Archery Club

With the launch of Laramie County Community College’s Archery Club, bow and arrow aficionados aiming to have fun have the opportunity to join a community of archers.

The Archery Club is a new organization focused on both casual and competitive archery, open to students of any major, practicing at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Archer Complex east of Cheyenne. The club is registered through USA Archery, and equipment can be provided.

What makes students interested in archery can vary, but whatever brings them, it’s an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon’s hour, said Ben Lehan, LCCC agriculture instructor and activity coach.

“I think for a lot of the students the appeal is the hunting component of archery, but I also think there's a component of just general marksmanship and outdoors skills, and the freedom that represents,” he said.

More than that, getting together to shoot is an opportunity for students to learn and grow with others, said Lindsey Freeman, LCCC agriculture program director.

“It has a lot to do with the camaraderie and being able to hang out together every Tuesday night as something that I can count on going to do,” she said. “It’s a unique part of their student experience.”

Both recurve and compound style bows are welcome. A recurve bow has a simple, traditional design with a curved shape that forms a "recurve" at the tips of the limbs. A compound bow, on the other hand, is a more complex design that incorporates pulleys or cams and cables. The design of a compound bow allows the archer to use less force to hold the bowstring at full draw, which makes it easier to aim and hold steady. Recurve bows are generally considered more beginner-friendly, while compound bows are favored by more experienced archers due to their power and precision. However, this is not a hard-and-fast rule, and many archers prefer one type of bow over the other based on personal preference and intended use.

With equipment provided through a USA Archery grant, Lehan said even those who have never held a bow should feel welcome to try it out.

“The nature of bows and firearms can be intimidating if people have never been around them, but I do want to emphasize that our club is beginner-friendly,” he said. “We have all of the materials students need if they don't if they don't have equipment, and these are very beginner-friendly bows. They come in different weights and ours are very lightweight. Somebody who has never pulled the bow before can come and shoot one of these very easily.”

Interested students can contact Ben Lehan at blehan@lccc.wy.edu or 307.778.1191.