That is an interesting article bryan01, the reason that the BSA doesn't do what this teenager wants done is safety. The direction of the scouting program when it comes to firearms is to help them understand firearms, not to become hunters or marksmen. They want to train scouts the safety of guns and the basics to shoot. Even if they choose not to ever shoot again, they are better off. That is probably the reason why the make the merit badge so simple, so that everybody will try to get it. They stay with 22's/shotguns, single shot and short range because of safety. I worked at a scout camp and am now a scout leader, small calibers, single shot and short ranges are a no brainer, they are 11-17 year old boys! This teenager writing the article does not understand what the average 11 year old is capable of. A father can control his 1 or 2 sons, a leader has less control of 12 wild teenagers. The BSA shooting standard now is risky enough, centerfire and long range is up to the fathers to take that responsibility. Hand a boy a AR15 with a banana clip? The only thing he knows about a semiauto gun is that you get it on the 3rd level of "gears of war".

Its good to hear about the positive influence of the Boy Scouts. Thats especially true after I recently came across an article talking about how the merit badge for shooting has been watered down in recent years:

http://www.chuckhawks.com/column24_plea_boy_scouts.htm

I'll leave it to those more familar with the Scouts to decide whether or not the Scouts need to do something to improve their approach to shooting.

As a Cub Scout Den Leader and father of a 10 & 7 year old, I'm glad the BSA offers a shooting badge. My boys are already into shooting and one, my 10 yo is almost a better shot than I am, which I praise him for, but really beating Dad isn't too hard. He wants to shoot the AR, but that'll wait a bit longer.

I look forward to getting them both to the BSA level and hope they, and I, have the drive to make it to Eagle Scouts. There is a lot to like about the scouts, shooting & archery are just the tip of the iceberg of the life lessons that the Boys learn. Happy 100th Birthday BSA!

silsbyj -

I became a scout leader when my son got involved. Your best bet is to contact the Boy Scout Council office in your area. They can steer you to a troop located near you and they probably have an idea which troops are needing adult leaders.

This link can help you find you area council:

http://www.scouting.org/LocalCouncilLocator.aspx

Good luck. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Boy Scout Troop 174 from Livonia NY is fortunate enough to have the Conesus Lake Sportsmans Club as their charter organization. They started trap and skeet leagues just for the scouts, and have many members of their trap and skeet teams volunteer as coaches. Not only do the boys get to experience the shooting sports at camp, but home as well. The club also sponsored teams of scouts in the Scholastic Clays Program and competitions. The boys just eat it up, and I think the coaches have just as much fun. If any of you out there know of a Scout Troop in need of a charter, talk to your clubs, or find out who is in charge of your local scout troop and get these kids involved. It's great to see kids who don't have firearms in their home shooting for the first time...and watching some of the Mom's freak because of it. Everyone learns from the experience.

Got my rife and shotgun merit badges at Emerald Bay scout camp on Catalina Island of the coast of California back in the 80's. I'll never forget those days at camp. Got my wilderness survival badge on the same trip. That night sleeping by myself with no sleeping bag and bugs crawling all over me at night was tough but I proved to myself that I could build my own shelter and survive a night on my own, even as a little kid. Boy Scouts helped me develope character that I still draw on in my daily life. I often think bout the Scout Law and try to apply it to my daily life. That wasnt my first time shooting but it was the first time I shot that much in any one time and place. I loved every second of it as you may gather from my screen name.

Thanks for the article Phil!

I shot my first round of trap at a scouting event when I was eleven with my later to be coach(AA shooter), who was at the time my scout leader. I went out with him again back in November, and have gone almost every week since then. I am now training to start competing ATA in the 2011 target year. If it wasn't for the BSA, I doubt I would have found the sport that I so dearly love now.

squirrelgirl-
We're glad your not! LOL

My girlfriend mentioned last night that I should become a scout leader. Any of you out there have any experience being one? How did you get started?

What a great combination. Shooting sports and Boy Scouts! Great story!

I second the notion that I am glad Squirrelgirl is not a boy!!!!!!!!!!!

i am very glad i was in the boy scouts, i never hunted or fished, but then i joined, and now i have a passion for the outdoors that i prolly never would have had

i am 17 and love to shoot guns and clays its fun and im good at it.