BLADESMITH OUTDOOR
LEADERSHIP TRAINING
LEADERSHIP, CITIZENSHIP, AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT THROUGH FIREARMS SAFETY, COMPETITIVE SHOOTING, AND OUTDOOR SKILLS
CHAPEL HILL & PITTSBORO, CHATHAM COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
ABOUT US
Bladesmith Outdoor Leadership Training is a 501(c)(3) non-profit private foundation serving Chapel Hill and Pittsboro, in the Chatham County region of North Carolina.
Bladesmith Outdoors is founded on the knowledge that, "As Iron Sharpens Iron, Leaders Sharpen One Another."
Created by Retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Smith, Ph.D., Bladesmith Outdoors brings together veteran military, law enforcement, and first responders, with seasoned community and business leaders, to develop youth leadership, citizenship, and character through firearms safety, competitive shooting, and other challenging outdoor experiences.
Our role models teach, coach, and mentor young people to accomplish meaningful personal and team goals in the outdoors. In doing so, students acquire more than knowledge and skills, they develop as people.
Our outdoor experiences develop leadership, resilience, grit, and other strengths of character. In conquering outdoor challenges, young people develop feelings of competence, confidence, self-reliance, connectedness, and well being. They learn teamwork, empathy, compassion, as well as tolerance and respect for others.
Most importantly, these experiences require and develop responsibility and integrity, sharpening young people into teammates others can depend on when it matters most.
An Adjunct Associate Professor of Leadership at West Point, LTC (Ret.) Dan Smith has extensive experience developing leaders. As a coach and mentor for West Point's Combat Weapons Team for six years, Dan trained with Special Operations Forces, law enforcement, diplomatic security, and SWAT teams. Dan leads our team of expert instructors, dedicated to developing leadership, citizenship, and character in others through challenging outdoor experiences.
Each summer, our camps are geared for young, first-time shooters (11 and older). Campers will learn gun safety and competitive shooting skills using advanced Sig Sauer P320-M17 Air Pistols. Instruction will focus, first and foremost, on gun safety and respect for the responsibilities inherent in gun ownership and use.
Since the NRA's establishment in 1990, they’ve awarded nearly $398 million in grant funding in support of the shooting sports. These grants provide essential funding that benefits programs such as youth education, law enforcement training, hunter education, conservation, firearms and marksmanship training and safety, and much more.
For more than two decades, The NRA Foundation has served the needs of freedom-loving Americans across this great nation. We are grateful for their support.
Thank you to Comp-Tac Victory Gear® for your support and generosity. Comp-Tac is devoted to designing and manufacturing the highest quality concealed carry, competition, and tactical holsters and related accessories on the market.
Thank you to Sig Sauer for your support and generosity.
Sig Sauer world renowned firearms are the weapons of choice for premier global military, law enforcement, and commercial users.
Proud to be a member of the National African-American Gun Association, committed to educating and training the community on the rich legacy of gun ownership of African Americans, offering education, training, support, safety standards, and cultural inspiration.
Proud to be a member of the Gun Owners of America (GOA), a non-profit lobbying organization formed in 1976 to preserve and defend the Second Amendment rights of gun owners.