Sunday, April 18, 2010

“Archery gives kids some needed skills | PHIL POTTER COLUMN” plus 3 more

“Archery gives kids some needed skills | PHIL POTTER COLUMN” plus 3 more

Archery gives kids some needed skills | PHIL POTTER COLUMN

Posted: 17 Apr 2010 10:43 PM PDT

EVANSVILLE — Want to wean your kids off television and video games? One way is to enroll them in schools that teach archery as an extra-curricular sport replete with state and national contests.

Progressive school systems such as those in Henderson, Ky., and Warrick and Spencer counties in Indiana now provide such venues like the National Archery in the Schools Program.

These aren't ill-equipped, flimsy bow and crooked arrow shoots that used to occasionally pop up in gym class. Kids enrolled in NASP use state-of-the-art equipment, get expert coaching and can earn college scholarship money by punching paper bull's-eyes.

Henderson's newly built archery facility is now overwhelmed by kids entering the program. Boonville and South Spencer high schools are being pressed to keep up with demand. That's why Jason Greer and Talbert Boop have created Archery Camps USA summer camp for "wannabe" bowmen.

They have teamed with Camp Brosend in Newburgh to create an archery camp that not only teaches bow shooting but builds each kid's character as well. "Our main goals are to instill self confidence, self control and team work along with expertise in the sport of archery," said Greer.

Another aim is to help establish a National Archery Shooting Program at schools where teachers will instruct and NASP personnel will assist with the training and expertise. Starting such a program in any school requires a setup cost of $2,700 to purchase equipment and shooting safety nets.

"Most schools get sponsors to cover this initial cost," says Greer. "There are various ways to find such sponsors but once word gets out that a school is setting up an archery program oftentimes archery groups like the Blackhawk Bowmen help with seed money. Kids and teachers also round up sponsorships so this program doesn't siphon school funds or tax dollars. It is virtually self supporting."

Greer stresses what his ACUSA summer camp will do for interested enrollees.

"Basically the format covered during the five-day camp is all kids get NASP bow training, traditional archery training, field archery training, advanced archery techniques, 3-D target shooting, outdoor survival training, topographical map reading instruction, range finding techniques, GPS navigational training and geocaching practice, trailing and tracking wildlife, bow fishing clinics and a scholarship shoot where the top boy and girl archers each get $500 scholarships."

The camp runs from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and includes three meals. On the last evening parents join kids and ACUSA staff for an awards program and dinner.

The ACUSA camp is situated on 85 acres near Newburgh. Cost for the five-day camp (June 7-11) is $300 if paid by May 5 and $350 per person after that date.

You do not have to be an Indiana resident to enroll. For more information or to request registration camping packets, contact Greer at (812) 897-4322 or archerycampsusa@gmail.com.

If your school system doesn't have organized archery programs, tell your local superintendent that this is an extra-curricular event that is good for kids.

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Santa Maria YMCA event promotes healthy kids

Posted: 17 Apr 2010 11:29 PM PDT

Santa Maria Valley youngsters played carnival games, scampered up a climbing wall and underwent health screenings Saturday as part of YMCA Family Fun & Healthy Kids Day.

The free event, which is in its fourth year, was held at the Santa Maria Valley YMCA's facility on Skyway Drive. In addition to the YMCA, Healthy Kids Day was put on by Marian Medical Center and Egbert Family Chiropractic, along with other sponsors.

"It's kind of a community collaboration," said Brettly Biedinger, events coordinator for the Santa Maria Valley YMCA. "It grows every year."

Members of the public were provided a rare opportunity to undergo free testing for vision, hearing, glucose, diabetes and dental problems.

Healthy Kids Day also featured family Olympics, prizes and information booths. Youth also rode on a bicycle safety course and received lessons in bicycle safety.

Members of public safety agencies were on hand and barbecue lunches were available for purchase.

The occasion targeted students from the Santa Maria and Orcutt school districts.

"It's really done in a carnival-like atmosphere," Biedinger said. "It's not scary at all."

The YMCA's next major event is the Tri-For-Fun Triathlon on Saturday, April 24. For more information or to sign up, go to www.smvymca.org.

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Police play games with kids

Posted: 18 Apr 2010 05:14 AM PDT

published: Sunday, April 18, 2010

Police play games with kids

THERESA CAMPBELL

Staff Writer

LEESBURG -- Leesburg Elementary School first-grader Jullian Sullivan beamed as a Leesburg police officer placed a medal around his neck for winning first-place for his softball throw.

"I'm excited and I like being first place," Sullivan said after receiving a big hug from his grandmother, Peggie Jackson. "I pretty much didn't think I would win, but it just happened."

Sullivan was among 160 elementary children in first- to fifth-grade from Beverly Shores, Leesburg and Fruitland Park schools participating in the annual Junior Athletic Games on Saturday hosted by Leesburg Police Department. The games took place on the football field of Leesburg High School.

Ten police officers volunteered their time as they led the youths through a series of competitions, including a football and softball throw, 50-yard dash, 100-yard dash, long jump, soccer ball kick, and a 400-yard relay.

Isabelle Ward, a second-grader at Fruitland Park Elementary, was all smiles after winning her medal, which she earned for her second-place win in the long jump.

"I'm going to go do the 50-yard dash, too!" she said to her mother before she dashed off.

"I am proud and excited to watch her," Dawn Ward said of her child. "We've got our friends and family here supporting her and Fruitland Park Elementary, and this is a lot of fun and it's fun for the kids. It's really nice that the police do something like this for the kids."

The kids is what it's all about, said Mike Howard, who works in the community service division for LPD.

"This is the best thing in the world to do, to be able to give back to the community and all of these kids," he said. "Many of their parents, we've watched them grow up, and now I get to interact with their children."

Howard believes the games allow police officers to bond with the youths.

"And what better time to give the children an opportunity to see police officers doing something fun," Howard said. "Many times they see us at the wrong time."

Lisa Carter, administrative assistant at LPD, said she enjoys being involved in the behind-the-scenes work of coordinating JAG each year.

"Just watching the kids compete and have so much fun, it's just wonderful to see the smiles on their faces," Carter said. "Everybody comes out a winner, no matter what they do."

All of the children received certificates for participating.

Fruitland Park Elementary School was declared the winning school at the event for having the most medalists, 48 in all, earning the school the traveling trophy.

Leesburg Elementary placed second with 30 medals, yet they had 14 first-place medalists, the most of all schools, and Beverly Shores placed third at the games with 17 medals.

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Children's kicks off campaign at A-Day games

Posted: 17 Apr 2010 06:39 PM PDT

BIRMINGHAM — A high-tech, soft-touch campaign to raise funds for the state's ill and injured kids treated at Children's Hospital kicks off this weekend at the A-Day spring football games at the University of Alabama and Auburn University.

A new text-giving program will allow football fans and supporters everywhere to text "CHILDREN" to 50555 to make a quick-and-easy $10 donation to the state's only freestanding pediatric hospital.

A multi-media awareness campaign on both campuses will include game announcements, signage, spots on the TV broadcast of the games and messages on the video boards in both stadiums.

Chris Stewart, of the Crimson Tide Sports Network, and Gene Chizik, head football coach of the Auburn Tigers, have taped special messages for fans of their respective schools.

Children's text-giving program is a one-time $10 donation. The donation will appear on the owner's next mobile bill as a separate line item, recognized as a tax-deductible donation.

No extra or hidden fees but message and data rates may apply.

The Children's Hospital of Alabama is the 10th busiest pediatric medical center in the United States. Located in Birmingham, Children's is one of only about 45 freestanding acute care hospitals of its kind in the nation and the only hospital in Alabama dedicated solely to the care and treatment of children. It is licensed for 275 beds. Children's is a private, not-for-profit hospital governed by a volunteer board of trustees. The hospital was recently recognized for the excellence of its nursing care by achieving Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Children's will celebrate its centennial anniversary in 2011.

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