During the spring of 2011, two Ecological Services (ES) biologists with the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program attended the Archery in the Schools Training workshop at NCTC. After receiving the hands-on archery training they were provided with archery equipment which they took back to their office in Tulsa and trained other folks in the Tulsa office. ES has since used that training and equipment to develop several activities to connect kids to nature.
On December 15, 2013, three ES staff from the Tulsa field office participated in the “Third Annual 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Family Day Event” in Norman Oklahoma. The ES program has been involved with this event since it first came together three years ago, when many of the family members of the 45th Infantry Combat Brigade were deployed to Afghanistan, in an effort to create a peaceful and enjoyable outdoors environment for the families of the 45th.
The ES staff had two activities at this event, one was the presentation of skins and skulls and the other was instruction, safety and target shooting with the archery equipment. Both booths were very popular and well attended. The archery range, set up by the ES staff, was one of the highlights. After providing hands on training and safety instruction to both kids and adults on how to use a bow and arrow, an estimated 300 kids and family members went through the archery target range. The archery event is becoming a highlight at this event for many of the kids and their parents. Tulsa ES staff plans to attend this annual event again next year.
