Shooting Sports

Shooting Sports are a popular part of any Scout summer or winter camp, and with properly trained adult supervision can be offered as part of an individual Scout unit’s weekend campout. Rifle, shotgun, pistol, BB (for Cub Scouts), sling shot (for Cub Scouts), or archery activities can challenge a Scout’s concentration and patience while developing target shooting skills.

Safety First

Safety is critical, so our council maintains a committee of highly trained volunteer leaders who will help you should you wish to develop your own weekend activity.

Whichever activity you choose, it’s important to make sure you’re providing a safe environment. Scouting America requires at least one adult leader to first complete a Range Safety Officer training course before planning or conducting a shooting sports activity. These courses are offered several times throughout the year, typically at the shooting or archery ranges at our Lost Pines Scout Reservation or Camp Tom Wooten in Bastrop.

Policy on carrying personal firearms

The Capitol Area Council and every other Scouting America local council follows the policies and procedures of the Scouting America National Shooting Sports Manual. The manual requires shooting sports events for Scouts be staffed by properly certified instructors and range safety officers. This is an essential element of ensuring a shooting sports event is safe for youth participants.

As part of developing the safety standards and policies and procedures set forth in the manual, Scouting America has determined that all Scouting shooting sports events should be conducted according to a national standard. This includes a national standard for the training of instructors and range safety officers. In the absence of such a national standard, different councils would be able to develop their own standards, not all of which would necessarily ensure the safety of shooting sports participants.

While there are local organizations that provide such instruction, the National Rifle Association (NRA) Training and Education Division is the only nationally and internationally recognized certification body for such training. This group provides the materials and standards for training both instructors and range safety officers. These courses and materials are presented in our council by trained, certified volunteer Scouting leaders. There is no requirement that instructors and range safety officers become NRA members, nor that they subscribe to any political views of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action. Our council and Scouting America are both apolitical organizations that do not promote or advocate on behalf of any interest group’s political views.