NRA Hunters Services' Mo Aguilar brings us the following:

The United Sportsmen Camp 271 and the Wilkes-Barre Rifle & Pistol Club will be sponsoring their first Regional YHEC at Wilkes-Barre Rifle & Pistol Club located in Hunlock, PA on May 22, 2010.

Participants may arrive on May 21, 2010 after 2:00pm. On-site camping is available for May 21 and May 22 at a cost of $5.00 per night with electric hook-up 110v, indoor bathrooms and showers.

Meals will be available for purchase Friday and Saturday.

Contact Dave Halchak at 570-542-2290 for further information.

Tom Hindman has been a Youth Hunter Education Clinic instructor for 12 years. On Saturday, at the NRA's first Great American Hunting & Outdoor Show, he was awarded with the Hunter Instructor Award -- the first of its kind awarded by the NRA.  

"As I told (NRA Director of Education + Training) Bill Poole, it's a manifestation of the opportunity of working beside some fabulous people who bring out the best in virtually everyone," Hindman said. "I work with some stellar performers who are team players." Hindman is between NRA Board Member Dave Butz, left, and Poole.

Hindman and his wife drove to the Maryland-based show from Johnstown, Pennsylvania.  He said he couldn't have dedicated the time and effort to the hunting community without the support of his family and friends. 

From the Pottsville, Pennsylvania-based RepublicanHerald.com comes an overview of the region's outdoor activities. The NRA's Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) is highlighted:

Year features conservation, education growth

Based upon conservations with fellow delegates to the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs conventions, few areas of the state can match the number of outdoors-related education events for youth that are held regionally. In addition to county- and club-sponsored youth field days, there are Youth Hunter Education Challenge programs in Northumberland and Schuylkill counties, and the Norm Thornburg Youth Conservation Camp.

Sponsored by the Schuylkill County Sportsmen's Association, the three-day camp is headquartered at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, where participants receive outdoors-related instructional classes and hands-on activities such as fishing. Off-site trips allow for instruction in activities such as canoeing and firearms training.

A written exam comprised of questions from the various instructors is given at the end of the camp, with the top two scorers earning scholarships to week-long conservation camps the following year. 

The Morning Times out of Sayre, PA, ran an article on the Pennsylvania rifle deer hunting season. One of the featured hunters is the president of his local YHEC:

Deer Season's First Shots Fired

Hunters marched into the countryside of Bradford County Monday, braving declining temperatures and some rainy conditions, to take the first shots of Pennsylvania’s rifle deer hunting season.

One of the hunters who came away with a first-day kill was William Stark of Sayre, a lifetime licensed New York state hunter, who purchased his Pennsylvania license Sunday on a whim.

“I figured, what’s my chances of getting a buck? And it turned out good,” said Stark.

Continue reading here.  

Thanks to the hard work of NRA’s Hunter Services Department and volunteers across the country, the Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) will reach more young hunters in 2010 through school systems.

Two schools recently chose to incorporate YHEC programs. Life Way Christian School in Centerton, Arkansas, recently decided to allow students to participate in YHEC. Michael Gower, a parent and one of the people who helped bring the idea to life, says that 12 to 14 kids have signed up to get involved in YHEC. “The kids are really excited,” he said.

The group practices shooting pellet rifles each Tuesday night, and held their first competition last Saturday. Gower hopes to have the group participate in four or five events in 2010 and to help expand the program. “We’re hoping that [YHEC] will spread in the school systems,” he said.

In central Pennsylvania, State YHEC Coordinator Charlie Fox helped Williamsport Area High School get YHEC approved as an extracurricular activity. “A few teachers were interesting in getting the YHEC program going and it grew from there,” Fox said. “The kids presented the concept to the school board and it was approved.”

According to Fox, a group of about 40 high school students interested in the shooting sports and hunting will participate in the Williamsport YHEC, with the hopes of making it to the Pennsylvania State YHEC event in June 2010.

To learn more about how to become involved with YHEC or start a YHEC program in your school, contact Morris Aguilar at (703) 267-1508 or maguilar@nrahq.org.

David Hammonds, Northeast Regional YHEC Director, brings us the following report and photo from last month’s successful event:

The First Annual Northeast Regional Texas Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) was held on October 10, 2009 at the Arlington Sportsman’s Club (ASC) in Mansfield, Texas. The Cabela’s Fort Worth Store joined with ASC in sponsoring the NRA YHEC Program. 

Four individual senior participants and 12 individual junior participants competed in 5 scored events: Archery, Shotgun, .22 Rimfire Rifle, Wildlife ID, and a Hunter Skills Trail. The 5 scored events were staffed by 18 volunteers, including Texas Hunter Education Instructors (THEIA), Scout Leaders, and/or ASC, TSRA, NRA members. The three shooting events were held in the morning and the two responsibility events took place in the afternoon. There was also a muzzleloader family fun shoot following the afternoon schedule with more than 19 family members participating.

ASC President Richard Matsler, President-elect Matt Jones, and Tracy Doty, Special Events Coordinator for the Cabela’s Fort Worth store, presented the awards with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners receiving gold, silver and bronze medals and 4th and 5th place winners receiving ribbons.

Many of the volunteers said, “Sign me up to work this program next year. This is fun, and I’ll work any area where I'm needed.”

Some participants were overheard saying, “This is a blast!”, “I scored the max in Archery!” and “I want to do this again.”

Mr. Hammonds has started the planning for next year’s Northeast Regional Texas YHEC, and would like to thank all the volunteers, sponsors and family members for making YHEC so successful and fun.

The YHEC program provides a practical environment for hands-on training and reinforcement of a young hunter’s skills. The event is hosted by the Sporting Friends of Cowley County using grant money given by the Friends of the NRA.

In honor of a former participant, Tyler Juden (pictured left), the event is now known as the Tyler Juden Youth Hunter Education Challenge. The Juden family was contacted and permission was given to rename the event. The Juden family has established a memorial fund to honor Tyler.

The following article from the Winfield Courier has more:

Tyler Juden Memorial Youth Hunter Education Challenge held in October

On Oct. 3, youth ages 7 to 18 attended the 13th Annual Youth Hunter Education Challenge at the Radcliff Ranch outside of Dexter. The YHEC program provides a practical environment for hands-on training and reinforcement of a young hunter’s skills. The event is hosted by the Sporting Friends of Cowley County using grant money given by the Friends of the National Rifle Association (NRA).

In honor of a former participant, Tyler Juden, the event is now known as the Tyler Juden Youth Hunter Education Challenge. The Juden family was contacted and permission was given to rename the event. The Juden family has established a memorial fund to honor Tyler. Part of the memorial funds will be used for a scholarship to send one of the YHEC participants to an NRA youth camp at the Whittington Center in Raton, N.M.

The top five senior division participants were selected to write an essay on “What Freedom Means to Me.” The essays will be evaluated, and the top winner will attend the camp during 2010. Tyler had attended a youth camp at Whittington and did so well that he was invited to return as a youth counselor.

The top five senior division contestants for the Juden Scholarship Award are: Christopher Crain, Dylan Cox, Wyatt Villers, Hunter Miller and Logan Drake.

To get involved with the Cowley County or any other Friends of NRA banquet in Kansas to make events like this possible, please contact Field Representative Rick Chrisman at (913) 294-9956 or rchrisman@nrahq.org.

Fall is an exciting time for hunters, and young hunters are no exception! Several states are gearing up for hunting season with the Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC).

The following YHEC events happen this month:

• Nebraska State YHEC: Oct 10, 2009 at the Eastern Nebraska Gun in Louisville, Nebraska. For more information, contact Elmer Johnstone at 402-895-2838.


• Texas Regional YHEC: Oct 10, 2009 at the Arlington Sportsman’s Club in Mansfield, Texas. For more information, contact David Hammonds at 972-550-4878 ext. 238.

• New York Regional YHEC: Oct 24, 2009 at the Chemung Rod and Gun Club in Breesport, New York. For more information, contact Rich Lathrop at 570-596-2234.

Want to learn more about YHEC and network with other young hunters? With permission, check out YHEC on Facebook!

Charlie Fox, the Pennsylvania State YHEC coordinator, tipped us off about this news:

Jason LeVan, Garrett Rathbum, Cody Wolfe, and Dan Weber recently took first place in the 5th Annual Celebrity Classic Sporting Clays Shoot on Friday, August 28, 2009 at the Blue Ridge Sportsmen’s Club in Linglestown, Pennsylvania. The event helped raise funds for the Ned Smith Center for Art and Nature. The young men from Troy, Pennsylvania may have won, but competition is nothing new for this group.

In June of this year, the four were part of the Troy Junior Sportsmen Sureshots, and competed in the 2009 Pennsylvania State Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC). The team took first place in the Senior age category and set their sights on the International YHEC in Raton, New Mexico.

Just a month later, the group of young men made their way to the NRA Whittington Center to compete against teams from across the country during the International YHEC. Along with teammate Zachary Bixby and Coach Jeff Castle, these four took third place in the Senior Team category. LeVan also placed second in the Senior Individual Overall Winners category.

For these four young men, the summer has held its fair share of competition, along with some victories. Thanks for the report, Charlie!

Morris "Mo" Aguilar with NRA's Hunter Services Department visited the recent Michigan State Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) and brought back pictures and a report:

The Michigan State YHEC event was held August 29-30, 2009. 110 participants, 22 coaches, and over 60 volunteers came out to this year’s event, and everyone had a great time. The event was hosted by Capital Area Sportmen’s League located in Lansing, Michigan.

Youngsters from all around the state participated, as well as a number of youngsters from Ohio. Debi Pinkel, the Michigan State YHEC Director, was glad to see so many youth, coaches and volunteers involved in this year's YHEC.

Thanks for another great report, Mo! Learn more about YHEC or check it out on Facebook.  

Here is the first of three profiles on the winners of the 2009 Outstanding Achievement Youth Award. Let's kick things off with our first place winner: 

Eighteen-year-old Collin Wietfeldt of Hemlock, Michigan, took first place in the 2009 Outstanding Achievement Youth Award and will receive $5,000 scholarship. Wietfeldt’s impressive shotgun skills earned him spots on the 2009 U.S. World Championship Shotgun Team, the U.S. National Development Team, and on the 2009 ATA All-American Junior Trapshooting Team.

Wietfeldt recently returned from the Shotgun World Championships, held August 7-16 in Maribor, Slovenia, where he earned a silver medal as a member of the Men’s Junior Trap Team and finished in 7th place as an individual. Earlier this month, Wietfeldt took first place in the Trap Championships at the 2009 Shotgun Junior Olympics in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

In addition to his shooting skills, Wietfeldt is also very active in his school and community. At Hemlock High School, Wietfeldt is a member of the Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA), the CPR Team, and is a regular name on the Honor Roll. Wietfeldt’s community involvement includes being an active member, volunteer, and coach with the Saginaw Field and Stream Club, serving as a coach for the Scholastic Clay Target Program, and as a frequent blood donor, being presented with the Donor For Life Award in 2008. In addition, Wietfeldt has participated in the Michigan State Youth Hunter Education Challenge and NRA Advanced Shotgun Camps.

Just last week, Wietfeldt accepted an offer to become a resident athlete at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He has sinced moved to Colorado to begin his training and has enrolled at the University of Colorado. Congratulations, Collin, on all of your recent achievements!

Keep checking back with NRAblog for profiles of more Outstanding Achievement Youth Award winners.

Special thanks to Morris "Mo" Aguilar of the NRA's Hunter Services Department for sharing the following information on upcoming state and regional Youth Hunter Education Challenges:

• Michigan State YHEC to be held on August 29-30, 2009 in Lansing, MI. Contact Debi Pinkel at 517-485-6391 for information.
• Indiana State YHEC to be held on Sept. 12, 2009 at Camp Buffalo, IN. Contact Mike Maddox at 765-583-4670 for information.
  
• Nebraska State YHEC to be held on Oct. 10, 2009 at Eastern Nebraska Gun Club in Louisville, NE. Contact Elmer Johnstone at 402-895-2838 for information.
  
• Texas Regional YHEC to be held on Oct. 10, 2009 at Arlington Sportsman’s Club in Mansfield, TX. Contact David Hammonds at 972-550-4878 ext. 238  for information.
  
• Pennsylvania Regional YHEC to be held on Sept. 12, 2009 at South Creek Young Sportsmen Club in Gillett, PA. Contact William Hansell at 570-596-3897 for information.
  

 The NRA's Youth Hunter Education Challenge is now on Facebook! Follow along here.

Tom Kelly with New York State Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) brings us the following report from their event:

The New York YHEC State Finals were held at the Ripley Rod and Gun Club in Ripley, New York, on August 8. Twenty-four young hunters participated in the event which included the Rifle, Archery, Shotgun, Orienteering, and Hunter Responsibility Exam components.

The youth and their families were treated to lunch courtesy of Ripley Rod and Gun Club. Each YHEC participant received a prize, generously donated by Rammelt & Sons Farm Equipment.

Thanks, Tom! To offer a report on an NRA program in your community, e-mail us at GOblog@nrahq.org.

The 2009 International YHEC recently wrapped up at the NRA Whittington Center. Take a look at coverage from the event.