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Taking Aim at Youth Development MINNESOTA 4-H SHOOTING SPORTS/WILDLIFE STUDY PART I Stephan P. Carlson and Kimberly A. O'Brien Center for 4-H Youth Development College of Education Part I looks at the intended goals and objectives of the SS/W 4-H program. Part II will address the long-term effects of the SS/W program after the young people have graduated from the project. Stephan P. Carlson, Ph.D., is an assistant professor and an extension educator with a joint appointment in the University of Minnesota's College of Education, Center for 4-H Youth Development, and the College of Natural Resources. Kimberly A. O'Brien is a graduate assistant In the University of Minnesota's College of Education, School of Kinesiology and Leisure Studies. This evaluation study and publication was funded by a grant from the Renewable Resources Extension Act program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Extension Service and the College of Natural Resources and Minnesota Extension Service, University of Minnesota. Support for this publication came from Steven Laursen, Ph.D., assistant Dean for Outreach and Collegiate Program Leader, College of Natural Resources University of Minnesota. Special thanks is also extended to James Kitts, Ph.D., and Ira Adelman, Ph.D., both from the College of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota. Center for 4-H Youth Development 340 Coffey Hall 1420 Eckles Ave. St. Paul, MN 55108 TABLE of CONTENTS SHOOTING SPORTS I WILDLIFE PART I OVERVIEW ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 4- 5 INTRODUCTION ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 6 WHY EVALUATE ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 7 EVALUATION ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 7 DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE SAMPLE ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 8-9 RESULTS Overall ................•..•.................•.•.•.......•.•..•.............•.......••.•..•......... 10-11 Critical Thinking ................................................................................... 11 Gender ..•.......•.........•.......•....•.....•.•••.....•.••••........................•..............•. 12 Elizabeth Smith, SS/W member ............................................................. 13 Location of Home ................................................................................. 14 Race, Disability .................................................................................... 14 John Nugent, SS/W member ................................................................. 15 Age ................................................................................................ 16-17 Years in Shooting Sports/WIIdllfe ..................................................... 18-19 Level of lnvolvement. ............................................................................ 19 Involvement in Shooting or Wildlife Organizations .................................. 20 Family lnvolvement. .............................................................................. 21 Arlin Fritsche, SS/W volunteer leader .................................................... 22 DISCUSSION ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 23-25 CONCLUSION ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 26 RECOMMENDATION$ •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 27 REFERENCE$ ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 28 APPENDIX A (Survey lnstrument) •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 29-30 3 OVERVIEW More than 4,200 Minnesota 4-H "Shooting sports is a family-oriented members In the Shooting Sports and program," Carlson says. "That's not Wildlife program are safer hunters and just on paper. In the fields, our better stewards of the outdoor participants are involved with one or environment because of the program. more parents and often with siblings What they probably don't realize, as well." however, is that the program also strengthens families through parental • Within the Shooting Sports/Wildlife Involvement and gives young people a activities, air rifle shooting is most chance to demonstrate leadership. popular with more than 70 percent participation followed by archery with According to Stephan Carlson, MES 54 percent and wildlife with 44 educator and head of the shooting percent. Other specialties within the sports program, a recent evaluation of program include shotgun, pistol and the program shows that it Is filling a muzzle-loading (black powder) rifles. unique niche for youths, more than one­ third of whom could be considered "at • Participants are learning important risk" because of family factors, concepts of wildlife management, disabilities or other conditions. sportsmanship, safety and conservation as a result of the A study of Shooting Sports/Wildlife program. "Our volunteer leaders recently completed by Carlson and (there are about 700 of them graduate assistant Kimberly O'Brien statewide) are doing a great job of gives the program high marks on how teaching these lmp()rtant concepts," well it Is filling its objective with young Carlson says. people and their families. A sampling of Shooting Sports participants polled at State Shoot participants who completed the Minnesota 4-H State Shoot last fall the survey were asked how they would reveals some interesting things about react in three situations, after falling the program, which operates In 50 of through thin Ice, while coaching a friend the state's 87 counties. on a firing range and after hearing a strange noise while in the woods. Their • About one-third of participants are responses showed a good awareness of female and two-thirds are male. For safety, but Carlson says the program both boys and girls, the biggest may need to emphasize these problem­ reasons for joining were their Interest solving and critical thinking skills even in hunting, their desire to shoot more. competitively and an interest in safety. In recent years, much of the • Youngsters involved in Shooting program's growth has been be~use Sports/Wildlife are good citizens who of girls' Interest in the sport. Scott use their interest and knowledge to County recently sent the first all girls' benefit others. More than 60 percent trap shooting team to the 4-H State of those surveyed said they Shoot. participate In community clean-up projects and two-thirds of those • Many 4-H Shooting Sports/Wildlife polled said they instruct others on members participate along with other safe hunting practices and respect for family members, 55.6 percent with the environment. In addition, about their fathers; 31.3 percent with three-fourths of participants also mothers; 24.3 percent with a sister, belong to at least one other wildlife 4 and 45.8 percent with a brother. organization and an even higher percentage belong to a shooting to them. These criteria Include using organization such as the National alcohol at least once a month or having Rifle Association. a family member who has an alcohol problem, skipping school, thinking • More than 40 percent of Shooting about or attempting suicide, being Sports/Wildlife members report an physically or sexually abused by a family interest in a career in wildlife, member and being sexually active. conservation or an area related to natural resources. In light of the relatively high number of Shooting Sports/Wildlife participants Carlson says the 4-H "learning by who might be termed "at risk," Carlson doing" (experiential) approach to places a high value on the program's learning is well suited to shooting emphasis on physical and social sports. Youths often join the program competence, vocational direction and because of an Interest In hunting and moral and ethical competence. "For the outdoors. Through time spent on many of the participants and their archery and shooting ranges with 4-H families, the Shooting Sports/Wildlife volunteer leaders watching and program is an Important element of instructing, the participants learn skills family strength and togetherness and is as well as attitudes. More experienced a positive influence on the kids shooting sports participants become Involved," he adds. junior leaders, who, In turn, teach younger members about such topics as -Deedee Nagy wildlife, conservation and hunting (reprinted from Extenovations, regulations. Carlson says that this March 1994) approach teaches leadership, responsibility and public speaking skills to the participants. What lies ahead for Shooting Sports/ Wildlife? Carlson says the recent study shows many areas where the program Is serving young people well. He hopes more minority and disabled youths will be attracted to the program In the future. Currently, three-fourths of those surveyed described themselves as white and nearly that many said they lived In a rural area. Less than ten percent said they have a disability, but about 35 percent said one or more of the criteria used to describe "at risk" teens applied 5 INTRODUCTION 4-H SHOOTING SPORTS/WILDLIFE SS/W EVALUATION Shooting Sports/Wildlife (SSJW) is a National 4-H program designed to Introduce youth to the use of firearms and archery equipment while teaching them wildlife management principles. A number of disciplines are .taught within the program Including; archery, shotgun, air rifle, muzzleloadlng,

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