Life sports are important to discover at a young age.
“Archery is a life sport that students can learn now and enjoy at any age. They can develop into bow hunters or just target shooters,” said Becky Carlson, Iola’s Jefferson Elementary School physical education teacher.
Carlson began a week-long archery class for Jefferson fourth- and fifth-grade students on Monday. They learned safety along with the basics of archery in the class.
Equipment for the class was paid for by the National Archery in Schools Program and the National Wild Turkey Federation’s local chapter — Kansas First Upland Pioneers Chapter.
Don Erbert represented Kansas First Upland Pioneers Chapter Monday at Jefferson. Erbert, an avid bow hunter, helped instruct the students.
“Don called me over the summer and encouraged me to look into this program. I thought it was a good idea and he went with me to the National Archery in the Schools Program certification,” Carlson said.
Erbert said he had heard of the archery program through NWTF. He said he is in a bow hunting club and wants to see the sport of archery grow.
“Nationwide this program has given funds to promote archery in the schools. It’s for students fourth through 12th grades in physical education classes,” Erbert said. “The National Wild Turkey Federation has partnered with the NASP in helping with funds.”
The local chapter presented a check for $1,250 to Carlson to help purchase bows, arrows and targets for the classes. Carlson said the NASP gives out a starter kit for free.
“We had decided to just let the fifth-graders participate but I decided to teach it to both them and the fourth-graders,” Carlson said. “They have had a ball this week.”
Carlson said the students were taught safety procedures for the sport. The first day the students struggled with the bows and arrows and not many hit the targets.
“Hey, they have gotten so much better. They really enjoy it and by the end of the week they knew exactly what the whistle signals meant. They were hitting the targets and getting close to bull’s-eyes,” Carlson said.
Carlson and Erbert talked of growing the sport of archery. Students learn technique and the equipment involved in international style target archery.
“What they learn here in class can translate into hunting with a bow or just a recreational sport. Also maybe we will develop a student who chooses archery as a competitive sport,” Erbert said.
Students shoot at 80-centimeter bull’s-eye targets with a special arrow curtain that is position behind the targets.
