For an Alabama youth who has wondered what it would be like to try shooting sports but never had the opportunity, a September class at Pursell Farms could be the place to start.

The Alabama Wildlife Federation is offering 12 young people the chance to learn the basics in a safe, instructor-led setting Sept. 12 at Orvis Shooting Grounds at Pursell Farms in Sylacauga — with the entire experience provided at no cost.

The opportunity is part of the AWF Thomas and Cindy Harris Shooting Sport Scholarship Fund, created to introduce young Alabamians to shooting sports and outdoor recreation when access, equipment or instruction might otherwise stand in the way.

The scholarship is open to Alabama youth ages 12 to 16. A parent or legal guardian must accompany each participant throughout the experience.

For those selected, the two-hour experience includes firearm safety education and hands-on instruction from qualified shooting instructors, along with equipment, ammunition, targets and range time for stationary and moving target practice.

And if an earlier scholarship event is any indication, breaking that first clay target can be a pretty exciting moment.

Four scholarship recipients gathered at Lower Wetumpka Shotgun Sports Club in June for a day that began not on the range, but with the basics. Club owner Matt Senn and instructor Mabry McGinty first taught gun safety and proper handling, making sure the participants were comfortable safely handling and mounting their shotguns before they moved to the sporting clays course.

For the next hour and a half, the young shooters practiced on crossing, incoming and going-away clay targets. The Alabama Wildlife account of the event described the excitement that followed as participants broke their first clays.

The experience didn’t end when the shooting stopped. Participants returned to the clubhouse to learn about gun care and cleaning, have lunch, and ask instructors questions about shooting techniques and other opportunities in the sport.

That kind of first experience is at the heart of the scholarship program.

AWF says many young people are interested in shooting sports and hunting-related outdoor recreation but may not have the resources or instruction to get started. The scholarship was established to help bridge that gap by teaching firearm safety, gun care and target-shooting skills.

The program is supported by the Thomas and Cindy Harris Foundation, whose mission focuses on wildlife and conservation, access to the arts and education, and healthcare, with the goal of enriching lives and strengthening communities.

Now, 12 more young Alabamians will have the opportunity to try shooting sports.

Applications for the Sept. 12 class at Orvis Shooting Grounds at Pursell Farms are available through the Alabama Wildlife Federation. AWF will review the applications and select participants for the event.

This article originally appeared on Yellowhammer News.