Colleges with active shooting sports programs.

One of the things we talk about in 4-H Shooting Sports is that archery, rifle and shotgun are all competitive Olympic events and some colleges offer scholarships to shooters.  But when we're asked for more information, we're usually "stumped".  As instructors we should know how to lead these kids to the next level.

Recently the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) awarded almost $300,000 in grants to 41 colleges with shooting sports programs through its Collegiate Shooting Sports Initiative.


"Throughout the country, we are seeing a surge in college students interested in the shooting sports," said Zach Snow, NSSF's manager of shooting promotions. "These clubs are filling a need on campus by providing opportunities to target shoot, and their members are building positive reputations for the shooting sports both on campus and in surrounding communities."


In the article it lists the colleges who received grant money.  Young shooters who are interested in pursuing a scholarship in shooting, or interested in it as an intermural sport  should start to check into these programs.

Partnering for Success in Youth Programs

Our success has really been based on partnerships from the very beginning.

- Bill Gates

In our community we are right in the middle of holding a six-month fly fishing clinic for kids. This clinic is a partnership program between University of Florida IFAS/Extension 4-H program, our local Board of County Commissioners, community fly fishing experts and local businesses. So far it has been a big success with 17 kids and about 15 adult volunteers participating.Why is it working so well? It's working because each of the entities are doing what they do best, with a common goal. Extension is in the business of teaching, marketing and gathering kids together, not fly fishing. The local fly fishing clubs are the experts who have a love of sharing their sport, and local business also love the sport but need to stay afloat.

This is how it came together. After a some initial brain storming sessions representatives from each of the groups sat down and suggested that we each do what we do best. With some coordination, natural enthusiasm from what the possibilities may look like, and hand shakes from the committed individuals we were able to come up with a plan. The plan was that the 4-H program would announce the clinic through its normal channels, and provide the classroom teaching facilities and the groups liability insurance. Back Country Fly Fishing Association (BCCA) was the lead "enthusiast" organization providing the expert volunteers. In addition to BCCA, the Florida Flyrod Club and the Florida Fly Fishing Association. Local business such as Captain Frank Catino pulled together some special deals from his distributors on fly rods, reels and tying equipment. Harry Goode's Outdoor Shop in Melbourne has donated supplies and promoted the event, and so has The Fly Fisherman in Titusville. Most importantly (in my honest opinion) is the fact that all of the "pros" and businesses interacting with the youth have treated the kids like young adults, by encouraging, praising successes, and politely correcting their mistakes.

I very excited to see how this clinic continues, and if it can be replicated locally and regionally with the same success. Look for future reports! 

Even though this post is related to starting a fly fishing program, the exact same model and process has been used with great success with the majority of our county outdoors programs.

Just an air rifle?

How many kids and families do you know that got an air rifle for Christmas or have one in the house??

Those of us who teach firearms safety stress some version of the National Rifle Association, 3 Always of Guns Safety, namely 1) keep your gun pointed in a safe direction, 2) keep your gun unloaded until your ready to shoot, and 3) keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target. In order for a firearms accident to occur, all three of these rules have to be broken, at the same time!

A tragic story was reported in England today:

Boy, 10, Killed With His Father's Air Gun While Playing Cowboys and Indians with His Friends
Thursday, Jan 05 2012, Swansea, England, UK
By JULIE MOULT, DailyMail.co.uk

A BOY of ten was shot dead in a game of cowboys and indians as he and a friend played with his father's airgun. Rhys Johnson was fatally wounded when the weapon went off, blasting pellets into his chest. Full story.
Photo: Rhys Johnson is pictured here with his older sister Ashleigh. By http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

Parents please keep in mind that although BB guns and Air Rifles are less powerful than their high-power counterparts, they are still not toys and can cause serious property damage and personal harm, as shown in this story.  Air rifles can be a great tool to teach young people safe handling of firearms and marksmanship with a gun that is void of recoil and designed to fit kids 6 and up, BUT they are guns.  Make sure they are treated with the same respect as any other firearm.

How familiar are you with the Bobwhite Quail?

In my Florida Hunter Safety class we talk about the Northern Bobwhite Quail all the time, but usually only in the context of it being Florida's one of two resident game birds. Florida Wild Turkey being the only other. When I was a kid growing up on the outskirts of Fort Worth, Texas we would routinely hunt this cute little critter, and they were in great abundance. One of my buddies had a dog and after school we would grab our shotguns and head for the rolling grasslands out past Chapin Road until it got dark. Most days we didn't shoot anything, but just being out in the field letting the dogs find and point these beautiful birds was worth it. Those were the days.

Photo Credit: Dave Baker: From the album Kentucky Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Resources.

The Northern bobwhite is a medium-sized, round-bodied bird with a short tail and neck. Plumage is reddish brown with streaking on the sides. Males have a black-and-white face pattern; in females it is black-and-buff.

They occur throughout Florida in appropriate habitat. In addition to mature upland forests, the best habitats include fallow agricultural fields dominated by such species as ragweed, and the edges of cultivated grain fields.  More about the Northern Bobwhite Quail in Florida.

Now let's fast forward the clock from 1970's to present.  Central Florida, like so many other parts of the country have seen a steady decline in quail populations.  The primary cause is loss of habitat, with other secondary factors being increased number of predators such as feral cats and raccoons which raid nesting sites.

The status and future of quail in Florida is not completely bleak.  Wildlife biologists are working with the agriculture industry to set aside habitat for this wonderful bird, and keep open some areas for managed hunts.  Thanks to industry groups such as the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative who works with the various game commissions, we will hopefully see increased numbers down the road.

Organizational Spotlight - The Outdoor Foundation

I hope my readers will take advantage of some of the links I have here.  As a member of the Outdoor Bloggers Network, I have access to some of the best outdoor writers in the country.

I read one of the posted stories there, and it lead me to the Outdoor Foundation.  The Outdoor Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and growing future generations of outdoor enthusiasts. Through ground-breaking research, action-oriented convening and outreach and education programs, the Foundation is working with partners to mobilize a major cultural shift that leads all Americans to the great outdoors. 

Recently they did a study with Coleman and KOA (Kampgrounds of America) called Special Report on Camping that highlights enduring popularity of camping and in-depth look at profiles and segments of the industry [activity].  In the study they found for example that "that introducing children to camping at a young age is vital to their participation as adults. Half of all current campers ages 18 and over experienced their first camping trip before they reached the age of seven." Which tells me we're doing just the right thing if we're associated with youth outdoor programs.  They also confirmed that most campers between the ages of 35 and 54 consider it a valuable and rewarding activity for the family.  For a complete summary of the report click here.

Peace On Earth Discovered Right Near By

Photo by Kristen Sanderson

For the past couple of weeks I've been wondering what an appropriate story may be for Christmas Eve and this holiday season. I think I've found it, which is finding peace.

One of the greatest blessings we all have this holiday season is the fact that the last convoy of U.S. soldiers pulled out of Iraq on Sunday, ending nearly nine years of war. Full Story.  What could be better than the gift of Peace for the holidays?

As a 4-H Youth Development Agent, with every kid we reach and child we teach our goal is to impart instruction in life skills so as to make a long lasting, positive impact in a child's life that with culminate in positive behavior change.  In 4-H we typically think of the Life Skill Model most memorable attributes of Leadership, Citizenship, Record Keeping, etc.  On the other sides of the Skill Wheel are categories of Caring, Relating and Living which include the skills of empathy, concern for others and stress management.  These are some of the life skills of peace, and there are others.

One of my fellow outdoor bloggers, March of March's Outdoor Adventures wrote about this putting it in a spiritual context. He goes to the woods to find peace and clarity and to communicate with God. His article, What You Can Learn In The Outdoors, prompted me to consider, "What are we doing to teach the critical attributes of Relating, Caring and Sharing with the youth that we reach?"  In a Scouting program, those similar qualities might be included in the Scout Laws friendly, courteous, kind and reverent - also peaceful skills.

In our instruction we can make significant strides in teaching these softer life skills by emphasizing teamwork and cooperation, as might be part of a group project.  Concern for others can be taught when an older, more experienced young adult steps into a teaching position to help a brand new fly fisherman learn to cast or archer to shoot their bow.  Stress management can be taught through imparting words of wisdom in thoughts of the day or by simply making lanyards at camp or by sitting on a dock holding a fishing pole with their feet dangling down.  All children need these skills, not just so that they have them in adulthood, but so as to cope with the stresses they find themselves in now.  I challenge my readers to leave the house this holiday season and go to a nearby park or waterfront to seek inward peace, and then share that with someone you know.