The Regional Shooting Facility has expanded with new programs and longer hours. They're open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the owners are inviting everyone to come out and see their new improvements.
Since Nevada Firearms Academy officially took over the facility in July of last year, they have made significant improvements that allow more access to the range, longer target distances ranging from three yards to over 1,700 yards, and several new programs for all ages and skill levels.
Scott Catron, Chief Range Safety Officer and Owner of Nevada Firearms Academy, says, "We have everything from youth programs to adult programs here. Our kids' program is called Avoid, Deny, Defend. It would be avoid contact, deny entry to a room if you can find that way, and as a last resort defend yourself."
Other programs include community range days—allowing the public to try out latest firearms and gear in a safe, supervised setting—training and tactical games in April, blood drives and charity shoots, and supporting Boy and Girl Scout troops.
"Our goal is to try to get ten or twelve merit badges out here. The obvious rifle and black powder, archery, and things like that. But we think we can do some first aid and some lifesaving and some orienteering. We're going to try to raise bees out here for the kids to be able to farm bees."
Scott says their expansion on community engagement is extremely important because they offer a lot of programs that no other range in northern Nevada does.
One of those programs being competitions. The Washoe Rodeo Club hosted their junior and high school trap shoot competition today.
Cole Jones, organizer of the Washoe Rodeo Club, says, "They're very open and not very strict on the guns you can have which I think is very special. They allow us to have opportunities like these to come out and shoot for our clubs, and I think there's lots of other ranges that won't allow that. And I think that's very cool that they open that for us."
To learn more about new programs and resources at the Regional Shooting Facility, check out the Nevada Firearms Academy website.
