Anyone can join! Archery can be a lifelong sport and we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive community that supports the individual goals of our members in their archery practice. We are an explicitly welcoming space for members of the LGBTQ+ community and those who may not have had great experiences with sports in the past. Archery has been a paralympic sport since 1960, and it can accommodate many physical challenges with creativity. Please reach out by email with any questions you may have.
There is no specific minimum age for someone to try archery. However, we strongly recommend that archers be at least 9 years old to ensure they have the necessary mental and physical skills for success. Parents do not have to learn archery with their children, but many find that it is enjoyable and rewarding to do so in our multi-generational classes. We ask that parents who do not participate remain on site while their children are in introductory classes. Please email us with any questions or concerns prior to registration.
Barebow archery is a form of target archery where the archer uses a bow without any sights, stabilizers, or other aids. It focuses on instinctive or intuitive shooting, emphasizing skill and technique.
Typically, a recurve bow is used, but it is stripped of accessories like sights or clickers. The bow may have a simple rest and a weight system inside the riser, but nothing protruding beyond set limits.
Archers often use techniques like “string walking” or “face walking,” or they may aim instinctively by feel and repetition. Many align the tip of the arrow with the target.
Yes! Barebow archery is recognized by World Archery and features in national and international competitions, including the World Archery Field Championships.
It strips archery down to its fundamentals. Without aids, archers rely heavily on consistency, body mechanics, and mental focus — making it both challenging and rewarding.
Olympic recurve archery is the only form of archery featured in the Olympic Games. It uses a recurve bow equipped with accessories like a sight, stabilizers, and a clicker to enhance accuracy and consistency.
Archers use a recurve bow, named for the way its limbs curve away from the archer at the ends. It must follow strict World Archery guidelines regarding equipment and dimensions.
In Olympic competition, archers shoot from a distance of 70 meters at a target 122 cm in diameter, with the gold center just 12.2 cm wide.
Archers can use a sight, stabilizers, a clicker (a draw-length indicator), finger tabs, and specialized arrows. No magnifying lenses or mechanical release aids are permitted.
If you are in one of our Learn Archery classes, we recommend bringing boots (in case the field is wet), a bottle of water and/or snack, and a hat. If you have long hair, we recommend bringing something to tie your hair back.
All equipment will be provided for you.
We will be providing equipment for the Learn Archery programs, but we encourage any person who is making a practice of archery to invest in their own equipment after completing the series as it will help your growth to use equipment sized to your needs.
Our club provides coaching for barebow recurve, Olympic recurve, and compound archery. For archers who have their own equipment, we allow the use of target points (not broadheads).
Not at all! We will be running lots of five-week Learn Archery sessions that we encourage new archers to register for. Once you’ve developed the basics, consider our JOAD/AAP program to keep developing your archery skills.
No, absolutely not! We do archery for the community, the enjoyment of the sport, and our own self-practice. Some archers in our club compete and others don’t, and the choice to compete or not is entirely up to you.
