BSA Merit Badge Training FIASCO

[Cosmoline]

I have very fond memories of learning to shoot here:

At Camp Baldwin, CPC, circa 1984. That pic is from a year or two ago, and by ginger those look like the same ancient mats they had us use for prone shooting

And this is where I did my mile swim:

(tears welling)

 

[JohnKSa]

The scouts were from in/around Hunt County. Not exactly the sticks, but well outside the Metroplex. Suburban to Rural is a pretty accurate description.

I'm not saying that these kids should have been getting regular trips to the range to practice with a .22 rifle, I'm saying that I was surprised that they hadn't even been shooting airguns. That's a BIG change from when I was their age.

Shooting groups isn't all that fun, but then Merit Badges aren't necessarily about fun, they're about learning new skills and demonstrating those skills. Shooting groups is a good way to demonstrate shooting skill.

The ammo was match ammo, the guns were all easily capable of the accuracy required. We allowed all the boys to shoot at once, but we had enough instructor/helpers there to allow one scout per instructor/helper with a dedicated RSO and head instructor besides.

1" groups at 50 feet is not hard with an iron-sighted rifle from a benchrest. It's not even that hard from the standing position. There was wind, but it was primarily from behind and also fairly constant. The reason they didn't qualify was that they had no experience at all with shooting prior to the training, not because the requirements were too stringent or the equipment was inadequate or the conditions were too harsh.

There is a followup in the works.

This isn't sad because the scouts all failed, it's sad because it was clear that they have had no exposure to shooting other than what they see on TV.

 

[Cosmoline]

I had shot plenty of airguns as a kid before going to the BSA range, but I'm not sure how much that helped me. Maybe it did more than I realized. I don't remember having any difficulty shooting. The bolt action was odd to me at the time, but the process of aiming seemed self-evident. OTOH I remember being shocked that a group I got a full five inches to the NW of center would be circled and counted as though I was hitting center. It seemed like cheating to me.

 

[Bob Locke]

On a positive note: Glad to see how many THR folks are working with Scouts!

 

[geekWithA.45]

Hmmmm.....I don't get it...

When I did the rifle/shotgun merit badge @ summer camp, (my first time with a real gun! whahoo!) about 10 out of 12 qualified. Only about half of us had any prior shooting experience. I came in 2nd place, right behind my buddy who'd been shooting since like 5 minutes after birth.


I'm still scratching my head...maybe something in the water? Chemtrail activity? Tinfoil hat failure?

Might be airguns, like you say, but I'm not sure that the old daisy really contributed all that much to the scene.

 

[XLMiguel]

A hearty "Thank you" and God bless all you Scout Masters. I was in Scouts from age 7 until I got a driver's license and was otherwise distracted. We were very fortunate, or Scout Master was a Ranger SSgt. (pre-green beanie days), and we were well drilled in firearms safety and marksmanship (got to eat bugs and raw fish, too). Happy, happy days.

 

[Master Blaster]

I earned my badge at camp Ockanickin, in Bucks county PA, also shot at camp Rodney.

When I go to my club my daughter age 7 is the youngest I have seen there by about 5 years (.22 rimfire range and pellet gun range for now).

I didnt start shooting until I was 11 when My dad over my moms objections bought me a crossman 760 for my B-day, well I had shot those of friends near by.

After I got the 760 it was rifle practice every day in the backyard after school.

I was 12 when I passed the merit badge.

My children will be way past where I was in ability and experience when they are 12.

My son is 5 and in 3 years he will start the cubscouts, I figure to sign up as a merit badge counselor then.

BY the way.

Any OA out there WWW you know what I mean.

 

[Snorkel Bob]

Botherhood only
havent got Vigle yet. need to get active again

 

[Denver]

Correia,

"'the only real failure comes from us, the adults, not the kids. It is our job to teach. So if the next generation can't shoot, that is our fault not theirs. Lets teach our own kids, than as many others as we can."

YES!

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

Thanks to all Scoutmasters everywhere, first off. My wife is even Scoutmaster certified, no thanks to the lack of willing fathers when her kids were Scout age (before my time). Now her sons are 22 and 16, the oldest being the Scout in her family. Both my stepsons shoot with me, the younger being a better shot than his older brother, even with my .357Sig.

I qualified for my shooting merit badge while at Camp Pirtle in E. Texas while at summer camp in the early 70's. I also shot the high record at that time on the 50 yard course during that session and have the certificate to show that, somewhere.

I'm doing my part to teach those who want to learn.

Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[Caliburn]

No doubt kids don't have any practical shooting experience anymore since all the empty fields are now parking for Wal-Mart. But aren't they learning anything from shooting computer and video games? It's not the same thing, but it does have some transferability. Playing combat flight simulators can teach you a lot about leading your target when you can see where your tracers are going.