Registration for the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s (CMP) 2020 Air Rifle Summer Camp lineup officially opens on January 21st. Running from June to August, the vigorous 10-week schedule includes a mix of camps and clinics formatted to train high-school age (9-12 grade) junior athletes on intermediate and advanced marksmanship skills through various exercises and demonstrations.
The camps are held around the country to allow better accessibility for interested athletes in a variety of areas, using CMP’s own mobile electronic target system.
For the new decade, the 2020 Summer Camp schedule will feature not only air rifle opportunities but also a number of smallbore camps. Additionally, staff members are working to add pistol camps to the summer schedule – dates currently unknown. Classes fill quickly, so be sure to check periodically on the CMP website (https://thecmp.org/camps) for updates!
The fundamentals of the air rifle 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 youth and adults in the world of marksmanship. Mr. Anderson’s teachings have been modified over the years to provide an adaptive course for the evolving generations.
During the week-long camp sessions, juniors 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, how to build self-confidence on the firing line, along with an assortment of skills that can be carried from the range into everyday 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.
“My niece attended the 3P camp at Camp Perry this past July. Emily had a great experience that week and made some new friends that she is maintaining an online relationship with about shooting, upcoming matches etc. Since returning to her home range, she has been able to set new personal best scores each week including both overall and individual targets. The camp was able to jump her shooting capabilities up several notches and she continues to use the techniques she learned. We will be waiting to see the release dates of next year’s camps so she can attend once again” said Scott Marne.
Other options outside of the week-long curriculum include:
- Advanced Standing Camps, which are 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.
- Condensed Outreach Clinics, using paper targets instead of the electronic targets, will also be held in Wyoming, Missouri and Texas. The instruction is nearly identical to the full-length course, with the majority of the week-long curriculum compressed into a three-day 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.
For a list of dates and more detailed camp information, visit the Junior Air Rifle Camps and Clinics page on the CMP website at https://thecmp.org/camps. Be sure to register starting on January 21st.
The Civilian Marksmanship Program is a federally chartered 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation. It is dedicated to firearm safety and marksmanship training and to the promotion of marksmanship competition for citizens of the United States. For more information about the CMP and its programs, log onto www.TheCMP.org.
