The South Cariboo Sportsmen’s Association (SCSA) will be hosting Youth Day at the gun club’s clubhouse and shooting range behind the landfill near Cache Creek on August 27. The event is designed for youth aged 12 to 16, and SCSA vice-president Ken Brown says that the day will include the care and handling of firearms, hands-on experience with pellet guns and archery, and the live firing of shotguns and .22 calibre rifles.
“No prior experience is necessary,” says Brown, noting that the event starts with a firearms safety talk at 9 a.m. “In order to participate, people must take part in the safety talk.” There will be one-on-one training, and Brown says parents are encouraged to be there. The event finishes at around 3:30 p.m., and there will be hot dogs and drinks for everyone.
The SCSA has taken over Youth Day from Safari Club International, which used to run the event annually. “We want to inform people about safety with firearms, and work with young people so that they understand firearm safety and decrease the risk of accidents.
“It also lets parents understand that their child is being taught properly. We have a lot of involvement with firearm safety. With proper instruction there’s no need for people to be frightened around firearms.”
Brown also notes that a lot more women are getting involved with shooting. “It used to be considered a man’s thing, but not any more.” He adds that women are much easier to teach than men. “They don’t have an ego. If you explain things to a woman she’ll listen, where a man will say ‘I know how to do that.’”
While there is no formal limit for the number of people who can be accommodated on Youth Day, Brown says they are looking at hosting around 20 participants. Registration is free, and anyone who would like to register can call Brown at (250) 453-9415 or SCSA president Jerry Fiddick at (250) 453-9547.