Archery Classes & Camps
California Archery Center
Live the Adventure & Discover the Awesome Sport of Archery!
Discover, Explore & Joad Archery Programs:
DISCOVER ARCHERY: Beginner Classes and Camps
Our DISCOVER ARCHERY Program is for archers with little or no experience. This discovery program gets you started on your archery adventure and is the way to try out it out to see if archery appeals to you. All Discover Archery classes and camps are taught by certified coaches with a low coach to student ratio of 8:1 with assistants being added if we have more, or a wide range of ages are enrolled in the session. We cap our indoor classes and camps at 20 archers. All equipment supplied.
These discovery programs are offered several ways.
- Monthly Classes: The primary way people get started in archery. Three 1-hour sessions offered every month of the year.
- Half Day Camps: These are week-long half-day camps with some in the morning and some in the afternoons. They are offered every week of the summer. Camps may also be offered over the holiday week breaks and are usually 4 weekdays.
- Full Day Camps: These are combo multi-sport camps with half the day being archery and the other half day being fencing. We also offer a variety of other half day camps that can also be linked with other sports to make all day camps such as horsemanship, fishing, nature exploration and more. The primary Archery-Fencing camps are offered most summer weeks.
- Mini-Camps: We offer these most months and are a one-day approach that’s great for those who can’t schedule the 3-class option, or who just want to Discover archery in one day. We often offer the option to do an all-day session with fencing being the other half of the day. These programs are 3 hours long to mirror exactly what is learned in the 3 session classes.
- Special Groups: This is a great way to discover archery as well with a group of friends, family members, as a special event like a B-Day party, corporate team, scouts, or any other special group.
After your DISCOVER ARCHERY graduation you can continue your adventure in the EXPLORE ARCHERY & JOAD classes as a member of the California Archery Center in our ongoing developmental program
EXPLORE ARCHERY & JOAD: Novice Classes and Camps
Explore Archery & JOAD: This is a transition step that other clubs do not offer. It is not a permanent program. It typically lasts about 3-4 months. Classes are 1.0 hours and can be taken 1-2 times weekly. For teens or somewhat gifted and focused youth who are doing 2 days weekly it can often last 2 months. The purpose is to teach these 6 topics of knowledge which must be demonstrated. Behavior (self-discipline), Safety, Equipment, Form, Shot Execution (technique), and Scoring. In addition, this group earns their first three Joad pins based on Scoring (green, purple grey), the final goal is also to get them to the point of being confident and able to shoot at an 18-meter distance at a 60 CM target scoring all arrows which will take a week or two. Then they are moved to the Joad program where they can start working to earn their next pins at 18 meters. This is a steppingstone class with new students entering and it is not an 18-meter class but a 9-meter class. Link to US Explore archery
Upon completion of this transitionary program you join the JOAD Program.
JOAD ARCHERY Intermediate-Advanced Classes and Camps
Junior Olympic Archery Development Program or JOAD: You join this program after you have completed the Explore Archery session. This program is a recreational, developmental and is an introduction to local competition for those interested. The JOAD program’s classes are 1.5 hours and can be taken 1-3 times weekly which run month-to-month throughout the year. JOAD is the US Archery organizations formal program that instills the developmental aspects needed to develop competitive archers through the 11 step National Training System-NTS. You earn pins for level advancement based on scoring at 9 and 18 meters an 40 or 60 cm targets. Pin shoots which we hold in classes the last week of each month mimic “personal” competition with goals to be met and worked toward. This is the program were the details are mastered at the archers personal pace in a fun and rewarding environment – the archers love it.
The next level is the High Performance Team for those dedicated to competition. – more on this later.