Behind the Scenes at the Archery Range at Oak Ridge Park

There's only one place in Clark where a 10-year-old boy with a bow and arrow in hand isn't worrisome. At Oak Ridge in Clark, where the county archery range is in full swing, that scene is the norm.

Shannon Coutler watched anxiously as son, Owen, 10, got ready to shoot his first arrow this Sunday. Coutler said Owen's curiosity with archery started when he made a bow and arrow out of Legos.

The Coutlers were part of an eager group of 20 people who attended their first Archery Safety Lesson at the Clark park.

"I love to see the face of a beginner hit the target and just light up," Ellen Di Iorio, a certified 4-H National Archery instructor, told Patch when we visited this week. "They realize they can do it."

The archery safety lessons at Oak Ridge Park started four years ago. The many archers who had been looking for a place to practice for close to 10 years and numerous volunteers helped in the making of the range.

Equipment for these safety lessons is provided by Union County. The 650 members of the archery range passed these safety courses to gain their Union County Archery Range ID card.

Sunday's class was instructed by Ellen and Dominic Di Iorio, with the assistance of Susan George. Over the course of the two-hour class, Ellen explained certain crucial parts of the bow and arrow, how to hold and load the bow, and important safety rules.

Karina Grau, 22, was attending her first class as well. She came to the course because she wanted to try out a new hobby.

"I like that it is outdoors," Grau told Patch. "I tried to play piano, but I could not just sit still. The instructors are good. I did not think I would be able to do it, but it's not that hard."

Further down the rows of archers, Rob was preparing for a day of archery with his 11-year-old son, Lucas, and his nephew, Alex, 12. They started coming to the range for training about a month ago. Rob said he loves how close the range is to the area, how open it is and how much Lucas and Alex have improved from their first class. Rob also likes that being at the range brings them all together celebrating the outdoors. 

The three safety rules that are enforced at the archery range are to know your target and beyond, point the arrow in a safe direction, which is down range or at the ground, and relaxing the string. The instructors lead the class with safety as their prime goal. All of the participants knew when an instructor or another archer said "the line is hot" not to go forward into the firing range.

Despite their gender and age differences, the archers had a common interest in pursuing the sport. 

"Archery is so intergenerational. It is one sport that anyone can do," said Ellen Di Iorio. "People that cannot walk can do it. A grandmother can do it with her granddaughter. Someone once said to me it brings out the deep, inner, natural desire to fly."

The up-to-date range is a cooperative effort between the archers and the county. Any amenities the archers decide they need, the county tries to get for them. Some improvements that have been made thus far are an overhang on the shooting range and a rehabilitated storage unit.

Class space is limited and it is key to make an appointment before arrival. The age range for this class is nine and up. 

Dates and Details

Dates: 

Sundays 2:00 P.M. -- 4:00 P.M.

• September 30th, and October 14th 

Sundays 10:00 A.M. -- 12:00 P.M.

• July 15th, August 5th, August 26th, and September 9th

Wednesdays 6:00 P.M. -- 8:00 P.M. 

• August 15th, September 5th

 $20 per person due at registration 

Pre-registration is required

Private family and Small Group lessons

• For 8 or fewer people
• Rate of $25 
• Please call 908-654-9854 to schedule these lessons 

ID Card Fees:

• Union county adult residents-$20 
  • Out-of-county adult residents-$30
• Union county youth (17 & under) residents-$10
• Union county seniors (55 & over) residents-$10
  • Out-of-county youth and senior residents-$15

Please call 908-527-4900

or

Visit the website www.ucnj.org/archery