NYS 4-H
SHOOTING SPORTS
What Is Shooting Sports in 4-H?
4-H Shooting Sports is a comprehensive non-formal education, recreation, and competitive program focused on Positive Youth Development. 4-H Shooting Sports program utilizes the safe and responsible use of firearms to address youth social issues related to STEM, healthy living, and civic engagement.
In doing so, the 4-H shooting sports program provides opportunities for youth to gain valuable skills, practice leadership, and build relationships with non-parent adults. These three critical factors are the building blocks that enable youth to achieve mastery, feel a sense of belonging, explore independence, and act generously. When youth are engaged as resources worthy and capable of development, rather than objects to be fixed, they become competent, confident, connected, caring, character-driven, and contributing members of society.
Upcoming Events
​
February 23-25, 2024
Northeast Winter Regional 4-H Shooting Sports Workshop
4-H Training Center, 556 Middle Line Road, Ballston Spa, NY
The New York, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Vermont 4-H Shooting Sports Programs’ Annual Winter Workshop certifies volunteer leaders as 4-H Shooting Sports Instructors. The workshop features the following disciplines (based on a minimum enrollment of 5 participants): Pistol, Archery, Coordinator, Hunting, Muzzle Loading, Rifle, and Shotgun. Adults will be certified to teach the applicable discipline to youth participating in formal 4-H Shooting Sports Programs and 4-H Camps. Each state maintains its own standards for certification. Certification standards may exceed those established by the National 4-H Shooting Sports Committee. Participants will be able to complete requirements in only one discipline. All equipment will be supplied. This Workshop and Instructors adhere to all National 4-H Shooting Sports curriculum standards. Form Code 1501 for NYS participants. A major focus of the Workshop will be on 4-H Club Development and elements of the 4-H STEM Program. If you would like more information, please call 518-668-4881 or kmw82@cornell.edu.
​
May 17-18, 2024
NYS Shooting Sports Championships - Shotgun, Muzzloader,
& Hunting
​
May 18-19, 2024
Training @ Camp Wabasso - Hunting, Rifle, & Archery
​
June 1-2, 2024
Training @ Camp Shankitunk - Hunting & Archery
​
June 8-9, 2024
Training @ Camp Bristol Hills - Archery, Air Rifle, & Air Pistol
​
June 26-27, 2024
Training @ Peconic Dunes 4-H Camp
​
Objectives
-
To encourage participation in natural resources and natural resource science programs.
-
To enhance the development of self-concept, character, and personal growth.
-
To teach safe and responsible use of firearms and archery equipment.
-
To promote the highest standards of safety, sportsmanship, and ethical behavior.
-
To expose participants to a broad array of vocational and life-long vocational activities related to shooting sports.
-
To strengthen families through participation in life-long recreational opportunities.
-
To complement and enhance the impact of existing safety, shooting, and hunter education programs using experiential educational methods and progressive development of life skills and abilities.
National & New York State 4-H Shooting Sports Program Core Concepts
-
Safety
-
Ethical Development
-
Personal Responsibility
-
Family Involvement
-
Lifetime Recreational Skills
-
Life Skills Development
Curriculum
New York State 4-H Shooting Sports takes our responsibilities to youth, their families and the communities in which we all live very seriously. We are committed to offering the safest and best programming possible. All curriculum disciplines for archery and firearms are taught and supervised by New York State 4-H Certified Shooting Sports Instructors or Nationally Certified 4-H Shooting Sports Instructors. All 4-H Shooting Sports Instructors must also adhere to the National 4-H Shooting Sports Code of Ethics.
​
4-H Shooting Sports is based on the National 4-H Shooting Sports mandated curriculum and training regimen and offered in the following disciplines:
-
Air Pistol/Pistol
-
Archery
-
Hunting/Outdoor Skills
-
Muzzleloader
-
Rifle
-
Shotgun
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) components are incorporated into all 4-H Shooting Sports curriculum discipline
Natural Resources Projects
The New York State 4-H Shooting Sports Program is a broad-based, multi-faceted program that encompasses and brings together many aspects of 4-H Youth Natural Resources programming. Involvement in 4-H Shooting Sports fosters responsibility and helps youth acquire and enhance knowledge, skills, and abilities not just in Shooting Sports disciplines but in other project areas as well. Our Program can include many more opportunities for youth to be outdoors and engage in their environment:
Agriculture/Range Science • Bird Watching • Canoeing • Citizen Science • Citizenship • Civic Ecology • Clay Targets • Conservation • First Aid • Forestry • Habitat Enhancement • Home Firearm Safety • Living History • Outdoor Cooking • Map & Compass • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) • Survival Skills • White Water Rafting • Wild Edibles • Wild Game Cooking • Wildlife​
For Instructors
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO INSTRUCTORS AND APPLICANTS!
​
ALL current New York State 4-H Shooting Sports Instructors are REQUIRED to update their Instructor Training to the NEW National 4-H Shooting Sports and New York State 4-H Shooting Sports Guidelines.
​
Instructors Have Two (2) Options:
-
Attend one (1) of the 14-hour programs to be offered this year in person (you may participate in a new discipline at that time); or
-
Participate in a shorter in-person or web-based online retraining that is currently offered as needed (expected to be about 2-3 hours of online training). New manuals for the first two programs you primarily teach-in will be provided at either the in-person training or mailed to your county office.
All Instructors who have NOT taught in the last two (2) years OR who are NOT currently an approved members of their County 4-H Program have been REMOVED from the New York State 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor list and their information has been placed in the inactive file.
Inactive Instructors seeking to regain active status MUST re-establish themselves as enrolled qualified 4-H Program Volunteer and complete the full New York State Training in order to become an active New York State 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor.
​
PLEASE NOTE: Your County Cooperative Extension 4-H Educator MUST sign off on your Instructor Applicant Registration Form in order for you to qualify for admission into the New York State 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Training program. Your County 4-H Educator’s signature verifies that you, as an applicant, have undergone: 1) a criminal background check; 2) a reference check; 3) an interview; and 4) a County orientation. A County's failure to comply with any part of the Volunteer Involvement Policy and Procedure (VIPP) practices of Cornell Cooperative Extension will result in the automatic disqualification and rejection of an applicant from the New York State 4-H Shooting Sports Program. Registration Forms without the appropriate County 4-H Educator’s verifying signature will not be accepted by New York State 4-H Shooting Sports.
Banquet & Auction
Save the Date!
​
Saturday April 20, 2024 at Fort William Henry in Lake George, NY. For more information contact: CCE Saratoga at 518-668-4881.
State & County Contacts
William M. Schwerd
Saratoga County 4-H Shooting Sports Coordinator
Executive Director, CCE Saratoga County
50 West High Street
Ballston Spa, New York 12020
518-885-8995 Ext. 225
wms4@cornell.edu
John F. Bowe
Warren County 4-H Shooting Sports Coordinator
Executive Director, CCE Warren County
377 Schroon River Rd., Warrensburg, NY 12885
518-623-3291 / 518-668-4881
jfb32@cornell.edu
Dr. Keith G. Tidball
Senior Extension Associate
Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University
Faculty Fellow: David R. Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future
118 Fernow Hall
607-254-5479
kgtidball@cornell.edu