
- USA archery Level 1
NRA Instructor Course Pre-Requisites: All BSA shooting sports candidates MUST take a basic student class in their discipline before attending the instructor class. Therefore, before you can attend and be certified as a NRA Rifle and Shotgun instructor, you MUST already have taken and passed NRA Basic Rifle and Shotgun classes. The BSA and NRA offer these courses at discounted prices across the country or you can attend any commercial NRA Basic Rifle and Shotgun classes. To find a Basic Rifle and/or Shotgun course in your area, please visit: www.nrainstructors.org 
. If you have any questions, please email shootingsports@Scouting.org .
Prior to attending National Camping School participants must complete:
- NRA basic class (in each discipline (Rifle and Shotgun)
- NRA instructor class in each discipline (Rifle and Shotgun) – For a list of NRA Rifle and Shotgun Instructor courses for the BSA click 2020 NRA Course Dates 1-17-2020 (updated 1-17-2020)
- To register for these courses visit https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/shooting-sports/ and look for the NRA Marksmanship button.
Cub Scout Day Camp
For Cub Scout resources and information about Cub Scout Day Camp – click HERE
Cub /Webelos Scout Day Camp Administration
Beginning in 2019, 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 card that has not expired, you do not have to take this training. This new National Camp School 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.
2020 Day Camp Administration School Dates:
Please Click HERE for information to be certified as a Cub Scout Day Camp Administrator
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
- BSA Medical form – download here – Complete Parts A & B and bring to NCS
- Download the Scouter Code of Conduct
- Download the “Age Appropriate Guidelines” (opens new site)
- Download 2020 CSDC Personal Resource Questionnaire and bring completed form to NCS
Hosted by: Greater New York Councils
Course Director: Dan Albert
Local Council Liaison: Clay Shumway
Critical Details letter: 2020 CSDCS Camp Alpine Welcome Letter
Hosted by: Orange County Council
Course Director: Debbie Spohn
Local Council Liaison: Bill Beaumont
Critical Details letter:
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
National Camping School Staff Resources Page – password protected
