SHOOTING SPORTS WEEKEND
INFORMATION SHEET
The purpose of this document is to: (1) provide an overview of our Shooting Sports Weekends;
(2) state the requirements units need to comply with, and (3) provide guidance to units attending
this event.
Our BSA Shooting Sports Weekends are conducted on the Ten Mile River Scout Reservation,
annually, on the last weekend in April and again on the first weekend in May which is the
weekend preceding Mother’s Day weekend. Units can attend either weekend, but not both.
Knowing this, units can accomplish their long range planning accordingly. Council allows “InCouncil” units to reserve a camp site 12 months in advance of an event. And “Out-of-Council”
units can reserve a camp site 11 months in advance.
Units may rent cabins, leanto sites and tent sites on a first come, first served basis. Council also
allows us to use the various camp sites in Aquehona and Keowa that serve as summer camp
camp sites. While tent platforms are in place in these sites no canvas is up at this time of year.
Units must bring their own tents and will be charged the tent camping rate. Reservations for
camp sites must be made through council by calling 212-651-3077. When calling please make
sure you state that you’re attending one of our Shooting Sports Weekends. Maps for Aquehonga
and Keowa, indicating the location of camp sites can be found on the TMR web site at
tenmileriver.org.
The goal of our weekends is to allow scouts and unit leaders to experience the fun of
participating in various shooting activities, while at the same time instilling in them the
knowledge, skills and attitude that are required for responsible gun and bow handling. (Note:
While the weekends are primarily for the scout, we understand that the adults like to shoot as
well. Accordingly, we schedule time slots for adults as well as the youth.)
What is not offered on these weekends is an opportunity to earn merit badges. While qualifying
targets can be shot, these targets must be annotated, at the time the target was shot, by an
instructor. These targets can then be presented to a merit badge counselor at a later date.
However, it’s at the sole discretion of the counselor whether or not he or she will honor these
targets.
The number of ranges in operation, and the number of shooting disciplines offered is limited to
the facilities on the reservation, and the availability of qualified instructors and support staff.
The disciplines currently offered are: rifle (.22 caliber); muzzleloading rifle; shotgun; archery
and bb guns. The minimum age requirements for participating in these disciplines are as follows:
bb gun and archery-10 years of age; rifle-12 years of age; shotgun and muzzleloading-13 years
of age. Note: While 13 years of age is the minimum age for shooting shotguns and
muzzleloading rifles, priority will be given to older scouts, as we can only accommodate a
limited number of shooters on these ranges.
We plan on operating 12 ranges on each of our weekends. With the exception of the
muzzleloading range, all ranges will conduct sessions of approximately one and a half hours in
length. The muzzleloading range will conduct three three hour sessions each weekend, two on
Saturday and one on Sunday morning. The times for each range session will be published and
provided to units prior to their scheduled weekend. Based on the discipline being fired on any
given range, and the experience learned from running ranges in the past, it is estimated that we
can accommodate 152 scouts on these ranges at any one time. It is our intent to give every scout
who attends our weekends an opportunity to fire on as many ranges as possible. However, this
will be dependent on how many scouts attend our weekends. Every effort will be made to place
scouts on the ranges they want to shoot on, based on the preference rosters submitted by unit
leaders. However, scouts, and unit leaders, must understand that this may not be possible in all
cases.
Unit leaders are asked to conduct a brief, general, firearms safety briefing with all participants,
prior to arriving in camp. This information is located in the various shooting sports merit badge
handbooks. A detailed safety briefing will be conducted on the range.
Trophies will be awarded based on targets shot on Saturday. A separate information sheet will be
prepared which will detail the criteria by which this program will be conducted. However, the
following general information is provided. Only one target will be scored for this program. The
senior range instructor on the range will announce when these targets will be fired. Awards will
be presented using a handicap system which basically breaks the number of shooters
participating in any one discipline down into three different “classes.” What this means is that
you don’t have to be the best shot on the range to win a trophy, just the best shot in your class.
An overall trophy will be awarded for each discipline, plus 1st , 2nd & 3rd place trophies for class
A, B and C shooters. Note 1: Consideration is being given to awarding trophies to scouts in
Venture crews who are 18, 19 and 20 years of age. No final determination has been made on this
at this point in time. Note 2: While any scout can shoot on the archery and bb gun ranges,
priority will be given to those scouts who are 10 and 11 years of age. Also, archery and bb gun
trophies will only be awarded to scouts who are 10 and 11 years of age.
Prior to our weekends, but no later than February 15th, units will need to submit two copies of
rosters to the event coordinators. (Note: Blank forms will be provided to units.) These rosters
will indicate the units number and identify a “point of contact.” Additionally, it will indicate
what camp site the unit will be camping in for the event; the names of all scouts and scouters; the
ages of all scouts; and the shirt sizes of all scouts and scouters. Finally it will list, in order of
preference, what disciplines each scout would like to participate in.
One copy of the completed roster will be submitted to the “Event Director,” along with the
appropriate event fees. The second copy will be submitted to the “Range Coordinator,” to allow
for range scheduling. On or about April 1st, each unit point of contact will receive a copy of the
“Master Range Schedule” for their unit. It will actually be written on the roster you submitted.
This will allow unit leaders to plan for any transportation needs to and from ranges. Every
attempt will be made by the event staff to schedule your scouts on ranges near your camp sites.
However, this may not always be possible.
Because the first range sessions will begin at 8:30am Saturday, units are encouraged to check
into camp on Friday night. Upon arrival unit leaders should check-in with the TMR Ranger and
must check in with the Event Director. The Ranger is generally located in the headquarters area.
A mobile phone located outside the headquarters dining hall can be used to contact the Ranger.
(Note: At this time you must supply the ranger with an additional unit roster. This roster form is
different from our event form. Blank forms can be found on the TMR web-site.) The Event
Director can be found at the Barter House which is located on the road into Aquehonga, off route
26.
When reserving a camp site, with council, for this event, units should consider where the camp
site is located in relation to where the various ranges are located, as units are responsible for
transporting their scouts from camp sites to ranges, and back again. With the majority of the
ranges being located in Keowa and Aquehonga it would not be advisable, for example, to camp
along the Delaware River, as this would result in about a half hour trip to get to a range. First
time units to this event are encouraged to discuss camp site options with the Event Director.
Unit Registration: All individuals in camp for this event are required to be registered scouts,
scouters or parents of registered scouts.
Fees: Event fees are determined by the Event Director. The fee for 2013 is $20.00 per person.
Adult Supervision: Scouts must be under adult supervision at all times. When on ranges this
supervision is provided by the senior instructor. Scouts must ask permission to leave the range.
When not on ranges this supervision is provided by unit leaders. For example; if several scouts
wanted to go fishing there would need to be an adult leader present. The “Buddy System” will be
enforced at all times.
Uniforms: Jeans or scout shorts with the event t-shirt is requested, but not required.
Firearms: All firearms will be provided by Council, or Council’s Shooting Sports Committee. No
handguns are allowed in camp. LEO’s will check in with Event Coordinator.
Meals: Units are responsible for all meals.
Water: Water is available in all year round cabins. The availability of water in tent or lean-to
sites is dependent on a number of factors with weather being a major consideration. Additional
information on water will be provided prior to your scheduled weekend.
Evening Activities: On Saturday evening we hold our inter-faith service, awards ceremony and
ice cream social. This takes place in the Keowa dining hall and begins with our flag lowering
ceremony at 7:00 o’clock on the Keowa parade field.
Vehicles in Camp: The event staff asks that you use common sense when driving on camp roads.
Please drive slow and stay off all grassy areas, especially if the ground is wet. Please don’t park
in a manner that blocks traffic. There are several roads that require special attention. With
respect to the road leading up to the muzzleloading range….This road should not be attempted
unless you have a four wheel drive vehicle with good ground clearance. It is suggested that you
park near the Kunath ball field and walk to the range. With respect to the road leading into the
shotgun and rifle ranges in Keowa….Please, do not drive past the red flag, unless you’re an
instructor or emt working on these ranges. Parking on these ranges is limited, and event staff
vehicles need to be able to go in and out of these ranges.
Lastly, unit leaders, instructors and support staff are asked to provide a brief “after action
report,” to the Event Director, within ten days from the conclusion of our weekends. Your input
will be used to improve future Shooting Sports Weekends.