THE CLIO MESSENGER
Sunday, May 25, 2008
By Amy Mayhew
Contributing writer
CLIO - Like a growing number of schools across Michigan, Garner Elementary School in Clio is taking part in the National Archery in the Schools Program, sponsored through the state Department of Natural Resources.
Statewide, 240 schools representing 55 counties statewide have adopted the program, which introduces target archery to elementary and middle school students as part of the physical education curriculum.
Physical education teacher David Bade said third- and fourth-grade students began the program this month.
"It's a great program," Bade said. Students "are already really enjoying it."
Bade said colleague Gene Hickey deserves much of the credit for getting the program rolling at Garner.
"Gene is the one who started this program at our school," Bade said. "He got us through the meetings, got us through the training, and was instrumental in making it all happen."
Third-grade teacher Margaret Alexander put together an archery assembly for her students and others last week, enlisting the help of two sharp-shooting sisters from Grand Blanc.
Alexander spends a lot of her free time at the Flint Bowmen Archery Club in Grand Blanc Township, where her husband, Mike, currently serves as club president.
He met the sisters there.
Cora Spangler, 8, and her 6-year-old sister, Sarah, were happy to take time out of their busy day at Grand Blanc's Brendel Elementary School to make the trip to Clio and show the students of Garner what shooting is all about.
While the sisters share a passion for archery, their tastes in the sport differ slightly, with Cora preferring straight target shooting, Sarah favoring 3D targets. At the prompting of their father, both sisters began shooting at the age of 4.
After answering questions from students and faculty about everything from safety to equipment to experience, the sisters each shot three arrows at awaiting targets in the gymnasium. Garner students, wowed by the sisters' impressive skills, cheered as they each hit the target and made excellent shots.
Garner students were in for one more treat as Flushing resident Joe Bailey stopped by to share his passion for archery with the young audience. Bailey is one of eight individuals who will make up the U.S. Archery Team that will be competing in the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing.
Bailey began competitive archery approximately 18 years ago, two years after surviving a near-fatal truck accident that took his left leg.
Before shooting three solid bull's-eyes at the awaiting target, Bailey encouraged the students to chant "U.S.A."
Bade said experienced archer and volunteer Don Sparks has been greatly involved in helping the young students, as has Steven Gilkes, owner of Ed's Archery in Clio, and his friend and colleague Homer Hosner.
"We've been coming out to help over the last four years for the Fun Days event they have, teaching archery," Gilkes said. "Now they have this new program in the school that we're going to help with, too."
"It's great - it's what I live for," he said. "You know the old saying: Teach your kids how to hunt so you don't have to hunt for your kids."
For more information about the National Archery in the Schools Program, visit the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr.
Here's the photo of Cora. One of my mother-in-law's cousins who lives in Clio mailed it to her, and she scanned it in for me. Since I don't live in Clio, I don't get the Clio insert that comes in the Sunday paper.
Pretty neat stuff.
Sunday was Sarah's last regular soccer game. It was a nail biter; her team won 5-4 in the last seconds of the game. I was actually jumping up and down at the end! Tournaments this weekend. GO PINK ROCKETS!!
