Kids on the Range Day

One of the best-kept secrets in Washtenaw County is Kids on the Range Day, hosted by Tri-County Sportsmen’s League (Saline, Michigan) each July. Our mission is to introduce kids 8-18 to the fun of sport shooting in a safe and fun environment. The first 60 kids, ages 8-18, who apply are treated to a half-day on our outdoor ranges, where they receive one-on-one coaching.

The kids are divided into teams of five and are assigned to ranges by age:

• 8-11 go to Archery, Pistol, and Rifle
• 12-18 go to Action/Large Caliber, Pin Shoot, and Trap

In addition to providing an opportunity to shoot in a safe environment, we emphasize safety at every step of the way. Everyone—parents and kids—attend a mandatory safety briefing before they’re ever allowed on the range, and they are reminded again at each range about the range rules and the importance of following them.

At the end of each session, we provide pizza and a participation certificate, and each kid goes home with a “goody bag” that includes some fun stuff plus information about safe gun storage practices (and a gun lock compliments of the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office), how to be a safe hunter, and “Tracks” magazine from Michigan United Conservation Clubs.