Who are we?
Youth shooting sports encompass a range of competitive activities that involve the use of archery, rifles, pistols, and shotguns. These sports emphasize discipline, safety, and skill development. Participants, are between the ages of 8 and 18, engage in various competitions designed to test their marksmanship and strategic thinking.
CJRAL is a youth centric shooting sports program that provides safe firearm handling and archery instruction to boys and girls. We are the largest youth shooting sports club in New England of over 100 members per year. All CJRAL instructors and teen leaders are trained through the 4-H shooting sports college program and received instruction certifications.
The core CJRAL program currently focuses on shooting sport activities: Rifle, pistol, archery, and shotgun (sporting clays), NEW 2026-2027 Muzzle Loader. The CJRAL provides structured training in all areas from beginner to advanced participant levels.
CJRAL organization provides all required equipment needed - (limited) safety glasses and ear protection, firearms, ammunition, bows and arrows, targets etc. Participants are permitted to use their own equipment contingent on upon approval by the Program Officers and after demonstrating safe shooting practices. All ammunition IS supplied by CJRAL handloads or remanufactured ammunition are NOT ALLOWED.
The program starts in September and runs into June of each year - meeting on Saturdays from 8:45am - 1:00pm. Current participant fees are $30.00 per youth, which allows participation in any or all the areas of focus and covers all equipment and consumables. Donations to offset the program expenses are gratefully accepted.
.22 Rifles
Rifles are offered to all ages 8 and up at CJRAL, as seen in the picture they start with sitting there are other positions that we teach after youth has gained confidence in the beginning position.
.22 Pistols
Pistols are offered to those with confidence in their skills as a marksmen or markers woman. This level of skills is when we start taking CJRAL youth to CRGC events and competition.
Age is 12 but we have see skill develop earlier and that is at the instructors insight and parameters of advice.
This is one sport we ask the families to start looking at have their own firearm so the youth can be familiar with it.
Archery
Archery has been around a long time and takes the right fit to the person shooting the bow. This is CJRAL gate way to shooting sports with our Mobile Archery Trailer that hosts events around the state.
Ages 8 and Up.
Shotgun
Shotgun is in its 3rd year of teaching. This is an age limited activity 13 and up.
It is a Special Class and more information of this years can be found on the Schedule page and for sign ups.
Muzzle Loader
We are bring in Muzzle Loader as a Special Class. We have 6 Muzzle Loader Institutors that spent a weekend learning to teach this firearm art.
There is an age limit of 13 with this one.
See schedule for the special class dates and the sign ups for it.
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4H State Shooting Sports