I was certified as a Hunter's Ed Instructor today

[rantingredneck]

I finished the Hunters Education Instructor's course today. I've been wanting to get involved in hunters ed since my accident last year.

For those who don't know about the accident I'm talking about you can read here:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=306807

So last night and today I took the instructor's course and passed the test. Once my background check clears in a couple of days I'll get my certification number and card and can start teaching classes.

Hoping to assistant teach one in early August to get started.

 

[45Badger]

Congratulations! Hope you are doing well. Good first hand experience to relate.

 

[MaterDei]

Congrats!

 

[Sunray]

Holy fiddler's fornication! Read your accident post. Good for you.
Ever done any teaching before? (Trained instructors while in the Queen's Service.) A few tips.
Still got the back brace? It will make a fabulous training aid. 'Pay attention or you'll end up in one of these' is a very powerful training aid. Especially for the teenagers.
Talk to teenagers like you would an adult. They'll react like adults. It's a mutual respect thing. Teenagers are great fun to work with, but they need and want to be led. Not just told. Treat 'em with respect and they won't give you any grief.
Adults, usually, need to be told. Especially 20 something year old guys, when it comes to anything firearm related. As daft as it sounds, it has to do with John Wayne movies and TV. Most guys think they're naturally good with firearms. Women are by far easier to teach how to shoot. Assuming there's a shooting part of your course. Either way, 20 something year old guys, tend to think they know everything and women don't.
Telling your first class, your history isn't a bad thing, but keep it short. The truth is that people will sympathize, but they don't really care. As hard as that sounds.
Nervousness before your first class is normal. Picking one student and talking to them, helps. Knowing the material and having a lesson plan makes it a whole lot easier. The lesson plan is essential. The adage of picturing your class naked, doesn't work.
If somebody asks a question that you don't have the answer for right away. (Likely a hunting regs thing. And they change regularly.) Say so and tell 'em you'll find out. Never BS about anything. Have a copy of the laws and the local hunting regs handy.
Remember that you are the expert. Know your material, follow your lesson plan and think in terms of being an entertainer and have fun teaching.

 

[buck460XVR]

congrats......sounds like you found a great way to give something back to the community and the sport of shooting.

 

[HuntAndFish]

Good to hear. Hope you enjoy it.

 

[22-rimfire]

I took the class back when I was in college. It is a good thing to do. Hope you teach a few classes.

 

[Greg.B]

rantingredneck, thanks for sharing your story, and for taking the time to help others learn!

I don't want to hijack the thread, but do want to thank Sunray for posting those tips. I started a related thread HERE about my situation.

 

[Shawnee]

Congratulations - on your recovery and on your certification.

I taught HS in three states over the course of nearly 30 years - enjoyed it all and learned a lot from my "students".

High-5 to Ya !

 

[rantingredneck]

I've done quite a bit of teaching actually so I'm comfortable in front of an audience. Thanks for the tips though, I can still use all the help I can get .

Still got the back brace? It will make a fabulous training aid. 'Pay attention or you'll end up in one of these' is a very powerful training aid. Especially for the teenagers.

I do still have the back brace and have already thought of using it in the class. I also have my walker and plan to get copies of my Xrays. They are a very potent tool themselves. Both the pre-surgery and post-surgery shots.

 

[rantingredneck]

If somebody asks a question that you don't have the answer for right away. (Likely a hunting regs thing. And they change regularly.) Say so and tell 'em you'll find out. Never BS about anything. Have a copy of the laws and the local hunting regs handy.

The cool thing about the NC course is that usually a wildlife enforcement officer stops by one night of the class to give the "law" talk. The Hunter's Ed Specialist who taught our class actually advised us to not get too far into the legal stuff itself. We hand out regulations books, cover the basics and let the Wildlife Officers answer the tough ones.

Funny thing is that sometimes when a poacher gets ticketed here in NC, part of the process to get their license reinstated may be to take a Hunters Ed classes. Those guys are the ones who come in with long lists of legal questions trying to find the loopholes.

 

[HunterGirl]

Congrats! I started to read through your accident post but couldn't make it all the way through. Made me just sick......That's always been a fear of mine.