Iowa DNR Launches Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP)
Iowa Department of Natural Resources 08.15.13
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) hosted its first Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP) demonstration/recruitment event Sunday August 11th. Nearly 60 pistol coaches and interested parties converged on the Dragoon Chapter (Ankeny) Izaak Walton League range in Elkhart, Iowa, to learn about the program. These individuals will take what they learned back to their home ranges and clubs to form SPP teams. This event is the largest state-supported SPP recruitment effort to date and was organized by IDNR’s Ben Berka and Rachel Ladd. Assisting SPP staffers; Scott Moore SPP National Director and Tammy Mowry Program Manager, was local Izaak Walton members Scott Arnburg, and Ray Morley. Founding Partners GLOCK and Smith & Wesson sent Ed Fitzgerald (GLOCK) and Tom Yost (S&W) who provided the free loaner handguns and instruction.
SPP and its sister program the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) are youth shooting sports programs administered by the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF). The IDNR serves as Iowa state advisor for both programs. “Introducing youth and families to the shooting sports is essential to providing Iowans with more recreation opportunities while at the same time supporting wildlife conservation and recruiting new hunters and target shooters,” said Ben Berka of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). “We believe the Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP) is another fun, safe and family-friendly sport which will complement our current youth shooting sports programs.”
“Iowa DNR is one of the more progressive state agencies in the country when it comes to building youth shooting sports programs,” said Scott Moore, SPP National Director. “We are excited about the bright future SPP has in the Hawkeye State.”
SPP is supported, in part, by founding partners GLOCK, Smith & Wesson and Action Target. Additional partners include Atlanta Arms & Ammunition, Remington Arms, PACT Timers, Pro Ears, Tactical Solutions and Winchester Ammunition among others.
SPP is supported, in part, by founding partners GLOCK, Smith & Wesson and Action Target. Additional partners include Atlanta Arms & Ammunition, Browning Arms, PACT Timers, Pro Ears, Remington Arms, Tactical Solutions and Winchester Ammunition among others.
The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) is responsible for all aspects of the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP) across the United States, including participant registration, coaches, state coordinators, state and national championships, promotion, communications, websites, public relations and growth strategies The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation exists to raise funding and other resources for Youth Development Programs in the shooting sports industry.
SCTP and SPP are youth development programs, originally developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), where adult coaches and volunteers model sportsmanship, responsibility, honesty, ethics, integrity, and teamwork while using shooting sports programs to teach these and other positive life skills to the athletes.
To learn more about SCTP or SPP call (419) 794-9924 or visit their website at www.sssfonline.com
