Adult volunteers needed for youth shooting sports program

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Adults who are looking to get involved in one of the fastest growing sports/activities in the country may want to consider the University of Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports program, says Dan Dawson, 4-H youth development educator and state coordinator of the program. Opportunities to volunteer exist in Randolph County with the Randolph County 4-H Shooting Sports Program.

The program provides a supportive, adult-supervised environment in which boys and girls, ages 8 to 18, can learn the shooting disciplines of archery, air and .22 caliber rifle, and shotgun. Nationally, the 4-H Shooting Sports program has been in existence since 1975. The Illinois program started in the fall of 2009.

Adults who would like to serve as a shooting sports instructor must attend a 4-H sponsored instructor training. The next training workshop for adult volunteers is scheduled for May 13-15, 2011 at 4-H Memorial Camp in Monticello, IL. Disciplines of archery, rifle (air and .22), shotgun and coordinator will be offered. Other opportunities for adults to serve as assistants for shooting instructors are also available.

Dawson says that the focus of all 4-H programs is the development of youth as individuals and as responsible and productive citizens. The Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports program stands out as an example. Youth learn marksmanship, the safe and responsible use of firearms, the principles of archery and much more. For more details about the adult training workshop or general information about the Randolph County 4-H Shooting Sports program, contact the University of Illinois Extension Office in Randolph County at 618-443-4364.