A
common theme heard often in the outdoor
industry, is the battle to get new people into
the outdoors. We hear of the older generations of
people who used to hunt, not getting backf illed by the
younger generations. For the past several years we have
all read the articles that have instilled the fear of our
hunting industry never being what it once was.
What happens when a child reaches age 3? Parents sign
them up for tumbling, gymnastics, soccer, then baseball
or basketball. Recreational activities continue on until
graduation. Once the real world sinks in… new year’s
resolutions are to “get f it”, get involved in an old sport
you once played, … All of our lives we balance life with
work and play. The question is, “what will we play?”
Our younger generations are being programmed to try
a variety of activities through local parks and recreation
departments or community ed. Many communities
have baseball f ields, soccer f ields, parks. These days
splash pads and trails are one of the common amenities
being included in park plans. Parks and recreation is
where most people look to sign up for a class, or get
involved in an activity they may or may not have ever
done. Parks and recreation is the non-threatening entry
point to give things a try. If you like it, then you just
might get serious and take the next step.
So what if communities began adding archery ranges
in local parks? Like baseball f ields and soccer f ields,
an archery range becomes part of their fabric? Then
once people give archery a try, they actually like it, go
out and buy a bow, then try hunting. Then they like
hunting and make it a part of a new family tradition! I
think this would be the solution to grow hunting and
the outdoor industries. But is it realistic? Yes. This
article will prove it.
In 2010, the City of Farmington Hills was one of
nearly 20 parks and recreation departments who were
granted scholarships to get trained in USA Level 1
Archery Certif ication, and offered the opportunity
to get an equipment grant (with a 50% match) to get
archery started in their community. From the parks
and recreation departments that attended the training,
two were lucky enough to win equipment to get archery
programs started in their community, and only one of
the parks and recreation departments found the 50%
match for the DNR Archery Equipment Grant. And