The Shotgun Discipline of the Marion County Shooting Sports Program is largely volunteer led program. We are proud to say that we currently have two outstanding volunteers: Michael Hooper (TWRA Instructor) & Neal Ashburn (4-H Alumni). All volunteers are experienced, trained, and certified 4-H shooting sports instructors.

Program Objectives (abbreviated) Include:

 

1. Encourage participation.

2. Enhance development of self.

3. Teach safe and responsible use of firearms.

4. Promote safety, sportsmanship, and ethics.

5. Introduce youth to a potential life-long interest.

6. Strengthen families through participation.

Marion County's Shooting Sports is a part of the Tennessee 4-H Shooting Sports which is based on the National 4-H Shooting Sports Program. Curriculum is designed to assist young people in life skill development, establish a personal environmental ethic, and explore life-long vocational and avocational activities.

 

This program uses experiential learning and positive interactions with youth and adult role models to help young people develop the life skills of achieving goals, health lifestyle choices, leadership, positive self-esteem, responsibility, and teamwork. The curriculum also provides a framework of knowledge and skills for lifetime participation in recreation, hobbies, and careers related to shooting sports and wildlife. Core concepts stress safety, ethical development, and life-time recreational skills to youth not being reached by other programs or sports.

 

Participants may elect to compete at a level appropriate for their abilities or pursue other goals within the program. Although participants have shown high achievement in the filed, shop, classroom and target range, personal development for young people and leaders is the real objective. Like other 4-H projects, shooting sports has a subject matter base. It has strong links to natural resources, wildlife, outdoor recreation, and safety. The content is drawn form sports medicine, psychology, education, biological and physical sciences engineering, mathematics, technology, as well American traditions, folklore, and history.

 

The Archery portion of the Marion County Shooting Sports Program is facilitated by Dannie Bradford. For more information contact her at 423.942.2656 or elowrey@utk.edu