"In the end we will conserve only what we love....We will love only what we understand....and we will understand only what we are taught", Baba Dioum, African Ecologist

“ We shouldn’t think about youth’s experiences in nature as an extracurricular activity, but as a vital element for healthy development”, author Richard Louv The Last Child in the Woods

"JrAHA is about getting our youth outdoors not for just an event, but to begin a lifetime of outdoor recreational experiences and to foster the stewardship of our nautral resources", founder Ed Gerhardt

Hunter ED

JrAHA members certified as TPWD volunteer instructors teach hunter education, as a State of Texas required certification for all hunters with birth dates after September 2, 1971.   The course teaches safety, rules & regulations and ethics in hunting.  Youth can be certified at age 9.  

We also instruct these participants in live fire safety exercises of firearms, progressing from a .22 caliber to .243 caliber to prepare them for their first hunt.  Shotgun familiarity/safety and shooting sports are also taught with clays and skeet at local ranges. Firearms are provided for this training.

JrAHA has the capability to train for safety and shooting skills with an electronic simulator (LaserShot) for both rifles and shotguns with realistic interactive video hunting scenarios with whitetail deer, elk, antelope, bear and waterfowl.

We encourage family participation in the state certification course for all youth ages 9-17.

Hunter ED Certification Classes are scheduled primarily from August through early December and are typically 6-8 hours in the classroom and 10-12 hours completing the on-line course requirements.  See TPWD link http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/. for additional information on Hunter Education Certification requirements.

JrAHA supports the Texas Youth Hunt Program through volunteering as Huntmaster  and promoting it through the Hunter Ed certification course.  This program offers access to some first class hunting venues for families with children ages 9-17 to enter hunting as a recreational pastime for a lifetime.   A parent or guardian must accompany youth age 9-17 on Texas Youth Hunts.  See more at www.tyhp.org