Greene County workshop
What: Greene County Parks & Trails archery workshop
Where: Russ Nature Reserve, 2380 Kemp Road, Beavercreek
When: Aug. 26-27, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; participants sign up for one day.
Cost: $20 Greene County residents, $25 nonresidents. Participants must preregister and be 13 years or older.
More info: Call GCP&T at 937-562-6440 or email abotkin@co.greene.oh.us.
The arrow silently — almost gracefully — flies through the air and pierces its target with amazing precision.
Modern-day archery requires skill and the proper equipment, but the sport still retains some its historical charm, harkening back to ancient civilizations. And while bows and arrows are nothing new — with evidence of their use dating back 5,000 years — it is experiencing a resurgence in popularity.
From best-selling books and blockbuster movies to hit television shows, archery has enjoyed increased prominence in recent years. From Katniss Everdeen’s archery prowess in the “The Hunger Games” and Merida’s mastery in Disney’s “Brave” to the bow and arrow being a weapon of choice for characters in “Game of Thrones” and “The Walking Dead,” a new generation is being introduced to the age-old sport.
According to USA Archery, the sport’s popularity is surging and showing sustained growth. The organization’s individual membership skyrocketed from 4,185 in November 2011 to 8,589 in November 2013, a 105 percent increase in two years.
USA Archery clubs have also seen major growth. Instructors at Junior Olympic Archery Development and adult archery clubs have noted increased demand for lessons nationwide. Archers are also participating in tournaments in larger numbers than ever before. USA Archery’s National Indoor and JOAD National Indoor Championships saw a 31 percent increase in overall participation from 2012 to 2013, and a 34 percent jump in youth registrations alone.
If the thought of getting a bow in your hands is intriguing, there are plenty of opportunities to do so close to home.
Getting started
While many people can pull a bike out of the garage if they want to take a ride or can dig out a baseball bat or tennis racket, few will likely find a bow buried among their sporting equipment.
With that in mind, an introductory class might be a good place to start. Greene County Parks & Trails is offering archery workshops in August at the Russ Nature Reserve. Instructor and GCP&T park ranger Brady Smith has been an avid archer for close to three decades.
“I started in archery as a way to prolong the hunting season,” Smith said. “But the popularity of the sport has definitely increased and there are more recreational and competitive shooting leagues than ever before.”
The beginner-friendly class will cover history, equipment, rules, safety concerns and technique. All equipment will be supplied.
“It’s a great way to get started,” Smith said. “And you can take it as far as you want to go.”
Local retailers, like AO Archery in Germantown and Olde English Outfitters in Tipp City, have a variety of equipment as well as shooting ranges onsite. Instruction is also available. National chains, like Gander Mountain, also carry archery equipment.
South West Ohio Recreation & Defense (S.W.O.R.D), in Dayton, offers youth, adult and family archery classes. And if you have your own equipment, you can practice at Centerville’s Oak Grove Park, which has an archery range.
For more information on archery and archery programs, go online to www.usaarchery.org.
Archery equipment
Source: Olympic.org
Armguard: Protects the arm from being hit by the bowstring when the arrow is shot.
Arrow: Arrows have a maximum diameter of 9.3 millimeters, although, for faster flight and less wind drift, most are as small as 5.5 millimeters.
Bow: The bow's draw weight is around 48 pounds for men, and over 38 pounds for women. The bow consists of a riser and two limbs.
Bowstring: Most strings are made of high-tech polyethylene fibers, which are stronger than steel.
Chestguard: Plastic or leather, to keep clothing out of the way and to protect against a bowstring at release from injuring the body.
Finger tab or shooting glove: A flat piece of leather worn as a guard to protect the finger when the arrow releases.
Fletching: The real or artificial feathers at the back of an arrow designed to make it fly straight.
Hand grip: The handle of the bow.
Quiver: A container for holding arrows, usually worn around the waist.
Nock: The attachment on the rear end of an arrow that holds it in place on the bowstring.
Sight: A mechanical device placed on the bow to help the archer aim, also called a "bowsight."
Target: The target is 48 inches in diameter but, to the archer, standing 86.4 yards away, it appears about the size of a thumbtack held at arm's length. The center ring is 4.8 inches in diameter.
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