Ready, aim, learn

Archery instruction gives students a unique learning experience

Lee Giles III

of the Gateway

Volunteer Ron Hockett of Olalla was at the Gig Harbor Sportsman’s Club on a cold, rainy day to meet a group of middle school students from Harbor Montessori School.

The students, as part of their progressive physical education curriculum, were excited as they listened to volunteer instructor Rick Gaida explain archery.

Delaney Butler, 13, was among those who used a bow and arrow for the first time.

“I like it,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to do archery.”

The sport is new to the club, a decades-old institution. Started in 1946, the club, located on more than 30 acres off Burnham Drive, has promoted the safe use of pistols, rifles and shotguns, as well as safety education. Hunter safety and competitive shooting also have been promoted.

The club boasts about 1,200 members and hosts local law enforcement weapons qualification and practice on its ranges. Certified instructors help members and visiting enthusiasts to safely hone their skills. The clubhouse also has a kitchen, fireplace and a banquet hall.

Hockett said he enjoys teaching archery to youth because of their enthusiasm.

“Kids are the future of the sport,” he said. “We have enough kids without anything to do. It’s something to focus on. You have to practice to be good.

“When you see the look on their faces, the whole world lights up,” he said.

Another volunteer heavily involved with the program is Thom Halligan, a retired Gig Harbor-area housing contractor.

“This archery is something everyone can do,” Halligan said.

“It’s a selfish motivation,” he added. “I wanted to learn to shoot a bow. I asked the club twice to start the archery program, (because) I wanted to give something back to the community. We want to contribute something.”

A $500 grant from the National Rifle Association was instrumental in starting the archery program. The club spent $2,500 from its own coffers to get the program running.

Halligan said the range fee for current club members is $2. It’s $5 for non-members for an afternoon of archery.

Halligan added that the archery program could help bring in more business for local businesses and services that are feeling the economic crunch.

“Events for archers bring money into the community,” he said.

Or it could host students, like those from Harbor Montessori. The school’s principal, Sonja Cary, also took instructions and provided support for her students.

Cary has been a driving force behind keeping the students engaged in the learning process, encouraging her students to seek out life experiences.

“Everything in Montessori is individualized,” Cary said. “Every student has an input in their goals. They tell us what they have done or what they want to do.

“For middle school students, keeping them active is a way to keep them focused,” she said.

The Gig Harbor Montessori students have explored and participated in other non-traditional education pursuits, including kayaking, yoga, biking and rock climbing.

Halligan said he hopes larger groups will discover archery through the club’s efforts. He recently stopped into the regional Boy Scouts of America’s office in Tacoma to talk with Regional Director Rick Borgus, who said the organization may be interested in organizing day camps and archery events for local scouts.

The archery program runs from noon until 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Halligan hopes the club can expand range times as interest grows.

“We’re seeing new faces every week, and we’ve sold a couple of new memberships because of the archery,” he said.

Archery instruction

Individuals, families or groups who want to learn more about archery at the Gig Harbor Sportsman’s Club can e-mail volunteer instructor Thom Halligan for more information at thomon34th@comcast.net.

Lee Giles III is the photographer of The Peninsula Gateway. He can be reached at 253-853-9242 or by e-mail at lee.giles@gateline.com.