SHOOTING SPORTS STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES - …

1 Page 1 of 26 SHOOTING SPORTS STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES Old Hickory Council, Boy Scouts of America 6600 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27106 Raven Knob scout Reservation 266 Raven Knob Road, Mount Airy, North Carolina 27030 Approved by the Old Hickory Council SHOOTING SPORTS Committee, Old Hickory Council Risk Management Committee, and Steve Wilburn, Old Hickory Council scout Executive April 21, 2014; Amended December 17, 2015. The Old Hickory Council, Boy Scouts of America, Inc. operates under the charter by the Boy Scouts of America and under Articles of Consolidation, dated January 17, 1992, under the North Carolina General Statutes. All Old Hickory Council (OHC)/District and Camp Raven Knob (CRK) SHOOTING activities will follow the BSA guidelines established in the most current version of the following publications: The BSA National SHOOTING SPORTS Manual The BSA National Camp Program and Property Management Note: The Summer Camp Program standards are listed in Section VI of the BSA National Camp Program and Property Management issued each year in November for the following year.

2 The Guide to Safe Scouting Any BSA publication or guideline which supplements/updates/replaces the listed publications. This guide addresses any OHC/District SHOOTING event, whether on or off council property. Old Hickory Council STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOP) was written by the Old Hickory Council SHOOTING SPORTS Committee and is supported by the publications listed above. The SOP was written to limit the Council Liability and to increase the safety of those participating in the OHC SHOOTING SPORTS Programs. Page 2 of 26 Old Hickory Council SHOOTING SPORTS Organizational Chart OHC Executive Board OHC Executive Committee scout Executive OHC Camping Committee OHC SHOOTING SPORTS Committee Asst.

3 scout Executive Chief Range Safety Officer All Council SHOOTING SPORTS Instructors & Range Safety Officers On & Off Council Properties Chief Instructor Page 3 of 26 Parental Permission Form All Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venture Crew members, Sea Scouts, and Explorers under the age of 18 participating in SHOOTING SPORTS activities at Camp Raven Knob or in SHOOTING SPORTS activities sponsored by the Old Hickory Council are required to have a signed Parental Permission Form at each activity. Any participant age 18 and up will need to have a photo id with proof of age at the range and present it to the SHOOTING SPORTS Staff when asked. The Parental Permission Form must have a direct reference that it is for a SHOOTING SPORTS activity.

4 An acceptable example of this form can be found in the Appendix of this document. The signed forms are to be gathered by a Pack, Troop, Crew, Ship, or Post leader that is accompanying the youth to the range. Upon arrival at the range, said leader will give the Parental Permission Forms to the SHOOTING SPORTS Staff member that is in charge of the activity. At the close of the activity the forms will be returned to the leader. For Boy scout Summer Camp, cub scout Resident Camp, and cub scout Parent-Son Camporees, a copy of the Parental Permission Form will be included in the Leader s Guide for the event along with directions for proper handling of the form. A Parental Permission Form is required for any youth under the age of 18 that is with a NON Boy Scouts of America group participating in SHOOTING SPORTS activities at Camp Raven Knob or at SHOOTING SPORTS activities sponsored by the Old Hickory Council.

5 Revised March 5, 2015 Page 4 of 26 Authorized and Prohibited Guns and Bows 1. Cub Scouts: Archery and BB gun SHOOTING are restricted to Day Camps, cub scout /Webelos scout Resident Camps, council-managed family camping programs, or to council activities where there are properly trained supervisors and all standards for BSA SHOOTING SPORTS are enforced. Archery and BB gun SHOOTING are not to be done at the Pack level. Cub Scouts are not permitted to use any other type of handgun or firearm. Webelos may use air-rifles (pellet) following current BSA Camp standards . 2. Boy Scouts: Boy Scouts are permitted to use bows with arrows, BB guns.

6 22 caliber, bolt action single-shot rifles; air rifles, shotguns and muzzle-loading long guns. Handguns may not be used as a part of the Boy scout program. 3. Venturers/Explorers may use the guns listed above, rimfire and centerfire handguns, and centerfire rifles. 4. Prohibited Arms: The following are not allowed for use by BSA youth members at any time a. Flintlock muzzleloaders b. Cannons c. Fully automatic firearms d. Crossbows (true compound bows are also not recommended) 5. All guns used will comply with the guidelines, as applicable, in the National Camp standards and the BSA National SHOOTING SPORTS Manual (see 5 Levels of SHOOTING Activities). 6. Archery: a. Recommended draw weights are: Cub Scouts 15 to 20 pounds, Boy Scouts 20 to 25 pounds, Ventures 20 to 35 pounds.

7 The Mathews-brand Genesis bow is recommended. True compound bows are not recommended. b. Only target arrows with appropriate tips may be used. Broadheads or other hunting tips are not allowed. c. Proper safety equipment must be worn by all participants. d. Crossbows are not allowed. 7. CRK Range Safety Officers (RSO) shall reserve the right to not allow Scouts to participate in SHOOTING activities based on physical inability to handle a bow or firearm safely or confidently. 8. The Attitude of the shooter, parent, guardian or any on-lookers on or around the range needs to be a priority of the RSO/Firearms Instructor. Those displaying inappropriate behavior on or around the range will be asked to leave the area.

8 If the behavior persists, the person will be asked to leave the camp or off-site event. If this procedure happens the Professional scout and/or Chief Event Volunteer scout needs to be notified. Page 5 of 26 SUPERVISION Range Safety Officers and Instructors All NRA certified Range Safety Officers, NRA certified Instructors, and trained cub scout BB and Archery Rangemasters that supervise Old Hickory Council/Camp Raven Knob ranges will be registered with the Boy Scouts of America and have current Youth Protection Training. Those supervising Venture Crews will have Venture Youth Protection Training. They must have proof of current registration and training available on demand and onsite while supervising SHOOTING SPORTS activities.

9 Cub Scouts: cub scout BB and archery ranges must be supervised by a currently certified range master, at least 18 years of age, trained by a National Camp School SHOOTING SPORTS Director, who shall issue a Training Course Pocket Certification, No. 33767, which is valid for two years. cub scout BB gun ranges can be supervised by a NRA certified rifle instructor or a NRA/USA SHOOTING /CMP certified rifle coach. cub scout archery ranges can be supervised by a USA Archery/NFAA certified Level 1 or 2 instructor. BB gun range master may be trained by a National Rifle Association certified rifle instructor or a NRA/USA SHOOTING /CMP certified rifle coach. Archery range master may be trained by a USA Archery/NFAA certified Level 2 archery instructor.

10 Boy Scouts/Venturers/Explorers/Sea Scouts: Range Safety Officers are to supervise all BSA SHOOTING events. Their responsibilities are firing line safety, safety on all other areas of the range, and to deliver the Range Safety Briefing for the activity. Range Safety Officers are present to insure safety, not to provide instruction. Certified Instructors are to provide any needed classroom instruction and to work with each participant on the range to insure that they understand the function and use of the firearm as well as the positions and techniques required for safe operation of the firearm and success in hitting the target. Each SHOOTING discipline and level of participation has specific requirements for the ratio of shooters to Range Safety Officers and Instructors.