Youth Programs

Youth documents

• JOAD indoor achievement awards (2016)
• JOAD outdoor achievement awards (2016)
• JOAD raffle (July 2023)
• Women on Target clinic brochure

Women on Target

A safe, comfortable setting for learning about the shooting sports — rifles, pistols, shotguns, muzzleloaders, and archery — plus five seminars that don’t involve shooting:

• Refuse To Be A Victim (NRA): tips and techniques for recognizing and avoiding dangerous situations.
• Women & Hunting (Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources): for women interested in hunting.
• Buying & Caring for a Handgun: what to know before you shop.
• Firearms and the Law: the key provisions on purchase, sale, and possession.
• Legal Aspects of Self-Defense: your rights and restrictions on carrying and using a handgun for self-defense.

Details about the national program: wot.nra.org.

Junior Chapter

Established in 2016, the Arlington-Fairfax Junior Chapter has about 200 members under 18, run by a nine-member youth Board of Directors elected annually. Membership in the Junior Chapter is required for any minor participating in organized shooting sports at the chapter. The Junior Chapter co-sponsors the annual Wendel Thompson Memorial Precision Air Rifle/Pistol Match, which has drawn 60+ competitors and served as a Virginia Shooting Sports Association state championship.

Note: Minors under 18 may only use chapter facilities when accompanied by an adult member or participating in a chapter-sanctioned activity.

Join or renew: use the Junior Membership sign-up and complete the membership release form. Questions: Director of Youth Activities Joe Turner, Joe.Turner@arlingtonfairfax-iwla.org.

Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD)

JOAD teaches archers age 8–18 the fundamentals of Olympic-style archery — technique, tournament participation, equipment setup, physical fitness, and mental preparation — across three 12-week sessions a year at the indoor and outdoor ranges. All coaches are U.S. Archery Level 2/3 certified with SafeSport training and background checks. Sessions traditionally meet Sundays, 3–5 p.m.; check the chapter calendar for exact dates.

Youth Shotgun Team

Started in 2014, the chapter’s youth trapshooting team (ages 12–22) competes Saturday afternoons through the Virginia Youth Trapshooting League (VYTL), using the AIM (Academics Integrity Marksmanship) format — the official ATA youth program. The regular season runs mid-March through mid-May (50 competition + up to 50 practice targets weekly), followed by a state tournament in Winchester, VA each June.

NoVA Sharpshooters (NVSS)

Two junior programs for ages 10–18, both requiring the Sills Air Range consumables fee and Junior Chapter membership:

• Junior Pistol Program — 10m air pistol, with advanced athletes progressing to 25m sport pistol (.22 LR). Contact novasharpshootersiwla@gmail.com.
• Paralympic Junior Air Rifle Program — prepares Paralympic junior athletes for CMP, NRA, and USA Shooting events. Contact Tom Ciarula at ciarulat@cox.net or 703-250-0947.

High School Air Rifle Teams

The chapter sponsors and hosts the home range for seven Potomac High School Rifle League (PHSRL) teams: Centreville, Fairfax, Lake Braddock, Robinson, West Springfield, and Woodson high schools, plus the independent Mavericks team.

Scouting partnerships

The chapter charters several local Scouting units, giving scouts a place to meet and complete conservation-minded service projects on chapter property.

For chapter Scouting questions, contact liaison Tom Pike at Tom.Pike@arlingtonfairfax-iwla.org.