Posted on 07/16/2012 8:07:59 AM PDT by marktwain
LUVERNE, AL --(Ammoland.com)- Mention kids and guns in the same sentence in many public settings and the “enlightened” folks will recoil in horror.
Those of us who don’t live in the artificial bubble of New York City or Los Angles understand that introducing young people to the shooting sports is a tradition as old as this nation.
Thankfully there are still people in the United States dedicated to providing education and training to the next generation of shooters.
On July 15th 2012 I was present for the opening of the Ohio 4H Shooting Education Camp, a weeklong program designed to teach young people the safe and effective use of firearms and archery gear. This year marks the fifteenth annual Shooting Ed. Camp held at Canter’s Cave 4H Camp just outside of Jackson, Ohio.
Nearly two-hundred kids age 13 to 18 took part in the camp and were coached by over forty trained adult volunteers.
During the Shooting Education Camp young people can participate in a number of disciplines. Campers can choose from pistol, rifle, shotgun, archery, muzzle-loading/living history. Naturally, traditional camp activities such as canoeing, swimming, fishing, hiking, and a camp bonfire are all a part of the experience.
Larry Harris, the Ohio 4H Shooting Sports coordinator, has been overseeing these events since the original pilot course held during the summer of 1998.
“The shooting sports program is the fastest growing area of 4H and we’ve experienced tremendous growth at camp since that first year.” Larry related. “We started with fewer than fifty campers and now we hold Junior and Senior Shooting Ed. Camps to accommodate over three hundred young people each summer.”
Many industry leaders have gotten on board with the 4H Shooting Sports program. The 2012 Shooting Ed. Camp was supported and sponsored by Federal Cartridge Company, Smith&Wesson, the Michigan Ammunition Co., Scholastic Steel Challenge, Hodgdon Powder Co., Team Safariland, and Winchester Ammunition.
Fred Sherman, the President of the Ohio 4H Shooting Sport Council, summed up the purpose of the program very well.
“4H Shooting Sports is about much more than guns and shooting. Our primary goal is youth development. The shooting sports program gives these young people a place to learn and develop mental and physical discipline. That’s truly what we are all about, helping young folks grow into mature adults and good citizens.”
The 4H Shooting Sports is always looking for adult volunteers and open to young people from ages 9 to 18. For more information about the National 4H Shooting Sports program visit www.4-hshootingsports.org or for the Ohio 4H and the Shooting Education Camp go to www.ohio4hshootingsports.org
Follow Paul Markel at Student of the Gun.com and PaulMarkel.com. Look for Paul’s new eBook “Student of the Gun; A beginner once, student for life.” On sale now at BN.com and Smashword.com
I walked down to the barn overlooking the pasture this morning with my rifle seeking the coyote that has been picking off the chickens. Before I even had a good look around I could hear the neighbor kids shooting their .22’s down by the river. Figured that if the coyote was stupid enough to come around the kids would get him or the sound of their shooting would keep him away. In fly-over America kids with guns can be a good thing.
Take a Kid to a Gun Show.
This week in San Antonio at the National Shooting Complex is the annual Texas 4H Shooting Championship. Over 1100 kids with guns of all sorts. It is bigger than the 4H Nationals they had here last year.
Check it out here:http://www.nssa-nsca.org/index.php/nssa-nsca-national-shooting-complex
The Orangeburg SC Times & Democrat newpaper has a Sunday outdoors section. During deer season there will often be a photo of a kid with his or her first deer, usually taken with a .243 or 30-30. The joke goes,
“What do you call a ten year old who just shot his first deer? A late starter!”
Got my first gun for my 12th Christmas. I don’t hunt, but I know to use it in case I need it. My most likely prey will be homus invasionus.
I started loaning my sons guns when they were 4 and 6 years old. I would wrap them up like they were presents but legally I was just loaning them the guns. Did that for years.
Suddenly the boys were old enough to move off on their own and they wanted take these loaners with them. I sure tried to put a stop to that nonsense but the wife supported their position. Lost almost half of my gun collection to those ingrates.
Don’t forget Appleseed. I’ve had kids as young as 8 on my line. See my tagline.
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