The San Joaquin County 4-H Shooting Sports project which includes Escalon 4-H will begin meeting at the end of January and teach local members about the safety and handling of firearms. 4-H members who are 9 years and older will work toward learning the following: knowing and understanding safety rules, identifying the parts of a bow and arrow and/or rifle, learning proper range commands and range etiquette, shooting from a bow and/or rifle, and recording scores.

The meetings will be at the Manteca Sportsmen Club located at 30261 Airport Way in Manteca. The group will meet for four hours beginning at 1 p.m. Four meeting dates have already been scheduled beginning with the first one on Jan. 28, then followed by Feb. 25, March 25, and April 29.

Parents are expected to stay for the entire meeting and they will need your help running stations. There will be a liability and health form to fill out at each meeting. Closed toe and closed heel shoes are mandatory.

Project leader Lucinda Suttle can be contacted at (209) 740-7094 to answer additional questions about the activity.