Focus, precision, learning, safety, skill and fun. Those attributes and talents are all part of the curriculum – and the benefits – in Gary Grose’s class. And his students love it!
Grose is a physical education teacher at Bellevue Elementary School in Bellevue, Idaho, a small community 65 miles north of Twin Falls and about 20 miles south of Sun Valley. He sought out and earned certification from the National Archery in the Schools Program in 2021. At the time, he had 34 students. Today, he has 80.
“There are a lot of people in this area who do archery. I gear the classes toward hunting, but also toward animal anatomy,” Gary Grose told the Idaho Mountain Express.
Among the targets is a full-sized, $1,800 elk donated by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, of which Grose is a member. The class also has 3-D targets of deer, turkey and other animals.
“I’m getting better at aiming right into the heart,” Victoria Poloma, told the Idaho Mountain Express.“It’s just for practice. I get to learn something here other than wrestling, ballet and tee-ball.”
“I have never shot a bow before I did archery. I never actually thought I would shoot a bow in my life, so I’m pretty fortunate to have that,” said Arienna Anderson, a fifth grader. “Most schools don’t get to do this and our school does. And I’m very grateful that we have all of our sponsors doing this.”
P-E class is not just about being on target. Grose wants his students to learn more, much more.
“It’s not just a matter of archery. We’re learning about math with scoring. We’re learning about slope science. I’m hoping to bring in more history. I’ve got different things I want to increase and give to students for more enrichment, so yeah, there’s quite a bit to the program,” said Grose. “For me, it seems like something that could last a lifetime.”
Click here to watch a video about the program.
(Photo credit: Blaine County School District #61)