Salem EC Church, Lenhartsville, is excited to announce the start of Centershot beginning this spring. The program is part of a larger ministry using NASP (National Archery in the Schools Program) principles to teach students, from 10 years old to senior adults, the skills of archery. Classes, held in eight-week sessions, will begin Tuesday, March 10.
Frank LaPearl, a member of Salem, is organizing the sessions along with his wife, Lori. The LaPearls were involved in starting a similar program in their Reading-area church in 2010.
“God laid it on my heart that that’s what He wanted to do,” Frank explained, noting that a Centershot instructor flew to Pennsylvania to lead an intensive, eight hour certification course. Both LaPearls passed the test which followed and, by fall, were certified instructors teaching 20 students about archery.
“Some people aren’t sports oriented,” LaPearl said. “They can’t run fast. They can’t throw a ball, or whatever. But they can pull a bow back, they can see the arrow fly and they can see it hitting the target. They see it hit and they say, ‘Wow, I did it!'”
As they improve, he added, students are driven to hit center of the target.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re in a wheel chair or if you have arthritis,” LaPearl said. “If you can move your arms, you can do it.” He has worked with an arthritic student, working with her to find a way her fingers could manipulate the arrow.
LaPearl said the program is also great for youngsters who, in general, have problems sitting still and listening. “We never had that [be a] problem. They see what they need to do and they just fall in love with it,” he said.
As students pick up their bows and take aim, instructors will stand behind them and talk them through the process. Eventually, the program will introduce scoring cards to track progress. And students do make progress. Lori LaPearl noted, “It’s funny how excited they get when they actually hit the center.”
Participants will be asked to complete a registration packet. There is a cost to enroll which will cover materials, including a skills and principles handbook, as well as a Centershot t-shirt.
Parents are welcome to stay and observe the evening program. In fact, they are also encouraged to join as adult students. “We recommend that parents participate and start to shoot along with their kids,” LaPearl said. “I have seen parents start to participate and enjoy the sport.”
Dave Long, pastor of Salem EC, is excited about offering this archery program to the community. “I think it’s a great opportunity to introduce people not just to archery,” he said, “but to what our God is all about.”
It’s important to note, LaPearl and Long added, that Centershot is not tied to any denomination. Participants do not need to attend Salem, or any church for that matter, to attend. Also of note is the emphasis on the sport of archery, not on the sport of hunting.
Anyone interested in the Centershot Program is invited to an open house event planned for Sunday, March 1, at 11:45 a.m. in Salem’s gymnasium, 2150 Old Route 22, Lenhartsville. “We’re going to have everything set up,” LaPearl said, “and we’ll do some demonstrating shooting so that people can see what’s going on.”
The first, eight-week session of Centershot will begin the evening of Tuesday, March 10. Early registration is encouraged as space is limited to 12 students per session. If enough people sign up, two sessions will be held each Tuesday night for a maximum of 24 students.
For details on Centershot at Salem EC Church, readers may contact the church office (610-562-5033). Additional information on the Centershot archery program can be found online (centershot.org).
