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I've spent the last 3 days being range master of the archery range at Cub Scout camp. It's really a lot of fun, but due to the obvious safety hazards, I have to demand complete obedience from the cubs. "No unnecessary talking" is one of the rules I need to enforce.
Normally I'm more of a explore-what-works-for-you type of person, but for this basically there are two choices: participate and do exactly as I say, or sit out. I unfortunately missed the first day of camp due to Amber's graduation, so someone else did the introduction to archery. I just did the next three days where we briefly reviewed the safety rules and then had the kids shoot, collect arrows, and shoot again.
By their fourth day, most of the groups were shooting 15-20 arrows in a 25 minute time period. The bulls-eyes were completely torn away on my targets. I put up water balloons (filled with air) for the kids to shoot at at the 4 outer corners of the targets to reduce wear-and-tear on the centers. About 15-20% of the kids were able to achieve a small tight group of arrows near the balloon they were aiming for, with several kids popping them. I was quite surprised at some of my little ones. The second-youngest den popped the most balloons.
I think the kids do like it better where they get skill instruction and get to shoot a lot of arrows and I'm strict about talking, as opposed to spending half their time telling stories and arguing about who gets to shoot which bow from which station and who has more arrows.
So far, a good week.
--Beth
Normally I'm more of a explore-what-works-for-you type of person, but for this basically there are two choices: participate and do exactly as I say, or sit out. I unfortunately missed the first day of camp due to Amber's graduation, so someone else did the introduction to archery. I just did the next three days where we briefly reviewed the safety rules and then had the kids shoot, collect arrows, and shoot again.
By their fourth day, most of the groups were shooting 15-20 arrows in a 25 minute time period. The bulls-eyes were completely torn away on my targets. I put up water balloons (filled with air) for the kids to shoot at at the 4 outer corners of the targets to reduce wear-and-tear on the centers. About 15-20% of the kids were able to achieve a small tight group of arrows near the balloon they were aiming for, with several kids popping them. I was quite surprised at some of my little ones. The second-youngest den popped the most balloons.
I think the kids do like it better where they get skill instruction and get to shoot a lot of arrows and I'm strict about talking, as opposed to spending half their time telling stories and arguing about who gets to shoot which bow from which station and who has more arrows.
So far, a good week.
--Beth
