Archery requirements

[dparker]

As of this year, the requirements changed for the Archery MB. While I generally don't have a problem with pushing Scouts to excel, I noticed that many boys were just not able to get the scores they needed to pass.

It is probably a combination of factors, including poor equipment and large classes, in addition to Scouts not mastering the skill enough, but I watched 2 classes and approximately 65% - 75% of the boys wer NOT passing the target requirements. The instructor was being pretty generous too on awarding points.

He really did seem to be trying to teach the boys, but to no avail. We had a troop shoot one night and some leaders and some boys (who had previously earned the MB) were shooting scores that would not have qualified. Did anyone else experience this? How do you feel about the requirements?

[scoutmasterbob]

I have a pile of partial MB cards for archery from the last few summer camps we attended. They completed everything but the shooting.

But I really dont have a problem with the way the scoring on the MB is set up. I feel that the scouts need to be able to shoot accurately and consistantly, I think that is the purpose of a merit badge.

The only thing I wish for is that there were more ranges that we could take the boys to and practice, they are far and few between. If you dont have your own equipment, that makes a bit harder to pass as well.

[Billvann]

We had fewer boys take archery this year because of the change. Since it the change makes it almost impossible to earn unless you have prior archery experience, most of our boys decided to invest their time at camp working on badges they were more likely to complete. It's a shame becaseu I know many scouts in the past were intruduced to the sport via scouting. That number is likely to fall now as the tougher requirements are discouraging.

[deweylure]

Learning to shoot takes time,it is probably harder for a scout from the city to practice. This is the key to this badge. ranges are hard to come by in this day and age.
As a MB counselor I compiled a list of places to shoot,the internet is a valuable asset.

[Rick Tyler]

As of this year, the requirements changed for the Archery MB. While I generally don't have a problem with pushing Scouts to excel, I noticed that many boys were just not able to get the scores they needed to pass.

It is probably a combination of factors, including poor equipment and large classes, in addition to Scouts not mastering the skill enough, but I watched 2 classes and approximately 65% - 75% of the boys wer NOT passing the target requirements.

I used to be The Merit Badge Guy for a large (80+ scouts) troop. Each year I compiled information on past summer camp merit badge experiences to give the guys some ideas on skill/age-level appropriate choices. Our troop earned 175-225 merit badges per year at summer camp (3.5 per scout), so we had lots of data.

Far and away, Archery has always produced the most partials at summer camp. In a really good year, 20% of the guys attempting the badge would finish it in their first try. Sometimes that figure was 10%. A lot of our scouts finished on their second try, when all they had to do was shoot and not spend time making arrows and bows, etc.

YMMV, but it sure sounds like your experience is typical.

[diamondbackAPL]

in '04, I think that everybody from our troop qualified (it took one guy to the very last day, but he got it). this year, however, we had four guys try it, and 2 qualified (one was me). one of them that didn't qualify was a new scout with hardly any upper body strenghth who had trouble shooting a twenty pound bow. and by the way Skymont only has recurve bows, so getting some compound bows couldn't hurt.

[ICanCanoeCanU]

Well it wouldn't hurt anyone to learn that somethings need more time and to go back and retake the badge or finish it next year during free time.

I think this is another badge that shouldn't be looked at (GENERALLY) for young scouts. They just don't (USUALLY) have enough of what it takes to complete this badge.

[deweylure]

My troop just returned from Camp. 3 boys earned rifle merit badge 1 archery. They were all first year scouts. Other people tried discouraging trying for the badge ,I just told them good luck and went to the range with them to provide some coaching. I was very impressed with the new equipment. The counselors were great. One item I considered was if the boy shot before,generally if a boy has shot before he will succeed.
Dewey

[ICanCanoeCanU]

That's great news for your troop Dewey.

We had fewer boys take archery this year because of the change. Since it the change makes it almost impossible to earn unless you have prior archery experience, most of our boys decided to invest their time at camp working on badges they were more likely to complete. It's a shame becaseu I know many scouts in the past were intruduced to the sport via scouting. That number is likely to fall now as the tougher requirements are discouraging.

I think this will correct itself in a couple of years as we get further from the change. Lots of scouts will still want to take this badge and some will have to go back for a second time to complete it.

[deweylure]

I am curious. What type of bows did the camp have recurve or compound bows? Equipment that is not the correct draw weight for the boy size could lead to alot of failures.



Dewey

[ThunderingWind]

My son took the Archery MB at summer camp two weeks ago. He is a first time camper, jsut crossed over in February.

He struggled because of equipment. However there were only 8 boys in his time slot so they all had time to trade bows to find the one that worked best.

Once he got matched up (early in the class Thursday), he dialed in the alignment and qualfied. Friday was a free shot for him.

Rifle on the other hand was an issue due the range staff. Personally, I think Rifle ought to be two hours and pay $5.00 per weekly session to pay for more ammo ($10.00 for 500 rounds retail). But I drift off subject......

[deweylure]

Edbloom mentioned in his post about archery and then commented about the rifle staff. I am curious.What was the problem with the rifle staff?

[deweylure]

Speaking of requirement changes,make sure the merit badge book you buy is current. I picked one up 4 months ago and it turns out it has the old requirwements. Archery is the topic.

[ThunderingWind]

Feel free to contact off line and I will explain.

We were not the only troop and only week that made mention of the range staff.

[deweylure]

Edbloom ,I cant contact you no e-mail address. Profile said its dis -
abled



Dewey

[tdfoxsr736]

One reason that the scores are getting so low is the equipment. Many camps use recurve bows which are great, but many also buy arrows fletched with plastic vanes which are the ones that are most commonly available. You cannot hope to achieve any degree of accuracy shooting like this. Recurve bows are meant to be shot "off the shelf" as opposed to with an arrow rest that lays down as the arrow passed over it. Plastic vanes do not lay flat against the shaft when pushed down, they deflect the shaft away from the riser. For this you must use natural feather fletching

I also noticed that not many instructors talk about eye dominance. If you're right handed and right eye dominant it's no problem. Your line of sight will be down the length of the arrow shaft to your target, If you're right handed and left eye dominant, this presents a problem. Your arrows will fly to the left, and if you cant your bow at an angle, and arch yourself over the bow (as most traditional bow hunters do) your arrows will also hit the target higher. To correct this you can either close your left eye and "aim" using the gap between the arrow head and the bullseye, or learn to shoot left handed. The latter, IMO is the best way. closing the left eye will line you up with the bullseye, but you need both eyes for depth perception.

Shooting an arrow is like throwing a baseball. The more you do it, the better you can place where it's flight will end, then it becomes "instinctive" that is without thought.