TAKE YOUR AIM

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March 29, 2013 - 12:00 AM

Arrows fly at Jefferson

Jefferson Elementary School’s gym was converted into an archery range during spring break, so students could receive instruction in the shooting sport.
“It gives them an opportunity to do something many of them haven’t done before, and something they can do all of their lives,” said Becky Carlson, physical education instructor.
Archery instruction started Monday and will continue through next week, giving each class ample time to learn how to notch arrows and loose them toward targets.
“The kids love it,” Carlson added, noting that many become rather proficient at putting arrows in or near the bull’s eye on targets.
This is the second year for archery at the school. It came about in large measure because of the efforts of Iolan Don Erbert, a master hunter with the bow and board member of the National Wild Turkey Foundation.
“I found out about the National Archery in Schools (NAS) program at a Pope and Young (hunting) convention, and thought it would be thing local kids would enjoy,” Erbert said. “Archery has become big in schools throughout the nation, with programs in every state and some now starting to show up in Canada and Mexico.”
Putting the program in place a year ago wasn’t without significant cost, about $3,200 to get it up and going, but with Erbert’s help a stream of revenue quickly unfolded.
“Don came by and asked if I wanted to be certified to teach archery,” Carlson said. “I said, ‘Sure,’ since I’m always looking for new things for classes.”
They attended a NAS class in Erie, which carried with it an award of about $500 worth of equipment for each one’s certification.
That helped, but more was needed. Erbert picked up the torch.
The National Wild Turkey Federation gave $1,000, pushing its total contribution for youth shooting sports in the Iola area to $10,000. Erbert also found private donors. Friday morning he handed $1,200 to Carlson to buy more bows and other equipment to continue the program into the years ahead. Of the total, $1,000 came from the turkey group. Bernie Blevins, who has oil interests in the area, donated $200 after having been told about the Jefferson program for kids by Neil Crane, another advocate of NWTF.

THE LOCAL chapter of NWTF is one of the most active in the nation and its members are eager to use the money they raise, much of which is retained for local programs, to encourage youngsters to embrace hunting in a safe and enjoyable manner.
Those are goals of youth shoots the chapter sponsors, including an upcoming one on May 4. Safety is a priority anytime young shooters, with guns or bows, gather for an event. Same is true of Carlson’s archery classes.
She uses a series of whistle commands to tell students when to pick up bows, when to shoot and when to stand down so arrows may be retrieved from targets.
“The national school archery group says it’s as safe as ping pong,” Erbert added.

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