Tomorrow's Hunters. Today's Teachers.
Hunting doesn’t survive without the people who replace us. Our chapter funds two programs that put that replacement work front and center — and we sponsor youth shooting and conservation activities throughout our region.
Why Education Comes First
Every survey of new hunter recruitment tells the same story: the kids who get into hunting are the kids who had someone show them how. The teachers who defend hunting in the classroom are the teachers who’ve seen it for themselves. Our chapter funds two programs aimed at exactly those two audiences — the next generation of hunters, and the educators who shape what they learn about hunting.
Teacher Impact
"Read past attendees' stories to see how AWLS transformed their classroom teaching approach."
American Wilderness Leadership School
AWLS is the flagship education program of SCI Foundation. Located at Granite Creek Ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, it’s an immersive multi-day program built primarily for teachers — putting them through hands-on instruction in wildlife management, shooting sports, conservation policy, hunting ethics, and outdoor skills.
The teachers come back changed. They take what they’ve learned into classrooms across Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the rest of the country — reframing what students think they know about hunting, conservation, and the people who do both.
Our chapter sponsors AWLS scholarships every year, sending educators from our region to Wyoming on the chapter’s dime. It’s one of the highest-leverage investments we make.
Millcreek Marksmen 4-H Club
The Millcreek Marksmen 4-H Club teaches kids the fundamentals of shooting sports —
- firearm safety, marksmanship,
- range etiquette,
- and the discipline that comes with handling a rifle.
Our chapter has been a primary sponsor for years.
4-H shooting sports does more than turn out kids who can shoot. It produces young adults who understand what’s behind the trigger —
- the responsibility,
- the legal framework,
- the ethics,
- the conservation context.
For most members of this chapter, that’s exactly the kind of recruitment we want to see.
50+
ACTIVE MEMBERS
100%
SAFETY RECORD
Youth Events Across the Region
Beyond AWLS and 4-H, the chapter sponsors youth event days throughout the year — youth hunts, range days, conservation outings, and school-based programs. Our goal isn’t to manufacture trophy hunters. It’s to make sure the next generation knows what hunting really is before someone else tells them.
Support the Work
Become a Member
Your SCI membership through our chapter is the year-round funding base for everything on this page.
Donate to Education
Designate your donation to AWLS scholarships, 4-H sponsorship, or general youth education.
Volunteer at a Youth Day
Range officers, mentors, and helpers are needed at every youth event. If you can shoot, score, or talk to a kid, we need you.