Thirty-eight million. That’s how many people age 5 and older speak Spanish at home, according to a 2011 survey by the U.S. Census Bureau. To meet this growing population’s needs, the Archery Trade Association earlier this year launched “Explora Caza Con Arco,” a Spanish version of the ATA’s popular “Explore Bowhunting” program. 

Explore Bowhunting launched in 2010 as an educational program that helps educators, instructors and program leaders teach youths basic bowhunting skills. Twenty-two states have adopted the program since its release. By adding Explora Caza Con Arco, the ATA hopes to reach a new growing market.

Emily Beach, ATA’s senior director of outreach and education, said Hispanics are the fastest-growing minority. They represent $1.4 billion in spending power, according to the Census Bureau. “Our industry can tap into this growing market by providing tools to help them become bowhunters,” she said. “This includes translated how-to resources like those provided in Explore Bowhunting.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Multistate Conservation Grant Program awarded the ATA $52,500 to translate, design and print curriculum guides and student handbooks. The ATA finished the project in one year with help from The Language Doctors Inc. and independent translator Andrea Vásquez.

“Explora Caza Con Arco gives Spanish-speaking communities the tools to use public lands and start bowhunting,” Beach said. “This will lead to higher participation in hunting, fishing, boating and other outdoor recreation. In turn, growth in these activities helps sustain our hunting heritage and ensure outdoor recreation’s future.”

Beach also noted the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation discovered through its Vamos a Pescar initiative that Hispanic visitors especially like how-to pages. “By emphasizing problem-solving and decision-making skills, Explore Bowhunting, or Explora Caza Con Arco, is the ideal resource for introducing bowhunting to this untapped and highly sought-after market,” Beach said.

Jay McAninch, ATA’s president/CEO, agrees. “Explora Caza Con Arco is just one more example of how Emily Beach and her team have continued to develop first-class programs to meet the needs of those interested in bowhunting,” he said. “A program like this is overdue and will help state wildlife agencies and local communities tap into a market that’s received little attention over the years. For our industry, Explora Caza Con Arco opens hunting opportunities to Hispanic communities, and boosts bowhunting and archery participation nationwide, which strengthens participation.”

The ATA offers the program for free to state wildlife agencies, federal-government agencies, and nongovernmental organizations.

To learn more about Explora Caza Con Arco and how to implement it in your state, contact Beach at emilybeach@archerytrade.org.

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Five new videos from the Archery Trade Association explain how retailers and educators can teach Explore Bowhunting to increase archery and bowhunting participation in their communities.

Explore Bowhunting is a valuable educational program that helps instructors and program leaders teach students of all ages basic bowhunting skills. ATA created the program for schools, summer camps and community-based programs, and it’s offered primarily through state wildlife agencies.

The curriculum includes 23 lessons and hands-on activities that help students understand nature, and strengthen their appreciation for wildlife and the woods.

ATA members already have access to the curriculum, but these five training videos ensure archery-shop owners and community members can better implement the curriculum and hone their teaching skills.

“These videos explain how to complete Explore Bowhunting activities in retail-store environments in a quick-and-easy format,” said Emily Beach, ATA’s senior director of outreach and education. “The videos help instructors teach the program more effectively, which will promote our sport and recruit more archers and bowhunters.”

Beach encourages retailers to use the videos to help make Explore Bowhunting activities fit their store’s needs.

“Retailers can adapt any Explore Bowhunting activity to fit their schedules, the students’ skill levels, and the store’s teaching environment — whether it’s indoor, outdoor, a woodlot or parking lot,” Beach said. “They can also use their store’s inventory to demonstrate equipment needs, which promotes sales.”

The instructional videos show retailers and community members how to:

1. teach bowhunting basics to customers;
2. feel confident when teaching bowhunting activities;
3. simplify bowhunting skills for archers;
4. and open discussions about stalking, camouflage, shot placement, bowhunting practice and much more.

Retailers in states that offer Explore Bowhunting are encouraged to partner with their state wildlife agency to teach the course’s equipment section. Click here to contact the Explore Bowhunting coordinator in your state.

Visit ATA’s Explore Bowhunting webpage to watch the videos and learn more.

For more information about Explore Bowhunting, contact Beach at emilybeach@archerytrade.org.

About the ATA
The Archery Trade Association is the organization for manufacturers, retailers, distributors, sales representatives and others working in the archery and bowhunting industry. The ATA has served its members since 1953. It is dedicated to making the industry profitable by decreasing business overhead, reducing taxes and government regulation, and increasing participation in archery and bowhunting. The organization also owns and operates the ATA Trade Show, the archery and bowhunting industry’s largest and longest-running trade show worldwide.

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