Learning the shotgun sports with the National Rifle Association
Centreville, Virginia -
A good month or two into the new school year and things are coming together. Seniors are looking at potential colleges, homecoming dances have come and gone, and the SCTP Regional Competitions are well underway.
SCTP is the Scholastic Clay Target Program. Translation — shotguns.
SCTP was created introduce elementary through high school (and some college) age youths to the clay target sports. And the NRA is looking to lend a hand.
“There are a lot of high school shotgun competitors out there who aren’t aware of their opportunities on the collegiate level,” said NRA Education & Training Director Bill Poole. “We’re trying to see if there is more we can do.”
One thing the NRA did was bring back our old intern James Poole. James, who worked his wizardry with our videos and photos this summer here at NRAblog, is currently enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. Last weekend, he brought twenty of his friends up to Northern Virginia for an introduction into the shotgun sports.
Held at the Arlington Fairfax Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, it was a first time experience for most.
"The hope is that some of them will return to college and think, 'Hey that was fun. We should start a team,'" said Poole.
James promises to send a report on the event (and maybe even a little video) when there's a break in the studies. Unless, of course, they head back out to the range.
