Boy Scouts of America

Range & Target Activities

Purpose of Range & Target Activities in Scouting

The purpose of range & target activities in Scouting is to teach firearm safety while introducing youth to a variety of fun, interactive program experiences. Scouting’s range & target activities are developed and implemented through age-appropriate training and experiences. 

Scouting America adheres to its longstanding policy of teaching its youth and adult members the safe, responsible, and intelligent handling, care, and use of firearms, archery, and hand-held throwing sports in planned, carefully managed, and supervised programs for each youth who chooses to participate. 

Range and Target Activities Manual - 2024 Edition

This manual replaces all previous versions and has a revision date of 9/2024. 

Cub Scouts may only participate in range & target activities at a district or council event or activity. All range & target activities are prohibited at the Cub Scout pack or den level.

The Guide to Safe Scouting states that any range & target activities not detailed in our program literature or the National Range & Target Activities Manual are prohibited.

Download the National Range and Target Activities Manual (2024 Edition)

This publication replaces all previous versions of the National Shooting Sports Manual.  

Range Activity SAFEty Training

All Scouts BSA troops, Venturing crews, and Sea Scout ships who provide unit-level sponsored/planned range and target activities must have at least one registered unit leader 21+ years of age take the Range Activity SAFEty online training available on my.scouting.org. This individual must be present at the range during the range and target activity(s). Participating in this training will help ensure a unit understands Scouting America’s range and target activities policies.

To access the updated training, log onto my.Scouting.org and search the catalog in the BSA Learn Center for “Range Activity SAFEty.” For additional information regarding Scouting’s Range and Target Activities, please refer to the Guide to Safe Scouting and the National Range and Target Activities Manual.  

 

Program Specific Information

Range & Target Activities and National Camping School

Range & Target Activities are an important part of Scouting America camping operations. In order to have a safe and fun range & target activities program, the national organization has set forth safety standards and training for all volunteers and staff who will be in charge of these activities. For a complete list of these standards, see the links below. 

National Camp Accreditation Program

National Camping School

NRA Instructor Track (Full Week) Training - Course Listings:

NRA Instructor Track Participant Prerequisites:
All NRA Rifle/Shotgun Instructor candidates MUST successfully pass the USA Archery Level 1 Instructor Certification online course prior to arriving. Your course director will give you a coupon code upon request.  Once completed you will need to bring proof of completion with you to the NRA Instructor Track course.  For more information about this prerequisite please visit the USA Archery website.

Overview:
Unlike the Rifle/Shotgun Instructor weekends listed on this page, candidates will receive certification in the following disciplines:
NRA Rifle Basic & Instructor
NRA Shotgun Basic & Instructor
USA Archery Level 1 Instructor

Plus additional training in Scouting America policies and range supervision.  

This course may not be taken as a permanent replacement for the National Camping School Range Activities Director training.  Please review NCAP standard SQ-407 or the National Range & Target Activities Manual for more information.  

If you are looking to train NRA Instructors strictly for meeting range supervision ratios during year-round program, please consider the Nationally-sponsored NRA Instructor Training Weekends listed on this webpage.  

For all NRA Instructor courses:
The instructor course will ask you to be able to follow a syllabus and instruct materials during the class. You will need to have access to use the digital files during your instructor course, so it is recommended that you bring a laptop computer or tablet with you to the course. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to the contact for your course listed below or email outdoorprograms@scouting.org.

Course location:
Camp Pigott
24225 Woods Creek Road
Snohomish, WA 98290

Courses offered:
NRA Instructor Track

Documents:
Welcome Letter

Course Director: Bill Beaumont

Host Council Liaison: Bill Beaumont

Course location:
Curtis S. Read Scout Reservation
1377 Palisades Road
Brant Lake, NY 12815

Courses offered:
NRA Instructor Track

Documents:
Welcome Letter

Course Director: Matt Bull

Host Council Liaison: Richard Stockton

Course location:
Curtis S. Read Scout Reservation
1377 Palisades Road
Brant Lake, NY 12815

Courses offered:
NRA Instructor Track

Documents:
Welcome Letter

Course Director: Richard Stockton

Host Council Liaison: Braxton Rhodes

NRA Instructor Weekend Training - Course Listings (Rifle/Shotgun or Pistol):

NRA Rifle/Shotgun Instructor Courses:
All NRA Rifle/Shotgun Instructor candidates MUST take a basic student class before attending the corresponding instructor class (i.e. NRA Rifle Basic is required before attending an NRA Rifle Instructor course, NRA Shotgun Basic is required before attending an NRA Shotgun Instructor course).

Scouting America and the NRA offer these courses at discounted prices at local councils across the country or you can attend any commercial NRA Basic class. To find a Basic Rifle or Shotgun course in your area, please visit: www.nrainstructors.org

Once completed, you will need to bring proof of completion with you to the instructor course. You will also need to bring your Basic course student materials with you to the course. 

NRA Pistol Instructor Courses:
Unlike the Rifle/Shotgun Instructor weekends,
candidates will receive NRA Pistol Basic at the beginning of the weekend prior to starting the instructor course.  Please note that candidates will be required to pass the NRA pistol shooting qualification to receive certification.  This course is not for a beginning pistol shooter.

For all NRA Instructor Courses:
The instructor course will ask you to be able to follow a syllabus and instruct materials during the class. You will need to have access to use the digital files during your instructor course, so it is recommended that you bring a laptop computer or tablet with you to the course. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to the contact for your course listed below or email outdoorprograms@scouting.org.

Course location:
Camp Flying Eagle
16009 Upper Manatee River Road
Bradenton, FL 34212

Courses offered:
NRA Rifle Instructor
NRA Shotgun Instructor

Documents:
Welcome Letter

Host Council Liaison:
Lori Laumeyer (Southwest Florida Council)

Course location:
Camp Flying Eagle
16009 Upper Manatee River Road
Bradenton, FL 34212

Courses offered:
NRA Pistol Basic, NRA Pistol Instructor

Documents:
Welcome Letter

Host Council Liaison:
Lori Laumeyer (Southwest Florida Council)

 

Course location:
Ransburg Scout Reservation
7599 Waldrip Creek Rd.
Bloomington, IN 47401

Courses offered:
NRA Rifle Instructor, NRA Shotgun Instructor

Documents:
Welcome Letter

Host Council Liaison:
Aaron Vikemyr (Crossroads of America Council)

 

Course location:
Camp Wisdom
6400 W Red Bird Lane
Dallas, TX 75236

Courses offered:
NRA Pistol Basic, NRA Pistol Instructor

Documents:
Welcome Letter

Host Council Liaison:
Laura Baxter (Circle Ten Council)

Course location:
Heritage Scout Reservation
300 Heritage Road
Farmington, PA 15437

Courses offered:
NRA Rifle Instructor, NRA Shotgun Instructor

Documents:
Welcome Letter

Host Council Liaison:
Amanda Erickson (Laurel Highlands Council)

Course location:
Ransburg Scout Reservation
7599 Waldrip Creek Rd.
Bloomington, IN 47401

Courses offered:
NRA Pistol Basic, NRA Pistol Instructor

Documents:
Welcome Letter

Host Council Liaison:
Aaron Vikemyr (Crossroads of America Council)

 

Course location:
Treasure Valley Scout Reservation
394 Pleasantdale Rd.
Rutland, MA 01543

Courses offered:
NRA Rifle Instructor
NRA Shotgun Instructor

Documents:
Welcome Letter

Host Council Liaison:
Kelly Stickney (Heart of New England Council)

Course location:
Camp Groton
4241 County Route 25
Dundee, NY 14837

Courses offered:
NRA Rifle Instructor
NRA Shotgun Instructor

Documents:
Welcome Letter

Host Council Liaison:
Karl Ziegenfus (Great Falls Council)

Course location:
Camp Pigott
24225 Woods Creek Rd.
Snohomish, WA 98290

Courses offered:
NRA Rifle Instructor
NRA Shotgun Instructor

Documents:
Welcome Letter

Host Council Liaison:
Bill Beaumont (Chief Seattle Council)

Course location:
Heritage Scout Reservation
300 Heritage Road
Farmington, PA 15437

Courses offered:
NRA Rifle Instructor, NRA Shotgun Instructor

Documents:
Welcome Letter

Host Council Liaison:
Amanda Erickson (Laurel Highlands Council)

Course location:
Cherokee Scout Reservation
3296 Boy Scout Camp Rd.
Yanceyville, NC 27379

Courses offered:
NRA Rifle Instructor
NRA Shotgun Instructor

Documents:
Welcome Letter

Host Council Liaison:
Bud Harrelson (Old North State Council)

Course location:
Cherokee Scout Reservation
3296 Boy Scout Camp Rd.
Yanceyville, NC 27379

Courses offered:
NRA Pistol Basic, NRA Pistol Instructor

Documents:
Welcome Letter

Host Council Liaison:
Bud Harrelson (Old North State Council)

Course location:
McNeil Scout Ranch at Peaceful Valley
22799 Elbert Rd.
Elbert, CO 80106

Courses offered:
NRA Rifle Instructor
NRA Shotgun Instructor

Documents:
Welcome Letter

Host Council Liaison:
Jack Loats (Greater Colorado Council)

Course location:
McNeil Scout Ranch at Peaceful Valley
22799 Elbert Rd.
Elbert, CO 80106

Courses offered:
NRA Pistol Basic, NRA Pistol Instructor

Documents:
Welcome Letter

Host Council Liaison:
Jack Loats (Greater Colorado Council)

Additional Range & Target Activities Resources

Range and Target Activities FAQs

Click here for a few FAQs regarding range and target activities.

Chalk Ball, Sporting Arrows, Cowboy Action Shooting

Effective 9/1/2024, if your council plans to offer chalk ball, sporting arrows or cowboy action shooting, you must declare this on the council’s NCAP Intent to Operate form prior to beginning these activities (this declaration must be made annually).

Scouting America Range Design Standards

Your council must engage an architect or engineer locally to ensure your final design incorporates local geography and meets all local standard/laws for your county or state.  Designing an all-purpose range is not desirable because of the specific differences in range activity disciplines.

Click here to visit the Outdoor Program & Properties – Design Guidelines webpage

Procedures to use a commercial range for range & target activities

If a range meets the definition of a commercial range as set forth in the National Range & Target Activities Manual it may be used for age-appropriate, Scouting America approved range & target activities. 

Reminder:  All Scouting America policies and procedures must be followed while using commercial ranges including age-appropriate equipment, range supervision requirements and standard operating procedures (if not provided by the range owner).

Need more information?  Please contact outdoorprograms@scouting.org.

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.