Scouting America recently announced several updates to its shooting sports program. First, a couple changes in nomenclature: Scouting America is the overall organization’s public name of corporate Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Second, its shooting sports program has been renamed Range and Target Activities (RATA). This name change reflects a more concise description of the program—after all, all activities take place on a range and involve targets! This is true for firearms, air guns and muzzleloaders, as well as archery, tomahawk and knife throwing, catapults, rockets, etc.
The Cub Scout RATA recognition patches and pins transitioned to Elective Adventures effective June 2024. Each program level—Lions through Arrow of Light—now has these electives enmeshed into the advancement process for all ages.
Troops, Crews and Ships conducting unit-level RATA now must have at least one adult complete the Range Activities SAFEty course through ScoutingU. Anytime the unit conducts a range activity, this adult must be present on the range, along with the required instructors and safety officers. This 30-minute training is accessed via the leader’s my.scouting account, and is similar to other unit-level oriented safety training such as Safe Swim Defense, Safety Afloat, Hazardous Weather and so on.
Other program updates, effective beginning September 1, 2024, include expansion of pistol shooting to all older Scouts, regardless of unit affiliation. This means all Scouts aged 14 and older (or aged 13 and have completed the eighth grade), may now participate in pistol shooting!
The NRA FIRST Steps Pistol program is the required program for all pistol activities, excepting only the Cowboy Action activity, which has no changes. Single Action and Double Action revolvers and semi-automatic pistols may be used in calibers .177, .22LR, .38SPCL and 9mm.
Due to this pistol update, the BSA Pistol Safety and Marksmanship program is retired. AirSoft pistol is removed from the Multi-Gun AirSoft (MGAS) activity, which also has another change for the AirSoft rifle. This can now only be a bolt-action style rifle, as is used in rifle shooting activities.
Another update to rifle activities is the removal of all centerfire rifles from the program. Rifles approved for use must be .22LR caliber bolt-action. Here again is an exception for Cowboy Action, which uses a lever-action rifle.
Hunting is no longer approved; however, Hunter Education Safety training remains a part of the program. Note that there are no changes for shotgun, archery, chalkball / powderball, throwing activities and other activities detailed in the updated National Range and Target Activities manual.
Some changes to be aware of regarding equipment, ammunition and ranges used on Scouting America Nationally Accredited properties include:
- Personal equipment or ammunition may NOT be used for shooting, throwing, etc.
- This includes all guns, paintball, archery equipment, etc.
- Ammunition must be wholly managed by the local council.
- Muzzle Loading Pistols may no longer be used; no change for Muzzle Loading Rifle and Shotgun.
- Black powder or substitutes may be used.
- The private property approval process is retired. All RATA activities must take place on either Nationally Accredited properties or at approved commercial ranges.
A “commercial firearm range” is a supervised facility that offers a controlled environment for safe firearm practice. It will provide shooting lanes and targets, and may offer equipment rentals and training in safe firearm handling and marksmanship. Standard operating procedures are required for each firearm type used on-site. Scouting’s range and target activities must follow all of Scouting’s range and target activities policies or range standard operating procedures that are equivalently stringent, including no variation from Scouting’s limitations on firearms used. These ranges may be operated by a licensed business, a government entity or a nonprofit. For more information, click here!
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