Shooting Sports

About 4-H Shooting Sports

The West Virginia 4-H Shooting Sports Program encompasses the goals of volunteer leadership, capacity building for youth and families and environmental stewardship. The program is designed to:

• give youths safe and thorough instruction and training in the use of firearms (muzzleloading, air pistol, air rifle including small bore and shotgun), archery equipment and wildlife conservation;
• enhance self-confidence, personal development, responsibility and sportsmanship;
• create an appreciation and understanding of natural resources; and
• provide volunteer instructors safe and proper instructional techniques and information on how to plan and manage shooting and conservation clubs.

The West Virginia 4-H Shooting Sports Program teaches young people between the ages of 9 and 21 the safe and responsible use of firearms and archery equipment, in addition to instruction in wildlife conservation.

West Virginia 4-H Adult Volunteer Leaders are trained and certified to be positive role models and mentors for youths in the 4-H Shooting Sports Program.

Goals, Objectives and Policy

West Virginia 4-H Shooting Sports provide an outstanding way of promoting human growth and development in the life skills identified by the National 4-H Program. Decision making, teamwork, problem solving, being responsible and having high self-esteem are just a few of the many skills 4-H helps to develop to enable youths to be productive and positive adults in our society. Youth development is the number one goal of the West Virginia 4-H Shooting Sports Program.

Specific objectives of the 4-H Shooting Sports program are:

• To enhance development of participant’s self-concept, character and personal growth through safe educational and socially-acceptable involvement in shooting activities.
• To strengthen families through life-long recreational activities.
• To develop leadership qualities in youth and adult participants.
• To expand 4-H membership and involve additional 4-H adult volunteers.
• To encourage understanding of natural resource concepts through participants’ interest in shooting and wildlife conservation.
• To expose participants to the broad array of vocation and lifelong avocational activities related to shooting sports.
• To teach safe and responsible use of firearms and archery equipment, including sound decision-making, self-discipline and concentration.
• To promote the highest standards of safety, sportsmanship and ethical behavior.
• To complement and enhance the impact of existing safety and hunter education programs.
• To provide 4-H training and certification in the various shooting sports disciplines for adult volunteers.
• To maintain and expand a state level committee of nationally trained and certified 4-H Shooting Sports Instructors.

Shooting Sports Camps

Upcoming Shooting Sports Events

Shooting Sports Form

• 4-H Shooting Sports Code of Ethics

WVU is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer -- Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran.
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs).
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