Cub Scouts Archery Sports Belt Loop and Pin
Loops and pins for Archery can be earned only in day camps, Cub Scout/Webelos Scout resident camps, council-managed family camping programs, or at council activities where there is properly trained supervision, and all guidelines for BSA shooting sports are implemented. Archery belt loops and pins cannot be earned at the pack, den, or individual level.
To be a qualified and trained archery range supervisor, adults must take part in an archery supervisor training program conducted by the local council with the help of a National Camping School-certified field sports director or a National Archery Association (NAA) instructor.
Archery programs are not permitted at den and pack activities.
Requirements for the Archery Sports Belt Loop
- Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts can earn the archery belt loop by participating in the archery safety program at Cub Scout camp.
Complete these three requirements only at a council camp with a certified Cub Scout Archery shooting director present:
- Explain the rules for safe archery that you have learned in the district/council camp or activity you are attending with your leader or adult partner.
- Demonstrate to your leader or adult partner good archery shooting techniques,including the stance and how to nock the arrow, establish the bow, draw, aim, release, follow-through and retrieve arrows.
- Practice shooting at your district or council camp for the time allowed.
Requirements for the Archery Sports Pin
Earn the Archery belt loop, and complete five of the following requirements only at a council camp with a certified Cub Scout Archery shooting director present:
- Explain the parts of a bow and demonstrate how to string the bowstring in a proficient manner.
- Demonstrate how to properly use archery equipment, including arm guards, finger tabs, and quivers and explain about proper clothing.
- Develop proficient shooting techniques by practicing for three hours.
- Learn the correct scoring techniques for target archery.
- Make a poster that emphasizes the four whistle codes.
- Draw to scale or set up an archery range.
- Shoot 30 arrows from a distance of 30 feet at a target and score at least 50 points, or shoot 30 arrow from a distance of 90 feet and score at least 30 points.
- Help make a type of target for the camp archery range.
- Show how to put away and properly store archery equipment.
- Tell five facts about an archer in history or literature.
Cub Scout Shooting Sports Award Certificate
Before firing the Pro Archer course, the camper is to complete the following:
- Explain how to string your bow and explain the use of archery equipment.
- Be able to list and discuss nine points in "Shooting Techniques."
Shoot five groups (three arrows per group) trying to group each set within a circle the size of the nine-ring. (No specific score is required.)
Then fire for the Pro Archer score.
| Pro Archer Scoring Levels | |||
| Level of Recognition | Arrows | Distance | Score |
| Pro Archer | 30 | 15 feet | 30 |
| Archer I | 30 | 20 feet | 30 |
| Archer II | 30 | 20 feet | 50 |
| Archer III | 30 | 20 feet | 100 |
In Cub Scout Archery, the camp awards the certificate when the Cub Scout or Webelos Scout qualifies for the different levels of recognition. It is possible to earn four certificates if every level of marksmanship has been accomplished.
Comments:
Oct 14, 2014 - Julie
My son is in 4h as well as Weblos. He's doing shooting sports. Is this a qualified group to get his Archery belt loop?
Thanks
Julie Canepa
Oct 16, 2014 - Joe
@Julie Usually Archery and BB guns are restricted to council camps only. However, if they are in a group that has qualified instructors and they go over all the requirements, I don't see why not. I am a Shooting Sports director in my council and would have no problem passing it off, I would probably have him bring a signed copy of the requirements from the instructor and ask him to tell me about what he did, then sign it off for him.
Oct 28, 2014 - Tasha
@Julie, no it would not qualify. It specifically states that archery and bb guns cannot be earned at the pack, den or individual level. Shooting sports through 4h would be at the "individual level" and so not qualify.
Oct 28, 2014 - Joe
If it's a group with a trained instructor what is the difference? Technically you don't even have to shoot an arrow if there is no time to do so to earn the belt loop.
4H group isn't on any level, ie. Pack, Den or "Individual" level.
If the scout shows proficient knowledge in archery, then I'm inclinded to pass him off. Though only a BSA shooting sports director could do so. A regular leader wouldn't have the qualifications unless they went to National Camp School.
Nov 02, 2014 - Jon St.Clair
My son has been invited (with his sister, a girl scout) to accompany his sister's troop for archery training at a Girl Scout day camp. The instructor is certified by the National Archery Association.
Since this is at a Girl Scout day camp, would this meet the requirements for him to earn his archery belt loop?
Nov 02, 2014 - Scouter Paul
The BSA Nat'l Shooting Sports Manual states: Archery and BB Shooting belt loops and sports pins may be earned only through council- or district-sponsored programs. I think that matches the text in the requirements and rules out 4H, GSUSA, YMCA, and other archery programs.
Jan 10, 2015 - Scouters: Chris & Jessie
Revisions to the 2013 SS Manual:
Chapter 9: Introduction, page 71
First paragraph changed to:
Archery and BB gun shooting for Cub Scouts and Webelos
Scouts are restricted to day camps, Cub Scout/Webelos Scout resident camps, council - managed family camping programs, or to council or district activities held on or off BSA property where there are currently trained BSA shooting sports range masters and all standards for BSA shooting
sports are enforced. Archery and BB gun shooting for Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts are not to be done at the pack or unit level.
My wife & I are USAA L2 Instructors & members of our Council SS Committee. Thru our Council approved local archery club (of which we are members), we have held overnight archery campouts for Packs & Troops. The Packs work on their belt loops & sports pins while the Troops work on their Archery MB. Additional activities are tied in for their rank advancements.
We also certify USA Archery Level One Instructors by hosting clinics.
Jan 10, 2015 - Scouters: Chris & Jessie
Packs & Troops interested in an overnight Archery Campout during Nov - April, may contact us at ArcheryLevelOne@yahoo.com
Include in the Subject Line, Archery Campout.
Scouts age 15 and older, Scouters and Adults who desire to become a certified USA Archery Level One Archery Instructor, may contact us at the above listed Email address for information on clinics which Jessie & I are hosting. We are located in Southern California, in the Riverside area.
FYI: Jessie & I are BSA approved Archery & Rifle MB Councilors. We host Archery & Rifle Merit Badge classes @ Jurupa Mountain Discovery Center, in Jurupa Valley, CA. These classes are for the non-shooting portion of the Archery & Rifle MB. Arrangements can be made for Archery & Rifle ranges to shoot for score for the MB.
Venturing Crews and Sea Scout Ships may contact us for their Shooting Sports needs as we are certified by the NRA/BSA in ALL Shooting Sports disciplines.
In Scouting,
Scouter Chris
Mar 11, 2015 - Scouter Priscilla
Here at Cabrillo Youth Center (BSA camp) in San Pedro, CA we are trying to run a monthly Open Archery Shoot for all groups--BSA, GSA, 4H, etc. I'm also a USA Level II Instructor and BSA Shooting Sports Director. This is a District activity so it applies for belt loops and merit badge qualifying. GSA and 4H require Level II Instructors so they can get their archery instruction.
Your program (Chris and Jessie) sounds great--wish we had more volunteers and could shoot more than arrows and BB Guns--oh well, we do what we can. There is also a private Archery Club in the area (South Bay Archery) that has a JOAD program that takes the archers to competition levels.
Keep on keeping on,
Scouter Priscilla
Jun 07, 2023 - david ireland
Archery is a real enigma with BSA. Granted they are concerned by
vetting and liability but if we have a BSA certified instructor, also
certified by USAA AND 4-H, we would certainly have a qualified
instructor. Add having access to a state archery association certified
archery club/range, there is no reason all the qualification boxes and
vetting have been ticked off. We offered to support our district only
to find that unless BSA actually owns and/or controls the property, we
cannot hold an event for our kids.
Utterly ridiculous and a real shortcoming for BSA.
Skip down to certified archery merit badge counselors who can walk any
scout through badge requirements individually (not in an event) and
sign off the child on completion.
What did we miss here?
As long as the district shooting sports director approves that the work
was properly completed under the supervision of a certified instructor
or merit badge counselor, should that no suffice to allow the child to
properly and safely complete the work?
Proper Written guidance appears to be lacking in this situation.
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