BuckAlley - I don't think it has anything to do with the sate of NY or any law at all. Like I said, the instructors are not employees of the state, they are volunteers teaching a course. It's up to them whether or not they will or won't let a child in their class without parental supervision. Maybe try another class, you might find one that will let an 11 year old in without supervision.

With regard to hunting there clearly are laws that set the minimum age. You can argue that it is too high but certainly the line has to be drawn somewhere. I think the problem is that you are trying to link hunting age requirementlaws with hunter safety course policies thinking they are both state law and they just aren't.