Target Practicum

The Deer Park School District appears to be on target with a new physical education program that’s based on an ancient sport.

Any doubts about unleashing projectiles in a gym full of students were erased last week as parents and teachers watched classes of sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders test their developing prowess with the bow and arrow.

The middle school’s most diminutive girls stood at the same line with the brawniest boys and competed at the same level against the targets 10 meters down range. Their youthful energy was remarkably controlled. They seemed mature beyond their age as they nocked their arrows and drew their bows.

“I’m impressed,” said Robert Griffin, the school district’s special needs program director. “This is a gender-neutral sport of precision, with no opponents or referees to blame for your performance.”

Eighth-grader Patrick Colvin blended into the shooting line with dozens of other students so perfectly that Griffin had to point out that Colvin had lost a leg in an automobile accident.

“I get to lean against a chair when I shoot,” Colvin said, describing the only special treatment he gets at the archery range. For the record, Colvin tied for third place in the eighth grade competition that culminated four weeks of safety training, archery history and target practice.

The intensity and enthusiasm that resulted in hundreds of bull’s-eyes that morning was an example of a phenomenon that’s sweeping through PE programs across the country.

The National Archery in the Schools Program essentially started with a spark from a Kentucky teacher who introduced archery to her middle school math class in 1998. As word spread, the state embraced the concept to the delight of school administrators who documented a wide range of benefits, including increased school attendance on the days archery programs were offered.

Since 2002, when Kentucky became the first state to formally adopt the program, it has spread to 36 states with three more states and Mexico planning to participate later this spring, said Jon Gauthier, NASP administrator in Wisconsin.

Idaho and Washington came on board last fall.

“Idaho started with initial training to certify teachers from 11 schools, including Boundary County Junior High in Bonners Ferry, Woodland Middle School in Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint High School,” said Al Van Vooren state program coordinator for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

“I’ve heard nothing but positive about it,” he said. “The kids are loving it, which is the case around the country. Some of the schools are forming after-school clubs for kids who want to go further with archery. Fish and Game is merely acting as the facilitator. The program sells itself.”

Washington’s program, which kicked off this year with 16 schools in 11 school districts, is organized by the volunteer Washington State Archery Association, which has 900 members in 40 chartered clubs across the state.

A Washington state championship event for archers from participating schools is set for April 29 in Yakima.

“Washington has the advantage of having the involvement of an archery association,” said Dave Mack, state program coordinator in Kelso. “That gave us a leg up on teacher training and organizing a state competition because that’s the kind of thing we do almost every weekend.”

At Deer Park, Washington’s only participating school district east of Yakima, the program’s winning converts.

“I truly believe that for many kids this could make the difference in their schooling experience,” said Pat Ogden, the middle school teacher who campaigned to bring the program to Deer Park. “In many of the other states involved, they’re finding that students who don’t turn out for team sports are flourishing in this arena. Many schools have found that during archery units, the absences go way down and the behavioral issues decrease.”

Ogden was among the Washington teachers who were early to see the program’s value. He went to a three-day safety certification school and made the application that landed a national archery association grant that provided $4,800 worth of archery equipment, safety curtains and targets.

“Those grants aren’t available any longer,” Mack said, “but discounts are available and many schools are finding good support from community groups.”

Even in Deer Park, two businesses — Whitetail Plus (Deer Park Archery) and Double Eagle Pawn — have stepped in with financial support to triple the program beyond the start-up of 11 bows, 5 targets and 60 arrows.

“Ideally I’d like to see this expand to an after school program that includes parents and families,” Ogden said. “This has so much potential. With care for safety, you can set up an archery range in your backyard.”