National 4-H Shooting Sports Rifle Adventure Camp

July 20-25 2004, Camp Perry, Ohio

Sponsored by the Civilian Marksmanship Program In cooperation with the National 4-H Shooting Sports Committee

4-H Shooting Sports Club Members who participate in this camp will:

•               Receive instruction from the CMP Junior Rifle Camp staff, headed by former Olympic and National Rifle Coach Dr. Dan Durben.  The camp staff includes U. S. Olympians and several college rifle All-Americans.

•              Learn advanced three-position air rifle shooting positions, techniques and training methods to prepare for 4-H and open three-position air rifle competitions.

•              Be present at Camp Perry during the National Smallbore Rifle Championship—see and meet national and international shooting champions.

•              Visit the National Matches Commercial Row where dozens of firms display and sell the latest in target shooting equipment.

•              Experience new fun-oriented shooting sports events like the CMP Rimfire Sporter Rifle Match--compete in the National Rimfire Sporter Match at Camp Perry.

4-H Shooting Sports Club Members who participate in this camp will:

•                  Attend all instructional sessions to can learn new techniques and coaching methods.

•         Assist in conducting many camp activities.

•         Learn new techniques to use in teaching shooting sports skills to other 4-H club members.

Who Can Attend:  Any 4-H Shooting Sports club member who is at least 14 years of age and has received 4-H instruction in at least one rifle discipline, BB gun, air rifle or smallbore rifle, may apply to attend the camp.  4-H shooting sports clubs or groups from the same club are encouraged to attend the camp together.  At least one adult leader or parent representing the 4-H club must accompany each youth or group of youths who attend.  The most important prerequisite is that each camp participant come with a sincere desire to learn more about target rifle shooting and how to improve their marksmanship skills.  A maximum of 72 youths plus accompanying adult leaders will be accepted in the camp.

Camp Costs:  The cost for each youth who attends is $150.00 per person.  This fee covers all camp instruction and instructional materials, Camp Perry barracks housing, entry fees in the National Matches Position Air Rifle and National Rimfire Sporter Championships (adults also can compete in the Rimfire Sporter Championship) and breakfast and lunch.  Adults will not pay the regular camp fee, but there will be a pass-through fee to cover the cost of housing and the two meals.

Housing and meals.  Campers and adults will be housed in Camp Perry military barracks that also are used for competitor housing during the National Matches.  Breakfasts and lunches will be provided for all youth and adult participants.  Evening dinners are not provided, but may be purchased separately at the Camp Perry National Matches cafeteria or participating individuals may make their own arrangements for dinners.

Transportation.  Camp participants must arrange their own transportation to Camp Perry.  Adult sponsors are expected to provide local transportation for their club members from Camp Perry housing to the range and back.

Range Facilities:  Range and classroom facilities will be set up in a warehouse in Erie Industrial Park, an area immediately to the west of Camp Perry.  Smallbore rifle firing will be done on Camp Perry’s Viale Range.

Equipment to Bring:  It is not required that camp youth participants have all of their own target shooting equipment, but everyone who has personal shooting equipment suitable for position air rifle shooting is urged to bring it to the camp.  Equipment that will be used during the camp includes the following: 

¥      Position Air Rifle.  The first four days of the camp will concentrate on three-position air rifle instruction and firing.  Campers will shoot either a sporter class air rifle (Daisy M853/753/888, Crosman M2000) or a precision air rifle (Anschütz, Feinwerkbau, Steyr, Walther, etc.).  Campers who have their own air rifle equipment are encouraged to bring it.  Campers who have precision air rifles should also bring their own shooting jackets and any other target shooting equipment they have.  The CMP will have Daisy M888 CO2 sporter air rifles available for loan to campers who do not have their own air rifles.  Campers will be able to purchase these rifles at the end of the camp at a reduced price.

¥      Rimfire Sporter Rifle.  Campers and adult leaders are requested to bring smallbore (.22 cal. rimfire) sporter rifles that are suitable for use in the Rimfire Sporter instruction and competition that will take place on the last two days of the camp.  A minimum of one smallbore sporter rifle for every two campers should be brought to the camp.  Legal rimfire sporters must not weigh more than 7.5 lbs with sights.  Rifles can have open or telescopic sights (6X maximum for telescopes, shooters are divided into scope and open-sight classes).  The rifles must be repeaters (not single shot), but can have any type of action (semi-auto, bolt, lever, pump).  Rifles must have a magazine that holds a minimum of five rounds (box magazines are recommended over tube magazines).  Rimfire Sporter rules are found in the CMP Competition Rules.  Anyone with questions about legal Rimfire Sporter rules should contact CMP Competitions, 419-635-2141, ext. 1112 or competitions@odcmp.com.

¥      Special Shooting Equipment.  Camp participants are urged to bring spotting telescopes or binoculars that can be used to see shot locations at 10 meters, 25 yards or 50 yards in both the position air rifle and rimfire sporter phases of the camps.  Camp participants should also bring shooting mats (a ground cloth or strip of carpet will suffice) as well as a shooting glove or ordinary work glove that can be worn on the left hand (right-handed shooters) during firing. 

¥      Other Personal Gear.  All camp participants must bring their own personal gear including bedding (no bedding is furnished for Camp Perry competitor housing), towels, toilet kits and other personal items.  Some range firing and camp activities will be outdoors where hats and sunscreen are advised.  Youth participants should also bring shorts and running shoes that are suitable for light physical training.

Typical Training Day.  Each camp day starts with light warm-up and stretching exercises followed by a full day of short instructional presentations and range firing or other exercises.  Each day will include physical exercises designed to introduce options for physical training. 

Instructional Topics.   The camp schedule includes a variety of instructional topics and activities designed to help the participant develop the tools necessary to excel as a three-position air rifle shooter.  These skills can easily be applied to other forms of target shooting, especially smallbore and highpower rifle shooting.  Participants will learn how to: construct stable and balanced prone, standing, and kneeling positions, personally tune their positions through an "inner position" approach, effectively analyze performance and training, set effective goals, control anxiety and self-talk, improve confidence, train efficiently, optimize their rifle and equipment, understand safety and rules, design a physical training program, shoot Finals, and optimize their performance in competitions.

Camp Instructors.  Dan Durben, will be the CMP Chief Instructor for the camp. Dan is a two-time U.S. Olympic Team member, winner of numerous World Cup and U.S. National Championship medals.  He is currently the head coach for the U.S. Paralympic Shooting Team, and the National Level Junior Rifle Camps.  Dan has been the Head Coach for CMP National Junior Rifle Camps since 2001. He is also an Associate Professor in Physics.  A group of college rifle team members, many of them All-Americans, will serve as Camp Counselors.  One counselor is assigned to each group of campers.

Camp Competitions.  The three-position air rifle phase of the camp will conclude with a special competition for all camp participants on Friday, 23 July.  The National Matches Position Air Rifle Match will be a 3x20 course of fire plus a 10-shot final.  Campers can fire either sporter or precision class air rifles in the match.  The competition will be sanctioned as a CMP Cup Match--participants can earn EIC credit points for the Junior Distinguished Badge.  Camp participants will also have an opportunity to try two special shooting events.  On Friday afternoon, 23 July, campers can either compete in an NSSF-sponsored Scholastic Rifle Match or a summer biathlon race where firing at knock-down targets is done with air rifles.  On Saturday, 24 July, all camp participants will be able to shoot in the National Rimfire Sporter Match.  This recreation-oriented match is closely aligned with the type of smallbore rifle shooting that many 4-H Shooting Sports Clubs now practice.

Camp Application Process.  A maximum of 60 youth participants, plus accompanying adult leaders, will be accepted in the camp.  Application forms for both youth participants and adult leaders must be accompanied by a $50.00 per person deposit (can be paid with a check payable to “CMP” or with a MasterCard or Visa credit card).  Applications will be handled on a first received/first admitted basis.  Applications received after the camp fills will be placed on a waiting list.  Persons accepted to a camp must pay the balance of their tuition fees no later than June 1^st, 2004 or their slot may be given to another camper on the waiting list.  Deposits will be returned to all applicants on the waiting list who are not admitted because the camp is full.  If you drop out of the camp, your deposit will not be returned, although another individual may be substituted without penalty.  All substitutions must be reported to the CMP at least three days prior to the beginning of the camp.  If you drop out of the camp prior to the beginning of the camp and all your fees are paid, you must put your request for a refund in writing to the CMP at least 10 days prior to the beginning of the camp.  Any time after that $50.00 of the fees will not be refunded.  To apply to attend the National 4-H Shooting Sports Adventure Camp, youth participants must complete the CMP 4-H Shooting Sports Camp Application (one application form per person, make as many copies of the form as are required) and send it with a $50.00 deposit to:

             Civilian Marksmanship Program

            Summer Camp Applications

            PO Box 576

            Port Clinton, OH   43452

Or fax applications with credit card information to:  419-635-2573

Any adults attending with youth campers, that is, parents, coaches or instructors, will not be charged the full camp fee, they will only be charged a nominal fee for housing, breakfast and lunch.  Adult leaders also need to fill out the CMP 4-H Shooting Sports Camp Application.

The CMP will send you a confirmation letter; which will include other forms that need to be filled out and sent back with the final payment to CMP no later than 1 June 2004.  The CMP will also provide additional information about extra items you may want to bring and how to travel to Camp Perry, plus instructions for where to check in for the camp at Camp Perry.  If you have any questions about the National 4-H Shooting Sports Adventure Camp, please contact:

Kathy Williams

CMP Training Department

419-635-2141, ext. 1109

kwilliams@odcmp.com

CMP 4-H Shooting Sporter Camp Program

CMP 4-H Shooting Sports Camp Application