South Tama 4th grade teacher Ashley Raue takes aim in an indoor practice range at the Elementary School in Tama during a training session on Saturday, Dec. 13 for those seeking to become certified archery instructors. News-Herald photos/John Speer

Editor’s Note: Dick Koehler, Tama, is a retired South Tama Middle School and Meskwaki Settlement School band director. He has been interested in archery since his freshman year of high school and is a certified basic archery instructor. He is the coach for the STC Archery Club.

For more information on local archery programs contact Dick at 641-751-5887.

By Richard Koehler

On Saturday, Dec. 13. South Tama hosted a NASD certification class at the Elementary school.

Local STC PE teachers, Levi Hunerdoss and Jeff DeBondt joined 5th grade teacher Ashley Raue with Sarah Beyer, representing the local archery club. Other teachers from Iowa also attended. National Archery in our schools is a program that was developed by the Kentucky Departments of Fish & wildlife Resources and Department Of Education and Mathews Archery in 2001.

Tom Wilkerson ((center), a Mt. Vernon school teacher, provides instruction for seeking to become certified to teach archery in Iowa schools and archery programs during a training session at the South Tama Elementary School on Saturday, Dec. 13.

Since then, it has expanded to many other states, including Iowa. In recent years several countries around the world: Canada, South Africa, Australia, Mexico have joined. more are joing every year.

The day-long class held at the South Tama Elementary School Gym included the fundamentals of shooting, class safety, class management, equipment repair and maintenance. Each participant learned and demonstrated the eleven steps of shooting.

They also practiced leading the class on the range and practiced teaching skills. They were required to pass a test to receive their certification as a Basic Archery Instructor.

Educators are always looking for ways to improve student motivation, attention, behavior, attendance and focus. Archery has proven to accomplish all of these.