ESTEVAN — The Estevan Archery Club invited the community over for its second trial day on Saturday, and some people used the opportunity to check out what archery is about.
The club provided guests with bows, members explained the basics and helped people shoot arrows at set targets. The event was aimed at getting new members, children and adults alike, involved in the sport.
Another open house was held in January. It attracted a lot of interest from the community and had quite a few people joining the club afterwards, said Travis Fortowsky, who is the club's Junior Olympic Program (JOP) co-ordinator.
The Estevan Archery Club currently has about 100 members, 70 of which are children and youth. Throughout the winter they run the JOP, in which they coach archery to those five to 21 years old, three nights a week on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. And Wednesdays are for adults.
Adult members also have full access to the club’s indoor and outdoor ranges.
Throughout the year, members partake in various archery competitions and events, and the club is working on bringing more opportunities. One of the current projects is a revival of a tournament that was started back in the 1990s and last ran in 2006. In the event, junior archers compete against local police members.
"I spoke to the police this winter, and they're interested in getting back into this, so that's something I want to get back," said Fortowsky, adding that there are some other ideas that they are looking into to get more interest in the sport.
One of the JOP participants, Nevada Sernick, partook in the trial day event. She first tried archery when she was about eight years old and has been a part of the club for seven years. As kids and youths progress and get new accomplishments, they receive badges of different levels. Fortowsky noted that this winter Sernick showed well in provincials and claimed her latest badge there.
"She really took off this year," Fortowsky said.
The club also has a 3-D tournament coming on May 27-28 at the outdoor range by the Boundary Dam Power Station with 2x20 target courses. The event is open to everybody. They also host two indoor 3-D shoots every year throughout the winter, which are for members only.
Club president Tanisha Salicon said they always welcome new members and there are people to help those who are just starting with the sport.
To join one would need to pay membership fees to the Estevan Archery Club, as well as Saskatchewan Archery Association and Archery Canada. The first Wednesday of every month they hold board meetings, which are open to everyone.
If anyone is interested in joining the club or wants to learn more, they can reach out to Salicon at eacmemberships@gmail.com or 306-485-7593.
