March 7, 2002

North Dakota 4-H Starts Shooting Sports Program

A North Dakota Outdoor Skills Shooting Sports program was developed last year as part of the NDSU Extension Service 4-H and youth program.

According to Al Ulmer, extension agent in LaMoure County and shooting sports coordinator, pilot clubs were formed in five counties, with 18 volunteer leaders and 67 youth participating. Plans for this year are to expand the program to at least 25 counties.

The program includes the shooting disciplines of archery, rifle, pistol, shotgun, black powder and the areas of hunting and reloading. Instructional materials for each discipline were developed by the National 4-H Shooting Sports Curriculum.

Ulmer says 4-H shooting sports the skills and disciplines of shooting to help young people and their leaders gain knowledge and develop skills. Development of life skills is implicit in the program curriculum and is explicitly stated for volunteers, he says.

"The program helps youth develop character and personal growth by learning standards for safety, sportsmanship and ethical behavior through safe and reasonable use of firearms and archery equipment," says Ulmer.

Volunteers who want to instruct and assist with the shooting sports program are required to be certified in the specific disciplines. "Since it’s the volunteers who work with the 4-H’ers throughout the year, it is important that they have the necessary tools and resources to do their jobs well," Ulmer says.

Several two-day workshops will offer volunteer leader certification in each of the disciplines along with the area of management. In accordance with national guidelines, workshop participants spend 14 hours discussing topics such as the stages of child development, the role of competition, instructional tips and the best practices for teaching youth.

Dates, places and disciplines for workshops are: Saturday and Sunday April 20 and 21, Goose River Archery Club, Hillsboro, archery and rifle; Friday evening April 19 to Sunday noon April 21, Casselton City Hall, shotgun only; Saturday and Sunday April 27 and 28, Western 4-H Camp, Washburn, archery, rifle, shotgun, black powder, hunting and reloading.

The shooting sports program is open to any youth ages 8 to 18.

Preregistration for the volunteer workshops is required and there is a registration fee. For more information contact local county extension agents, Al Ulmer at (701) 883-5389 or e-mail at aulmer@ndsuext.nodak.edu or see the Web site at: www.ext.nodak.edu/4-h.htm .

###

Source: Al Ulmer, (701) 833-5389, aulmer@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Gary Moran, (701) 231-7865, gmoran@ndsuext.nodak.edu