The Effingham County Extension office recently introduced its 4-H’ers to their newest program: Archery. The program has more than doubled in its first year, with over fifty kids enrolled. Effingham Extension hopes to complement and enhance sportsman-like character, build high standards of safety and development of skills, through the hands on approach method.
With 4-H’s slogan, “Learn by Doing,” kids accompanied by their nine coaches are being taught the archery sport, but also gain insight on how to be responsible, disciplined, and confident. The spirit of 4-H sportsmanship and appropriate behavior is expected of all participants in the 4-H shooting sports program.
4-H’ers and coaches make every effort to understand the procedures used in each event and comply with the rules and standards of the events. Learning the rules of the events is part of the educational process for shooting sports participants. Archery is unique in that it does more than sharpens an archer’s skills; it strengthens families by encouraging them to continue their participation in the life-long recreational activity, long after the competitions are over. 4-H’ers recently competed in the 2nd annual Steel Bridge Competition in Effingham against neighboring Bulloch County. The competition allows both counties an opportunity to prepare for the State Indoor competition, held at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center located north of Eatonton, Ga. Kids are permitted to use compound and reserve bows in both indoor and outdoor competitions. Indoor season runs from November through February consisting of individual competition only, while the outdoor season runs from March through May and is open to both individual and team competitions
The 4-H archery team is led by volunteers who are pertinent to the success of the program as they work sacrificially to point kids in the right direction. The volunteers undergo training to receive certification, which qualifies them as an archery coach. Special thanks to the following coaches for their time and dedication to the 4-H Archery Program: Roy Callaway, Henry Kessler, Len “Phillip” Morgan, Carl Muthersbaugh, Blaze Nofi, Brian Schimmel, Sidney Warner, Trey Young, and Seth Zeigler.
For more information regarding the 4-H program and its shooting sports, please contact: Effingham County Extension office at 912-754-8040.