Like most kids, I went to camp in the summer. Sometimes I was camping with my family, sometimes it was scout or sleep-away camp.
I remember a lot of things about camping, from making s’mores to pitching tents, fishing, swimming, bicycling and dozens of other activities.
One thing that was a constant at sleep-away camp was archery lessons. While I would never consider myself a Robin Hood, it was definitely a sport that I could do well that depended less on being the tallest or the strongest, and more on patience and calculation.
Recently, my children got invited by a friend to participate in an archery league in Homeland. They have been participating for about a month now and they really look forward to it every week. I got the opportunity to go with them this last Sunday and they really seem to be learning a lot and improving.
I sat down with the archery director and spoke to her at length about the program. While this activity has only been on their schedule a few years, participation is improving. They have certified range safety instructors and everyone who participates has to pass a small safety test to show they know the rules of the range. They are considering expanding their offering to include a snack and drink cart for convenience and fundraising purposes.
The league is run through Community First Church of God, located at 31371 California Highway 74, Homeland, CA 92548 and is part of their Community Outreach Program, so the cost is absolutely nothing.
The Archery Program was created and piloted by a churchgoer named Paul Mains Jr. in 2011. He recently passed away and the committee chose to name the archery range The Paul Mains Jr. Archery Range in his honor. They start each competition with a short prayer and have an optional service afterward with videos and songs.
They supply the equipment, though you can bring your own if you prefer. It is open to all ages, 5 and up (including adults). The instructors are patient with the newcomers and they are always taking new competitors. Sign -p is year round and participants can even earn prizes along the way, such as gift cards and trophies. Practices are on Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and competition for points is on Sundays from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
For more details, click here or contact the archery director, Lynette Brown, at 951-392-4757.
David Baker, our Man About Menifee, writes about his adventures in and around town every Friday in this space. You may leave comments here for him or email him at manaboutmenifee@gmail.com.
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