Arrow of Flight

Prairie View offered an after-school sport that I haven't heard of or seen before at an elementary school--Archery. Cameron was very interested and went to the try-outs. The try-outs were held over 3 days, with only room for 12 boys and 12 girls on the team. You could only try out if you were in 5th or 6th grade and committed to attending the state championships, to be held on March 16th, at Central Washington University.

I didn't know what would be going on with our family in March, when Cameron went for the try-outs, at the beginning of February. But we told him that if he did well enough to make the team, we would make every effort to make sure that he got to Ellensburg for the competitions. [To be honest, with as many kids that tried out, we didn't think he stood a chance of making the team--and that would solve the whole problem from the get-go].

But he made the team. Practices have been Fridays after school for the last few weeks. He's definitely improved his shot. Side benefit--there's an Archery merit badge that he's also working on. So this whole experience has not just been fun and games.

Yesterday, the two elementary schools in our district that offer archery, had a special competition as a trial-run for the kids. The 24 kids from Prairie View paired up with the 24 kids from Evergreen elementary, for a friendly competition and practice at setting up the flight and scoring the shots. Each child got to shoot five arrows each in each of the six flights that were scored. Some of those kids had amazing aims.

I'm sure that we'll have some great pictures after next week's event. Cameron sure enjoys this novel sport. Nathan thought it was pretty cool too, but couldn't stand long enough for the try-outs. So we might have to find a level spot on the acreage behind the house and set up some target practices out in the field. I'm sure that our next school won't have archery, but that doesn't mean the boys can't hone a few skills for fun. Run, Bambi, Run!