To run a county or multi-county shooting sports and wildlife (SS&W) program, instructors must be certified by Minnesota 4-H. Leader certification training is designed to cover the essential knowledge and rules to become a certified 4-H county instructor.
The Minnesota 4-H SS&W program development committee requires leaders to attend the certification training every seven years.
The training is designed for adults and youth (9th grade and up) that lead or would like to lead training in shooting sports or wildlife. Classes will be offered in the disciplines of coordinator, archery, rifle/pistol, shotgun, muzzleloading and wildlife.
This training meets the 4-H project leaders' requirements for certification and re-certification. Although range time is on the schedule, the majority of the training is classroom work to become an effective instructor, not to practice your own shooting skills.
For participants
Minnesota 4-H SS&W leader certification information
Register for any of the SS&W leader training events in 4-H Online.
Note: You must be a screened volunteer in order to register. You also need to let your local Extension educator know that you plan to register and complete all of the required steps.
Upcoming leader certification training events
SS&W leader training events
- March 22 in Spicer for archery, rifle/pistol and wildlife. Register by March 15.
- April 12 in Cambridge for archery only. Register by April 5.
- April 26 in Austin for archery, wildlife and muzzle loading. Register by April 19.
- April 26 in Wadena for archery, wildlife and rifle/pistol. Register by April 19.
- May 17 in Chisholm for archery, shotgun and wildlife. Register by May 10.
SS&W leader online training requirement
You are required to complete the SS&W leader certification pre-work course prior to attending an in-person training. A link will be sent to you to complete a newly designed online course for completion of required information. If you have completed the old steps 1-2 since 2020, you do not need to complete this updated pre-work.
You must complete the following to become a fully certified 4-H SS&W leader:
Be a fully screened 4-H volunteer in your local program.
Complete the SS&W leader certification pre-work course - A link will be sent to you to complete a newly designed online course for completion of required information. If you have completed the old steps 1-2 since 2020, you do not need to complete this updated pre-work.
Attend a one day in-person discipline training that costs $50.
For questions, contact Nicole Pokorney at [email protected].
Has your county ever considered hosting a shooting sports and wildlife leader training? Do you have an interest in hosting an event within the next year? Would you like to host one close to your county so your volunteers could get trained close to home? If you answered yes to any of those questions, please read on!
There are several opportunities for shooting sports and wildlife leader trainings and we are looking for host sites throughout Minnesota. It would involve one or two weekend days (depending on disciplines offered) in which leaders come and get training in a specific discipline. A portion of the leader training will be completed online prior to the in-person discipline training.
If you have an interest in hosting a shooting sports and wildlife leader training, please contact Nicole Pokorney at [email protected].