In this day and age of tight budgets and personnel shortages, how do you continue to connect kids to the outdoors in a meaningful, long-lasting way?
The Texas AgriLife Extension Service’s 4-H program has a way. A 4-H Hunting and Wildlife Coach Training in College Station on February 4th and 5th proved this once again, and was a huge success. Twenty 4-H volunteers from across the state participated in the 2-day workshop. The goal of the training was to produce volunteers who would lead youth in safe, knowledgeable and responsible hunting projects and clubs. The agenda was jam-packed with 4-H Hunting Curriculum activities, a variety of live fire exercises, and Texas Hunter Education Instructor Training. Participants were dual certified as 4-H Hunting Coaches and TPWD Hunter Education Instructors. Presentations were given on Texas Youth Hunting Program (TYHP) by David Baxter, while other presenters gave talks on Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC), and 4-H Wildlife Challenge, along with other natural resource programs. David did an awesome job of inspiring us all!
· Many positive comments were made after the training, one in particular being, "how can we keep this momentum going?” Good question. Larry Hysmith, 4-H Natural Resource Coordinator, and Denise Garza, Texas AgriLife Extension Associate in Wildlife and Fisheries, who planned the workshop, are already planning another. You can look for more dates and more information about other natural resource youth programs at texas4-h@tamu.edu.
Each coach received a 2010 Draft 4-H Hunting Curriculum from National 4-H. A finalized version will be available soon on line. The curriculum is over 200 pages of lesson plans and fact sheets related to hunting. Additionally, each participant walked away with NRA Hunter’s Guide, Texas Hunter Education Student Manual, NRA’s Youth Hunter Education Challenge Rules and Example Exams, NRA’s Muzzleloading Rifle Handbooks, copies of A Sand County Almanac, and other resources such as gun locks.
The shooting events were hosted by Kyle Kacal at Tonkaway Ranch in Brazos County. We got to shoot in every event: rifle, archery, muzzleloading, and shotgun. Even though the rain threatened our muzzleloading, we were able to keep our powder dry. Current 4-H Hunting coaches Mike Malone and Kevin Dockery brought their children to help with muzzleloading and archery. They did an outstanding job! Mike and Kevin also provided instruction on orienteering and wildlife challenge.
These twenty new 4-H Hunting and Wildlife Coaches will now go back to their counties and provide year-long leadership to youth in their area. They can provide basic hunter education, monthly activities on a variety of topics related to wildlife and hunting and then end their year with a hunt through Texas Youth Hunting Program. All accomplished through quality training and their volunteer hours.