Our Story

City Archers exists to give young people space to slow down, focus, and grow through disciplined archery instruction. The program is built around safety, patience, and personal responsibility, offering an alternative to environments that reward speed, aggression, or constant performance.

Where City Archers Operates

Currently, City Archers operates an after-school archery club at Withrow University High School one day a week. When weather permits, the program also provides in-school archery instruction at Community Montessori during school hours. In addition, City Archers partners with the City of Evendale to offer a summer archery program each June at Evendale Park.

These settings allow the program to meet students where they already are, in schools and community spaces they know and trust.

A Focus on Safety, Confidence, and Fun

At the center of City Archers is a simple but consistent emphasis on safety, focus, and fun. Many young people arrive hesitant or afraid. Some worry about getting hurt. Others are afraid of making mistakes or trying something unfamiliar.

For many students, their understanding of archery comes only from cartoons or movies, which often portray it inaccurately and unrealistically.

Teaching What Archery Really Is

City Archers intentionally disrupts those assumptions. Students are taught that real archery is controlled, disciplined, and calm. They learn that mistakes are expected, practice is necessary, and improvement comes through repetition rather than pressure.

This approach lowers fear, builds confidence, and helps students stay engaged even when progress feels slow.

Why Archery Is Different

Unlike many traditional youth sports, archery is non-combative. It does not require hitting another person or being hit. Progress depends on patience, consistency, and self-control rather than size, speed, or dominance.

This creates an environment where students can focus on their own growth without comparison or aggression.

Growth That Extends Beyond the Range

Through this structure, City Archers supports meaningful social and character development. Students practice sportsmanship and respect, develop responsibility and safety awareness, and participate in a sport where boys and girls compete equally.

The program also reinforces educational and life skills, including applied S.T.E.M. concepts such as physics, geometry, and biomechanics. The focus and attention required on the range often carry into academic settings, supporting perseverance and healthy routines.

Designed for Access and Inclusion

City Archers is designed to be accessible and inclusive. Instruction can support youth with physical limitations, ADHD, or sensory challenges, and can be adapted for adaptive and para-archery.

Because archery is non-contact and has a low injury rate when taught correctly, it provides a safe and supportive environment for a wide range of students.

Looking Ahead

Our long-term vision is to see archery recognized as a high school sport across the Greater Cincinnati region and to create expanded college access through competitive archery.