On target with today’s youth

Hannah Gross
NLJ Correspondent
 
Cambria Bowhunters’ new archery program, run by members Glen Reed and Austin Baker, is attracting young kids to the Cambria Bow Club Archery Range on Main Street, where they learn the basics of the sport. 
Baker has been a member of the club for 10-12 years, and Reed has been a member since the club was started 41 years ago. The club’s other original members were composed of Jim and Nancy McVay, Dave Nahrgang, Wayne Erickson, Mike Lawrence, Gary Cole, Florence Rainbolt, and Ed Gibbs. The average number of members each year ranges from 45-60, according to Reed, with family memberships being the majority.
Four weeks into the free five-week session, kids ages 3-10 have been showing up at the range at 9 a.m. on Saturday, with 8-16 kids each week. Baker said the program allows kids who aren’t old enough to participate in 4-H archery to get an early start. Kids of all ages are welcome to participate, he said.  
“We’ve got an array of kids,” Baker said. 
The program teaches kids the basics of archery, as well as giving them something fun to do besides video games, according to Reed. It also allows the youngsters to meet other people while engaging in friendly competition against each other. Reed and Baker said even the timid ones will start coming out of their shells to interact with the others. 
If kids find archery enjoyable and want to go further with it, competitive shooting is an option. They can compete in tournaments in Rapid City, said Reed. 
The idea behind the kids’ archery program started after the 3-D archery tournament held the second weekend of August in Weston County each year. Reed said that archery is something many people across the state enjoy, and they’ve received many compliments on the tournament, which means they must be doing it right, he said.
“Our club is very highly thought of in the state of Wyoming,” said Reed, noting that the “general attitude” of the Bowhunter’s club is what people enjoy. 
Reed said one of the reasons for starting the program was to get the next generation involved because they will be the ones to someday run the 3-D tournament and 4-H programs. 
The kids who participate get to shoot at the “blue face targets,” which is the standard paper target, as well as a few 3-D animals. Baker said they try to keep the kids busy and make it fun for them by blowing up balloons for them to shoot at. There’s a lot of enthusiasm and excitement from the kids when they hear the pop of the balloon, said Baker.
“Her face (Baker’s daughter) lit up like it was Christmas morning,” Baker said.
What they do on Saturday mornings is very similar to what they do in 4-H, said Reed, who also helps out with the local 4-H program. Through archery people can learn how to do something the right way and the wrong way, not only in archery but also in life, according to Reed. 
Anyone who wants to participate in archery can show up at the downtown range on Saturday mornings, and if they have any questions, they can give either Reed a call at (307) 941-1370 or Baker at (307) 941-1012. 
“We bought some bows and arrows and some cases for the bows,” for people to use if they don’t have their own and just want to try the sport out, Reed said. 
“It’s something a family can do together,” Baker said. 
The program is free of charge, but donations are accepted. While the plan for the program is five weeks, Baker said they might continue it longer if the kids aren’t burned out.
Reed encourages membership in the Cambria Bowhunters because it’s “a great group” and they offer a scholarship to students involved in archery. Reed said the club needs support, but both he and Baker are grateful for the help they’ve already received, both monetary and non-monetary.