SPFGA Outdoor Youth Program - Introduction to Archery

The Sherwood Park Fish and Game Association Outdoor Youth Program is grounded in the understanding that children and youth play a crucial role as future stewards of our planet.

Through outdoor education initiatives, the program aims to nurture responsible environmental stewardship. Research indicates that engaging in outdoor activities significantly improves the mental well-being and happiness of young people, enriching their overall quality of life, and that outdoor experiences bolster physical, mental, and cognitive health, as well as enhancing problem-solving abilities. By fostering a deeper connection between youth and nature, our Youth program seeks to enhance ecological literacy and cultivate conservation-oriented values and actions, essential for addressing current environmental and conservation challenges. Recognizing the declining trend of outdoor engagement, especially in urban settings, this program offers structured outdoor experiences to counteract this shift. These experiences not only foster a meaningful connection with nature but also facilitate the development of outdoor skills and competencies, empowering youth to better engage with, and appreciate the natural world.

Through a safe and supportive learning environment, this will be comprised of six sessions throughout 2024.

Join us for a fun and exciting introduction to archery session, where no previous experience is needed! Whether you're just starting out or already have some archery experience, everyone 12-17 years old is welcome.

In this session, you'll learn all about archery and the equipment used. We'll cover the basics, like how to hold the bow, aim, and shoot safely. Our instructors will show you how to use both recurve and compound bows.

You'll get to shoot at targets from different distances on our archery range and try out our cool 3D archery trail, where you can aim at lifelike 3D targets for a real adventure.

Archery isn't just about hitting the target; it's about focus, precision, and the amazing feeling of releasing an arrow. Come join us for an unforgettable archery adventure!

Minimum Attendance Age

If a youth is attending without adult accompaniment, they must be 15 years of age or older. If the youth is accompanied by an adult however, there really isn’t a minimum age. As long as they are old enough to make it through this day of activities and do so safely, they are absolutely welcome to attend.

Session Lead Biographies

Don Brockway has been hunting since he was 12, and bowhunting for more than 20 years. With a profound appreciation for nature, he loves hunting, fishing, and spending time outdoors. After a 31-year career as a Locomotive Engineer with Canadian Pacific Railway, the SPFGA is fortunate to be able to call Don our Maintenance Technician. Safety is always Don’s top priority in everything he does. and bowhunting is no exception.

Brandon Myre is one of our new SPFGA Board members who chose to join our team because his interests and values align closely with those of the SPFGA. As an Executive Union Officer and Committee Chairperson with Canadian Pacific Railway, and as an avid hunter, archer and angler, Brandon has tonnes of experience coaching and mentoring people of all ages on a multitude of topic areas topics.

Don and Brandon taught the archery session for our Outdoor Woman’s Program in 2023, and look forward to doing so again this year.

Cameron Johnson’s first passion is bowhunting but if you ask him about precision rifle shooting, reloading, waterfowl hunting, bird watching, fly fishing, biking or climbing, you may have a hard time getting away from the conversation. He has served on the Board of the Alberta Bowhunters Association for eight years and he too is a new Director on the SPFGA Board. With nearly nine years of experience in visitor services with Parks Canada, Cameron is also an experienced Hunter Education Instructor and has been teaching with the International Bowhunter Education Program since 2006.

Mike Lepine has been passionate about archery since he was 10 years old. Over the years, he has taught archery to people of all ages in varying locals including the Sherwood Park Archery Lanes. Mike was even Don’s archery instructor and mentor! Mike finds great joy in guiding others, whether introducing beginners to the fundamentals or helping seasoned archers refine their techniques. He also loves hunting, and just got back from a hunting adventure of a lifetime in Africa.

The purchase of bows, arrows and arm guards for this session has been generously funded through a grant from the Alberta Conservation Association.

Is lunch included?

No, meals and refreshments will not be provided. Please bring your own lunch and beverages.

Anything that participants should know?

Remember to dress for the forecasted weather conditions because you will be outside all day.

What happens if there's bad weather?

Unless the weather poses safety conditions, this event will proceed.

Is an SPFGA membership required in order to register?

No, these sessions are open to both members and non-members.

We will refund registration fees if an event is cancelled. Outside of that, individual refunds will not be provided. Please ensure your availability prior to booking. Individuals who cannot make the event may transfer their registration to another individual.

Host or Publisher Sherwood Park Fish & Game Association Board