CHESTER—
In just four years, the size of the Rockingham County 4-H Shooting Sports program has grown to almost 70 members.
Morgan King, 4-H member and Junior Leader from Epping, noted that when she started, there were about 15 people participating. The program is run in conjunction with the Chester Rod and Gun Club’s Junior Rifle League. The 4-H Shooting Sports program is a component of the UNH Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development program.
April 30 was the last day of the 2010-11 shooting sports program, which runs annually from November through April at the club. The program is coordinated by Volunteer 4-H Leader Mike King of Epping, who was recognized for 10 years of volunteer service.
4-H Shooting Sports is run with support of the Chester Rod and Gun Club. Howard Houle, vice president, was helping at the rifle range on the last day, as he did almost every weekend throughout the program.
The program attracts a wide variety of boys and girls. Mike Shea of Windham pointed out the program was one of the few organized activities that really fit his teenage son’s interests. Cliff Cloutier, a Range Safety Officer from the gun club, brings his children as well as his niece and nephew to the program. He said that his children are well rounded and interested in other activities, but he could not tear them away from the shooting sports program because it was such a good outlet for them. It’s like their vacation, he added.
Fun as it may be, the program is focused on teaching safety and skills. The weekend sessions are run by 4-H volunteer leaders, including King, Bob Lamothe, Jr. from Hampton, and James Turner from Derry who are certified in safety and instruction and committed to helping the youth involved improve their skills.
Some participants, including Morgan King, Colleen McCormack, and Daniel Turner, have progressed to the point of becoming junior leaders. Similar to other successful 4-H Youth Development programs, shooting sports seeks to offer leadership opportunities to older youth in order to challenge them further.
Morgan and Colleen welcome new participants and work to keep the program’s paperwork in order. According to Lorrie Liebfried, a mother present on April 30, Junior Leader Dan Turner is as patient as the adult instructors when working with new archers. He plans to attend the 4-H shooting sports instructor training scheduled for May 21-22 at the New Boston 4-H Youth Center.
There were many smiles and proud moments on Saturday when youth used their archery skills to pop balloons pinned to the range wall or when they brought a target back from the rifle range marked with successful shots in the black. The program’s incredible growth is a testament to the fact that 4-H and the Chester Rod and Gun Club have hit a bull’s-eye with local youth.
4-H is the youth program of the UNH Cooperative Extension and has the mission to help youth acquire knowledge, develop life skills, and form attitudes to enable them to become self-directing, productive, and contributing members of society. The 4-H Youth Development Program provides a diversity of opportunities for youth and adult volunteers to make a difference in their lives and that of their communities. For more information on 4-H clubs and programs in Rockingham County, call (603) 679-5616 or visit bit.ly/RockCty4H.
Photo caption: 4-H Volunteer Leader Mike King of Epping is a typical blur of energy as he supervises the archery range at the Rockingham County 4-H Shooting Sports program run in partnership with the Chester Rod and Gun Club Junior Rifle League. The program nearly doubled in popularity this past year. (Courtesy photo)
In just four years, the size of the Rockingham County 4-H Shooting Sports program has grown to almost 70 members.
Morgan King, 4-H member and Junior Leader from Epping, noted that when she started, there were about 15 people participating. The program is run in conjunction with the Chester Rod and Gun Club’s Junior Rifle League. The 4-H Shooting Sports program is a component of the UNH Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development program.
April 30 was the last day of the 2010-11 shooting sports program, which runs annually from November through April at the club. The program is coordinated by Volunteer 4-H Leader Mike King of Epping, who was recognized for 10 years of volunteer service.
4-H Shooting Sports is run with support of the Chester Rod and Gun Club. Howard Houle, vice president, was helping at the rifle range on the last day, as he did almost every weekend throughout the program.
The program attracts a wide variety of boys and girls. Mike Shea of Windham pointed out the program was one of the few organized activities that really fit his teenage son’s interests. Cliff Cloutier, a Range Safety Officer from the gun club, brings his children as well as his niece and nephew to the program. He said that his children are well rounded and interested in other activities, but he could not tear them away from the shooting sports program because it was such a good outlet for them. It’s like their vacation, he added.
Fun as it may be, the program is focused on teaching safety and skills. The weekend sessions are run by 4-H volunteer leaders, including King, Bob Lamothe, Jr. from Hampton, and James Turner from Derry who are certified in safety and instruction and committed to helping the youth involved improve their skills.
Some participants, including Morgan King, Colleen McCormack, and Daniel Turner, have progressed to the point of becoming junior leaders. Similar to other successful 4-H Youth Development programs, shooting sports seeks to offer leadership opportunities to older youth in order to challenge them further.
Morgan and Colleen welcome new participants and work to keep the program’s paperwork in order. According to Lorrie Liebfried, a mother present on April 30, Junior Leader Dan Turner is as patient as the adult instructors when working with new archers. He plans to attend the 4-H shooting sports instructor training scheduled for May 21-22 at the New Boston 4-H Youth Center.
There were many smiles and proud moments on Saturday when youth used their archery skills to pop balloons pinned to the range wall or when they brought a target back from the rifle range marked with successful shots in the black. The program’s incredible growth is a testament to the fact that 4-H and the Chester Rod and Gun Club have hit a bull’s-eye with local youth.
4-H is the youth program of the UNH Cooperative Extension and has the mission to help youth acquire knowledge, develop life skills, and form attitudes to enable them to become self-directing, productive, and contributing members of society. The 4-H Youth Development Program provides a diversity of opportunities for youth and adult volunteers to make a difference in their lives and that of their communities. For more information on 4-H clubs and programs in Rockingham County, call (603) 679-5616 or visit bit.ly/RockCty4H.
Photo caption: 4-H Volunteer Leader Mike King of Epping is a typical blur of energy as he supervises the archery range at the Rockingham County 4-H Shooting Sports program run in partnership with the Chester Rod and Gun Club Junior Rifle League. The program nearly doubled in popularity this past year. (Courtesy photo)
