If you have a child or beginner that you want to introduce to archery, consider taking them to try 3D archery. Rather than shooting standard targets at an open range, 3D archery adds excitement by emulating actual bowhunting. It’s easy to get carried away while skulking through the wilderness, looking to deliver that perfect shot on a realistic target!
3D archery has taken big steps lately. The Scholastic 3D Archery Association (S3DA) continues to expand since its creation in 2012. S3DA is currently active in 25 states, teaching thousands of kids from third grade through high school. These afterschool programs keep young archers active and entertained, while teaching them a skill they will value for the rest of their life.
3D archery provides a fun way to learn fundamental shooting techniques, and more importantly, safety, but it’s also a good way for seasoned bowhunters to stay sharp year round. Mathews recently released a short film called, “Training Ground”, which documents two bowhunting friends, Brett Seng and Cal Arnold, as they travel to Redding, California, to practice on a 3D course.
They discuss the importance of practice, explaining how a good hunter practices thoroughly so they can confidently shoot at a live animal when the moment comes. In their mind, it’s more important to understand your weaknesses than strengths, and realistic settings and targets help accomplish that. Seng and Cal also illustrate the immersive nature of 3D courses and how seriously they take it. Seng says, “We flew in here to California like we we’re going on a hunt. We rent an RV and we pack food like we’re going on a hunt. We park the truck like we’re going on a hunt. We woke up like we were going hunting. Except we’re walking out on a 3D course.” The course is used hone their skills and also meet fellow bowhunters and competitive archers.
Now although 3D archery is an amazing practice tool for beginners and seasoned hunters alike, it’s also important to note that it has become a competitive sport in its own right. The 3D Archery World Championships draw a bigger crowds year after year. The Scholastic 3D Archery Association is taking gradual steps to foster an early interest in the sport and then give kids a path for the future. Lately, the S3DA has partnered with colleges in order to provide scholarships for competitive 3D archers. In fact, they provided over $300,000 in scholarships in 2015 alone.
3D archery is to be positioned at the very center of the modern archery world. It fascinates young archers and teaches them the basics, helps active bowhunters immerse themselves in practice during the offseason, and can even provide scholarships and a career path into professional sports.
Make sure to check out s3da.org for the latest info and events in the wide world of 3D archery.
The final round of the 2011 World Championship Illustrates how skilled the competitive level is.
List of Colleges that are partnered with S3DA:
Atlantic Cape Community College
Bethel University
Biola University
California State University Long Beach
California State University Northridge
California University of Pennsylvania
Central Connecticut State University
Columbia University
Dakota Wesleyan University
Dine College
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Southern University
James Madison University
Liberty University
Michigan State University
Midway College
Missouri State
Mount Marty College
Navajo Technical University
Northeast Community College
Northern Arizona University
Oglala Lakota College
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Pennsylvania State University
Purdue University
San Jose State University
Southern Illinois College
Southern Utah University
Stanford University
Texas A&M University
University of Arizona
University of California Berkeley
University of California Irvine
University of California Los Angeles
University of California Merced
University of California San Diego
University of Florida
University of New Hampshire
University of Southern California
University of Texas at Austin
University of the Cumberlands
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin, La Crosse
Utah State University
Wayne State College
