Northern New Jersey Council, Boy Scouts of America will be hosting their 8th annual Sporting Clays Tournament on Friday, September 27th to raise funds for the more than 10,000 youth served in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Passaic counties. NNJC is a values-based youth development organization, that instills values in young people, and prepares them to make ethical choices during their lifetime and to achieve their full potential.

For many Scouts, shooting a rifle or shotgun at summer camp is the only time they will be able to handle a firearm. The purpose of the Boy Scouts of America’s shooting sports program is to introduce youth to shooting in a safe and educational environment. Nationally, Boy Scouts of America enable Scouts and their leaders to receive hunter education cards through their Hunter Education Certification Program, held at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia. With proper safety instruction, shooting sports help Scouts build confidence and self-esteem and teaches problem-solving skills.

These attributes can be seen in Matty, a Scout who loved camp and had to overcome many obstacles in his life. Matty loved attending summer camp and participating in shooting sports. Matty was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Doctors were able to remove the tumors, but the procedure ended up leaving the boy blind. After recovering, Matty attending summer camp and was able to participate fully in all camp activities while working alongside camp staff. Matty participated in rifle, archery, black powder shooting and even shotgun shooting. The camp staff assisted Matty every step of way to ensure the activity was safe and rewarding. He was even able to shoot moving targets with one staff member helping him aim and another tapping him on the shoulder when it was time to shoot. Matty’s story is unique but the lessons he took away from camp are not.

The more Scouts who enjoy the BSA shooting sports program, the more future adults will understand the importance of handling firearms safely.