On Line Gun Safety for kids

[leechlake]

My son is ready for Gun Safety and I am pondering doing the on line version that is followed by a field day and test.

Back 30 some years ago I took the old school go every week version and am concerned that the on line version won't provide the education that being in a class does. That said, it would be easier than trying to find a class 20 miles away, but I don't want to trade ease of taking the course with ultimate safety.

Please share any experiences with this, thanks.

[tunrevir]

Funny, I was just going to post a new topic and I look and here it is right on the top of the page. I have talked with numerous instructors of the classroom courses and I get the feeling they prefer you to go through a classroom program versus the online course for your learning experience. The government shutdown cost my daughter a chance at the classroom course we were able to attend and now she is working on going through the online course. The challenge is that we can't find any willing instructors or days that will work out for her field day at this time. Most courses either have the field day full from the group going through the class or are willing to accept the online students but only at certain times of the day. I understand from speaking with numerous instructors that the filed day experience for an online learner is a bit longer and more intensive then if they just go to the classroom course. Right now we are having a hard time finding someplace nearby to get her in on the field day. I was under the assumption that when you got the online voucher you could call the course instructor for the area you wanted to participate and set up a time for your child to go through but have been met with resistance when attempting to get a time scheduled. Anyone have any suggestions?

Tunrevir~

[tunrevir]

Update to my previous post: After calling around we found an instructor that will take us for the field day but my daughter needs to attend the final class period and take the written exam with his class.

Tunrevir~

[pureinsanity]

I know the shut down wrecked a lot of kids chances at getting in, but do you really think online is good??

I know I enjoyed gun safety and if I was taking it online id probably just study the book before the test? (when I was a kid)

I think a big thing is to be in the classroom see different guns and how they work and proper education vs watching a slide show or video. Hands on is always better.

but that is just my 2 cents.

[goblueM]

the classes are great, but I think it starts at home with YOU teaching your kid, and laying a good foundation for responsible and safe hunting

online course would be a great complement to that, just as the regular class would be. imo the parent/uncle/whatever should be continually teaching their kid anyways, so the class is just a formality

[PierBridge]

Quote:

the classes are great, but I think it starts at home with YOU teaching your kid, and laying a good foundation for responsible and safe hunting

online course would be a great complement to that, just as the regular class would be. imo the parent/uncle/whatever should be continually teaching their kid anyways, so the class is just a formality

+1

[brittman]

The classroom is key and the DNR is foolish to let anyone totally "homeschool". In my opinion they need to listen to instructors talk about guns, gun design, safety, DNR laws. Some things need more than reading a book or a computer screen.

I would be in favor of a combination of classroom and on-line training where there are two classes and a field day. Once classroom session on guns and gun safety and one on conservation and game laws taught by experienced instructors and attended the one night by a DNR officer. Field day is already a requirement.

Parents should be required to attend one night. I attended 70% of the classes with my two children that have attended the classes so far. From what I have seen their are plenty of parents needing a refresher too.

Of course parents must keep the education going.

[leech~~]

The classroom is key and the DNR is foolish to let anyone totally "homeschool". In my opinion they need to listen to instructors talk about guns, gun design, safety, DNR laws. Some things need more than reading a book or a computer screen.

I would be in favor of a combination of classroom and on-line training where there are two classes and a field day. Once classroom session on guns and gun safety and one on conservation and game laws taught by experienced instructors and attended the one night by a DNR officer. Field day is already a requirement.

Parents should be required to attend one night. I attended 70% of the classes with my two children that have attended the classes so far. From what I have seen their are plenty of parents needing a refresher too.

Of course parents must keep the education going.

Plus 1. I am a DNR Gun safety instructor and being in a class room with other kids for example is the best thing for them. They can learn from each other and share their shooting and hunting experiences. But most of all they do the class work and tests on their own without help from Um, dad's!

[PierBridge]

That's one of things that kind of bugs me, the written test is so easy you could pass it with out attending the actual course.

[leech~~]

That's one of things that kind of bugs me, the written test is so easy you could pass it with out attending the actual course.

Really, at 12 years of age! You must have been a A+ student? You have to remember that most of these kids are also playing in sports and other family, school or church activities that take up their time to study during the week. I know what we are teaching and testing the kids on now compared to when I went through it at age 12 a 100 years ago is a lot more detailed then what we had to test out on then.

[tunrevir]

I am a fan of the classroom courses as I think the kids get alot out of it and can ask questions freely and get answers straight from the horses mouth. We were commited to going to a class together but with the gov't shutdown it tweaked our plans. My daughter is in fall fastpitch and practices 2-3 nights a week and has tournaments on weekends, my son is simultaneously in football which I help out with so to find a time and class to fit our needs fell into the online category. We have been mentoring her for the past two years while hunting and shooting and began her "hunting" 3 years ago by carrying a wooden stock afield when we went out treating it as a loaded gun. She has had more time on the range with trained instructors then I ever had at her age. I am confident she will do well with the course as she has been taking notes and getting quizzed by her grandfather and myself on various things in each chapter. I think my biggest mistake was I should have started looking in April or May for a course we could attend together. She is committed to getting her gun safety so she can once again join us in the field this fall.

Tunrevir~

[fr0sty]

I agree, but the quality of classroom instructors varies. Both my kids went through the class. One had good teachers, the other had poor teacher. It makes a difference what kids get out of class.

I sat through each session for both kids. I felt the best part of the classes was when the dnr officer night.

The classroom is key and the DNR is foolish to let anyone totally "homeschool". In my opinion they need to listen to instructors talk about guns, gun design, safety, DNR laws. Some things need more than reading a book or a computer screen.

I would be in favor of a combination of classroom and on-line training where there are two classes and a field day. Once classroom session on guns and gun safety and one on conservation and game laws taught by experienced instructors and attended the one night by a DNR officer. Field day is already a requirement.

Parents should be required to attend one night. I attended 70% of the classes with my two children that have attended the classes so far. From what I have seen their are plenty of parents needing a refresher too.

Of course parents must keep the education going.

[jeffreyd]

My son did the online version here in AZ. It was a btch. He did the final online then had to go shoot. The course was written with the aid of instructors which adds to the quality of the material. I took the classroom version over 35 yrs ago and compared to the class he took it was nothing. Heck i remember standing in the mud and snow with my loaded 410 pointing down toward the ground plugged full. Today there is no way i move a weapon without it being checked and rechecked that it is empty. Good luck.

[Jackpine Rob]

By the time my kids were old enough to qualify, they were both competent and entirely trustworthy. If they weren't I wouldn't have let them take the classes.

It starts at home.

Spend the time with your kids, make sure they get the basics, make sure they understand both the upside and downside of pulling the trigger. Make sure they see the results of pulling the trigger.

I believe the Firearms Safety courses are good, and I sat through most of it (and ended up teaching a portion) with my kids. However, they are not a substitute for hands-on learning with the parents.

[leech~~]

By the time my kids were old enough to qualify, they were both competent and entirely trustworthy. If they weren't I wouldn't have let them take the classes.

It starts at home.

Spend the time with your kids, make sure they get the basics, make sure they understand both the upside and downside of pulling the trigger. Make sure they see the results of pulling the trigger.

I believe the Firearms Safety courses are good, and I sat through most of it (and ended up teaching a portion) with my kids. However, they are not a substitute for hands-on learning with the parents.

Good point Jackpine, they will never be a substitute for good family firearms training. But they are a requirement for kids to hunt.

[leechlake]

thanks for the input. I signed him up for the classes in New Brighton. Hassle for driving distance but from my thoughts and others the real classroom is too important (and more fun from my recollection)than to skimp on something this important. It's hard to stop a bullet once the trigger has been pulled.

[leech~~]

thanks for the input. I signed him up for the classes in New Brighton. Hassle for driving distance but from my thoughts and others the real classroom is too important (and more fun from my recollection)than to skimp on something this important. It's hard to stop a bullet once the trigger has been pulled.

Good decision. He'll have a fun time and learn more from others in the class!

[TooTallTom]

Good decision. He'll have a fun time and learn more from others in the class!

I agree with the live class being another important re-enforcer of the good habits being instilled through every-day instruction, and also that you can learn a lot from your classmates.

One of my classmates taught me a very good lesson about the general idiocy that can be exhibited by the public. After going over the different components of a cartridge and their function, the instrucor passed around a couple of live rounds. One of my classmates happend to get them both at the same time, and started hitting the primers together saying, "Fire! Fire!" Even at twelve, I knew he was something special...

[leech~~]

One of my classmates taught me a very good lesson about the general idiocy that can be exhibited by the public. After going over the different components of a cartridge and their function, the instrucor passed around a couple of live rounds. One of my classmates happend to get them both at the same time, and started hitting the primers together saying, "Fire! Fire!" Even at twelve, I knew he was something special...

Rule #1) There was never any live rounds in our class room! Everything was dummy rounds only!

[TooTallTom]

They may have been dummies. They looked exactly the same as live rounds, and I don't have any idea any more if the weight was "right" for live rounds or not. I don't even know if I would have a good idea now if the weight was "right" for that matter...

[USPENAMC]

I just became Certified as a Volunteer DNR Safety Instructor if there are instructors out there that have courses scheduled and need an extra hand I need to start getting my feet wet learning how everything works and getting a feel for this volunteer work. I am currently unemployed so I have some time to offer I also volunteer for the MPD Reserves and attending Law Enforcement SKILLS training. I would be glad to volunteer some time into a classroom.

thanks,

David

[leech~~]

I just became Certified as a Volunteer DNR Safety Instructor if there are instructors out there that have courses scheduled and need an extra hand I need to start getting my feet wet learning how everything works and getting a feel for this volunteer work. I am currently unemployed so I have some time to offer I also volunteer for the MPD Reserves and attending Law Enforcement SKILLS training. I would be glad to volunteer some time into a classroom.

thanks,

David

David

I would suggest going to the DNR Gun safety class web site and look for some class that are going to take place around your area and give the guys running the classes a call. Some of them may need some extra help!

[Kylersk]

My daughter attended the DNR classes and used the Online version to reinforce what she leaned in class. I highly recommend signing up for the DNR class.

[hookset]

the instructors are the best. i as a adult have taken it 3 times(with my kids) and i learn a ton just listening to the great stories and wisdom of the instructors.

they are a real asset to the state of Minnesota.

[tunrevir]

My daughter went through the online course and passed without the help of mom or dad and then took her voucher and went to class this past Friday night and took the written test and passed. She missed on 3 questions. Yesterday she went and took the field test and passed. She shot 3 bullseyes and had two shots just outside of the bullseye. We now have a new certified hunter in our camp! My son is asking to go out and sit on stand this year and will be eligable to hunt under the mentor program next year. His safety training will begin this year with his grandfather and I and be ongoing untill he can take either the online course or the classroom instruction.

Tunrevir~