SVI PHOTO/AUBREY TAYLOR
Star Valley’s fifth annual Youth Hunter Education Challenge is scheduled for June 12-13 on a private lot in Turnerville that borders the North side of Grover Park. Registration opens Friday, April 10 at 8 a.m. With only 64 spots available, the event typically fills within two hours of registration opening.
“I can have 64 kids and a waitlist signed up” by 9 or 10 a.m. “It goes super-fast,” said Hanna Buxman, who serves as an organizer for the event. Offered by the non-profit, Star Valley Wyoming YHEC, and organized by Hanna and her husband, Nick, the local YHEC event is part of the nation-wide National Rifle Association program that supports youths as they learn and compete in the safe and effective use of firearms, as well as responsible and safe hunting and outdoor practices.
The local event is open to youths who are 8-18 years old as of January 1, 2026, and participants who are over 12 must have earned their Hunter Safety Card. Registration is $15 per child and offers two full days of instruction and competition with check-in at 8:30 and activities running through 4 or 5 p.m. both days.
“We rotate over two days through eight different events,” explained Hanna. “They shoot 22’s and muzzle loaders. There’s an archery course and shotgun course. We have Orienteering, with a map and compass, and a Hunter’s Safety exam. There’s a Wildlife Identification Station that game wardens help with and a Hunter Responsibility Trail” where participants learn more about when it’s safe to shoot or not shoot, and there are “hunting scenarios with private property and other variables. They learn about ethics and responsibility and understanding the trail.”
At the conclusion of the challenge, participants enjoy a celebration and awards ceremony where top performing youth are recognized for their skill. “We have given away tons and tons of prizes, like rifles and shotguns,” said Hanna. Top performers at the 2024 event received lifetime conservation stamps.
Advance registration enables organizers to order a t-shirt from the NRA for each participant and t-shirts for coaches and volunteers that are covered by sponsors. “We have 30+ coaches and volunteers that make this happen for the kids and help participate over the weekend.”
To register, interested families should download the registration form and fill it out. “I share those on Facebook and our website,” said Hanna. “That’s the easiest way for people to get it.” Folks can text or email a picture of the completed registration form starting at 8 a.m. on registration day.
“We encourage people to apply if they have had some shooting experience and are familiar with firearms. We have loaner equipment and we supply everything from the ammunition to the guns,” said Hanna. “We have bows. We have shotguns. We have all the 22’s and muzzleloaders. We literally supply everything. A lot of people think that this is a camp, like kids are going to come and we are going to teach them all the skills, and we do teach them, but it’s also a competition, so they are getting points and getting scores and things. So, it’s better if they are a little bit more familiar and able to handle firearms or have some hunting experience, but they don’t need to have equipment.”
The Buxman’s encourage everyone to come out to participate, and they are always looking for volunteers, sponsors and donors. “This is a non-profit, so all the prizes, all the money that we spend has been money that businesses or families locally have donated or sponsored.”
The registration form, waiver and rules are available at https://starvalleywyomingyhec.
For more information, please call or text Hanna at 307-248-3006 or Nick at 307-248-1362.
