By Renae Counter Explorebigsky.com Editorial Assistant
BIG SKY – Jack Creek Preserve hosted its Archery Day Camp at the Big Sky Community Park again this summer, giving Big Sky youth a chance to learn and experience bowhunting for the second year in a row.
The camp, which ran from Aug. 6 – 10, was divided into two sections, a morning class for kids entering the fifth grade and up and an afternoon class for kids entering the third and fourth grade. The hour and a half long classes were divided into two parts: a teaching time and an archery time.
According to BSCC Camp Leaders Merrill Arbuckle and Sharon Kilmer, archery is the students’ main event and the one they get most pumped for. And by the second day of camp, both instructors noticed a sizeable improvement in the students’ archery skills.
“It’s fun and rewarding to see their enthusiasm,” Arbuckle said. “Archery is like any other sport, good encouragement and coaching and they’ll do well.”
Some students who attended the camp last year brought their own bow this time around. Jack Creek also provided Matthew’s Brand compound bows for the kids to use during the camp.
After four days of honing their archery skills in the park, the students had the opportunity to shoot the 3D targets at a site in Jack Creek Preserve.
During the other portion of the camp, students learned about outdoor safety and skills, such as reading a compasses and maps, wildlife identification and safety, and basic backcountry skiing and hiking information.
More information on Jack Creek Preserve camps can be found at jackcreekpreserve.org/camp.html.
