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Summer 2018
The first of many meetings and discussions of the
development of a new Firearms Safety Hunter Education manual officially
took place on Tuesday, June 5, 2018.
RTOs and Staff at the Education Section’s Safety Training Office
discussed a timeline for the final product, as well as a communications plan to
provide updates to all volunteer firearms safety instructors throughout this
process. Stay tuned through the
Volunteer Instructor Newsletter and regular email notifications informing you of our
progress!
It is important to note that the layout of chapters in the
manual will continue to be presented in the same sequence. The content will be more concise, up-to-date
and written in plain language, with clean, clear and concise information and illustrations. Our goal is to provide you with a manual you
can teach from without having to change the order in which you teach the course
or needing to relearn the material.
Your input is also needed! Plans are to send a draft manual out in
late fall/early winter for your review, along with a questionnaire. Instructor Forums will be scheduled in January
2019 specifically to discuss the manual, answer your questions and seek your feedback on changes.
We hope to have a final product by May 2019.
 CO Amber Ladd (L), Gale Bradford and Jeff Bradford (R).
The 2017 ATV Instructor of the Year is Gale Bradford of Wright, in Carlton County.
Bradford, who is the lead ATV safety coordinator for the Evergreen PAC ATV club, has been involved with the club for 11 years and has taught youth ATV classes for more than seven.
Bradford stepped into the role after her mentor, Rita Butterfield (2009 ATV safety instructor of the year) passed away unexpectedly. Bradford has a passion for youth ATV training and is committed to continuing the work of her mentor.
"Gale's dedication to ATV safety is impressive," said Conservation Officer Amber Ladd, who patrols the McGregor area and nominated Bradford for the award. "She goes above and beyond to make sure youth riders who want to take safety training have the opportunity to do so."
Last summer, for example, Bradford's club had one class that grew unexpectedly large. Rather than turn away students, she organized more volunteers and set up two sets of courses. Last summer, Bradford's club certified more than 100 students, which is the most students they have certified. The club offers courses in Aitkin and Carlton counties.
Congratulations, Gale!
 From Left to Right: CO Phil George, Graham Luck, Ralph Hettig and Doug Ondler.
CO Phil George recently awarded firearms safety instructor Graham Luck, with his 50-year volunteer award.
Congratulations, Graham!
Beginning Wednesday April 18, Regional Training Officers on staff are:
Chelsie Leuthardt - Southeast Metro
Brandon McGaw - North Metro
Brett Oberg - Southwest Metro
Jen Mueller - Southwest MN
Mike Lee - Northeast MN
Greg Oldakowski - Northwest MN
Bruce Lawrence - Recreational Vehicle Coordinator (statewide)
For specific information on the assigned counties per RTO, please consult the RTO map on the DNR website at: http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/education_safety/safety/instructors/rtomap.pdf. Contact information is also provided.
Academy 18 Cadets are now in their 8th week of training at DNR the Enforcement - Education Section at Camp Ripley. They begin Field Training August 8, which runs through December 3rd. Field Station assignments begin December 4.
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