Requirements & Guidelines New York State 4-H Shooting Sports Updated January 2015.

Requirements & Requirements & GuidelinesGuidelinesNew York State New York State

4-H Shooting Sports4-H Shooting Sports

Updated January 2015Updated January 2015

NYS 4-H Shooting SportsNYS 4-H Shooting Sports All volunteers involved in 4-H Shooting Sports MUST All volunteers involved in 4-H Shooting Sports MUST

have completed the Volunteer Involvement Policy have completed the Volunteer Involvement Policy and Procedure (VIPP) process for enrolled and Procedure (VIPP) process for enrolled volunteers. This includes interview, application, volunteers. This includes interview, application, read and sign the code of conduct and volunteer read and sign the code of conduct and volunteer agreement, pass a background check, a reference agreement, pass a background check, a reference check, and complete an orientation by the CCE check, and complete an orientation by the CCE county office in which they reside (Updated 2013). county office in which they reside (Updated 2013).

All programs conducted by 4-H Shooting Sports All programs conducted by 4-H Shooting Sports volunteers MUST be done with written permission of volunteers MUST be done with written permission of the CCE office in which the program is offered. the CCE office in which the program is offered. Email or a letter notifying the office of the dates of Email or a letter notifying the office of the dates of your event is the easiest method (Updated 2013). your event is the easiest method (Updated 2013).

NYS 4-H Shooting SportsNYS 4-H Shooting Sports

These policies are in place for three These policies are in place for three main reasons:main reasons:

1.1. For the safety and protection of the 4-For the safety and protection of the 4-H MemberH Member

2.2. For the safety and protection of the 4-For the safety and protection of the 4-H Shooting Sports Leader/InstructorH Shooting Sports Leader/Instructor

3.3. To ensure a high level of teaching To ensure a high level of teaching compatible with, and in support of, compatible with, and in support of, the NYS 4-H Programthe NYS 4-H Program

Situation StatementSituation Statement

The NYS 4-H Shooting Sports Program is The NYS 4-H Shooting Sports Program is part of the National 4-H Shooting Sports part of the National 4-H Shooting Sports Program and encourages the instructional Program and encourages the instructional disciplines of air pistol, archery, hunting disciplines of air pistol, archery, hunting and wildlife, living history, muzzleloading, and wildlife, living history, muzzleloading, pistol, rifle, and shotgun. pistol, rifle, and shotgun.

Situation StatementSituation Statement Instructors trained in these various disciplines Instructors trained in these various disciplines

are responsible for implementation of the are responsible for implementation of the program at the local level in compliance with program at the local level in compliance with National 4-H Shooting Sports manuals, National 4-H Shooting Sports manuals, including FORM Code 1501, First Shot including FORM Code 1501, First Shot Fundamentals, the Iowa State Life Skills Fundamentals, the Iowa State Life Skills Wheel, and with the support of the local CCE Wheel, and with the support of the local CCE education staff. Instructor Certification education staff. Instructor Certification Workshops will be offered at the state level at Workshops will be offered at the state level at least twice a year by the State Instructor least twice a year by the State Instructor Team (Updated 2014).Team (Updated 2014).

Program ObjectivesProgram Objectives

The NYS 4-H Shooting Sports Program The NYS 4-H Shooting Sports Program strives to enable young people, their strives to enable young people, their parents, and adult volunteers to become parents, and adult volunteers to become responsible, self-directed and productive responsible, self-directed and productive members of society. The program members of society. The program transfers knowledge, skills and attitudes to transfers knowledge, skills and attitudes to develop human capital using the subject develop human capital using the subject matter and resources of the land grant matter and resources of the land grant university.university.


1. 1. Youth development is the #1 goal of the Youth development is the #1 goal of the 4-H Shooting Sports Program. 4-H 4-H Shooting Sports Program. 4-H Shooting Sports provides an outstanding Shooting Sports provides an outstanding venue for nurturing human growth and venue for nurturing human growth and development in the life skills identified development in the life skills identified by the National 4-H Program, such as: by the National 4-H Program, such as: self-esteem, decision making, self-esteem, decision making, communications, responsibility, self-communications, responsibility, self-confidence, etc. confidence, etc.


2. 2. To encourage participation in natural To encourage participation in natural resources and related natural science resources and related natural science programs and create an appreciation and programs and create an appreciation and understanding of natural resources by understanding of natural resources by exposing participants to the content exposing participants to the content through shooting, hunting and through shooting, hunting and conservation related activities. conservation related activities.


3. 3. To enhance development of self-concept, To enhance development of self-concept, character, and personal growth through character, and personal growth through safe, educational and socially acceptable safe, educational and socially acceptable involvement in shooting activities.involvement in shooting activities.

4. To teach safe and responsible use of 4. To teach safe and responsible use of firearms and archery equipment firearms and archery equipment including sound decision making, self-including sound decision making, self-discipline and concentration.discipline and concentration.


5. 5. To promote the highest standards of To promote the highest standards of safety, sportsmanship and ethical safety, sportsmanship and ethical behavior.behavior.

6. To expose participants to the broad array 6. To expose participants to the broad array of vocational and life-long avocational of vocational and life-long avocational activities related to shooting sports.activities related to shooting sports.


7. 7. To strengthen families through To strengthen families through participation in life-long recreational participation in life-long recreational activities.activities.

8. To compliment and enhance the impact 8. To compliment and enhance the impact of existing safety, shooting and hunter of existing safety, shooting and hunter education programs using experiential education programs using experiential educational methods and progressive educational methods and progressive development of skills and abilities.development of skills and abilities.

Instructor CertificationInstructor Certification

The NYS 4-H Shooting Sports Program The NYS 4-H Shooting Sports Program requires the use of National or State requires the use of National or State Trained 4-H Certified Instructors at the Trained 4-H Certified Instructors at the county level (in the appropriate discipline) county level (in the appropriate discipline) to operate a live-fire range or to conduct to operate a live-fire range or to conduct any class in which firearms or archery any class in which firearms or archery equipment are handled. In order to be equipment are handled. In order to be certified as a 4-H Shooting Sports certified as a 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor in any discipline the following Instructor in any discipline the following requirements must be met:requirements must be met:


1.1. Age Requirement - Age Requirement - a. NYS State 4-H Certified Shooting a. NYS State 4-H Certified Shooting Sports Instructor (“Certified Sports Instructor (“Certified Instructor”) - Instructor”) - must be 21 years oldmust be 21 years oldb. Assistant Instructor - b. Assistant Instructor - must be 18 must be 18 yrs. old; must have a minimum of one (1) yrs. old; must have a minimum of one (1) year as a 4-H member in a 4-H Shooting year as a 4-H member in a 4-H Shooting Sports discipline or have successfully Sports discipline or have successfully completed a state training; can only completed a state training; can only instruct youth under the direct supervision instruct youth under the direct supervision of a Certified Instructor and only if the of a Certified Instructor and only if the Certified Instructor is present during the Certified Instructor is present during the instruction.instruction.


1.1. Age RequirementAge Requirementc. Teen Leader – c. Teen Leader – must be 14 years old; must be 14 years old; must have a minimum of one (1) year as must have a minimum of one (1) year as a 4-H member in a 4-H Shooting Sports a 4-H member in a 4-H Shooting Sports discipline or have successfully completed discipline or have successfully completed a state training; can only instruct youth a state training; can only instruct youth with the approval of a certified instructor, with the approval of a certified instructor, only under direct supervision of a only under direct supervision of a Certified Instructor and only if the Certified Instructor and only if the Certified Instructor is present during the Certified Instructor is present during the instruction. A Teen Leader may not instruction. A Teen Leader may not instruct under the supervision of an instruct under the supervision of an Assistant Instructor.Assistant Instructor.


2.2. Must have been screened, trained and Must have been screened, trained and appointed as a current 4-H volunteer in appointed as a current 4-H volunteer in accordance with the volunteer accordance with the volunteer requirements of Cornell University requirements of Cornell University Cooperative Extension.Cooperative Extension.

3.3. Must agree to teach or assist with at least Must agree to teach or assist with at least one (1) class within a two-year time period one (1) class within a two-year time period or have a significant involvement as or have a significant involvement as defined by the State Team/Committee and defined by the State Team/Committee and must be recertified and updated every five must be recertified and updated every five years. The State Coordinator/Chair is years. The State Coordinator/Chair is responsible for maintaining the database.responsible for maintaining the database.


4.4. Must successfully complete a NYS 4-H Must successfully complete a NYS 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Workshop Shooting Sports Instructor Workshop administered and sanctioned by the State administered and sanctioned by the State 4-H Shooting Sports Committee. A 4-H Shooting Sports Committee. A minimum of 15 hours of instruction in minimum of 15 hours of instruction in discipline instruction, use of National 4-H discipline instruction, use of National 4-H Shooting Sports Curriculum, safety, risk Shooting Sports Curriculum, safety, risk management, teaching methods, and 4-H management, teaching methods, and 4-H program management will be taught at a program management will be taught at a State 4-H Shooting Sports sanctioned State 4-H Shooting Sports sanctioned Instructor Training.Instructor Training.


5. 5. Must be trained and certified in the Must be trained and certified in the discipline (air pistol, archery, coordinator, discipline (air pistol, archery, coordinator, hunting and wildlife, living history, hunting and wildlife, living history, muzzleloading, pistol, rifle, and shotgun) muzzleloading, pistol, rifle, and shotgun) that they are teaching for their respective that they are teaching for their respective levels. levels.

NYS 4-H Shooting Sports NYS 4-H Shooting Sports Policy Statement:Policy Statement:

All 4-H Shooting Sports activities must be All 4-H Shooting Sports activities must be directly supervised by a NYS State 4-H directly supervised by a NYS State 4-H Certified Shooting Sports Instructor. If the Certified Shooting Sports Instructor. If the program divides the members into groups program divides the members into groups for concurrent shooting sessions, groups for concurrent shooting sessions, groups must be under the on-site supervision of a must be under the on-site supervision of a NYS 4-H Certified Shooting Sports NYS 4-H Certified Shooting Sports Instructor.Instructor.


In addition, for firearms based programs In addition, for firearms based programs (pistol, rifle, shotgun, or muzzleloader and (pistol, rifle, shotgun, or muzzleloader and including air guns of all types) one of the including air guns of all types) one of the two Instructors must also be certified two Instructors must also be certified according to NYS Penal Law by the U. S. according to NYS Penal Law by the U. S. military, OR the National Rifle Association, military, OR the National Rifle Association, OR, by the NYS Department of OR, by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (See FORM Environmental Conservation (See FORM Code handout, Updated 2015).Code handout, Updated 2015).


Adult Volunteers, who are primarily Adult Volunteers, who are primarily responsible for a concurrent session, that responsible for a concurrent session, that involves the use of firearms or archery involves the use of firearms or archery equipment, must be a NYS State 4-H equipment, must be a NYS State 4-H Certified Shooting Sports Instructor in the Certified Shooting Sports Instructor in the discipline that he/she is teaching. discipline that he/she is teaching.


Assistant Instructors, Teen Leaders, and all Assistant Instructors, Teen Leaders, and all remaining adult Volunteers must be under remaining adult Volunteers must be under the direct physical supervision of a NYS the direct physical supervision of a NYS State 4-H Certified Shooting Sports State 4-H Certified Shooting Sports Instructor while engaged in an activity Instructor while engaged in an activity which involves the use of firearms and/or which involves the use of firearms and/or archery equipment. All adults and youth archery equipment. All adults and youth engaged in the use of firearms and/or engaged in the use of firearms and/or archery equipment must be advised of archery equipment must be advised of basic range rules before shooting starts.basic range rules before shooting starts.

NYS 4-H Shooting Sports Policy NYS 4-H Shooting Sports Policy Statement:Statement:

The required age for 4-H’ers in the NYS 4-H The required age for 4-H’ers in the NYS 4-H Shooting Sports program is based on FORM Shooting Sports program is based on FORM Code and NYS Penal Law, where applicable Code and NYS Penal Law, where applicable (Updated 2014 – see handout): (Updated 2014 – see handout):

Archery – 8 years of age and over, Archery – 8 years of age and over, Air Rifle – 9 years of age and over, Air Rifle – 9 years of age and over, Air Pistol – 10 years of age and completed an Air Pistol – 10 years of age and completed an

Air Rifle program,Air Rifle program, Rifle, Shotgun, and Muzzleloader – 12 years of Rifle, Shotgun, and Muzzleloader – 12 years of

age or older, age or older, Pistol - 14 years of age or older. Pistol - 14 years of age or older.

NYS 4-H Shooting Sports Policy NYS 4-H Shooting Sports Policy Statement:Statement:

Collegiate 4-H programs may be available Collegiate 4-H programs may be available for youth over the age of 18 and through for youth over the age of 18 and through the age of 21 at various colleges and the age of 21 at various colleges and universities within NYS. Collegiate 4-H universities within NYS. Collegiate 4-H programs MUST be registered with the NYS programs MUST be registered with the NYS 4-H office and with the CCE office in the 4-H office and with the CCE office in the county where the institution resides. All county where the institution resides. All collegiate programs MUST be supervised by collegiate programs MUST be supervised by a Certified, adult (over 21 years of age) a Certified, adult (over 21 years of age) Instructor in the discipline being taught Instructor in the discipline being taught (Updated 2013). (Updated 2013).

DefinitionsDefinitions

State InstructorsState Instructors – Must attend and be – Must attend and be certified at a national workshop. The State certified at a national workshop. The State Team, based on written application, Team, based on written application, selects attendees to the national selects attendees to the national workshops. State Instructors are those workshops. State Instructors are those likely to teach at the state level. They likely to teach at the state level. They may or may not work directly with a may or may not work directly with a county 4-H program.county 4-H program.

DefinitionsDefinitions

State Certified InstructorsState Certified Instructors - Those - Those trained at the state level to work directly trained at the state level to work directly with a county 4-H program. State Certified with a county 4-H program. State Certified Instructors should have a thorough Instructors should have a thorough understanding of 4-H youth development.understanding of 4-H youth development.

AdministrationAdministration – The State Committee – The State Committee administers the NYS 4-H Shooting Sports administers the NYS 4-H Shooting Sports program.program.

State Committee State Committee ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

Administer the programAdminister the program Develop, conduct, and promote statewide Develop, conduct, and promote statewide

activitiesactivities Plan, schedule, sanction, and conduct training Plan, schedule, sanction, and conduct training

programs for instructors and volunteersprograms for instructors and volunteers Develop informational and promotional Develop informational and promotional

materials for use in the programmaterials for use in the program Identify funding sources, develop resources, Identify funding sources, develop resources,

and administer the budget for the programand administer the budget for the program


Approve the certification and re-Approve the certification and re-certification of instructors based on certification of instructors based on teaching team recommendations.teaching team recommendations.

Meet at least annually to review the Meet at least annually to review the program and activities. Other meetings program and activities. Other meetings may be scheduled by the Chairman, as may be scheduled by the Chairman, as needed. Subcommittees may be needed. Subcommittees may be appointed as needed by the chair.appointed as needed by the chair.


These policies and guidelines are to be These policies and guidelines are to be reviewed annually by the State 4-H reviewed annually by the State 4-H Shooting Sports Committee.Shooting Sports Committee.

National 4-H Shooting Sports National 4-H Shooting Sports Code of EthicsCode of Ethics

A complete 4-H Shooting Sports program A complete 4-H Shooting Sports program must convey life skills development and be must convey life skills development and be presented in such a way that is safe, presented in such a way that is safe, technically competent, and helps to instill 4-technically competent, and helps to instill 4-H values in participants through teaching H values in participants through teaching and example. Certified Shooting Sports and example. Certified Shooting Sports Instructors and Volunteers must be Instructors and Volunteers must be cognizant of their role as a moral and cognizant of their role as a moral and ethical mentor, as well as teacher, to youth ethical mentor, as well as teacher, to youth and adults in their state and community.and adults in their state and community.


As a 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor or As a 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor or Volunteer:Volunteer:

I will respect the participants, volunteers I will respect the participants, volunteers and property associated with the 4-H and property associated with the 4-H Shooting Sports program.Shooting Sports program.

I will set a good example as a mentor and I will set a good example as a mentor and role model for 4-H Shooting Sports youth role model for 4-H Shooting Sports youth and volunteer leaders.and volunteer leaders.

I will conduct myself and my 4-H Shooting I will conduct myself and my 4-H Shooting Sports program in a professional and Sports program in a professional and ethical manner.ethical manner.


I will strive to be knowledgeable of the life I will strive to be knowledgeable of the life skills embodied in the 4-H Shooting Sports skills embodied in the 4-H Shooting Sports Program and aid positively in the Program and aid positively in the development of youth through adherence development of youth through adherence to those principles.to those principles.

I will strive to be technically competent in I will strive to be technically competent in the subject matter I teach and adhere to the subject matter I teach and adhere to the National 4-H Shooting Sports the National 4-H Shooting Sports Guidelines & Curriculum.Guidelines & Curriculum.


I will respect the dignity of each I will respect the dignity of each participant in the 4-H Shooting Sports participant in the 4-H Shooting Sports program regardless of gender, origin, program regardless of gender, origin, ability, achievement or conviction.ability, achievement or conviction.

Requirements & Guidelines New York State 4-H Shooting Sports Updated January 2015.

Documents

h shooting sports program

h shooting sports volunteers

h shooting sports manuals

h program slide

h member

program objectives

state level

cce office