Camp Freeland Leslie

The Shooting Sports area offers the chance for a Scout to experience the proper way in handling and using sport firearms. This includes: bow and arrow, shotgun, rifle and muzzle loading rifle. Scouts are taught the importance of safety when using a firearm and the technique of marksmanship shooting. With the exception of fingerprinting, the merit badges in this area are very time consuming. A Scout must plan on spending extra time outside of class to practice their shooting. You will notice that the Shooting Sports schedule is designed to allow Scouts as much of an opportunity to practice their shooting as possible. It is up to the Scout to take advantage of this time.

Because of the amount of time that one Shooting Sports merit badge takes to complete, it is recommended that a Scout only take one shooting merit badge in this area. The completion of these merit badges ultimately rests on the ability of a Scout to meet the required shooting. Because of this, merit badges are recommended but not limited to older Scouts. If a Scout just wants to get a chance to shoot a sport firearm it should be suggested to him to do so during the open shoots during the day or the evenings. However, if a Scout is interested in learning the inner workings of a firearm, its history and the laws surrounding its use; then it is recommended that he take the merit badge.

The following is a list and description of the merit badges offered in the Shooting Sports area.

ARCHERY Recommended for all Scouts. The bow and arrow are among the first tools invented by humans. Learn how to properly use them in a useful manner. You will also make your very own bow string and arrow and demonstrate your ability to string a bow.
Scouts should plan on spending extra time at the archery range to practice their shooting in order to complete requirement 5 option A: f2.

FINGERPRINTING Recommended for all Scouts. Learn the importance of fingerprinting and why it is used to identify people.

RIFLE SHOOTING Recommended for older Scouts or Scouts with shooting experience. Learn the safe and proper use and care of a rifle. Practice cleaning, sighting and firing a .22 rifle. Scouts should plan on spending extra time at the rifle range to practice their shooting in order to complete requirements 2k and i of option A.

SHOTGUN SHOOTING Recommended for older Scouts or Scouts with shooting experience. Learn the safe and proper use and care of a shotgun. Practice cleaning and firing a 20-gauge shotgun.