(GunReports.com) — Gander Mountain recently opened its first Gander Mtn. Academy in Lake Mary, FL.
Gander Mtn. Academy is the first civilian training facility to offer highly skilled instructors, a variety of comprehensive courses, modern multi-media classrooms, a live-fire range, and exclusive virtual simulation technology previously available only to military and law enforcement agencies, including the V-Range simulated firing range.
V-Range is a high-definition, multi-screen, virtual simulators that put students to the test in real-world self-defense and recreational scenarios.
“As the major retailer of firearms in the country, this is a natural step forward for us to bring the most advanced technology and know-how in firearms training directly to the public,” said David Pratt, CEO of Gander Mountain.
Among the highlights of the Gander Mtn. Academy are:
- Professional instruction for every skill level and interest utilizing Gander Mountain’s proven FRS Learning System™ focusing on Fundamentals, Repetition and Simulation
- The V-Range, a simulated firing range in which students experience the clarity of more than 2 million pixels per lane, and wear eye and hearing protection as they fire actual firearms modified for laser technology and realistic recoil on a wide variety of targets, qualifications and marksmanship drills. Students can “ZOOM” in to examine their results and send .jpeg pictures of their targets to their email.
- The live-fire L-Range staffed by trained Range Masters focusing on safety-first, and utilizing state-of-the-art target systems with easy-to-use touch screens offering manual practice and pre-programmed courses of fire, custom wide range stalls to accommodate instructor assisted training, and air filtration and cooling systems that offer a clean and comfortable shooting environment year-round
- The Pro V SIM 180™ and Pro V SIM 300™ Virtual Simulators – Utilizing technology previously unavailable to civilians, these multi-screen, interactive, high-definition video simulators surround the student with real-world action scenarios designed to train quick thinking, good judgment and accurate decision making under stress using the same actual firearms modified for laser technology and realistic recoil used in the V-Range™. After the simulator session, instructors replay and critique the student’s actions and decisions in video debriefing rooms using sophisticated Trainee Monitoring and Recording (TMaR™) performance auditing software. Students can upload video segments of their simulator session to YouTube® to share.
- FREE Family Safety Course – offered to everyone purchasing a new firearm from Gander Mountain, covering universal firearm safety rules, essential firearm handling, and safe storage of firearms and ammunition.
The 20,000 square-foot Florida facility is the first of several Gander Mtn. Academy locations set to open within the coming year. Future locations are currently in development in La Crosse, WI, Greensboro, NC, and Roanoke, VA, with additional locations to be announced later in the year. Customers may register for classes or schedule time for Gander Mtn. Academy activities in person, by phone or on the web at www.GanderMountain.com and clicking on “Gander Mtn. Academy.”
Gander Mountain Company is headquartered in Saint Paul, MN.
