Hidden Gems Archery · Fall 2026 season
Shoot for the Stars
Free archery for your school this fall. Five one-hour coached sessions for 10 students at a time — up to 50 reached across the season — with real equipment on site, and a finish you choose: a scored shoot that enters our fall virtual tournament, or a rotation that introduces archery to a whole new group each week.
Normally$3,500Free for your school
- 5
- free archery sessions
- 1 hr
- each session, at the same time every week
- 10
- students at a time — up to 50 reached across the season
- 2
- targets set up at your school
- 2–3
- coaches at every session
- $0
- cost to your school, fully sponsored
Archery comes to your building
Thanks to donations from Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie and Council Member Kevin Riley, Hidden Gems Archery is bringing the Shoot for the Stars competition to schools at no cost.
Our coaches bring the bows, arrows, and targets. Your students learn the basics, practice every session, and then shoot for a score that enters them in our fall virtual tournament. Students hit goals along the way and earn Hidden Gems rewards for it.
The season
Four sessions to learn. One to score.
- Session 1
Stance
Safety rules, range commands, and a square stance at the line.
- Session 2
Nock and grip
Loading the arrow and a relaxed three finger hold on the string.
- Session 3
Anchor and aim
A steady anchor at the corner of the smile, and aiming at the gold.
- Session 4
Release
A clean release and follow through. Practice rounds to build confidence.
- Session 5 · Scoring day
Shoot for the Stars
Students shoot for score. Results go into the fall virtual tournament.
Every session runs one hour and is hands on. That path is the Competition season format — Try archery runs the same five hours with a new group of 10 students each week, so about 50 learn the sport.
Two ways to run it
Pick the format that fits your school
Competition season
The same students come back for all five coached sessions, and session five is a scored shoot that enters them in our fall virtual tournament.
- Up to 10 students, all five sessions.
- Students build from stance to release, then shoot for score.
- Hidden Gems rewards for goals along the way.
Try archery
The group rotates every week: 10 students at a session, so about 50 students learn archery across the season. No competition at the end.
- 10 students each week, a new group each time.
- Every session covers the basics and gets students shooting.
- The widest reach from one time slot.
Both formats are five one-hour sessions at the same time every week, with 2 targets and 2–3 coaches on site and the equipment kept at your school. You'll choose one on the form.
What we need from you
A committed time and a safe space
Pick a time that works
- Each session runs one hour, at the same time every week.
- Choose one consistent time slot for all five sessions.
- Choose a format: a competition season with the same students, or a try-archery rotation that reaches about 50.
- The grant covers 10 students at a time. Want to include more? Say so on the form and we'll work out what that looks like.
- Commit to the full season so students reach the last session.
- All five sessions finish before December.
- Fall is limited to 10 schools. Others join the waiting list for the next funded season.
- Coaches arrive one hour before to set up and need one hour after to break down, so the space is ours from one hour before to one hour after each session.
Space and storage
- At least 15 ft from the shooting line to the targets.
- Enough width for 2 target butts side by side.
- An indoor gym, cafeteria, or long room with a wall behind the targets.
- The equipment stays at your school for the season, so you need a secure spot to store it.
Interest form
Bring Shoot for the Stars to your school
Tell us about your space and schedule. Our team will follow up to confirm your dates and walk through setup.
Fall spots are limited to 10 schools and are filled in the order sign ups come in. If the fall season is full, or your school can't finish before December, sign up anyway. We'll add you to the waiting list for the next funded season.
Each session is one hour and the grant covers 10 students at a time — up to 50 across the season if you choose the try-archery rotation. Tell us which format you'd like, and put a bigger number on the form if you want to include more.
Tell us the time you'd like the session. We arrive one hour before to set up and need one hour after to break down, so plan on the space being ours for three hours.
Season wraps before December 2026