Monroe-Chester Sportsman's Club sponsors Youth Day

CHESTER - It was a great opportunity for teenagers to learn the safe handling of shotguns, rifles and archery equipment as well as range procedures and the basic rules of shooting sports in a safe and positive environment. On Sunday, May 7, the Monroe-Chester Sportsmen’s Club invited local youngsters to “Youth Day” for about eight hours of supervised shooting and archery activities. The club sponsors this event twice each year, spring and fall, as a free community service. Local businesses also contribute goods and services to help make the day a success. During “Youth Day,” experienced instructors demonstrate each activity and work with all participants stressing safety in activities that are appropriate for the boy or girl’s age and abilities. Younger children, for example, might be taught how to shoot a size appropriate pellet gun while an older teenager will get to handle a 20-gage shotgun on the trap range. Any interested boy or girl from the area is invited to participate. However, a parent or guardian must accompany them. Activities include instruction in 22-caliber rifle, trap, skeet, air rifle, archery and black powder shooting. Each participant is required to follow strict safety guidelines, obey the instructor’s orders and wear appropriate protective devices such as earplugs and safety glasses. On Sunday, for example, a group of youngsters interested in trap and skeet shooting were able to improved their skills by knocking clay pigeons out of the sky under the watchful eyes of Diane Bramich, a certified National Rifle Association (NRA) instructor. Bramich is chairman of the club’s Skeet and Trap Shooting Committee. She is also married to Warwick Police Officer Fred Bramich, the department’s firearms instructor, who serves as vice president of the club. The 138-acre Monroe-Chester Sportsmen’s Club, established in 1935, is located on Gibson Hill Road in the Town of Chester. Although the private club is limited to 600 members, it hosts numerous shooting events throughout the year that are open to the public. “We believe in firearm safety through education,” said Officer Fred Bramich, chairman of Youth Day. “There are fewer accidents in supervised shooting sports than in any other competitive sport.” For information on “Youth Day” or other upcoming events call 477-8755.