It is strongly recommended that all Boy Scout councils have a shooting sports committee. The purpose of the committee is to manage and provide resources to the council, the camping committee, and the council camps for all activities involving shooting sports whether during summer camps or during year-round shooting opportunities. All shooting sports activities should be coordinated through the shooting sports committee to verify that a safe and responsible program is planned and conducted by properly trained and currently certified personnel.

The committee should be composed of a shooting sports chairman/coordinator with a working understanding of summer camp and off-season programs, and the knowledge, skills, and attitude to organize and run safe ranges and shooting sports programs. The chairman is appointed by the council president or his or her designee. The committee shall report to the council vice president for program, the camping committee chair, the health and safety chair, or the council risk management committee chair as appropriate for the individual council organization.

•  An age of 21 years or older and National Camping  School certification as a shooting sports director  is recommended.

•  National Rifle Association certified instructor for one or more of the appropriate disciplines arerecommended.

• Current NRA range safety officer rating is recommended.

• Certified Level 1 archery instructor is recommended.

•  Schedules meetings, preferably on a monthly basis, of the shooting sports committee and assigns individual committee member responsibilities. Keeps the council executive or his designee informed of committee actions.

•  Advises the summer camp National Camping School shooting sports director in ensuring all shooting sports requirements in the national standards are being met.

•  Accompanies the area camp visitation team on the tour of the shooting sports facilities and answers any questions it has relating to compliance with the national standards.

•  If requested by the Scout executive, his/her representative or the camp director submits an evaluation on the National Camping School shooting sports director and staff and makes a recommendation on their employment in the future.

•  Ensures adequate training sessions are conducted annually to certify BB gun and archery instructors for Cub Scout day camp, field day, or other council or district activities.

•  Assists the camp director in identifying and recruiting the shooting sports director for summer camp in the event of illness or emergency. Serves in this capacity as requested or appointed by the camp director.

•  Ensures compliance with all BSA/NRA shooting sports standards for Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Venturing, and Sea Scout programs on and off council property.

•  Maintains a current inventory of all council shooting sports equipment and supplies and provides copies to all interested persons.

•  Compiles on a timely basis a list of equipment and supplies needed for summer camp and year-round operation and submits it to the council executive or his/her designee for procurement.

•  Assists in developing and continuing review of range safety standard operating procedures.

•  Schedules range maintenance to ensure all shooting sports facilities and equipment meet BSA/NRA standards prior to all uses.

•  Identifies adult Scouters to help in year-round shooting sports programs and ensures they hold the appropriate current NRA certification.

•  Maintains a current list of individuals with NRA certifications and National Camping School training.

•  Recommends fee structures for year-round use of shooting sports facilities and equipment.

•  Serves as a resource for shooting sports merit badges, unit shooting sports activities, or other council or district shooting sports events.

•  Makes recommendations to the Scout executive or his/her designee on procurement of guns, archery equipment,  and supplies.

•  Fundraisers. The chairman, working with the council executive, should apply to the available grant programs in order to fulfill current and future shooting sport needs. Grant programs are available through the National Rifle Association, Winchester, Friends of the NRA local banquets, the National Alliance for the Development of Archery, and local gun and sportsman clubs, to name a few. Keeping track of and having specific tasks for the funds makes it easier to receive and apply over the years.

Committee Members:

•  Assist the council shooting sports committee chairman in performing the duties of the shooting sports committee.

•  Committee members are nominated by the chairman and/or other committee members, and are approved by the council president or his/her designee.

•  NRA certified instructor in at least one of the NRA disciplines is recommended.

• NRA range safety officer certification is recommended.

•  Shooting sports committee members may be appointed to the council committee at large.