Upcoming Outdoor Adventure Events

Vertical Endeavors is something I haven’t done in a long time. That would be something good to do during the winter months when it’s harder to plan outdoor activities.

Archery is something I would have to research a little bit. My experience with archery is limited to scout camps, so I don’t actually know what would be the best way to set up an archery event for our group. There’s enough interest though, so I’ll look into it.

I did see the free public archery ranges. I’ve actually stumbled onto one before, from the wrong end though. (Thankfully, nobody was out practicing that day.) Worst case we can do something with one of those locations.

The issue with bows is the main thing I need to get sorted out. I prefer to keep these events as open as possible to ensure that even people with no experience can join in. That probably means trying to find a place that has a selection of bows and maybe even an instructor to offer guidance. I’m sure there’s something out there, but the cost is going to play a role in what we end up doing. I’ll get in touch once I’ve informed myself a bit more and know what I actually need.

Any kind of event we come up with, we could find a group that already does it to tag along with. That’s not the goal of what I’m trying to do here. I’m planning events specific to furries. The purpose of this whole endeavor is to see what we can do for ourselves within the local fandom, to see what we can do to make these activities an expression of our fandom. I’m looking to see if we have the foundations for what may become a larger effort to explore what it means to be a furry in the outdoors.

The goal is, in fact, to reinvent the wheel so that it has a bit of fur on it. That said, if anybody needs more archery in their life, you now know another place to look.

Between here and the modest amount of research I have managed to do so far, I’m starting to get some ideas for how we can do some archery events. Right now I see three paths available to starting out these events for our group.

1. Share somebody’s archery equipment. (Low cost, low effort, not the best individual results)
2. Have people make their own archery equipment. (Modest cost, higher effort, fair individual results)
3. Rent equipment at a range that provides lessons. (Modest cost, low effort, good individual results)

The best option for us may actually be a combination of all of these paths. It kind of depends on how much interest we actually have, and that has been rather hard to determine so far. (I’m pretty convinced that I’m not reaching a lot of people with these forum posts, I’m going to find out at the picnic.) Here’s the current plan I’m thinking of, something that may be best if we have at least five new people interested.

As a group we sign up for lessons at an indoor range. (Average Joes Archery seems like a good deal) This allows everyone to get a chance to start out with a properly fit bow, everybody gets lessons from people who teach archery for a living, and we don’t actually have to do anything other than show up. This makes it an easy archery event to get people started.

Afterwards we can have a workshop where people have a chance to make their own archery equipment if they don’t want to buy it ready made. This would have to be done separate from an actual archery event, maybe a week or two before.

Then we have an archery event out at a range. At this point, anybody without equipment would have to borrow it from other people. Likewise, anyone who didn’t attend the class would need a quick lesson before the event starts, which is where those of you with experience come in. There are a few options available at this stage as to where we go to shoot, and we’ll have plenty of time to sort that out. I personally am intrigued by the field archery course at Elm Creek. It is, however, not free with a $6 pass required and I don’t know how busy it gets.

As for the timing of when this may take place, the classes are only offered on certain days, and there are only two dates left with spots open. May 21st (6 spots) and July 29th (20 spots). There are other options for group lessons, but they aren’t as comprehensive or cost effective. May won’t give people enough notice from the picnic, so we would have to shoot for July.

That would mean that, out of the dates I selected earlier as good dates to run events, the first archery event we could run on our own would be October 21st. That would likely be the last for the season as well unless we move indoors, which costs even more money. There are of course a few more weekends available if you don’t mind bumping into meets, convention meetings, and a few weeks when I’ll be out of state, and thus unavailable to help run the events.

Even with help, I’m trying not to run too many events too often until we have a solid understanding of community interests. That means we will have more limited opportunities for this year at least, next year may be different. If we do manage to get a small core of people who want routine archery opportunities though, a midweek evening archery meet may be your best bet. That is something I will likely leave up to you guys.

Let me know what you guys think of this plan or if you have something else in mind.