Archery at Calvert Devon
What is archery?
Archery is a sport involving the use of a bow to shoot arrows at a target. It requires concentration, precision, a degree of physical skill and techniques.
Archers aim to hit specific targets, with scores depending on accuracy and consistency.
At Calvert Devon, we have an outdoor archery range, bows and arrows, and adapted equipment to tailor the activity to every need.
So everyone can participate, whether you’re brand new to the sport or refining your skills. The instructors will teach you the basics and give you plenty of opportunities to hit the target. Once everyone is happy, they’ll bring in some additional fun to encourage teamwork and really up the stakes! Our archery sessions are relaxed, with a social aspect that encourages engagement through games that use imagination and communication.
With each draw of the bowstring, you’re not just aiming for the bullseye but also sharpening your focus, refining your technique and unleashing your competitive spirit.
Your archery session
Click on each step for more information on what you can expect from an archery session at Calvert Devon…
1: Get ready
- You will meet your instructor at your allocated meeting point (which will be given to you on arrival at the centre in advance of your activity sessions)
- Your instructor will take you to our onsite archery range with the rest of your group
- Your instructor will talk you through the significance of our yellow and white safety lines and introduce you to the games you can play under the roof of the archery shed while you’re waiting for your turn
2: Learn how
- Your instructor will give you a safety briefing, showing you and your group the bows, arrows and targets and talk you through how to keep yourself and others safe
- They’ll also kit you up with arm protectors to help protect arms from the strings
- The instructor will then show you how to load and use your bow – there are different types of bows, so they will make sure you are matched with the right one
- At this point, the instructor will check, one at a time, that you and your group can shoot your arrows safely before introducing competitive and social games
3: Have a go
- Once your instructor has seen you can safely shoot arrows independently, you’ll take turns to hit the target, two people at a time
- Your instructor will check how you’re feeling throughout, using various forms of communication, depending on your needs – don’t be afraid to let them know if you’re feeling uncomfortable or nervous or if you have any questions
- When your instructor knows you’re all feeling confident and capable, they will introduce some fun and imaginative games that could involve healthy competition or teamwork
4: Pack away
- At the end of your archery activity, your instructor will ask you to return the equipment to its appropriate place and head back to the centre
Archery equipment
Get an idea of what our kit looks like, and see some of our specialised gear that helps make our sessions more accessible.
Click on each item for a description…
Trigger bow
- This bow is designed to be used by those who may have less mobility
- The shooting of the arrow can be ‘triggered’ by pulling the handle on a rope that lies at the end of the bow, closest to the user
- The instructor or the person accompanying the user can load the bow by pulling the string back before this trigger is used
- This bow is very popular with wheelchair users, as it can be positioned at the height of the user
Full-size bows
- These ‘recurve’ bows are full-sized, with wooden crafted handles and flexible limbs
- Each bow is crafted for a particular hand orientation, so whether you’re left or right-handed, you can benefit from this equipment
- Those who may have less mobility or strength can benefit from the smaller bows should these larger ones not be suitable
Smaller bows
- The red and blue bows in the picture are smaller-sized bows that are often used by children due to their extra flexibility and reduced size
- The colour difference denotes whether they are left or right-handed
Arrows and armguards
- We have a variety of arrows, primarily two different types to suit the games we choose to play: one being pointy-tipped and one being rubber-tipped!
- You’ll often be encouraged to use an armguard by our instructors, as it protects your clothing from getting in the way but also protects your arm against the snapback of the string after releasing
Yes! We leave no one out and no matter what, we do everything we can to make sure you can enjoy the experience of archery in a way that suits you and keeps you safe.
The Calvert Devon instructors use the term ‘challenge by choice’, which ensures that while you’re taking part and given challenges along the way, you ultimately always have the agency and control over your own limitations.
Our staff are there to keep you safe but also build your confidence, even if this means accomplishing a simpler version of the activity.
Our archery activity takes place at our onsite archery range.
This is only a 2-minute walk away from your accommodation.
Many of our instructors have qualifications from Archery GB and have vast experience and internal training in making the sport accessible and suitably challenging.
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