Archery is a sport where you use a bow to shoot arrows at a target. Historians know it as one of the oldest human activities with arrowheads found that are more than 50,000 years old! Our modern day campers learn about all aspects of archery, including: safety procedures, specialty equipment, and archery shooting techniques at our archery range.

Archery for Youth

From the very beginning, archery has been one of the most popular sports for the for kids at Camp W.

The Camp W archery range accommodates multiple shooters, allows for different shooting lines, and uses modern foam core targets on stands.

We select bows based on their size and experience, beginning with short fiberglass bows that can pulled easily, to full-sized wood-laminate recurved bows with higher draw weights.

Learning Archery at Camp

Never tried archery before? Don’t worry! Even the youngest participants can learn to shoot at Camp W. We have the right sized equipment for every sized camper.

Following important safety rules, learn how to nock your arrow, smoothly pull back (or draw) your bow, and gently release to make a perfect shot.

The Camp W archery is overseen by instructors are certified and keen to help you improve your archer’s skills.

Hit a Bullseye!

It might be hard to even hit the target at first, but with practice your technique will improve and you’ll begin landing arrows in the middle of the target.

If your arrow does hit the center circle of the target, that’s a bullseye! You have now joined the acclaimed Camp W “Bullseye Club.”

The challenge and reward of target shooting add up to a lot of fun and excitement at archery.

Summer Camp Archery

Certified instructors teach campers about protective gear like the “bracer” or “arm guard,” as well as the “tab” or “finger guard.” Campers also spend time learning about bows and the parts of the arrow like the “fletching.” Next, they spend time focusing on standard form and shooting techniques – particularly how to aim!

How old do you have to be to try archery? Well, at Camp W, we provide special bows that are easier to pull and shorter arrows to match these smaller bows for smaller (and our youngest!) campers. We can also move the shooting line much closer to the target, so our littlest campers can try out their skills with encouraging results to start with.

One exciting goal is to aim for and hit the most challenging part of the target – a bullseye. With practice, campers can hit multiple bullseyes! Getting a bullseye means that your name is announced in the dining hall because you are now a part of the CW Bullseye Club.