McLean County 4-H Shooting Sports

Develop life skills, build confidence, and learn alongside peers.

The focus of all 4-H programs is the development of youth as individuals and as responsible, productive citizens. The Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports program stands out as an example. Youth learn marksmanship, the safe and responsible use of firearms, the principles of shooting and much more.

Clubs

McLean County Shooting Sports SPIN Club (Archery & Shotgun)

This SPIN Club offers workshops for Archery and Shotgun. You will need to pay for the workshops online during registration. Archery is $3/workshop and Shotgun is $10/workshop. Payment is required at time of registration for Shotgun. To participate in Archery youth must be 8 years old and to participate in Shotgun youth must be 12 years old. (ages are determined by September 1, 2023).

Leader: Michelle Ratcliff mrats8@yahoo.com

CIPS Kids 4-H SPIN Club (Air Rifle/Pistol and Outdoor Skills)

This SPIN Club offers workshops for Air Rifle, Pistol, and Outdoor Skills. To sign up for a 6- week workshop in Air Rifle/Pistol, please contact Kurt Willoughby. Outdoor Skills will also be offered during the 6-week air rifle/pistol workshops. To participate in Air Rifle, Pistol, or Outdoor Skills you must be 8 years old. (ages are determined by September 1, 2023).

Leader: Kurt Willoughby krazkurt@gmail.com

How to Join

Requirements to participate:

You must be enrolled in 4-H through our ZSuite Enrollment platform
Be a member of one or both of the Shooting Sports SPIN Clubs
- McLean County Shooting Sports
  SPIN Club (Archery & Shotgun)
- CIPS Kids 4-H SPIN Club
  (Air Rifle/Pistol and Outdoor Skills)
- Per state regulation you must
  belong to the SPIN club hosting that discipline
Have a current Medical form on file with the McLean County Extension Office or bring to
your first workshop.

Each SPIN Club has a Facebook group to help keep everyone informed, please request to be added as a member so you can stay to up to date.

McLean County Shooting Sports SPIN Club Facebook page

CIPS Kids 4-H SPIN Club Facebook Page

Click here to stay up to date with State 4-H Shooting Sports

Workshops

Air Rifle/Air Pistol: Training sessions are 6 week sessions. Sessions are currently running from 5:30-6:45 p.m. at Central Illinois Precision Shooting (6125 Co Rd 1175 N, Bloomington, IL 61705). All equipment is provided and there is $40 fee for the 6-week session. This will be collected at the door during the first session day. Youth must be able to attend the first night of this program in order to attend any of the other workshops during this 6-week course.

Upcoming workshops:

1st six week course starts September 16th, taking place each Tuesday, 5:30-6:45pm.

If you have any questions, please contact Kurt Willoughby, Lead Instructor, at krazkurt@gmail.com, or Sky Holland, Extension Program Coordinator, at 309-663-8306 or skylarh@illinois.edu.

Archery: These workshops are offered by state certified 4-H Archery Instructors with Dave Schwenk as the lead instructor. Workshops will be held every 2nd and 4th Monday night at the McLean County Fairgrounds in the West Expo Building (1106 Interstate Drive, Bloomington, IL 61705). Note: Certain Mondays will only have Level 2 Workshops. Participants must have completed a Level 1 Archery Workshop before they can participate in a Level 2 Workshop.

Upcoming workshops:

April 8th, 2024 6:15-8:30 p.m.
April 22nd, 2024 6:15-8:30 p.m.
May 13th, 2024 6:15-8:30 p.m.
June 24th, 2024 6:15-8:30 p.m.

Shotgun: Training is conducted by a state-certified McLean County 4-H Shooting Sports Instructors with Sid Parks as the lead instructor. This training will be held outside, dress accordingly for the weather conditions. All participants are required to wear shoes that completely cover their feet (no sandals or flip-flops). Hats or other hair restraints are encouraged. The workshops will be at Darnall's Shooting Range, 7.7 miles southwest of the Interstate Center on IL Rte. 9 (6125 East 1175 North Rd. Bloomington, IL 61705). Hearing and eye safety equipment, clays and shells will be supplied. Shotguns are also provided. You are encouraged to use your own personal shotgun if you have one. Anyone wishing to bring their own shotgun must be transported legally by a responsible adult with a FOID card. Only 20-gauge shotguns are allowed, and all must pass a safety evaluation by the range officials prior to the match. There is a $10/workshop charge that will be required via online registration.

Upcoming workshops: