Shootings Sports Training Opportunity for FREE

One-time Opportunity to get NRA certified for FREE!

Scouters interested in Council Shooting Sports: we have received a training grant from a Scouter interested in promoting shooting sports in Palmetto and Blue Ridge Councils of BSA. As a result, Keith Smith NRA Training Counselor in Palmetto Council will be offering NRA Basics of Shotgun and NRA Basic Instructor Training + NRA Shotgun Instructor to any registered Scouter in Palmetto or Blue Ridge Council in July for FREE.

The summary of course plan for Scouters beginning with no NRA certifications:

  • Step One: Basic Shotgun via Zoom each Wednesday evening on July 14,21, 28 from 8-10 pm

  • Step Two: Basic Shotgun Range & Exam In Person at Clinton House Plantation on Saturday July 31 from 8 am-12 pm

  • Step Three: BIT Basic Instructor Training In Person at Clinton House on Saturday July 31 from 12-6 pm

  • Step Four: Shotgun Instructor Training In Person at Clinton House on Sunday August 1 from 8 am-7 pm

Completion of Basic Shotgun, BIT, and Shotgun will certify an adult Scouter to work with Scouts on BSA shotgun activities and to seek council approval as Shotgun Merit Badge Counselor—and be fully certified as an NRA Shotgun Instructor eligible to teach NRA Basic Shotgun to the public. To become an NRA Instructor, you must first complete the Basic class for the discipline you are interested in instructing. Then you become an Instructor by completing both BIT within 2 years of any instructor class and the NRA Instructor level class for the discipline. The training plan below provides the path for a Scouter that is completely new to NRA certification to begin with Basic Shotgun then move immediately into BIT/Shotgun Instructor—and be ready to work with scouts. If you are a Scouter that has already completed Basic Shotgun, you may sign up for BIT and Shotgun Instructor—or if you are already an NRA Instructor in a different discipline with current BIT training, you can sign up for just Shotgun Instructor. Cost for all three courses for BSA Scouters in Palmetto or Blue Ridge committed to serving on their Council Shooting Sports Committee is $zero—you must be a Scouter with an active BSA registration and be registered with your Council Shooting Sports Committee with the Council Shooting Sports Director or Chair. All students will also be responsible for providing their own shotgun and ammo plus target fees paid directly to Clinton House. No overnight required-bring bag lunch each day.

NRA BASICS OF SHOTGUN

Prerequisite to Shotgun Instructor Course – 10 Hours
Classroom portions completed via Zoom on Tues/Wed/Thur 8 pm-10 pm – Range portions completed Saturday 8 am-12 pm of Instructor weekend

  • Lesson 1: Shotgun Knowledge & Safe Handling (2 Hours Classroom on Zoom)

  • Lesson 2: Ammo Knowledge & Shotgun Fundamentals (2 Hours Classroom on Zoom)

  • Lesson 3: Firing the First Shots (2 Hours Classroom & Range at Clinton House)

  • Lesson 4: Shotgun Practical Exercise (2 Hours Range at Clinton House)

  • Lesson 5: Opportunities, Skill Development & Exam (2 Hours classroom-Exam at Clinton House, 1 Hour on Zoom)

NRA BASIC INSTRUCTOR + NRA SHOTGUN INSTRUCTOR
NRA BASIC INSTRUCTOR TRAINING
Prerequisite within 2 years of any Instructor Course – 6 Hours
All Classroom – Completed In-Person Only
Saturday of Instructor Weekend – Basic & PreQual Shooting 8 am-12 pm – BIT in Classroom 12-6 pm

NRA SHOTGUN INSTRUCTOR TRAINING
Course to train certified NRA Shotgun Instructors – 11 Hours
Classroom & Range – Completed In-person Only
Sunday of Instructor Weekend 8 am-7 pm
Must meet Pre-course qualifications: 90 or better on Shotgun Basic Exam, Demo Safe gun handling, Shooting Qualification break 13/25 Straightaway Targets

Power Plant SC Project

At the request of S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster, the South Carolina Floodwater Commission is launching an ambitious effort to plant 3 million tree seeds – assisted by citizens, students, churches, non-profits, municipal governments, private sector partners and other civic-minded organizations and volunteers –on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22, 2021.

Dubbed “Power Plant SC,” the statewide project will be the largest single-day tree planting event in American history. The Commission has assembled a coalition of public, private and non-profit environmental partners to raise awareness about the importance of trees to human and environmental health, not the least of which is the mitigation of disastrous flooding. For each tree planted, 60 gallons of water run-off is avoided, 443 gallons of rainfall is intercepted, and 133 pounds of carbon dioxide is sequestered annually (estimates are based upon USDA Forest Service research).

Many regions across the Palmetto State – not only our unprotected coastlines, but equally vulnerable areas hundreds of miles inland – have frequently experienced severe flooding stemming from record-heavy rainstorms, hurricanes, and tides, all of which threaten our states citizens, our property and our way of life.

Each Boy Scouts of America Council in South Carolina has joined this effort to plant three million trees in our state. We ask that you join the team and register to plant a tree today! This program is FREE for your Scouting unit, den, patrol, or Scout to participate. Please complete the information below before March 12, 2021 to order the seeds and patches for your Scouts and leaders. The council office will coordinate deliver seeds and patches the week before Earth Day.

For more information about Power Plant SC, visit the website at: http://powerplantsc.com/

2020 Silver Beaver Class Announced

We are excited to announce and celebrate our three outstanding Silver Beaver recipients. Each of this year’s recipients regularly goes above and beyond the call of duty for Scouting and have had a significant impact on their unit, district, and the Council. We look forward to honoring each recipient at their respective district’s awards dinner later this year. Congratulations Neal Barber, Scott Phillips and Chris Connelly!

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