Williamsburg, KY – Scholastic 3-D Archery (S3DA) recently held a memorable and educational deer hunt for two youth archers at Victoria Crossroads (a private hunting lodge) in Western Kentucky. This unique event provided the young archers with the opportunity of a lifetime to hunt on 7,000 acres of privately owned land, guided by seasoned hunters. The hunt not only fostered a deeper understanding of conservation among the youth but also provided a platform for them to showcase their knowledge and passion for the outdoors.

In preparation for this event, S3DA members were invited to submit a conservation essay for a chance to win a spot in the National Archery Youth Hunt. Participants chose from a list of prompts which asked archers about their hunting knowledge and experience, and also to detail their knowledge of conservation. This was a very competitive experience and a great number of youth archers applied.

The two archers chosen were Isabella Nelson from West Michigan Archery Center S3DA in Michigan and Jeffrey Burton from Little Belt Archers in Montana.

Isabella Nelson shared her excitement, saying, “I wanted to apply for this hunt because I have been wanting to find a place to hunt this year but haven’t found one. I am very passionate about conservation, so this was a perfect opportunity! The S3DA staff was very welcoming, and the overall experience was amazing. I would definitely do this again. These were memories that will last a lifetime.”

Jeffrey said, “I chose to write an essay for this hunt because my dream is to hunt in every state in America. I was extremely excited when I found out that I had been selected. The hunt was much different than I am typically used to because we don’t have trees like Kentucky. Everyone was super nice and very helpful. Hopefully, I get the opportunity to come back so I can harvest a Kentucky deer.”

Patty Reel, S3DA National Conservation Coordinator, expressed her enthusiasm for the hunt, stating, “Spending the weekend at Victoria Crossroads is an experience in itself. It is such an amazing piece of property that is set up for conservation and healthy habitats for all the wildlife on the farm. We were excited for the kids to arrive to start their hunts. Looking at the map of the property and listening to Fred Pape tell which stands were the best to hunt from was a learning experience for them both. I had the opportunity to teach Jeffrey and Isabella about the American folklore about telling the weather with persimmon seeds. They were both amazed, having never heard of it before. This was an incredible opportunity for these young archers to learn about conservation and experience the thrill of hunting in a safe and educational environment. Though neither successfully harvested a deer during this hunt, they did have ample opportunity to see some magnificent whitetails, just none in bow range. S3DA is the perfect platform to support the next generation of conservationists and hunters.”

For more information about Scholastic 3-D Archery and upcoming events, please visit the Scholastic 3-D Archery Facebook page. Be sure to like and follow us for the most up-to-date news!

About Scholastic 3-D Archery

Scholastic 3-D Archery (S3DA) is a unique, family-oriented youth archery program which has grown exponentially across the United States as a next-step initiative to follow introductory archery programs. The mission of the Scholastic

3-D Archery program is to foster, educate and guide youth in the areas of 3D, indoor target, and outdoor target archery as well as safe, ethical bowhunting practices. The goal of the S3DA program is to provide archery and bowhunting opportunities to youth in after-school settings, as well as with archery-affiliated clubs and businesses in the community. S3DA youth participate in 3D and target archery using compound and traditional archery equipment. Youth members can participate at regional, state and national archery events and earn college scholarships from colleges and universities across the United States. S3DA addresses the need for a program to bridge beginning target archery experience and more advanced activities such as 3D shooting and bowhunting. The program currently operates across the United States with hundreds of certified coaches serving thousands of youth archers.

Contact the Scholastic 3-D Archery National Office at:

www.s3da.net or 410 Sycamore Street, Williamsburg, KY 40769, Ph: 606.524.3685

Media contact Kayla Bolton at kaylas3da@gmail.com, Ph: 423.494.2204