Homeschool Activities: Archery
Archery is a great way to make Homeschooling more fun!
Whether you are a seasoned homeschool or this is your first year. Finding activities for your kids to do can feel overwhelming. There are many great ways to find activities exclusively for homeschoolers. Facebook groups, Meet Up app, and the library (during the day) are wonderful resources to guide you in the right direction. Parks and Recs are always providing programs on the weekends, and most of the time asking them directly will give you the inside scoop on their homeschool programs. If they do not already have homeschool programs in their agenda, they will if enough interested is shown.
Houston is a vast resource of homeschooling amazingness and our abundance of Houston homeschool classes and activities are proof! This is centered around one of our favorite activities available to Houston homeschoolers.
Benefits to Archery
Physical
Archery helps with physical and mental development. Growth in core and upper body strength.
Self Confidence
Satisfaction in combining physical and mental skills. Setting personal goals.
Social
Opportunity to interact with people of all ages and abilities. Sportsmanship when working as a team.
Adding Outdoor Activities is a great way to add socializing to your homeschool journey.
Lake Houston Wilderness Park is a beautiful, lushly forested expanse of nearly 5,000 acres,
located three miles east of New Caney (approximately 30 miles north of Houston) off Hwy-59. Lake Houston Wilderness Park is the only park in the department that allows overnight stays in cabins and campsites.
Most of the park is heavily forested with over 20 miles of trails which provide a quiet escape from the bustling city. The park offers a variety of outdoor experiences for people of all ages including camping, hiking, trail running, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, birding, fishing and horseback riding trails (visitors must bring own bikes, fishing equipment, watercraft, and horses).
Lake Houston Wilderness Park- 25840 FM 1485 New Caney, Texas 77357
Lake Houston Wilderness Park offers many homeschool programs.
- Amazing Alligators: Join us for a presentation to learn about adaptations, behavior, and other fascinating facts about these reptilian behemoths. Then we will have a Meet-And-Greet with our Alligator ambassadors from Brazos Bend State Park.
- Archery: Ages 8 and older – Learn the basics of archery or come to practice what you already know! We will discuss safety, equipment, and its appropriate use and correct form. 3$ per shooter
- Basic Fishing: ages 8 and older: Come learn fishing basics- casting, fishing knots, and catch a fish in Lake Dabney! Equipment provided.
- Bat walk (Night Program): Come learn about these creatures of the night while playing a game outside. Perfect activity for all ages.
- Birding for Beginners: We will teach you the basics of birding, go over common birds with their songs, and then take you on a short hike to see what we can find
- Campfire Skills: Learn how the basics of campfires and start your using flint and steel. You can even bring your own s’more ingredients!
- Edible plant Hike: Knowing the local wild and edible plants can be a fun skill to learn for any hiker. Join us for a short presentation and a foraging hike to identify edible and medicinal plants.
- Fantastic Frogs: We are going to test your knowledge of local species and learn about these fascinating animals along the way.
- Freshwater Ecology: We will inspect samples to see what is living in our water by using nets and buckets to catch and release invertebrates for study.
- Guided Hike: Learn more about the park’s environment and history from a naturalist.
- Incredible insects: We will learn the difference between a bug and an insect and the other groups in between. Then we will collect them to see what we find!
- Whimsical Wasps: Come learn about the different species and debunk some myths about these whimsical creatures
- Invaders of the Pineywoods hike: Invaders/ invasive species are often non-native species and their aggressive nature outcompetes many of our native plants. Learn how to identify them, why we care and how to help!
- Native Plants: Why is using native plants important? Learn about native plants to this area, how to choose them, and how to get started at your home.
- Nature’s Recyclers: Come find out what decomposers are, how they break down organic matter, and all of the ‘fun-guys’ that help in the process.
- Night Hike: This is a guided hike with an experienced night hiker with games and information along the way. We will use spotlights, owl calls, and even a bat detector to see if what lives in the park after dark.
- Remarkable Reptiles: Take an eye-opening look at the world of reptiles through this informative program that features snakes, lizards, turtles, and alligators. You’ll find out all about these scaly critters living in our park with LIVE animal encounters!
- Scavenger Hunt: Self-guided program which allows for visitors to explore the Joe Turner Nature Center with our scavenger hunt. Start at the front desk and the answers can be found throughout the different rooms. Answer all the questions for a prize!
- Snakes: Nearly a third of all adults are afraid of snakes! Come find out why they might not be as scary as you may think, and which snakes can be found in East Texas at this LIVE demonstration program!
- Spectacular Spiders: Learn some interesting facts about these eight-legged arthropods and how they play such an essential role in our eco-system.
- Turtles: Come see and learn all about our hard- and soft-shelled friends that live at the Nature Center!
- Orienteering: This program opens students up to the basics of a compass, plotting a map, bearings, and pacing by individual exercises and teamwork.
- Skins and Skulls: Come discover how we know what animals eat and how they live from ONLY their skins and skulls!
Archery is a fan favorite in our homeschool group. It's a good way to get the kids outside and learn a new skill.
How to schedule a Homeschool Archery event at Lake Houston Wilderness Park:
- Email the Park Naturalist- Katharine.LeBoeuf@houstontx.gov (check website for updated email)
- Request Archery event with date and homeschool group information
- Post in homeschool group
- Ask members to RSVP (there is a limit of 18 participants, ages 8 and older)
- There is a $3.00 fee per participant, that will be due the day of at the Nature Center.
- There is also an entrance fee for those over 13 years of age. (debit cards accepted)- please check website for current fee.
- Wear comfy shoes, if you have a bow you are allowed to use it, bring water and a sack lunch.
- All equipment is provided at the park.
- The event usually takes about 2 hours.
- Enjoy it and be sure to ask about their other amazing programs.
OUr Visit to LHWP
Lake Houston Wilderness Park is one of our favorite places to take homeschool classes. The knowledge and patience the staff shows our kids has made this a regular in our schedules.
