Have you ever wondered how to get involved in a shooting program or other NRA activity, but can’t figure out where to get started? The NRA has a wide variety of opportunities for young people, so no matter what your interests are you can find something that suits you. Not only will you have fun participating, but you’ll also get the chance to hone your marksmanship and hunting skills, earn scholarships, acquire experience for your college application and meet other young people your age.

Earn a rating, et a reward If you want to learn to shoot or want to better your shooting skills then the NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program can help you achieve this goal. From your first BB gun to sophisticated air rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, pistols and rifles, this program offers fun for the whole family. Qualification shooting is an informal, year-round recreational shooting activity that provides incentive awards for developing and improving marksmanship skills. The best part is that you can progress through the program at your own pace and the scores are challenging but attainable. When you reach your goal you will not only earn the rating, but also a reward. Shooters acquire the large discipline patch at the onset of the program and as each rating is earned, they are entitled to all of the corresponding awards for the rating. Each rating level has a skill rocker, medal, and certificate award that recognizes and highlights the achievement.

The courses of fire take shooters from beginning skill levels (Pro-Marksman, Marksman) through intermediate levels (Marksman 1st Class, Sharpshooter, Expert) up to a nationally recognized skill level—Distinguished Expert—the pinnacle of the program. By the time a shooter completes the Distinguished Expert rating, he or she has attained a proficiency level paralleling that of a competitively classified Sharpshooter. Another great thing about the program is that it can be conducted anywhere—on public ranges or even on your own home range—and everyone can participate. BB and pellet gun shooters will find air gun qualification courses especially suited for informal home air gun ranges and family learning environments. Parents can shoot alongside their children or start a neighborhood air gun shooting sports program for their children and their friends. Qualification shooting can be a self-administered activity on the honor system, or it can be administered by parents, club leaders, coaches or instructors as part of a family, club or group program. For more information call (703) 267-1505 or visit www.nrahq.org/education/training/marksmanship/index.asp.

Go to Camp NRA Shooting Sports Camps are a fun way for you to get involved in the shooting sports, while meeting other young shooters. These camps provide a formal program for everyone to learn, experience, share and grow in appreciation of the shooting sports. The camps provide exposure to many different shooting activities and offer participants the opportunity to explore them in a safe, controlled environment. There are a variety of Shooting Sports Camps available in different themes to suit your interests. Safety and Firearm Education- Camps—Participants learn how to safely handle, load, shoot and unload a variety of guns. Basic Camps—Participants complete a formal NRA Basic Course of Instruction (10-14 hours) or an NRA First Steps Course of Instruction (3 hours) enhanced with plenty of range time to apply lessons learned, receive personalized instruction and develop confidence on the range.

Hunters Camps—Participants explore a variety of informative and educational topics such as hunting ethics and responsibility, wildlife identification, field techniques, orienteering, firearm handling/shooting and gun and bow hunting.

Competition Camps—Participants learn how to compete in a specific shooting sport, the rules that govern the sport, proper selection and use of equipment and how to develop the skills and techniques that give a competitive edge in matches, tournaments and championships. They can be conducted at beginner, intermediate or advanced skill levels.

Youth Sportsfest Camps—Youth attendees have a great opportunity to meet other young shooters and make a lot of new friends. Youths are introduced to the fun and excitement of shooting sports in a safe, positive and educational environment. Each SportsFest has its own specialized program focus.

NRA/ATA Trapshooting & NRA/NSSA Skeet Shooting Camps—Participants learn the ins and outs of shotgun shooting and the specifics of the game of trap or skeet.

Special Interest Camps—Sponsors promote new or locally popular shooting activities or design programs that meet the needs of more specialized segments of the population.

For more information or to find a camp near you, visit www.nrahq.org/education/shootingcamp.asp. If there isn’t one scheduled in your area yet, keep checking back for updates.

Say YES The Youth Education Summit (YES) is a seven-day, expense paid educational experience in Washington, D.C., for high school sophomores and juniors. While in the nation’s capital, students learn the significance of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights while developing an understanding of federal government. The YES program encourages America’s youth to become active and knowledgeable citizens and is funded from local donations and Friends of NRA funds. Students are selected through a competitive application process from a national pool of qualified peers. Candidates are required to complete an application, which includes high school transcripts or graded work, a Second Amendment essay and three personal recommendations. For more information visit www.nrafoundation.org/yes.

Take the Challenge Recognized as the most comprehensive youth hunting program anywhere in North America, the Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) is NRA’s “graduate studies” program in outdoor skills and safety training for young hunters. Open only to those who have completed hunter-safety training at the state-or provincial-level, the program is conducted under simulated hunting conditions to provide the best practical environment for reinforcing and testing a young hunter’s skills. From rifle, bow and muzzleloader shooting at life-sized targets, to wildlife identification, to map-and-compass orienteering and more, YHEC participants get hands-on training in eight skills areas, giving them expertise in all methods of take and all types of game. State- and provincial-level YHEC programs, hosted by volunteer instructors, draw an estimated 50,000 youths each year. Top ranked individuals advance to the annual NRA International Youth Hunter Education Challenge, the pinnacle of the program. Since its inception in 1985, YHEC has reached more than a million young sportsmen and women. For more information on the Youth Hunter Education Challenge and how you can participate, please call NRA Hunter Services at (703) 267-1500 or visit www.nrahq.org/hunting/youthed.asp.

Try a Contest

Are you interested in art or writing? The NRA also has annual opportunities in which you can participate.

The NRA Wildlife Art Contest will let you express your inner artist and love for the outdoors all at the same time.

The contest is open to students in grades one through 12 (including home-schooled children). NRA membership is not required. First through third place winners in each category receive a monetary prize and the winning entries are also put on display at the National Firearms Museum and featured in InSights. You can read all about the contest and see this year’s winners on page 12.

For more information call (703) 267-1531 or visit www.nrahq.org/youth/wildlife.asp.

Also, The NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund sponsors an annual scholarly writing contest for grades K-12. The contest themed “The Second Amendment to the Constitution: Why it is important to our nation,” celebrates the Second Amendment as an integral part of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Essays are judged on originality, scholarship and presentation and the winners of each category receive U.S. Savings Bonds and will be spotlighted in InSights. The contest is open to all students enrolled in an elementary, junior high or high school during the corresponding academic year who have not previously received a prize.

To request further information and/or a list of references to help you with your research, contact NRA’s Office of General Counsel at (703) 267-1250, or visit www.nradefensefund.org/writingcontest.aspx.

Jump on Board

If you are already actively involved in the shooting sports or other NRA programs, the NRA Youth Advisory Board (YAB) gives you a chance to share your voice. The YAB provides a forum for NRA Junior Members to offer feedback regarding NRA’s youth-related programs. You are eligible to serve if you are an NRA Junior Member in good standing and 18 years of age or younger at the time of appointment (or an Annual or Life Member 18 years of age or under). The selection committee will choose members from submitted applications. The YAB is an annual appointment with members eligible for no more than two consecutive terms, with the exception of nominated members who are not subject to this term limit.

The application process help the selection committee ensure that the YAB represents the broad range of interests and experiences in the shooting sports.

For more information call (703) 267-1550 or visit www.nrahq.org/youth/yab_forum.pdf to download an application.

With all these fun opportunities, start the year off right and get involved. Don’t let a moment to shine pass by you.

You’re Invited

As always you are invited to share your stories and photos with InSights. We’d love to hear your experiences about everything from learning to shoot to participating in your first competition or hunt. Or, send us that photo of your first BB gun or deer or turkey. E-mail insights@nrahq.org or snail mail us at
NRA, Attn: InSights
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, VA 22030-9400.

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