Fall Offerings for 4-H Shooting Sports Coach Training

With the beginning of the new 4-H year comes new training opportunities to add coach positions to growing 4-H Shooting Sports projects across Texas.  Several opportunities are available in a variety of areas in the state.  Be sure to get those new volunteers enrolled as soon as possible to avoid a delay in registering for a training.  The background check that accompanies all enrollment takes at least 2 weeks to process.  Be proactive and plan ahead.

For the list of 4-H Shooting Sports Coach Trainings this fall, click HERE. 
More will be offered in the winter and spring of the year.  A full list can be found on the Quick Reference Schedule of Events/Trainings/Activities located on the 4-H Shooting Sports webpage, by clicking HERE and scrolling down to '4-H Member Resources'.

4-H Shooting Sports Project Coach Training and Certification

The 4-H Shooting Sports Project encompasses a large percentage of the 4-H membership in Texas and is the only project that requires each volunteer coach to be trained and certified in specific shooting disciplines before working with local 4-H youth.  The shooting disciplines covered in 4-H are archery, pistol, rifle, shotgun, muzzleloading, and hunting.  Several hundred volunteers are trained each year.  September and the new 4-H year open the coach training season.  Many questions arise each year concerning 4-H Shooting Sports Coach Certification and the trainings themselves.  The following are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

•  All 4-H Shooting Sports local projects must have at least one 4-H trained and certified coach in each of the disciplines offered in that project.
• Adults must first be enrolled on 4-H Connect as 'Volunteers' which requires a background check that takes at least two weeks to process so do this well in advance of a desired training registration.
• Only one discipline certification is available per training attended.  However, coaches may attend multiple trainings and be certified in multiple disciplines.
• A certified coach must be present on the range during all firearm handling and live fire.
• A certified coach must be 21 years of age or older.
• No other certifications or professional training will substitute for 4-H training and certification.
• Any 4-H member or volunteer 14-20 years of age may attend the training and receive an Assistant Coach certification.
•  All scheduled trainings are open to enrolled 4-H volunteers and eligible members regardless of where in the state they live.

For more details on this certification, click HERE.

Practice Contest for 4-H Wildlife Project Contests

A Practice Contest will be held November 18 in Menard, Texas to help train youth and adults in how to compete in the various wildlife contests offered the 4-H Wildlife Project.  The practice contest/training will cover the following contests, 4-H WHEP Contest, 4-H Wildlife Challenge, and the wildlife contests held at the State Fair and the Houston and Fort Worth livestock shows.
Participants will be introduced to various resources for each contest and guided on how to use them.
Registration for this event will be on 4-H Connect.  For more information, click HERE.

Navarro County 4-H Shotgun Team Shootout

Navarro County 4-H is hosting the 1st Annual 4-H Shotgun Team Shootout on November 18, 2017.  The event will take place at the Caney Creek Lodge in Teague, Texas.  Events will include 4-H Sporting Clays, Whiz Bang, and an open shoot for adults.  Registration is currently open on iClays, iclays.com.  For complete information, click HERE.

Texas Team Takes 2nd Place at 2017 National WHEP Invitational

The Texas 4-H team which represented us at the 2017 National WHEP Invitational in Georgia last week won the honor of 2nd Place overall.  WHEP (an acronym for Wildlife Habitat Education Project) is a wildlife project in 4-H teaching youth about wildlife habitat management.

 This Cooke County team earned the position of representing Texas by winning the 1st Place Senior Team at this year's Texas 4-H WHEP Contest.  Congratulations to the team consisting of Cassandra Faddis, Anna Raabe, Clara Raabe, and Kristen Samek.  Congratulations as well to Mrs. Susan Raabe, the Cooke County 4-H WHEP Coach and long time adult leader in this project.

 Opening Ceremonies

 Competition Day

2nd Place Team Overall