Jamestown Rifle and Pistol Club member and 4-H Rifle Instructor, Jen Schmitt, coaches Chautauqua County 4-H member, Raelynn Ellsworth, during a 4-H Air Rifle class at the Jamestown Rifle and Pistol Club.

Chautauqua County 4‒H is inviting community members with an interest in archery and positive youth development to register for an upcoming 4‒H Shooting Sports Volunteer Instructor Training on April 11-12.

The training will certify volunteers as 4‒H Archery Instructors, enabling them to support and lead youth programming as part of Chautauqua County 4-H Shooting Sports projects.

Chautauqua County 4‒H partners with the Jamestown Rifle and Pistol Club, which will host the training. The collaboration supports the county’s expanding shooting sports program, which recently added air rifle and rifle classes through shared efforts between 4‒H and the club.

Individuals interested in participating must complete the 4‒H volunteer enrollment process prior to the training. This includes submitting a volunteer application, providing references, and passing a mandatory background check. Early registration is encouraged to allow time for completion of volunteer screening requirements.

Participants will receive hands-on instruction from certified 4‒H shooting sports instructors and learn skills in archery safety and range procedures, equipment handling and maintenance, youth development and mentoring and best practices for teaching archery to youth.

Upon completion, volunteers will be certified to teach archery within the New York State 4‒H Shooting Sports Program.

Those interested in becoming certified Archery instructors or learning more about the volunteer process can contact the Chautauqua County Extension Office at: 664-9502, ext. 212, or email chautauqua4h@cornell.edu