Shooting sports are the fastest growing project area in the Southeast region as well as nationwide in 4-H, according to officials, and volunteers have to be certified to lead the groups.
Missouri 4-H and the University of Missouri Extension will offer the 4-H Shooting Sports Leader Certification Workshop from March 31 to April 2 in Wayne County at Camp Allen, located just outside of Greenville, Missouri.
Brad Coleman, the 4-H youth specialist for Butler, Iron, Madison and Wayne counties, is excited to see the workshop offered in the Southeast Missouri region.
“I wanted to offer the volunteers who work with our 4-H shooting sports programs the opportunity to have the training close to home,” Coleman said. “For the past few years, our volunteers have had to travel four, five or six hours to attend the three-day training. They will be able to take the training closer to home. That is better for our volunteers and our families.”
Sarah Townley, state 4-h natural resources and shooting sports educator said, “We could not impact the number of youth we do without the help of our valued volunteers, so it is important to make certification trainings accessible to people in all areas of the state.”
The workshop is for certified 4-H volunteers who work with youth in archery, rifle, muzzleloading, pistol (air, small bore) or shotgun, or as a county coordinator.
The cost for shooting sports volunteers to attend is $125. This includes five meals, overnight lodging and workshop materials. There are scholarships available from local 4-H clubs to help pay the cost of the training. Registration is limited to 4-H volunteers and will close when capacity is reached or on March 15.
There is no cost to be a 4-H volunteer and Coleman said, “We are always looking for adults who want to volunteer.”
“Our shooting sports volunteers go through an extensive training and safety program so they can provide the instruction that is relevant and safe for the youth of our region,” Coleman said. “Shooting sports is the fastest growing project area nationwide in 4-H with more than 500,000 youth involved. It is the most popular project area in the Southeast region.
“It is also one of the only 4-H youth project areas that require special certification. It is my hope any 4-H volunteer in the Southeast region who wants to work with our youth in shooting sports will sign up and attend this training workshop. If we are able to fill the workshop with eager volunteers, the state 4-H office will be inclined to continue to offer training in the Southeast region.”
According to Coleman, “We need volunteers for 4-H programs throughout Southeast Missouri. We rely on parent and community volunteers who have a special interest or knowledge and are willing to work with our youth to help them succeed. If you have a special skill or would like to work with the youth of our area, you can become a volunteer in 4-H.”
There is no cost for a parent or community member to be a volunteer but they must pass a background check to be able to work with youth.
Contact Coleman by email at colemanlb@missouri.edu or call him at 573-747-9253 for more information.