Founded in 1964 for the purpose of educating our youth in shooting sports and outdoor activities, the brigade believes that the outdoors is a thing of the heart and senses, the sight, sound, smell, taste and touch of the Master’s hand.

The brigade’s ongoing purpose is to arouse and maintain this interest in the hearts and minds of today’s youth. To teach the need for genuine conservation of our wildlife resources and effective protection of our right to keep and bear arms is extremely important.

The four year program encompasses all areas of hunting. From Ohio’s Hunter Education course (offered to first year students) to field instruction and practice shooting shotgun, rifle, muzzleloader, pistol and archery, youth have the opportunity to learn under the close supervision of experienced instructors. Advanced classes include sporting clays and pheasant hunting over dogs. Instruction in taxidermy, knife making, cap making, wildlife identification, watercraft and first aid are offered throughout the program.

Two campfire weekends are held annually and are open to boys and girls ages 10 to 17. Each youth attending must have an adult sponsor who attends classes and activities with the youth. The sponsor is responsible for the youth’s behavior during the program. One adult may sponsor more than one youth. Food and housing are included in the cost of the weekend.

Junior Anglers of Ohio was established to teach youth the joys of fishing and the responsibilities of conservation, wildlife management and water safety.

The five year program teaches all types of fishing including fly casting, spin casting, bait casting and archery. Youth also learn tackle maintenance and have the opportunity to make their own equipment. Fly tying, lure making, rod building and net making classes are built in to the program. Water safety is taught by the Ohio Division of Watercraft, and officers of the Ohio Division of Wildlife are on hand to assist and instruct young fishermen.

The campfire weekend is open to boys and girls ages 8 to 17. Each youth attending must have an adult sponsor who attends classes and activities with the youth. The sponsor is responsible for the youth’s behavior during the program. One adult may sponsor more than one youth.

Food and housing are included in the cost of this fun and educational weekend. Camp is held in the spring of each year.

The League of Ohio Sportsmen and Ohio Wildlife Federation began formal fishing instruction for youth in 1945.

The Ohio Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) is part of the NRA’s “graduate studies” program in outdoor skills and safety training for young hunters. Open only to those who have completed an Ohio Hunter Education course, the program is conducted under simulated hunting conditions to provide the best practical environment for reinforcing and testing a young hunter's skills.

YHEC is recognized as the most comprehensive youth hunting program anywhere in North America. From rifle, bow and muzzleloader shooting at life-sized targets, to wildlife identification, to map-and-compass orienteering and more, YHEC participants get hands-on training in eight skills areas, giving them expertise in all methods of take and all types of game.

Top ranked individuals advance to the annual NRA International Youth Hunter Education Challenge, the pinnacle of the program. Since its inception in 1985, the NRA YHEC has reached more than a million young sportsmen and women.