Ground Zero: Target Archery

Project Based Learning Electives provided by the Berrien Springs Virtual Academy

Ground Zero: Target Archery Fall 2025

These classes can be found under Humanities and Physical Education categories during registration.

Contact/Instructor: Coach Dawson
Email: groundzeroarchery@gmail.com
Work/Cell: 269-240-4764
Website: Ground Zero Archery
Ground Zero Archery Facebook
Location: Ground Zero Training Center, 4032 M-139, St Joseph, MI 49085
Format: In person
Classes begin the week of August 31, 2025
Additional registration with Coach Dawson IS required.

During partnership registration, choose Target Archery and contact Coach Dawson to choose your day and time. See Target Archery days and times under each category below.

Ground Zero Archery will provide all archery equipment required. Those students who wish to use their own bow will need prior approval from Coach Dawson. One-time $10.00 bow handling component fee per student if you wish your student to handle a bow and arrow during class time.

All archery courses offered by the partnership does not include actual bow handling or the purchase of archery equipment by/for the students. The $10 bow handling component is required for liability and archery equipment may be purchased separately by contacting Ground Zero Archery/Coach Dawson directly.

Target Archery 101

Ages: 6+
Tuesdays – September 2, 9, 16, 30 October 7, 14, 21, 28 November 4, 11, 18 December 2, 9,
Time Options: 4:30 – 6pm class or 6:30 – 8pm class

Wednesdays – September 3, 10, 17, October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 November 5, 12, 19 December 3, 10
Time Options: 10:30am - 12pm, 12:30 - 2pm, or 2:30 - 4pm

Thursdays – September 4, 11, 18, October 2, 9, 16, 30 November 6, 13, 20 December 4, 11
Time Options: 2:30 - 4pm or 4:30 – 6pm, 6:30 - 8pm

Fridays – September 5, 12, 19 October 3, 10, 17, 31, November 7, 14, 21 December 5, 12
Time Options: 11:30am - 1pm or 1:30 - 3pm

Saturdays – September 6, 13, 20 October 4, 11, 18 November 1, 8, 15, 22 December 6, 13
Time Options:: 10:30am – 12pm or 12:30 - 2pm

One-time $10.00 bow handling component fee per student if you wish your student to handle a bow and arrow during class time.
(All archery courses offered by the partnership do not include actual bow handling or purchasing of archery equipment for the students.
A one-time, per semester ($10.00) bow handling component may be purchased separately by contacting Ground Zero Archery directly).

Description:

This course is open to all skill levels for target archery instruction. Archers and will learn about range safety, an archer’s stance, shooting techniques, along with the general care of archery equipment.
Each student will be instructed in:

Stretches for warming up specifically for archery.
Determining eye dominance.
Archery safety and range rules.
Equipment used in archery.
Terminology used in archery.
How to and the importance of an archer’s stance, grip, draw and release.
How to nock, draw, aim and shoot an arrow.
Will be instructed on scoring and retrieving arrows.
The history of archery.
Be exposed to basic rules of competition and the etiquette of archery.
How to string and un-string a bow.
Ways to continue Archery for its recreational, health, fitness and social benefits.

Recurve target bows and other archery equipment will be used for instruction.

Target Archery 101 Syllabus

3D Target Archery

Ages: 10+

Fridays – September 5, 12, 19 October 3, 10, 17, 31, November 7, 14, 21 December 5, 12
Time Option: 4 - 5:30pm

First-time 3D students need Coach Dawson's approval. Successful completion -1 year(2 semesters) of Archery 101.

Equipment: OWN equipment, purchase equipment or use GZA bows and purchase APPROVED arrows!

We will be learning about the following as they relate to 3 dimensional animal targets. Archers and will learn about range safety, an archer’s stance, shooting techniques, along with the general care of archery equipment.

Each student will be instructed in:

Stretches for warming up specifically for 3D archery.
Determining eye dominance.
Archery safety and range rules.
Equipment used in archery.
Terminology used in 3D archery.
How to and the importance of an archer’s stance, grip, draw and release.
How to nock, draw, aim and shoot an arrow.
Will be instructed on scoring and retrieving arrows.
Be exposed to basic rules of 3D archery competitions.
Ways to continue Archery for its recreational, health, fitness and social benefits.

3D Target Archery Syllabus

Advanced Target Archery 301/201

Class Pre-requisite: Archery 101 (for Archery 201) and Archery 101 and 201 (for Archery 301)
Age: 10+

Fridays – September 5, 12, 19 October 3, 10, 17, 31, November 7, 14, 21 December 5, 12
Time Option: 4 - 5:30pm

Description: Archers and will learn about advanced information about past and present day archery equipment, range safety, an archer’s stance, shooting techniques, along with the general care of archery equipment.

Each student will be instructed in:

Advanced stretches and exercises for archery performance.
Advanced terminology used in archery.
Advanced archer’s stance, grip, draw and release training.
Students will practice scoring arrows.
The history of archery and different styles and disciplines of archery.
Practice rules of competition and archery etiquette.
Students will string and unstring a bow. Recurve target bows and other archery equipment will be used for instruction.

Advanced Target Archery Syllabus

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*Please note: it is important to make as informed a decision as possible when choosing your student's Community Resource classes. Most locations will allow a student to drop a class after one meeting, at no charge if it wasn't a good fit for the student, but not all. Some classes plan ahead based on the number that have signed up and have purchased materials, hired teachers, etc. and there might be a fee for class time or materials given to the student if the student drops after one or two meetings. The school cannot pay for classes that students do not complete, so choose wisely; if you do not take the class off of your student's schedule by the deadline, you may be asked to pay for the class time incurred prior to dropping the class.

Teacher of Record: Sara Smothers