I got in touch with my inner bowhunter — and so can you!
Park rangers will teach the next generation of Panem-loving bowmen and women how to hit their marks at a free archery class in Marine Park’s Lenape Playground tomorrow — one of several lessons inspired by the “Hunger Games” to be held this spring.
You won’t get any bonus points for dressing up like Katniss Everdeen and you don’t even have to bring your own arrows — but you will learn how to handle a heavy composite bow in just 10 minutes.
The hardest part is pulling the bowstring back far enough while keeping the arrow steady before releasing it toward your target.
In a few minutes, you may discover that you have a hidden talent for hitting things with arrows. I certainly did: after two tries I was hitting the ten-ring. After a few more tries, I was ready to shoot an apple off of Courier Life Deputy Editor Tom Tracy’s head — although that didn’t go as well as I had hoped. But, don’t worry, doctors say he’ll recover.
Parks Ranger Christina Knoll, who will lead the lessons at the park’s handball courts off E. 38th Street said anyone can learn to be a top shot in no time.
“People don’t get to see what kind of precision they have in everyday life, so you never know,” Knoll said.
Archery lesson at Lenape Playground [E. 38th Street and Avenue U, Marine Park (718) 421-2021] April 8 at 1 pm. Free. For info, www.nycgovparks.org/events/keyword+Archery.
Reach reporter Aaron Short at ashort@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-2547.
