starting a school rifle club

[popeye4]

Here's a link to the requirements for CMP affiliation: http://www.odcmp.com/Clubs/Affiliate.htm

Even if you don't want to affiliate with them, it provides a good checklist of characteristics you may want to consider (like who your "qualified instructor" would be).

[$P-Ritch$]

Eugh...don't go to the Boy Scouts. They're almost anti-gun. Talk to someone from Appleseed.

That's news to me. Just last month at SLOSA they had about 200 boy scouts camp out on the property for the weekend. They watched weapon exhibitions from the sheriff's SWAT team and demos of all the shooting venues there (3-gun/USPSA/IDPA/etc). This is all while we were shooting a USPSA match on the other bays, so we were walking around with our guns on. Then they apparently were shooting .22's and bows and arrows, as well. Maybe it just depends on the troop leader? Don't know not a scout.

[Dreaded Claymore]

That's news to me. Just last month at SLOSA they had about 200 boy scouts camp out on the property for the weekend. They watched weapon exhibitions from the sheriff's SWAT team and demos of all the shooting venues there (3-gun/USPSA/IDPA/etc). This is all while we were shooting a USPSA match on the other bays, so we were walking around with our guns on. Then they apparently were shooting .22's and bows and arrows, as well. Maybe it just depends on the troop leader? Don't know not a scout.

I guess it depends on the troop leader or other staff. I said that because I worked at a Scout camp for one summer, and it seemed like they really hated the mention of any type of firearm except the .22 single-shot rifles and clay pigeon shooting with shotguns. Never mind, disregard.

[bpetro]

Thanks for the good input guys. I looked at the appleseed website (appleseedinfo.org) and unfortunately it doesn't look like they do anything nearby. That being said, I successfully hooked up this evening with the guy that teaches the Hunter Safety classes in my home town. He's a retired sheriff, he's got some kind of NRA certification and he said he'd be more than happy to help kick off the program.

[KillerRabbit]

There actually are still schools in California with rifle teams. Most of them shoot air rifle. While there are several sanctioning organizations you can affiliate your club with I think the best bet for a school club would be 4H. You also want to be affiliated with the CMP (they often have good deals on youth rifles and supplies for your club). Both organizations have existing programs that you can be a part of. There is a lot of information you are not telling us (such as where you are in CA) and what kind of a team you would like to end up with. The more info you provide the more we can help you. I am on the High Power committee of CRPA BOD and I also hold a position on the California Grizzlies Junior Rifle Team BOD. So I would be glad to do some research on who is in your area that could be of assistance. I can also put you in contact with the CRPA committee for air gun and small bore if that helps. Hopefully this will get you pointed in the right direction, please don't hesitate to ask more questions.
Dirk