Three NRA Junior Members Win $10,000 in Scholarships
The National Rifle Association has selected three of its top Junior members to receive the 2006 Outstanding Achievement Youth Award, recognizing them for their active participation in the shooting sports and commitment to educational pursuits. Overall, $10,000 in scholarship money was awarded to the winners thanks to a donation from Brownell's, the world's largest supplier of firearms accessories and gunsmithing tools.
 First-place winner Johnathan W. Zimmerer, 17, of Gainesville, Texas, is a member of the Lindsay 4-H Shooting Club and currently serves as president of the 4-H Sharpshooter Club of Cooke County -- a club that he helped found. An accomplished shooter, Zimmerer has reached the expert level in indoor and outdoor 3-position smallbore shooting and has competed at USA Shooting's Junior Olympics Smallbore Championships. Zimmerer, who will receive a $5,000 scholarship as the first-place winner, is also active in his community, having presented the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® program to children in his church and served as a volunteer at the Friends of the NRA since 2002.
"Johnathan personifies many of the qualities we look for in the next generation of leaders," said Matt Szramoski, Manager, NRA Youth Programs. "Through his participation in competitive shooting, hunting, wildlife conservation and safety training, Johnathan has demonstrated leadership, self-discipline and responsibility."
 Second-place finisher Shannon Curtin, 20, of Berwick, Pa., has been shooting competitively since the age of five. She has qualified for and placed at the Pennsylvania 4-H shooting competition on numerous occasions and most recently competed at the New Jersey State Indoor Championships in 2005 as a member of the Nescopech Shooting Stars 4-H team. A founding member of the Berwick High School Rifle Team, Curtin notched the first perfect shooting season in league history during her senior campaign and placed second overall in the state of Pennsylvania. Curtin, who will receive a $3,000 scholarship, has also taught the Eddie Eagle program to second and third graders and participated in the 2003 NRA Youth Education Summit in Washington, D.C.
 Jeffrey D. Lambin, 18, of Gardnerville, Nev., took home third-place and its accompanying $2,000 scholarship for his commitment to the shooting sports. Lambin is president of the Douglas County 4-H Sharp Shooters Club and represented the national 4-H shooting sports organization at the Safari Club International convention in Reno, Nev., in 2005. Lambin enjoys teaching shooting to others, and, as an NRA-certified assistant instructor, is authorized to help teach basic rifle and shotgun courses.
All NRA Junior members (or NRA Regular or Life members under age 18) who are current members of an NRA-affiliated club or State Association and who have completed one NRA Basic Firearm Training Course are eligible for the award. Applicants must also have earned at least one rating (pro-marksman, marksman, sharpshooter, expert, or distinguished expert) through the NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program and submitted a 1,000-word essay titled "Why I Became Involved in the Shooting Sports."
Aside from these core requirements, applicants must have participated in at least five NRA-sponsored programs. These elective requirements include presenting the Eddie Eagle GunSafe® program, attending the Youth Education Summit, attending the Youth Hunter Education Challenge, entering a submission in the NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest, or participating at the National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, among others.
For more information on the Outstanding Achievement Youth Award or how to apply, please contact NRA's Youth Programs Department at (703) 267-1505 or visit www.nrahq.org/youth/achievement.asp.
Perfect for Winter
NRA Marksmanship Qualification Programs
 As fall and winter arrive, the cooler weather makes it more difficult to enjoy the shooting sports. Fortunately, the NRA Marksmanship Qualification Shooting Program offers several fun and challenging indoor courses of fire to keep your skills sharp. It's also a great time to try something new.
Air gun activities are the easiest to do because a safe air gun range can be set up almost anywhere –– basements, garages, gymnasiums, or community centers. The NRA Neighborhood Air Gun Program book (item #EF 09181) can take you through all the proper steps in setting up a safe air gun range and activity. The NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program book (item #EQ 09525) offers several courses of fire: international air rifle and air pistol, 4-position BB gun and air rifle, 3-position air rifle, sports shooting (supported) and the brand new silhouette air rifle and air pistol courses.
Through the marksmanship qualification program participants can obtain the discipline patch and earn patch rockers, pins, medals, and certificates to show the skill levels they have attained. If you have access to an indoor shooting range, you can choose from many challenging courses of fire.
For pistol shooters, NRA offers the handgun course of fire for centerfire pistols, featuring a skill development stage, a slow fire event, a sustained fire event, an ambidextrous event and even a multiple target event for the distinguished expert stage. There is also the bullseye pistol course of fire for .22 caliber pistols, silhouette shooting for both a hunters pistol and a smallbore, and the supported sport shooting course of fire.
For rifle shooters with access to an indoor range, the marksmanship qualification program offers silhouette, 4-position, 3-position, light rifle, high power rifle, and sport shooting (supported positions).
For more information, visit www.nrahq.org/education/training/marksmanship. To order the program books, go to the NRA Program Materials Center.
Great Benefits for Junior Members!
 NRA Junior Membership offers you many great opportunities and services. Junior members receive InSights magazine, filled with a variety of shooting sports stories and information, including hunting, competition, gun reviews, news, history, programs, and shooting tips. Also, NRA junior members who achieve the NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program's Distinguished Expert rating are acknowledged in InSights each month. The junior membership package includes a patch, stickers, and the Junior Member Coupon Book filled with great discounts and special offers from gun manufacturers, magazines, and shooting sports companies (see article below for more information).
Junior members are eligible to participate in the NRA Outstanding Achievement Youth Award program. By completing five core and five elective requirements, winners receive the Outstanding Achievement Youth Medal and are then eligible to be considered for the National Youth Award. Scholarships are awarded to the first, second and third place National Winners and the checks are presented at the NRA's Board Meeting. In 2006, the first place award winner received a $5,000 scholarship, second place received $3,000, and third place received $2,000 (see the article above for more information). NRA also offers many programs in which young people can get involved, such as the Youth Wildlife Art Contest, the Youth Education Summit, NRA Whittington Center Adventure Camps, NRA Shooting Sports Camps, Youth Hunter Education Challenges, hunter clinics, and more.
A one-year junior membership with InSights magazine is only $15, or receive InSights and your choice of The American Rifleman or The American Hunter for only $24.95.
To sign up, call (800) NRA-3888 or visit online at membership.nrahq.org.
NEW! NRA Junior Member Coupon Book!
Available to All New and Renewing Junior Members
 The NRA Junior Member Coupon Book, which is included in the membership credentials packet sent to all new and renewing NRA Junior Members, is chocked full of great offers from shooting sports companies. The colorful new coupon book includes special give-aways like patches, decals, posters, pins, safety info, free magazine issues, target samples, and books. It also includes many special discounts on products, like air guns, shotguns, cleaning kits, posters, traps and reactive targets, and video games. The new 2006-2007 NRA Junior Member Coupon Book is included in the membership credentials.
2006-2007 COUPON BOOK SPONSORS:
- Shotgun Sports Magazine
- Brownells
- Birchwood Casey
- Sturm, Ruger & Company
- Boyt Harness Company
- Pilkington Competition Equipment
- Numrich Gun Parts
- Air Arms
- Otis Technology, Inc.
- Daisy Outdoor Products
- National Archery Development Association (NADA)
- ISE Games
- Wholesale Hunter
- Brenzovich Firearms & Training Center
- NRA Youth Programs
To join NRA or to renew your membership, call (800) NRA-3888 or visit online at membership.nrahq.org. See the previous article for more information.
Gearing Up for Hunting Season
Helpful Tips for Changing Weather
 What a hunter chooses to wear on a hunt is, to some extent, personal preference, however there are some major considerations when choosing hunting attire. Choosing the right clothing is as critical as choosing the right gun or bow. What, where and when you are hunting should determine the clothing you choose. Weather is the first consideration. Will you be hunting in warm dry conditions or will it be cold and damp? Will the weather be unpredictable or rapidly changing?
Today, hunters are afforded many different options when choosing the best clothing for specific needs.
Warm Weather
During warm weather conditions, breathable, thin layers are preferred. Thin breathable fabric such as cotton, will provide comfort and there are many new high tech fabrics that will keep you cool while providing protection from elements such as rain.
Cooler or Changing
For cooler or rapidly changing weather such as early to mid fall, clothing should be layered. Light cotton undergarments or a thin cotton shirt worn under a jacket such as fleece or saddle cloth, will keep you comfortable when its cooler (such as early in the day) and allow you to remove an outer layer if the temperature starts to rise.
Cold Weather
For optimum performance in cold weather, clothing needs to be layered. These layers will trap warm air between them and insulate the body from the elements. Start with a medium-to-heavy weight undergarment made of a natural blend of cotton, silk and wool or go with one of the new synthetic fabrics such as polypropylene or fleece. The outer layer should provide protection against the elements while insulating the body and can be multiple layered as well. Wool is a great natural fiber which will keep you warm even when wet. Excellent synthetic materials are Thinsulate, Gore-Tex and nylon.
Wet Weather
Wet weather is the most likely reason for discomfort among hunters. Wet weather can ruin a hunt and cause hypothermia even in mild temperatures. The days of plastic and rubber rain suits are over. Developing rainwear for the hunter is now a science and dozens of high-tech, water repellent fabrics are on the market. Whatever type of rainwear you choose make sure to consider your specific needs.
Footwear
There are hundreds of shoes and boots available to hunters today. You may want several types for specific conditions, or choose one you can use for all. Some basic considerations are the amount of walking you will be doing, and the terrain you will be using them in. Will you need protection from rocks and logs, or will your boots need to be waterproofed? A good rule to follow when purchasing boots is to spend as much money as you can afford. A quality boot should hold up for a long time.
Remember to consider the type of hunting you will be doing. Will you be moving or stationary? Will you need to be able to comfortably draw a bow or shoulder a shotgun? Consider the terrain, such as briars and brush, and don't forget wind. Do you need to be quiet and blend in to your environment? Do you need to wear fluorescent orange due to safety factors? Whatever type of hunting you plan to do, there is clothing to fit your specific needs and to make your hunt successful, safe and fun.
For more information about hunting, outfitters, places to hunt, wild game recipes, and more, visit the NRA's FREE HUNTERS.
Youth Hunter Education Challenge
 The Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) is a program exclusively for hunter education graduates from North America up to 18 years of age. The program provides them with a unique opportunity to test their skills at a variety of hunting techniques. From firing a muzzleloader to participating in wildlife identification and a map and compass course, participants walk away with an appreciation of all methods of hunting and all types of game as they learn from the top hunting educators in all of North America! Because events are conducted in simulated hunting conditions, YHEC provides the best test of a young hunters skills short of an actual situation in the field. This training ensures the future of the American hunting tradition as a safe, viable recreational activity the entire family can enjoy.
If you would like to become involved in a local, state, provincial or International YHEC program, or become a volunteer or sponsor for a YHEC program, call (703) 267-1503 or e-mail at membrey@nrahq.org. Also, visit www.nrahq.org/hunting/youthed.asp.
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