Adults interested in becoming a Department of Natural Resources-certified volunteer firearms safety instructor may register for training being offered in Brainerd on April 2.
The course is for new volunteer instructors, and active and former instructors who need to be re-certified, a DNR release stated.
The training course will be from 2-6 p.m. at the Roosevelt Town Hall, 22613 County Road 2, Brainerd. During the instructor training, applicants will learn about policy and procedures, teaching concepts, use of training aids, how to conduct a field day and youth classroom training techniques.
There is no fee for the course. Participants must be at least 18 years old and pass a background check. Pre-registration is required and can be done by calling Shelly Patten at 218-553-1676, or emailing shelly.patten@state.mn.us .
New and re-certifying instructors are required to review the online firearms safety hunter education course study guide found at www.huntercourse.com prior to attending the classroom training. All applicants must complete the four forms found on the DNR website at www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/instructors/process.html and bring them to the class.
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The DNR has over 4,000 volunteer firearms safety instructors who train about 23,000 students annually. Volunteer instructors work in teams to teach ethics and safe firearms handling to future hunters.
"New instructors are always needed to fill the voids left by retiring instructors, and the demand for classes remains high," said northeast regional training officer Shelly Patten. "We can help individuals find a team that needs another instructor, and we welcome friends who are interested in forming a new instructor team."
Visit www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/instructors for more information about becoming a volunteer firearms safety instructor.
