In addition to being America's premier shooting facility, the NRA Whittington Center is one of the most beautiful places in America. Set in the dazzling Sangre de Cristo mountains in New Mexico's high desert, the Center attracts shooters from all over the world to practice and compete. But there's another event that not everyone knows about--a word-of-mouth event that has resulted in several generations of first-class outdoorspeople: The Whittington Center Youth Adventure Camp.
We've discussed the camp's format here before, of course. If you've never seen our previous reporting, the thumbnail version is as follows. The NRA Youth Adventure Camp is perhaps America’s best outdoor youth camp for boys and girls aged 13 to 17. The camp is offered in two consecutive, two-week sessions, beginning in mid-June and ending in mid-July. Under direct supervision of our staff and trained volunteers, campers learn everything from shooting fundamentals to firearm safety, marksmanship, basic wilderness survival skills, and much, much more.
It's hard to express just how much joy and loyalty that's been inspired by the Camp over the years. Campers forge lifelong friendships (even some marriages!) as well as cementing a solid respect for wildlife, firearms safety, and outdoor skills. Once they "age out," it's common for camp alumni to compete for counselor spots, so they can return year after year to pass on what they've learned.
It's also hard to express just how quickly these limited-availability spaces sell out, other than to point out that it frequently happens years in advance. Right now, there are spaces open for 2026 and 2027, but time is running out. Click here to register for 2026 and 2027!
