Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine Hits Bulls Eye with Archery Foundation Grant

The City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) has received an Explore Archery grant from USA Archery. This grant will supply resources for programming and materials to enhance PRM’s archery program.

“I am excited that this USA Archery grant will support the growth of this sport in Long Beach,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “In 1984, Long Beach hosted Archery at the El Dorado Regional Park range for the Summer Olympic Games, and now we will be able to nurture a new generation of archers there and throughout the city.”

As grant recipients, PRM will send two employees to attend an Archery Instructor Academy to be certified as USA Archery Level Two Instructors, PRM will receive Explore Archery program materials, range posters and the equipment necessary to implement a beginner to intermediate archery program.

According to USA Archery, archery is a sport of focus and discipline that provides a foundation for goal-orientation. Archery skills translate to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) concepts used in the classroom, and help athletes become better students.

“PRM is known for traditional sports like basketball, volleyball, flag football, baseball, and soccer, but being able to serve a community need for non-traditional sports like archery will serve recreational needs and instill focus that can strengthen academic performance,” said PRM Director Gerardo Mouet.

To provide community access to the archery program, PRM proposes to offer a one-day “Try Archery or Explore Archery” camp on four different afternoons in two different parks. Two will take place at Silverado Park, where an indoor archery range can be used, and two will take place at the El Dorado Regional Park Outdoor Archery Range. The goal is to introduce archery to youth participants and gauge interest for future programs. During the summer, PRM envisions an ongoing archery program at two locations once-a-week, for six to 10 weeks, mirroring the Department’s existing youth sports summer camps. The public can visit http://www.teamsideline.com/longbeach beginning in May 2019 for program information.

For more information about the USA Archery Explore Archery program, residents can visit https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Archery/Programs/Explore-Archery/EA-Program-Resources.