CLICK HERE FOR YOUTH RIFLE PHOTOS!


The Oak Harbor Conservation Club hosts an active youth rifle program, 
offering classroom education and practical range and safety training.

A 10-week sporter air rifle program was recently completed with 25 graduates.
Beginning in January,  2001, girls and boys below the age of 20 were invited 
to participate in a 10-week course on safe gun handling and Olympic-style 
position shooting.  Instruction was provided by NRA-certified coaches and 
instructors, and all equipment was provided.  A qualification shoot was 
conducted at the end of the course for membership in the U.S. Junior Shooting 
Team through the "Take Your Best Shot" program.  Participants were required to 
pass two written examinations as well as a practical shooting final for 
successful completion of the course.

Young shooters had the opportunity to work at their own pace as they learn gun 
safety and Olympic style rifle shooting in the standing, prone, kneeling and 
sitting positions.  All targets shot during the course of instruction qualified 
to earn personal awards through the NRA-sponsored Marksmanship Qualification 
Program.  The course allowed a natural progression into firearm competition 
using .22 caliber rifles, with further instruction offered in July, 2001 for 
the graduates of the air rifle program.

Our program encourages all interested youths to attend these courses, which 
focus primarily on safety.  Safety is consistently reinforced through active 
range time and classroom lecture.  On open-range nights, students must 
continually demonstrate safe gun handling techniques in order to remain in 
the range.

Some of the feedback from the previous course are as follows:

"Everything was great...."

"I believe this course was great!  There is nothing really that could be done 
to more greatness (except adding more hours to shoot!)...."

"I really liked the course. Before taking this course, I had never even touched 
a gun.  Now, I can shoot fairly well, and I've learned a lot about guns, gun 
safety, etc.  Thanks!"

"I've never been to a place as good as this....Thank you!"

"I think this was a great program.  I would recommend it to any beginner and I 
appreciate all of the time and effort put into it."

"The course was good.  Much better than I expected..."

"I thought the course was interesting, and I learned a lot from it which others 
should learn.  It was awesome!"

"Do it again next year."

"I thought it was the best course I ever had..."

"Before taking this course, I had only shot a gun a few times in my life.  I 
really enjoyed learning gun safety as well as the different positions.  I 
especially liked the opportunity to practice.  I think it is important for 
everyone to learn about guns, since the freedom of owning them is being 
threatened.  If people come to realize that guns are not only used for bad, but 
are an Olympic Sport- and a safe one (when precautions are taken), maybe then 
they wouldn't be so intimidated.  I also thought this course was organized and 
taught very well."

Please contact Terry Rudes (419) 732-3000 or e-mail at  trudes@cros.net .