EUREKA – University of Illinois Extension’s 4-H program is beginning its fourth year of involvement in the National 4-H Shooting Sports Program. The National 4-H Shooting Sports Program has been in existence since the mid 1970s, but some individual states offered a 4-H shooting sports program as early as the 1930s.

Youth development is the number one goal of the Shooting Sports Program. The program is an excellent way to provide life skill development and to establish a caring relationship with an adult mentor. The program is an active program, attractive to both youth and adult audiences. 4-H curriculum has been designed to assist young people in personal development, personal environmental ethics, and lifelong vocational and avocational activities. The program helps to promote self-confidence, responsibility, teamwork, self-esteem, decision-making and the identification of realistic personal goals.

The 4-H project allows members to decide which of the disciplines they will participate in: shotgun, air rifle, small bore .22 rifle, or archery. An informational meeting for current 4-H members and those interested in joining 4-H and the shooting sports program will be held at Liberty Bible Church in Eureka on Thursday, January 17 at  6:30 p.m. Parents should plan to attend with their children. Please register for the meeting by either calling University of Illinois Extension – Woodford County at 467-3789, or online at https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=7548.

Youth must be 8 to 18 years of age as of September 1, 2012 to become a 4-H member and enroll in the shooting sports project. Youth must be at least 10 years of age to participate in the shotgun and .22 rifle disciplines.  

As the program evolves, 4-H members will have opportunities to test their shooting, hunting and sportsmanship skills in county, regional, state and national competitions.  4-H’ers in the national program have demonstrated high achievement in the field, in the classroom and on the target range – but personal development for young people and adult leaders is the real objective. The program will strive to make every child a winner and to adhere to the 4-H motto to “make the best better.”  

 Adult volunteers are being actively sought to help make the shooting sports program a success.  In accordance with state 4-H policies, volunteers must be at least 18 years of age,  be accepted as a 4-H volunteer,  and complete all screening procedures.  Please contact the Extension Office if you are interested in becoming a volunteer. Local Contact: Cathy Blunier, Youth Development Educator, 467-3789