Archery Shoots Up in Popularity Among Americans

March 25, 2013

A young archer in training

Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC.

I’m June Simms.

On the show today, we speak with guitarist Juan DeVevo from the group Casting Crowns, and hear music from their first acoustic album.

We also tell about YouTube’s latest efforts to grow with the times.

But first we hear about a centuries old sport that is once again gaining popularity.

The bow and arrow was the weapon of choice for hunters and fighters around the world for tens of thousands of years. Guns began to replace bows and arrows about four hundred years ago. However, archery never disappeared and recently the sport has become popular again. And, as Karen Leggett tells us serious archers say the new interest will continue to develop.

Twelve-year-old Bethanie Ford started Archery training seven weeks ago. She had read the wildly popular book “The Hunger Games.” The hero of the story is a teenage girl skilled with a bow and arrow.

“It’s not easy. It is hard. You have to keep trying and get it right, but it is fun.”

Bethanie’s mother, Amy Borst, believes archery is the right sport for her daughter.

“It’s a very independent sport. It’s not a team sport, so she can go on her own pace. She can concentrate and focus a little bit better because she has to learn to really focus instead of just shooting the arrow immediately. She has to really focus and take her time. I think that applies to school work as well.”