CULLMAN – Cullman Parks and Recreation’s archery camp got underway this week, with campers learning from head instructor Anthony Parker all the things they need to know to become archers.
The campers are learning a variety of tips and techniques ranging from how to properly load an arrow onto a bow, to the proper way to hunt animals like deer and all the safety protocols that go along with that.
Parker thinks he is the perfect fit for the job after spending decades in archery himself. "I'm 52 and I've been shooting a bow since I was probably 5," he said. "I love it; I love archery and I really have a teacher's heart so I really enjoy passing this along. It's just something I really enjoy doing."
Parker also gets involved with local schools in the city and county during archery competitions. "I've helped with the city schools and the county schools, but I'm always available. I tell them all, I'm available."
Parker believes that archery has a lot of lessons for kids to learn other than hitting targets. "Patience and discipline is a big part of it, especially the way they teach it in the schools with whistle commands and the whole safety aspect of it. They have to shoot safe and in order to do that they have rules and commands they learn to go by. Archers learn to be very patient and considerate of others. At the schools, they have to wait and stand in line, so patience and discipline are definitely some of the things they learn."
One of Parker's campers, third grader Will Cooner, noticed early on that he had a lot to learn about archery when he arrived at the camp. "I learned everything I was doing before, I was doing wrong," Cooner said. He said he plans on joining his school's archery team this year so he wanted to refine his skills at the camp this summer.
Cooner wasn't the only member of his family there to learn this summer. His cousins, seventh grader Olivia Cooner and third grader McKenna Cooner were practicing with him as well.
Olivia Cooner isn't planning on competing for a school and is just participating for fun but learned a lot very quickly. "I'm just here for the summer because I thought it'd be a lot of fun," she said. "I learned on the first day that I actually need to be shooting with my left hand instead of using my right hand."
McKenna Cooner was also just participating for fun and doesn't plan to compete in school. McKenna and her older sister Olivia said their favorite archer is Katniss Everdeen, while their cousin Will prefers Green Arrow. "The whole reason I got a green bow is because of Green Arrow," Will Cooner said.
Fourth grader Tinsley Walker is planning on competing in school this fall and has learned some important lessons from her instructor. "What Mr. Anthony taught us is that you have to always stay focused," she said. Her favorite part of the camp by far, she said, has been picking up the bow and shooting on the range.
Cullman Parks and Recreation, along with head instructor Anthony Parker, are teaching a lot of valuable lessons to their campers while letting them have fun shooting arrows down range.
Copyright 2017 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
