Archery VBS

[ChiefStingingArrow]

My wife and I are going to attempt to do an Archery vacation Bible School this summer for our community....Does anyone have any suggestions on how I could make cheap wooden bows for the kids...any ideas, blue prints for kids bows, on ways to teach or cheap simple ways to  make equipment for this project would be appreciated.... I would like to make each kid a bow and an arrow or two to take home to keep. I am probably trying to do more than what I can but I love archery and I know kids love it to and there are many valuable lessons hidden in archery. Thanks for all your help.

[D]

I know its not wood but PVC bows would be a fairly cheep way to go.  But if you want wood bows I understand completly.

[CaptainJ]

Hi Chief!

I've done a few archery Bible camps and they are a lot of fun, and a lot of work.

If you must have wood bows, the best option is hickory or oak board bows. There is a lot of information on building them on the web and in books like the Traditional Boyer's Bibles.

Much cheaper and easier are the pvc bows like D mentioned. Nicholas Tomihama (backyardbowyer) has some videos up on youtube that are helpful and some great books on Amazon:

   

 Simple PVC Pipe Bows


I'd love to see some of your lesson ideas. We've used these effectively before:

While using a steel to sharpen a broadhead from dull to shaver-sharp:
Proverbs 27:17  As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.


The Scripture's Greek word for sin literally means to miss the mark:
hamartanō  -ham-ar-tan'-o
Properly to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize), that is, (figuratively) to err, especially (morally) to sin: - for your faults, offend, sin, trespass.
-Strongs Greek Dictionary
Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

CJ

[MoeM]

For easy to shave bows you could use rattan/manau also.
The material is unbreakable, easy to work and perfect for shorter bows. Also recurves are very easy to bend only with dry heat- maybe ot a campfire.

[John Scifres]

Rattan - no doubt about it.

 http://bowyersedge.com/kidsbows.html

 http://sticknstring.webs.com/cloverdale2009.htm

I have done a lot of similar things and these are the simplest, toughest bows you can make.  Cost is about $5 each and I bet someone will donate arrows.  Email or post questions.

[ChiefStingingArrow]

Thank you guys yoiu just saved me a whole bunch of work. Thanks