2010 Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.) attendee Reed Hubbell had the chance to talk to the Delta County Independent about his experience in Washington D.C. An excerpt from DeltaCountyIndependent.com:

NRA youth summit a great learning experience, Hubbell reports

... But his favorite part of the trip was meeting the “intelligent, kind” students who attended the summit.

“They were brought in from all over the country, from California to Maine, but I found myself wishing they went to my high school,” Hubbell said. “Simply put, they were cool people. Even if you attend the summit and don’t win a single scholarship, you’ll leave Washington a lot more educated, with some great memories and 44 new friends.”

Although Hubbell had to pay his own airfare, he said the trip was top notch.

“I’d encourage anyone who’s interested in government, the Second Amendment, or just a truly educational experience to attend YES. It’s an unforgettable event.”

Hubbell joined the NRA after he returned from Washington. “I turned 16 and decided it’s about time I stand up for the Second Amendment rights I believe in.”

Read Reed's entire story.

It's hard to believe the Youth Education Summit (YES) was almost two months ago. The forty-five students who made the trek to Washington, D.C. for a once in a lifetime educational experience didn't leave us empty handed. A number of students took the time to thank the handful of NRA employees who planned and ran the seven-day event with their own special brand of thank yous.

This board of thanks belongs to Amber Niblock-Shorter, who was one of the key planners and executors of this year's Youth Education Summit.

"It was a pleasure to serve as host to all those wonderful young adults," Amber said. "Witnessing how they engaged during our workshops, their enthusiasm during the tours - or while listening to our speakers - made me feel proud to be part of such a unique program. "

While in the nation's capital, this year's group of rising high school juniors and seniors learned the significance of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights and the importance of being an active citizen. The students toured the U.S. Capitol, the National Archives Museum, the Pentagon, the NRA National Firearms Museum, and many of the memorials and monuments in Washington, D.C.

Think YES sounds like something you'd like to be part of? Then what are you waiting for? It's never too early to sign up for next year's Y.E.S. — June 20 - 26, 2011. The application deadline is Valentine's Day, February 14, 2011.

Learn more about YES and its scholarship opportunities by visiting www.friendsofnra.org/yes.

This year's NRA Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.) took place in July. Its participants have since returned to their homes across the United States. Julia Parker, a $500 scholarship winner, recently made the news in her home state of New Hampshire.

From Nashuatelegraph.com:

Merrimack teen awarded scholarship by NRA

Seventeen-year-old home school student Julia Parker, of Merrimack, has grown up learning the importance of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights – especially the right to bear arms.

“Our parents have always tried to give us that love of the Constitution to help us understand so we can be forces for good in our country and in our lives,” Parker explained. To prepare for her political science minor at Brigham Young University this fall, Parker was searching around for political conferences when she came across the National Rifle Association’s National Youth Education Summit in Washington, D.C., and found it tailor-made to her interests and hobbies.

... From July 12-18, Parker took an expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to participate in the NRA summit that motivates students to become active and knowledgeable U.S. citizens by learning the significance of the Constitution and understanding the federal government.

“It was really neat for one thing, to be there with so many other youth that share your values, that help you grow,” Parkers said. “They all have this passion for the Constitution, so you really feel like you’re with your colleagues. We were all on the same level, understanding how important this was.”

One of 45 high school students from approximately 40 states across the county, Parker, the only representative from New Hampshire, spent a week of her summer touring the Pentagon, the National Archives, numerous war memorials, the Capitol and the Marine Corps base, Quantico.

She also had the opportunity to chat with Congressman Duncan D. Hunter, R-Calif., and NRA Vice President Wayne LaPierre, among other things.

“The week was quite packed, but it was worth every minute of it,” Parker said.

Read the entire story here -- and stay tuned for more on this talented group. One 2010 Youth Education Summit participant will walk away with the program's grand prize, and you'll read about it first on NRAblog.com

From Senior Event Services Coordinator Nicole McMahon:

Do you live in North Carolina? Are you a freshman, sophomore, or junior in high school and want to learn more about becoming an active citizen and the National Rifle Association? Do you have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale? Then apply to the 2010 North Carolina Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.)! The deadline to apply is Wednesday, August 25.

The North Carolina Y.E.S. program will take place Friday, September 10 – Sunday, September 12. During the summit, students will be introduced to the legislative and political bodies in their state, become educated about the rich history of North Carolina, tour museums and historical sites in the area, as well learn public speaking and debating skills.

At the conclusion of North Carolina Y.E.S., three students will be awarded college scholarships, and the top winner will be selected to attend the 2011 National Y.E.S. program in Washington, D.C. from June 20 – 26.

For more information, please contact NRA Field Representative David Wells at (252) 456-2097 or dwells@nrahq.org.

NRA Field Operations reports the following:

The 2010 Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.) was here and gone in a flash and NRA staff are gearing up for the 2011 summit! Next year's Y.E.S. is tentatively scheduled for Monday, June 20 – Sunday, June 26. Interested students in their sophomore or junior year can download the application at www.friendsofnra.org/yes. Please note it must be completed and postmarked by Monday, February 14. For more information, email yes@nrahq.org.

The National Rifle Association launched the National Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.) in 1996 in an effort to encourage America's youth to become active and knowledgeable citizens. The summit is a seven-day, expense-paid leadership week in Washington, D.C. Each year, the NRA selects the best and the brightest students to visit the nation's capital where participants learn the significance of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights while developing an understanding of federal government and the importance of active participation.

Caleb Moore left last week’s Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.) with a $1,000 scholarship in hand, and NRAblog had the chance to talk with him at the summit about his interests, extracurricular activities, and experience so far at Y.E.S.

A native of Elizabethtown, KY, Caleb explained that his family’s interest in firearms and involvement with the NRA are long-standing traditions: “My dad has always been a big supporter of the NRA and the Second Amendment. He has a military background, and his interest in firearms was passed down from his father, and his father’s father, and now it’s come to me.” While Caleb doesn’t shoot competitively, he said that he enjoys skeet shooting “whenever possible” on his family’s range.

Also in his free time, Caleb participates in a local community program called Teen Court, which, he said, “allows teenagers who have committed an offense to come before other teens who form a jury. The program is run through the local court house, and there are over 100 kids like me who are involved.”

Although Teen Court is a big commitment, Caleb enjoys participating because it’s a way to “try to help other teenagers who have made mistakes in their lives and guide them back to doing right.”

When asked what he could see himself doing after high school, Caleb replied, “I’d like to go to the Air Force Academy and major in electrical engineering.” A young but focused and ambitious young man, Caleb undoubtedly has a bright future ahead of him. At the time of his interview, Caleb said that he was having a great time at Y.E.S., and he was particularly looking forward to visiting Capitol Hill: “I’ve had a lot of fun so far, and I can’t wait to meet my Congressman on Capitol Hill and to see the different monuments in D.C.” 

The winner of a $1,000 scholarship for outstanding participation in the Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.), Alyssa Campbell of Huber Heights, OH, exemplifies the Summit’s focus on scholarship and community involvement. Alyssa is pictured at right with NRA Senior Event Coordinator Nicole McMahon during Y.E.S.' Award Ceremony on Saturday July 17.

While she was waiting her turn to shoot in the newly-renovated range, NRAblog had the chance to pull Alyssa aside and ask her about her experience with firearms, her extracurricular activities, and her future goals. Alyssa explained that her family’s enthusiasm for firearms began when she was a child: “My parents took a self-defense course when I was about 8, and since I was 10 they would take me along to watch them shoot whenever possible. I absolutely love shooting!”

Since then, shooting at the local range has become a family activity, and Alyssa said that the Campbells enjoy having “conservative Sundays, which is when we go to church, go out to eat, and then go to the range to shoot. It’s a lot of fun.”

Also highly involved in her community, Alyssa participates in a plethora of extracurricular activities, including cheering, lifeguarding, teaching swim lessons, and performing martial arts.

Her favorite subjects in school are English and Bible, and when asked what she would like to do after high school, Alyssa replied, “I’m not sure, but what I know right now is that I want to help people, and I want to be a Red Cross volunteer so that I can help with things like natural disasters.”

Y.E.S. was Alyssa’s first visit to Washington, and she had these encouraging words for future applicants: “The history behind our country is astounding, and it’s pretty amazing to see the underlying foundation of our nation. I would encourage people to participate in Y.E.S. because it’s a great learning experience, and it’s totally worthwhile.”

Students from across the country participated in last week’s Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.). Pictured at left, Jansen Card from Spokane, WA, and Victoria Schlotzhauer, from New Franklin, MO, are an example of the bright, enthusiastic students chosen to attend Y.E.S. each year.

Meet Victoria:

We caught up with Victoria while she was waiting her turn to shoot in NRA’s newly-renovated indoor shooting range. Her dad brought Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program materials home when she was young, and he introduced her to firearm safety when she was older. She’s “always been interested in hunting and shooting.” 

Victoria is also highly involved in her school and community—she said she’s going to be the president of 4-H next year, although she enjoys “too many things to count!” Through 4-H, she and her sister have presented the Eddie Eagle program at local schools, and Victoria hopes to pursue her love for helping people by attending nursing school after high school. “I want to go into nursing one day, and I’m thinking about joining the Air Force because of its educational support," she said.

Just before talking to NRAblog, Victoria had visited NRA’s National Firearms Museum with other Y.E.S. students, and she said that the Museum was “very interesting. I’ve never seen so many guns!” More...

The National Rifle Association hosted 45 high school students July 12-18 at its annual Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.) in Washington, D.C. You've read about their trip to the NRA Museum and the week's touching award ceremony. 

Today, the NRA announces it has awarded a total of $10,000 to 9 students based on their performance at this year's Summit. 

Congratulations to the recipients of the first round of Youth Education Summit scholarships: 

$2,000: Catherine Cox (Southern Pines, North Carolina), Luke Macfarlan (Siloam Springs, Arizona), Philip Wegmann (Woodburn, Indiana)

$1,000: Alyssa Campbell (Huber Heights, Ohio), Caleb Moore (Elizabethtown, Kentucky)

$500: Russell Babb (Highland, Utah), Elizabeth Gonzalez (Chesterton, Indiana), Heather McCormac (Citrus Heights, California), Julia Parker (Merrimack, New Hampshire)

A second round of scholarships, called Grand Scholarships, is comprised of $20,000 and involves a second application, available to the participants after they complete the program. Since the program’s inception in 1996, more than $200,000 in scholarships has been awarded. More...

Forty-five of America’s brightest high school students are traveling to their respective homes today after an “unforgettable” week in the nation’s capitol with the NRA Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.).

“I’ve loved every part of it,” said Catherine Cox of North Carolina. “I don’t want to leave.” Cox is one of several students awarded a $2,000 college scholarship for her participation in the week’s activities.

Throughout the week, students toured the NRA National Firearms Museum, the Pentagon, the U.S. Capitol, the Marine Corps Museum, the Newseum, and more. NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre addressed the group, as did Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA).

A touching Awards Ceremony and Dinner at NRA Headquarters in Fairfax, VA, Saturday wrapped up the week’s events. Looking back at the week, students and NRA staff reflected on how close the group became over six days.

NRA Event Services Manager Jeremy Greene had several words of wisdom for the students before introducing keynote speaker Cam Edwards of NRANews. “I know each and every one of you is a talented individual,” DaSilva said. “You’ve made us proud this week, and we hope you have the drive to become leaders of your generation.”

NRANews host Cam Edwards stepped up to the microphone. “How many of you listen to talk radio?” he asked the audience. “How many of you ever hear them talk about the Second Amendment? For some reason, it isn’t a popular topic.”

“But for tens of millions of Americans, the Second Amendment is a right they hold dear. At NRANews, we’re able to bring information to the audience they don’t get from any other media outlet. We’ve done it for six years, and we’ve covered some incredible stories.”

More...

Students in Washington DC with the NRA's Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.) have visited the District's memorials and monuments. (Special thanks to Carly Johns from Montana for her picture from the World War II memorial.) They've enjoyed exclusive tours of the Pentagon, the National Archives, the NRA National Firearms Museum, and more.

And throughout it all, they've been competing for $10,000 worth of scholarships.

The first round of awards was announced yesterday at the week's Award Ceremony and Dinner. Stay tuned to NRAblog for the names of the winners. A second round of scholarships, called Grand Scholarships, total $20,000 and involve a second application, available to participants after they complete the 2010 Y.E.S. program.

“We’ve learned a lot about the Second Amendment and the programs of the NRA,” said 2010 Y.E.S. participant Julia Parker from New Hampshire. “It’s been a wonderful experience getting to know other students who share my passion for freedom.”

Since the Youth Education Summit's inception in 1996, more than $200,000 in scholarships has been awarded. The NRA Foundation provides all funding for the Youth Education Summit through monies raised by Friends of NRA events. Friends of NRA is a grassroots fundraising program organized by local volunteers. Since the program's inception in 1992, Friends of NRA has funded thousands of local projects that include youth education efforts, firearm training, and conservation projects.

For Nathan Switzer of Newport News, VA, attending the Youth Education Summit (YES) is an opportunity to continue his life-long interest in firearms and competitive shooting. While YES doesn’t involve any official shooting competitions, students had the chance to practice their shooting skills this week at NRA’s newly renovated range. Nathan is no stranger to target practice: “My grandpa started teaching me to rifle shoot when I was a little kid, and I picked up pistol shooting about two years ago,” he told NRAblog.

Just before coming to Washington, DC, to participate in YES, Nathan traveled to Camp Perry to attend the NRA Progressive Position Air Pistol Championships, which he said was “a really great experience before coming to YES.”

While Nathan is an avid shooter, his interests don’t stop at firearms. He just finished fulfilling a practice time requirement to receive an FA glider license, and he’s been playing the cello for 10 years.

When asked what he’s most looking forward to at YES, Nathan said, “Probably the Pentagon, since I’ve never gotten to see it before on my trips to DC.” Nathan’s also enjoying getting to know “like-minded people from across the country – I’m sure there will be a Facebook group up soon for 2010 YES alumni!”

For more on this talented group of kids, stay tuned to NRAblog.

Comprehensive firearms history isn't taught in high school these days. Forty-five students from across the United States had the opportunity to participate in an interactive tour of the NRA's National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Virginia, as part of the 2010 Youth Education Summit, known as YES.

The Hollywood Guns exhibit was of particular interest to the group. Students had questions for Museum staff about the firearms used in the Civil War, the lightsaber featured in Star Wars films, and everything in between. Several pupils were fascinated with the guns owned and used by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt.

The 2010 Youth Education Summit began on Monday, July 12, and concludes this Saturday, July 17. The NRA National Firearms Museum was one of the Summit's first activities and received high ratings from the group.

Later this week the group will tour the U.S. Capitol and the Pentagon. They'll experience a bus tour of the Washington Monument and the Lincoln, Vietnam War, Korean War, and World War II memorials. Students will enjoy more firearms history when they visit the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia, and will return to NRA HQ for an Awards Ceremony on Saturday.

	After a tour of the NRA National Firearms Museum, the 45 students participating in the 2010 Youth Education Summit, or YES, headed to the NRA Headquarters Range. At left, students enjoyed photographing the Museum's varied exhibits.

Today was a busy day, and we're told it's going to be one heck of a week. "We head to the Pentagon for a tour on Wednesday, and the U.S. Capitol on Thursday," event organizer Nicole McMahon told NRAblog.

But today was all about NRA Headquarters. The Range, with its exciting new renovations, marked the first time a few of these students had handled firearms. "I can't believe how fun that was," a student told us after shooting a .22 caliber pistol for the first time in her life. 

Stick around for more Youth Education Summit photos!

The 45 students chosen to attend the Youth Education Summit this week have arrived at NRA Headquarters. Most flew into the Washington DC area yesterday. At 8 a.m. today, they stepped off their charter bus and into NRA Headquarters, as our slideshow at right illustrates.

And what a day we have planned for these young people! First, they will hear from the folks at NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action, the NRA-ILA, on the fine points of public speaking. Debates and speeches are a theme throughout the week, with participants sharpening their skills on a wide variety of public policy issues.

Next, they’ll learn about the exciting programs offered by NRA Women's Program staff and Youth Program staff. They will also hear from Eddie Eagle Program Coordinator Jon Draper on how they can bring the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program to their communities.

They’ll eat lunch in the NRA Cafe and participate in a “mock Friends of NRA” banquet. To round out the day, the group will split in half and rotate between the NRA National Firearms Museum and the NRA HQ Range, where many of them will fire their first shot at a target.

NRAblog will be following the action of this group as they experience all the Washington D.C. area – and the NRA – have to offer.