It was one of those warm summer mornings where the sun climbs early, the air smells faintly of cut grass, and the coffee barely cools before you’re on the road. I was heading out of the office and down to Lamar, Arkansas — a small town that, for a couple of days, was about to become the hub of some serious airgun education.
Jake Hindman, Founder, President, and CEO of SAR, invited me to spend time with the Student Air Rifle (SAR) Program team as they hosted a training event for new Basic Air Riflery Instructors (BARI). For someone who works at Umarex, seeing our Embark air rifles being used to teach the next generation of safe shooters felt like one of those full-circle moments — the kind that reminds you why we do what we do.
When I walked into the school gym, it was already buzzing. Instead of basketballs bouncing, there were neat rows of air rifles, targets waiting for action, and coaches setting up under the bright fluorescent lights. You could hear that low hum of conversation — half excitement, half focus — that tells you people are here to learn something that matters.
From the Classroom to the Gym
Everyone there had already completed an online course before showing up. It covered the nuts and bolts: safety, range setup, how the program runs, and a quiz to make sure they had it down. But the real learning — the kind that sticks — happened once the hands-on Skills Session kicked off.
Jose Jiminez, the chief of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Recreational Shooting Division, walked everyone through setting up a safe range, giving clear whistle and voice commands, and teaching how to handle air rifles properly. There were plenty of smiles, a few lighthearted mix-ups, and a lot of “aha” moments as people got the hang of it.
One of my favorite parts was watching Eric Maynard, Assistant Chief of Education at Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, help coaches practice determining a student’s dominant eye for aiming. It’s such an important thing, and it shows just how much thought SAR puts into making sure kids succeed. And beyond all the technical training, there was a lot of focus on how to communicate — how to encourage, redirect, and connect with students in a way that keeps them confident and engaged.
Because, let’s face it, teaching kids to shoot safely is one thing. Teaching them to stay focused, patient, and positive? That’s the real art.
What Makes SAR Stand Out
What struck me most about the Student Air Rifle Program is how well it balances structure and fun. It’s modeled after theNational Archery in the Schools Program (NASP), which means it runs with the same consistency and professionalism — just with air rifles instead of bows.
But at the heart of SAR is safety. Everything happens in a controlled, supportive environment where students are introduced to shooting the right way — with respect, discipline, and awareness. Shooting sports already have one of the best safety records around, and SAR proudly carries that tradition forward.
And the kids? They love it. Studies show they consistently rank air riflery as one of the most fun and engaging activities they try. It’s accessible, hands-on, and builds confidence. For a lot of students, it’s their first experience shooting anything — and you can see their faces light up when that first pellet hits the paper.
The Gear That Makes It Happen
Standing there watching the training, I couldn’t help but feel a little proud. Every rifle on that line was a Umarex Embark — a model we designed specifically for SAR. It’s built to be intuitive, durable, and accurate — perfect for new shooters learning proper form and safety habits.
The rest of the setup is equally well thought out:
● Lead-free Journey pellets from Predator International
● Birchwood Casey targets for first shots
● Safety netting, racks, and holders — all standardized so every range setup feels the same, no matter what school you’re in
That kind of consistency doesn’t just make things easier; it makes things safer. It’s a system that works, and seeing it come together in person made me appreciate the effort that goes into keeping these programs running smoothly.
Watching the Next Generation Take Aim
By the end of the day, I’d met some incredible people — coaches, educators, and volunteers who genuinely care about helping our nation’s youth grow through shooting sports. As of August 2025, more than 600 instructors across the country have completed this same training, and every year about 30% of students who participate in SAR are shooting an air rifle for the very first time.
A lot of them come from schools that already offer archery through NASP, so the setup feels familiar. But what’s different here is the sense of focus — there’s something special about teaching a skill that requires patience, calm, and self-control. Watching students discover that they can hit the tiny center of a target, that they can focus — that’s a powerful thing.
Aiming for Success
On the drive home, with the sun starting to dip and the car full of that post-event quiet, I kept thinking about how programs like SAR don’t just build better shooters — they build better individuals. They teach respect, responsibility, and perseverance, all wrapped up in an activity that’s safe and genuinely fun.
And the fact that Umarex gets to play a role in that — supplying the Embark rifles that help make it all possible — makes me proud to be part of it.
If you’ve ever thought about supporting something that makes a real impact, consider donating directly to the Student Air Rifle Program or through the MidwayUSA Foundation’s SAR Endowment Fund. Your support helps more students pick up an air rifle for the first time — safely, confidently, and with a smile.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about hitting a bullseye. It’s about helping kids aim for something bigger — success, confidence, and a lifetime of safe shooting.
By: JB—husband, dad, granddad, marketer, and outdoorsman, is VP of Marketing for Umarex USA and Umarex Airguns.