Help with Archery Birthday Parties Please!

[its my party and]

So after talking to our Chairman and as we have the facilities Ive tasked myself with coming up with an Archery Birthday Party Format but I'm missing a few things/ideas can you help?
Using the Have A Go format as a guideline to do this and from scratch in what I know of Kids Birthday Parties!
Ive done a fantastic design for a generic archery invite, its easily interchangeable between differently named Birthday Children if required but what activities can we do to keep the little darlings occupied while in the hall?
So far the format may include and in no particular order after the first one: -
Learning how to shoot and range safety!
Practice Shooting at a target @ 10 or 15 yds?
Shooting Balloons on another separate Boss
A 6 arrow competition perhaps!
But To finish a one arrow shoot at a target face ringed and then signed by the shooting archer for the Birthday Girl Boy to keep/take home as a momento of their party.
Also discount vouchers for the booking Parents for one of our beginners courses.

Does anyone else hold Archery Birthday Parties and can you give us any ideas as to the format you use to make it a pleasant continuous experience they might want to repeat and don't get bored at?

We are holding a test event later this month to see how it works and how long it will take etc.
Many Thanks in Advance

[grimsby archer]

We must be really predictable. We do parties almost exactly as you describe.
Dont just think children. Parties are popular with adults too especially if you treat them like kids. Advertise "corporate" and "team building" on the same principle!

Our format:
Split the group into 2 or 3 groups, (preferably each group on their own boss) with one staff member to each group and encourage lots of support and cheering especially when shooting balloons etc.
With kids, think "pantomime" and really ham it up "my team is better than yours", "oh no theyre not", "oh yes they are". Encourage blatant (fun) cheating such as getting the staff to shoot when the others "arent looking"

(1)Very quick safety talk (the only time bows and arrows come together is on the shooting line, pointing at the target, with no one target side of the shooting line. Only shoot after the whistle. Stop shooting if you hear 2 whistles);
(2) very basic point of aim method at 10yards - dont worry about form or technique - if it hits the boss, its ok;
(3)add balloons around the perimeter of the (80cm) target face. Adults love these as much as children do.
(4)Competition at the end.

Balloons, we put 1/2 teaspoon of talc in before inflating. Gives an impressive explosion when popped.
Remember to tell everyone that they are "the best you've ever seen"
For the comp at the end, we have 3 rounds of 6 arrows each in teams, counting golds or hits depending on the abilities of the participants. Much easier to score than "proper" scoring. Blackboard and chalk for scoring (easy for everyone to see).
You can get really competitive groups and again ham it up with a running commentary as each gold/hit is scored in the comp.

We have a "robin hood" green pointy hat for the best shot to wear, or the birthday person.
Indoors or out, remember the backstop netting. Save lots of looking for arrows.

We charge £60 for upto 12 people for 1 hour (quite enough for anyone - including us) and most people think that is very reasonable. I say "upto" because if just 6 people want to come for £60 that fine too!

Good luck and enjoy yourself
Will be interested to know what other people do.

Originally Posted by its my party and

So after talking to our Chairman and as we have the facilities Ive tasked myself with coming up with an Archery Birthday Party Format but I'm missing a few things/ideas can you help?
Using the Have A Go format as a guideline to do this and from scratch in what I know of Kids Birthday Parties!
Ive done a fantastic design for a generic archery invite, its easily interchangeable between differently named Birthday Children if required but what activities can we do to keep the little darlings occupied while in the hall?
So far the format may include and in no particular order after the first one: -
Learning how to shoot and range safety!
Practice Shooting at a target @ 10 or 15 yds?
Shooting Balloons on another separate Boss
A 6 arrow competition perhaps!
But To finish a one arrow shoot at a target face ringed and then signed by the shooting archer for the Birthday Girl Boy to keep/take home as a momento of their party.
Also discount vouchers for the booking Parents for one of our beginners courses.

Does anyone else hold Archery Birthday Parties and can you give us any ideas as to the format you use to make it a pleasant continuous experience they might want to repeat and don't get bored at?

We are holding a test event later this month to see how it works and how long it will take etc.
Many Thanks in Advance

[SVL]

I would like to know what is your lower age limit for taking part ?

[its my party and]

Thats a good one SVL Im open to any vaster experience than me but our test event is for 11yr olds! Id say 10 was a minimum and as we have small jelly bows and compound ones as well. We shouldn't have too many issues.

[Furface]

Slightly controversial this, but animal faces, orcs, or even pictures of the drippier members of the Harry Potter cast can make good targets (Always check with parents first if they object, though)

[SVL]

Originally Posted by Furface

Slightly controversial this, but animal faces, orcs, or even pictures of the drippier members of the Harry Potter cast can make good targets (Always check with parents first if they object, though)

I saw some Dr Who "bad guys" in a shop the other day and first thought was cool targets for the juniors (and seniors of course). Try your local film rental shop and when the big promotional cardboard images come into the shops go ask for them (but you got to be quick, as quite a few people seem to like these)

[little bow blue]

I have been looking into this for the past couple of months after a call centre approached me about team building exercises.
This would be a commercial opperation so am still sorting out insurance to see wheter it is viable.
Emailed GNAS about doing leaders course as I last did the Instructors course 20 years ago. After a month got a reply but wasn't much help.

Could try teams playing noughts and crosses.
Or but balloons on target and have to score without hitting balloons.
Hit a balloon and loose your points or pay a forfeit.

[Rhys]

"Its your party and . . . . you want help with ideas" ?

[Jerry Tee]

Treats in envelopes. Write down so treats on paper put them in envelopes and pin them to the target, nicer treats smaller envelope size ( fold the envelope in half) .

[LineCutter]

Having done this for my kids - most important of all is to remember that kids who are not Korean or related to archers are the most cack handed, inaccurate creatures ever. (Warning, biased guidance for 8-10 year olds coming up)

BIG targets (at short range) are the order of the day, with scoring rising linearly & zone sizes progressing inversely (1/2, 1/3, 1/4 etc).

That or go for some of the fun shoot ideas mentioned elsewhere on AIUK.

One more hint - use a chessboard pattern. All kids shoot & then you open an envelope & see which square was the winning one. Strangely it all works out just fair at the end & never has that one square with the prize that nobody manages to hit.