The sound of bowstrings twanging echoed through the trees at Lake Katherine Nature Center & Botanic Garden on Tuesday, July 29, as 15 young archers took aim at targets in a forest clearing.
The pop-up class, held in the children’s forest at 7402 Lake Katherine Drive in Palos Heights, introduced kids ages 8 and older to the basics of archery.
“This is my first time trying it and I’m really excited,” Jasmine Connors, 11, of Orland Park, said.
Under the guidance of Sophia Shukin, a naturalist at Lake Katherine, Jasmine and the other participants learned how to aim, release and test their accuracy on the pop-up archery range using recurved bows and target arrows.
“We use recurved bows and target arrows, and the participants can also make their own bow out of sticks and rope,” Shukin said. “It’s a hands-on way for kids to experience archery while also connecting with nature.”
Shukin has been teaching archery in this non-classroom style for about 10 years and said she loves giving people an experience they might not find elsewhere.
“I really enjoy giving people a unique recreational experience,” Shukin said. “Archery is not very popular, often times you have to go to a range indoors and have to take a formal class. This is an informal introductory. And you get to build your own bow with natural materials to add a wilderness survival and resourceful aspect as well.”
As Shukin said, the class also gave each child the chance to craft a take-home bow using natural materials found in the area.
“This program is always a fun challenge for kids,” Shukin said. “It’s exciting to see them gain confidence as they try something new and learn about nature at the same time.”
Eight-year-old Giorgio Cenci who traveled all the way from Italy to visit with his grandmother in Mokena said the archery experience was a highlight of the summer.
“When we are in town, I am always looking into events online that Giorgio can take part in,” his mother, Katie, said. “This is his second time trying archery and he’s actually getting really good at it.”
The $15 cost to participate in the program went directly back into funding for the nature center to continue to offer more educational programming just like this.
