When you encourage a young person to try archery, you’re doing much more than simply introducing them to a new hobby or sport.

You alone have the potential to guarantee a thriving future for archery and bowhunting. You can give surety to the enjoyment and support of hunting for future generations. You’ll be instilling values and ethics and a sincere appreciation for the environment and the wildlife that inhabits it, as well as a wealth of information about hunting safety, laws and outdoor familiarity.

In today’s “urban” society, where a multitude of activities and extracurricular options are available for our kids to pursue, it is obvious that many of the “outdoor” traditional pastimes and experiences are feeling the pinch. Our highly computerized society caters to immediate, fast-paced technology and leaves little room for patience and its rewards.

It’s vital to our hunting heritage that we each take the time to introduce a young person to archery and bowhunting, to teach them, mentor them and show them the wonders of a life enjoyed in the outdoors. If we do it right, if we take the time to pass along our love for hunting, our care and concern for wildlife and the environment, we will be rewarded by knowing our efforts have impacted and affected another life, and that they in turn may do the same someday.

Make it cool, make it fun!

First thing to keep in mind about kids: they’re young.

Do you remember being young? What did you want to do? You wanted to have fun; and that usually meant spending time with friends. You liked to try out new things and you liked to imitate grownups.

It was great to get the grownups attention and even better to win their admiration for a job well done. Being able to master a skill that typically is tackled by an older person...hey, that was cool!

Guess what? Introducing someone young to archery will give him or her all of the aforementioned. Their new-found skills will instill self-esteem, respect and confidence. Archery teaches them excellent concentration skills and teaches them to have patience with themselves and, ultimately, with others as well.

First things first, keep it simple

Invite a young friend to your home or local archery club to try out shooting. Better yet, grab a group of youngns; the more the merrier! Of course, get their parents’ permission first.

Begin with teaching the basics about a bow. Keep it simple and keep it brief. The emphasis should be on the correct form and on getting the kids to hit their intended targets. It doesn’t matter where; just hitting the target at first is a starting point.

Begin with simple, short shots, five or 10 yards at the most. Keep them focused on the basics and on hitting their target and they’ll be happy and eager to shoot more.