Prepare to lead with confidence! Our Program Area Training courses equip Scouts and adult leaders with the skills, certifications, and knowledge needed to deliver safe, high-quality outdoor adventures across all Scouting programs.

Ready to Help at a District or Council Level?

Are you passionate for a program area?  Do you want to share your passion with Scouts at our District and Council Events, Cub Scout Day Camps or Resident Camps?  Then consider going to Camp School!

This is a 7-day intensive program that certifies you to direct that program area.  You will meet great people while learning awesome skills.  Each camp school has prerequisite training and approval from the Director of Camping is required.  For more information, please contact the Program Area Chair or the Director of Camping.

COPE/Climbing Committee

Contact: Dennis Godber

The COPE/Climbing committee is responsible for the local council’s COPE/climbing activities in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturing, and Exploring.  

Disciplines

Climbing and Rappelling | High Cope | Low Cope
All three disciplines are taught in the same classes.
*There are two levels of training, Level 1 and Level 2 

Contact

Range and Target Sports Committee

Contact: George Wentzler

Range and Target Sports aim to teach firearm safety while introducing youth to various shooting sports programs. The BSA’s shooting sports programs are developed and implemented through age-appropriate training and experiences.  

Scouting America adheres to its longstanding policy of teaching its youth and adult members the safe, responsible, and intelligent handling, care, and use of firearms, archery, and hand-held throwing sports in planned, carefully managed, and supervised programs for each youth who chooses to participate.  

Disciplines

Cub Shooting Sports | Wrist rockets | BB Guns | Archery | Rifle | Shotgun | Disc Golf 

Contact

Aquatics Committee

Contact: Bill Bode

The aquatics committee is responsible for the local council’s aquatics activities in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Exploring.

Courses Offered

Paddle Craft Safety | Aquatics Supervision | Swimming Water Rescue | BSA Lifeguard | Swim Checks  

Contact

Outdoor Ethics and Conservation Committee

Contact: Jay Sheridan

The Outdoor Ethics & Conservation Committee’s mission is to encourage, advise, and support the inclusion of outdoor ethics and conservation in all program areas of Scouting and to support our councils’ outdoor ethics & conservation programs. 

Courses Offered – LNT – Leave No Trace

LNT Master Educator Courses* | LNT Trainer Courses | Can coordinate LNT Awareness Workshops 
*Master Educator Course not offered annually  

Contact

First Aid Training Committee

Courses Offered

  • Wilderness First Aid Course  
  • Professional First Aid  
  • CPR and AED Training 

Online Courses

For online training such as Safety Afloat and Safe Swim Defense, you can access them online.

  1. Log into my.scouting.org
  2. BSA Learning Center (on the right side of the page)
  3. Course Catalog (middle top of page)
  4. Select search put in the course code

Have questions or feedback about this page? Last updated April 28, 2025

Please contact the page author with your feedback:

Matthew Hall

Program Director

Email