Sign Ups Now Available for the 2018 Summer Junior Air Rifle Camps

March 9, 2018

Civilian Marksmanship Program▸The First Shot▸Sign Ups Now Available for the 2018 Summer Junior Air Rifle Camps

By Ashley Brugnone, CMP Writer

Registration for the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s (CMP) 2018 Air Rifle Summer Camps is now officially open. Running from June to August, the vigorous 9-week schedule includes a mix of camps and clinics formatted to train high-school age (9-12 grade) junior shooters on intermediate and advanced air rifle marksmanship skills through various exercises and demonstrations.

The fundamentals of the camp curriculum were originally designed by DCM Emeritus, Gary Anderson – a two-time Olympic gold medalist who is still active in developing the skills and knowledge of others in the world of marksmanship. Throughout the evolution of the camps over the last decade, Mr. Anderson’s teachings have been modified by past Camp Directors Dan Durben and Sommer Wood to provide an adaptive course for the varying generations.

During the week-long sessions, juniors will learn tips for both the physical and mental aspects of competition shooting. Topics to be discussed include proper positioning, goal setting, anxiety control and how to optimize equipment performance. Campers will also take a look into competition and finals performance, learn leadership roles and building self-confidence on the firing line, along with an assortment of skills that can be carried from the range into every day life.

Campers are coached by qualified student athletes from the top NCAA rifle teams in the country – the majority of whom had participated in the camps themselves as juniors. These camp counselors will lead the juniors in discussions and drills during the camp in small groups where they are able to give each participant personal attention.

Other options outside of the week-long curriculum include the Advanced Standing Camps, designed to be a follow-up program for those who have attended one or more of the three-position camps or clinics. These camps elaborate in even more detail each individual’s strengths and weaknesses to better the athletes for future competition.

Outreach Clinics are also on the schedule, using paper targets instead of the electronic targets used for the camps. The instruction is almost identical, with the majority of the week-long curriculum worked into the three-day clinic format.

Each participating group or athlete must be accompanied by an adult leader (coach, club leader, parent, etc.) for the duration of the camp. Recent high school graduates are not eligible to partake in the air rifle activities, but may attend as an adult leader. Chaperones are to provide transportation for the campers each day and are encouraged to attend the coaching sessions in order to gain a sense of the outstanding education their athletes are receiving.