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Alabama’s Third Community Archery Park Now Open

Alabama Community Archery Park Now Open

Outdoor Alabama

Dothan, Ala - -(AmmoLand.com)- Alabama’s third community archery park officially opened on Friday, December 4 in Dothan, Ala.

The Dothan facility joins archery parks in Athens, and Cullman, Ala., that opened in February 2008 and April 2009, respectively. A fourth park will open in Demopolis in 2010.

The range was developed through a partnership between the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division (WFF), the City of Dothan, the Archery Trade Association (ATA), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Students from Rehobeth High School’s agriscience program contributed to the project by building the target frames and were present for the ribbon cutting ceremony.

WFF Director Corky Pugh said the opening of the range is a monumental occasion for both the State of Alabama and the City of Dothan. “What we are creating is an opportunity for young people to learn life skills that will stay with them throughout their life,” Pugh said. “Archery is one of those great sports that you don’t have to be an athlete to excel in.”

Mike Piccirilli, Division of Federal Assistance Chief for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in the Southeast, praised the progress Alabama has made with the opening of its third archery range. “Alabama is a special place because it is so dedicated to archery,” Piccirilli said. “We hope this park will stimulate interest and participation in archery for years to come.”

In a continued partnership with Dothan Leisure Services, WFF will assist in the creation of school and recreational archery programs for Dothan and surrounding communities in Houston County. “We are looking forward to enhancing our programming by providing archery related activities for students and citizens of Dothan and Houston County,” said Elston Jones, Dothan Leisure Services Director.

Alabama’s archery parks are user funded at no cost to taxpayers. The parks are also made possible through the Community Archery Program (CAP), which was developed in 2005 by the ATA to grow archery and bowhunting participation nationwide.

The Dothan archery park features: eight youth targets from 5-20 yards; 11 adult range targets from 15-80 yards; and an elevated platform that simulates bowhunting situations with targets from 10-40 yards.

The Dothan archery range is open to the public during daylight hours except for Wednesday, when it is closed to the public. All participants, ages 16 to 64 must have a Hunting or Wildlife Heritage license in order to shoot. All shooters must sign in and out at the Eastgate Lodge. No broadhead points are allowed and users of the elevated platform must wear a full body harness. The park is located in Eastgate Park, 2049 Sanitary Dairy Road, Dothan, Ala., 36305.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.outdooralabama.com .

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Archery In The Schools Program Training To Be Held
In Beckley, VA Area Dec. 8 and 9; Sign-up Deadline November 25.

West Virginia DNR

BECKLEY, W.Va. –-(AmmoLand.com)- The next instructor training for the popular Archery in the Schools Program (AIS) will be held Dec. 8 and 9 at JBC Archery Center in Shady Spring (near Beckley), according to Jerry Westfall, AIS Program Coordinator for the Wildlife Resources Section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR).

“It has been quite some time since we held a training session in the Beckley area,” said Westfall. “And thanks to the cooperation of the JBC Archery Center and owner Chuck Frye, we can once again provide AIS training to area physical education teachers and coaches, as well as others from around the state. We are very excited about the potential expansion of the AIS program by involving schools not yet participating. Based on the interest we have received so far, and the number of local schools, this training should be quite successful.”

The AIS Program is the DNR’s largest and fastest growing educational program. Since its inception in 2004, more than 35,000 students have been introduced to archery as part of their physical education (PE) classes in 199 West Virginia schools. The program teaches Olympic-style target archery in both public and private school’s grade four-12 PE classes.

“But in order for schools to have the AIS Program, they must first have a certified instructor – preferably a PE instructor or coach who will introduce as many kids as possible to the joys of target archery,” said Westfall. “The DNR has about four trainings a year; and, because class size is limited to 25, training slots are highly sought after. To ensure a training slot, we encourage PE teachers and coaches to apply as soon as possible.” The deadline to sign up for the training is Nov. 25. As an added incentive, teachers taking this training may be eligible to receive Continuing Education Hours (CEHs).

This training will cost $25 for all school employees and $50 for non-school employees. This fee will be paid to WVDNR – Archery in the Schools Program via check, money order, or exact currency during the first morning of the training.

To register for the AIS training at JBC Archery in Shady Spring, please call Billie Shearer at 304-558-2771; e-mail billieshearer@wvdnr.gov. For general information on the AIS Program, you can visit the DNR’s AIS Web site at www.wvdnr.gov/archery or call DNR’s AIS Program Coordinator Jerry Westfall at 304-558-2771; e-mail jerrywestfall@wvdnr.gov.

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