Get To Know CMP’s Junior Rifle Camp Counselors
May 30, 2023
Each year, the CMP hosts a series of hands-on, informative Junior Rifle Camps for high school age students and coaches during the summer months. Participants receive valuable lessons on intermediate and advanced marksmanship skills through various exercises and demonstrations, all led by current collegiate rifle athletes. Here, we learn a few things about this year’s camp counselors.
Find more info on CMP’s Junior Camps at https://thecmp.org/youth/junior-air-rifle-camps-and-clinics/!
Name: Emma Lee Pereira
Hometown: Chesapeake, Virginia
College/University and Year: University of Mississippi; Freshman
How did you get started in marksmanship? I started shooting highpower when I was about eight years old. I would go to the range with my dad and shoot at 600 yards off a sandbag with an AR-15. From there, I started going to a local junior’s program and became very involved.
How many years have you been a camp counselor, and why did you decide to become one? This is my first year as a camp counselor, and I am super excited. I decided to become a camp counselor because I heard of all the amazing opportunities that it supplied, and I also wanted the chance to work with juniors.
Is there a camp location that you’re looking forward to visiting this year? I am super excited to visit Oregon and Wyoming this summer because I always hear how gorgeous it is.
What is a piece of advice you’ve received to help in rifle that you still follow today? A piece of advice that I follow is that I must take care of myself to be able to take care of others.
What is your best CMP memory? My best CMP memory is my first major match with them at the 2019 CMP 3P Air Rifle Nationals. It was my first major match that opened my eyes to this sport and made me fall in love with rifle and the community it has built.
In your own words, why should upcoming juniors attend CMP’s Junior Camps? I believe that upcoming juniors should attend CMP’s Junior Camps because it provides numerous opportunities and is always filled with laughter. Juniors will learn a lot of things, starting with rifle to even personal stories that could help them grow as a person.
Name: Sam Burrow
Hometown: Williamson, GA
College/University and Year: Jacksonville State, rising Junior
How did you get started in marksmanship?
I started shooting at the age of 9 with my older sister and older brother – starting in BB gun and then moving onto Olympic rifle.
How many years have you been a camp counselor, and why did you decide to become one?
I have been a camp counselor for two years, including this one. I decided to become a camp counselor to help share my love for shooting sports and nurture the next generation of athletes.
Is there a camp location that you’re looking forward to visiting this year? I love the whole aspect of traveling, so I am very excited to visit all the new locations.
What is a piece of advice you’ve received to help in rifle that you still follow today?
I like to follow the advice that there’s no difference between practice and a match. This can be taken two ways, one of which is disastrous and one, what I think is the true meaning, which is to approach practice with same intensity as you would have in a match.
My best CMP memory has to be at the Albuquerque camps last year, running the finals for the junior kids and seeing the progress they had made throughout the week.
In your own words, why should upcoming juniors attend CMP’s Junior Camps?
I think the CMP Camps are an incredible opportunity for juniors to receive incredibly high-level coaching and to see what they can achieve if they pursue their dreams. It’s an opportunity to get a taste of what it’s like in college rifle and a week’s worth of that kind of coaching.
Name: Lilly Warren
Hometown: Perry, MI
College/University and Year: The Ohio State University, going into sophomore year
How did you get started in marksmanship? I started marksmanship through archery, and the facility where I shot archery also had a rifle and pistol range. I thought that rifle looked a lot more fun, so I tried it and never looked back.
How many years have you been a camp counselor, and why did you decide to become one? This is my first year as a camp counselor. I decided to become a counselor because I wanted to be able to give juniors the same amazing experience I had when I attended these camps.
Is there a camp location that you’re looking forward to visiting this year? I am looking forward to visiting Wyoming because I think it is very pretty and underrated.
What is a piece of advice you’ve received to help in rifle that you still follow today? Whether each match/day affects the next is up to you. You can put in hard work during practice that will positively affect the next match, or you can let a bad score get in your head and negatively affect the next match.
What is your best CMP memory? My best CMP memory is when I worked at the Gary Anderson Air Range at Camp Perry over the summer and Claire (O’Neel) and I drove to Sandusky for pho three times in one week.
In your own words, why should upcoming juniors attend CMP’s Junior Camps? Upcoming juniors should attend CMP’s camps because there is tons of valuable information and opportunities to make connections with fellow campers and counselors.
Name: John “Jack” Kersey
Hometown: Fairfax Station, Virginia
College/Year in School: University of Memphis, Senior
How did you get started in marksmanship? My older brother shot competitively for my Robinson Secondary School and competed on the Citadel rifle team. He was very accomplished. I had always known I was going to try competitive shooting on the Robinson team when the time came. I was very driven early on because I was trying to beat all my older brother’s personal bests, and it helped that some of the coaches on my team had coached my older brother or were involved alongside my parents who were starting to learn the sport.
How many years have you been a camp counselor, and why did you decide to become one? I have been a camp counselor for only one summer. I decided to apply for the position because I have very fond memories of attending CMP camps, and I felt it was my obligation to provide the next generation of competitive shooters with that same experience and inspire them to pursue excellence.
Is there a camp location that you’re looking forward to visiting this year?Honestly, I look forward to all the camp locations! Naturally, some locations are more exciting than others. But, last summer, I found that every location had its own charm, and meeting different people from all over the country is one of the best parts of this job.
What is a piece of advice you’ve received to help in rifle that you still follow today? I think mindfulness practice is often overlooked in most aspects of life but has helped me tremendously. I feel you can train and practice a skill for months to perfect it, but when the time comes to compete, if your thoughts and emotions are regulated, that skill won’t be utilized as effectively as possible. Practicing mindfulness has also helped me regulate my mood in times of crisis, which is a skill I will continue to practice long after I finish my shooting career.
What is your best CMP memory? It’s hard to just choose one. I’ll say, in general, my favorite moments are helping passionate young shooters figure out a problem they have been having and helping them solve it with my expertise. They are easily the most gratifying moments in my shooting career because I know exactly what it feels like for certain skills to not come naturally. So, when I can make an impact and help an athlete enjoy the sport more, I feel very fortunate.
In your own words, why should upcoming juniors attend CMP’s Junior Camps? I think CMP Camps help junior athletes of all skill levels find something to take home and practice. With this sport, it is very difficult to find quality information or sources you can trust enough to train in a specific way. I think these camps do a great job of providing athletes with quality information and personal training with some of the best rifle athletes in the country.
Name: John Hamilton
Hometown: Lanesville, Indiana
College/University and Year: Freshman
How did you get started in marksmanship? The local club invited me to join their youth marksmanship program.
How many years have you been a camp counselor, and why did you decide to become one? This is my first year as a counselor, and I chose to become one to stay involved in the shooting community and to be a part of the same program that helped me when I was a junior.
Is there a camp location that you’re looking forward to visiting this year? I’m looking forward to working at the camp in Oregon. It’s a beautiful part of the country I have not gotten to see much.
What is a piece of advice you’ve received to help in rifle that you still follow today? Be patient. Many changes take time to show their value, and if you don’t give it enough time, you will never see the rewards of your work.
What is your best CMP memory? A current teammate at the time and I both participated in the National Matches camp, and it was a lot of fun as well as a lot of information. But, having someone you know at the same camp made it more fun.
In your own words, why should upcoming juniors attend CMP’s Junior Camps? I think these camps are not only a great way to get valuable information about shooting but also as a way to join into the shooting community.
Name: Grace Weber
Hometown: Clear Spring, Maryland
College/University and Year: Graduate Student
How did you get started in marksmanship? I started in marksmanship when I was 11 years old through the Izaak Walton League. My dad used to take me and my brother to youth shoot nights for fun. After about a year, I became more serious about the sport and started competing with the Antietam Junior Rifle Club in Hagerstown, Maryland, with coach Norris Diefenderfer. I shot with the AJRC for six years before committing to Morehead State.
How many years have you been a camp counselor, and why did you decide to become one? This is my first year as a camp counselor. I decided to become one to try and give back to a sport that has provided me with so many wonderful opportunities throughout my career as well as develop more relationships with fellow athletes.
Is there a camp location that you’re looking forward to visiting this year? I’m looking forward to all the camp locations I will get the chance to visit because I have never been to many of these locations before. I’m excited for all of the new experiences I will have this summer.
What is a piece of advice you’ve received to help in rifle that you still follow today? A piece of advice that I’ve received that has helped me in rifle is to make a checklist regarding your shooting positions from your head all the way down to your toes. Go down the checklist and make sure your position lines up and feels the way it should. If something feels off, take the time to make adjustments if necessary and settle into your positions.
What is your best CMP memory? My favorite CMP memory is from recently, when some of my teammates and I went up to Camp Perry to shoot in the open air rifle match at the end of April. It was so great being able to go on a road trip with them, shoot the match for fun and try out a cute little coffee shop while we were there.
In your own words, why should upcoming juniors attend CMP’s Junior Camps? I would encourage upcoming juniors to attend the CMP junior camps because they are extremely valuable and educational clinics. The knowledge they will gain during these camps is something that they will be able to use and go back to throughout their shooting career. It is also a great way to learn from and hear the experiences of collegiate rifle athletes, especially for those who want to shoot collegiately someday.
Name: Gabriela Zych
Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska
College/University and Year: University of Memphis-Freshman
How did you get started in marksmanship? I got started my freshman year of high school. I needed to join a sport to fulfil credit requirements to graduate and chose rifle on a whim. I had never shot anything before and was somehow able to make the team. From then, I fell in love with the sport.
How many years have you been a camp counselor, and why did you decide to become one? I have never been a camp counselor before – this is my first year. I want to work as a CMP Camp Counselor because I want to make an impact. In high school, the first week of practice when the incoming freshmen were learning the ropes was always my favorite week. I really enjoy coaching others, especially through a shared experience.
Going into rifle my freshman year of high school, I had never shot a gun before, and I found myself completely confused and scared of making mistakes. Mimicking others and figuring things out gave me the knowledge to know exactly how a complete beginner feels and the ability to put them at ease. I love working with people and do well in positions supportive to others, so, I think I’ll find a lot of joy in working CMP.
When I, myself, am competing, I find it so easy to get wrapped up in things, and being able to take a step back through analyzing myself as well as others and look at things objectively has been something key to my development as an athlete.
Is there a camp location that you’re looking forward to visiting this year? I’m looking forward to all and any of the locations, but especially Lebanon, Oregon. I love traveling, but even being from Alaska, I haven’t spent much time on the West Coast!
What is a piece of advice you’ve received to help in rifle that you still follow today? The best piece of advice that I’ve received is that progress won’t always be linear. Sometimes things may get a little bit worse before they get better, but it’s important to accept where I’m at and strive to do the best that I can in the moment.
What is your best CMP memory? I’ve never attended a camp or worked as a counselor, but I’m hoping to make some this summer!
In your own words, why should upcoming juniors attend CMP’s Junior Camps? I think that CMP’s Junior Camps are one of the best ways to gain knowledge and improve. I really wish that I had the opportunity to attend one in high school! Being exposed to a variety of different coaching styles and methods means that there’s something that works for everyone. It’s a good way to experiment and find what fits.
Name: Claire O’Neel
Hometown: Frederick, Maryland
College/University and Year: Just graduated from the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)
How did you get started in marksmanship? I grew up dancing, so shooting was a much different sport for me. My sister went on vacation with a friend who took her to the range, and when she came home, she was talking to our dad about it. He grew up shooting and hunting and was very excited about possibly taking her to the range to shoot again. On the day that they were going to go, she wasn’t able to. I didn’t have dance that day, so he took me instead. The junior club was practicing a couple of points down from us, so he started talking to the coach, and we decided to try it. After the first practice, I told him I didn’t want to shoot, but thankfully he brought me back the next week.
How many years have you been a camp counselor, and why did you decide to become one? This is my first year as a counselor! I have always wanted to be a counselor, and after working for CMP last summer in Camp Perry, I knew I wanted to work for CMP again. I love the idea of being able to help the younger generations find their love for shooting, and I’m so excited to see the athletes down the road doing cool things.
Is there a camp location that you’re looking forward to visiting this year? I am the most excited about visiting Wyoming and Oregon. I have always wanted to go to Wyoming because I have heard about how pretty it is. My best friend and teammate at Ole Miss is from Oregon, and she has been trying to get me to come out since our freshman year. This summer I finally can so, I’m super excited!!
What is a piece of advice you’ve received to help in rifle that you still follow today? Whenever I was struggling with my confidence or I was just having a hard time in general, my private coach from high school would always say, “How many 10s have you shot in your whole career?” This always really helped me because sometimes when shooting is hard, at the moment, it’s easy to feel like you’ve never been a good marksman. I would always say this to myself to put things into perspective, and it would help me refocus.
What is your best CMP memory? I worked at Camp Perry all last summer helping to run the Air Gun National Matches. I loved every minute, but my favorite memories were with all the cool people I got to meet. I loved getting to know everyone’s cool backstories and how they got into shooting. There is no place like Camp Perry during the National Matches, so it was really cool to experience.
In your own words, why should upcoming juniors attend CMP’s Junior Camps? I think juniors should attend camps because it’s a good opportunity to learn from collegiate athletes and it’s also a good way to get positional help in a concentrated environment.
Name: Cassidy Wilson
Hometown: Deer Park, Washington
College/University and Year: Morehead State University, Senior
How did you get started in marksmanship? My family encouraged me to become involved in marksmanship when I was a kid, and I found it was an activity that I enjoyed and could excel in.
How many years have you been a camp counselor, and why did you decide to become one? I have been a camp counselor for two years and am about to start my third year. I decided to become one because I enjoy coaching, and the experience is relevant to my intended career.
Is there a camp location that you’re looking forward to visiting this year? I’m looking forward to the camps in Tampa because this is a new location in Florida that I have not been to, and I always enjoy activities in Florida. Also, I have a friend that lives nearby who I will get to see.
What is a piece of advice you’ve received to help in rifle that you still follow today? The best advice I have received is to not take my sport too seriously because that’s when it is no longer fun. I try to follow this advice as much as possible.
What is your best CMP memory? One of my best CMP memories is a moment when a camper who was struggling with the pressure of the sport told me that talking to me helped her change her outlook and enjoy her shooting more. This made me feel like I was making a significant difference in someone’s experience.
In your own words, why should upcoming juniors attend CMP’s Junior Camps? Upcoming juniors should attend CMP’s Junior Camps not just because they can benefit from the knowledge of collegiate athletes, but because they can learn from the experiences of athletes who have been through many of the highs and lows of competitive sports and can offer guidance that will help prepare them for the next steps in their competitive career – whatever their goals may be.
Name: Addy Burrow
Hometown: Williamson, GA
College/University and Year: Georgia Southern University;
Fifth Year
How did you get started in marksmanship?
I started shooting through 4-H. I took a BB gun safety course and fell in love, and I have been competing in some capacity since I was 9. I started precision rifle at 13.
How many years have you been a camp counselor, and why did you decide to become one?
This is my third year working for CMP. I worked as a camp counselor for two years and am coming back as an assistant this year. I originally was excited to be able to stay involved in the sport and have practice time while coaching. After having worked CMP, I came back for the experience and the amount of knowledge that I am able to learn from both my fellow counselors and the campers. My knowledge and understanding of the sport has grown a lot because of my experience at CMP.
Is there a camp location that you’re looking forward to visiting this year? I just look forward to being able to explore new places every year and each place has something unique to offer. I have not been anywhere that I have not enjoyed thus far, and I am sure that will remain true this year. Casper, Wyoming, has been one of my favorite places, and I am hopeful that I will get to go back this year.
What is a piece of advice you’ve received to help in rifle that you still follow today?
I have spent a lot of time over the past several years working on focus. Focus has always been difficult for me, and I recently learned a new way to think about it that has been extremely helpful. The phrase is “On time, on target” – this is the only place you need to be and the only time you need to be in.
What is your best CMP memory?
I have a lot of great CMP memories, but one of my favorites is from last summer. Some of us had competed at USAS Nationals and were arriving at camp a little bit later than others. We were able to get a free upgrade to a Jeep Wrangler, and we drove through the Cascade mountains in a Jeep. We ended up accidentally going down a ski trail and had a great adventure. I enjoy some of the moments outside of camps where we get to explore the most.
In your own words, why should upcoming juniors attend CMP’s Junior Camps?
I think that the number one reason to go to CMP Camps as a junior is the opportunity that you have to ask questions. There is no other place where you are going to be able to ask a dozen college athletes, who have competed on national and international levels, any question that you want. The ability to get different perspectives and understand the sport in new ways is something that you don’t really get anywhere else.