There’s a new sport on this side of the river and it’s catching on. The new West Philly Archery club has informally been created, thanks to Gabriel Nyantakyi. With about eight years of archery experience under his belt, he’s taught a couple of summer camps here and there and currently considers himself a hobbyist. He can be seen shooting at Kingsessing Park at 49th and Chester, but he wants to teach others how to participate in the sport as well. Which is why he started West Philly Archery.
When I asked Nyantakyi if he worried about shooting in a public space and if there were any safety issues, he said, “Safety is always a priority haven’t had any incidence in my eight years of teaching and shooting.”
Nyantakyi owns eight bows, but four of them are in his regular rotation because they are best suited for teaching and hobbying.
The people who show up? Well, they’re of varying ages, tweens have shown up and twenty-somethings have shown up. A four-year-old even showed up a couple of weeks ago and at the same shoot, a 50-something showed up as well.
Interested in joining in on a shoot? You can join the Facebook group for notifications.
– Rana Fayez
September 22nd, 2016 at 8:50 am
This is fantastic. Keep it up.
September 22nd, 2016 at 9:26 am
I used to love archery as a kid. I begged my parents for a really boss bow and arrow set. Didn’t get it but I was lucky to have the opportunity to rent them in a safe environment. This is a great idea for a little fun outdoor time and it does build confidence and is just a great way to spend an afternoon.
September 23rd, 2016 at 8:32 am
This is a great idea, but it is far too easy for a young child to shoot an arrow off in the wrong direction for this to be done outside in a crowded city. Hopefully the club can continue safely at an indoor recreation center!
September 23rd, 2016 at 10:24 pm
Let’s hope Gabriel has proper liability insurance. This should definitely be conducted indoors. It’s an interesting idea and probably fun, but not wise to have it in a public park where children should be able to run freely.
September 24th, 2016 at 9:29 am
Welcome to the nanny state.
September 26th, 2016 at 5:25 pm
Archery was actually a pretty legit hunting technique long before it became a recreational outdoor target sport. In fact, many big game hunters to this day still prefer the precision of a light weight compound bow. The cross bow was a very common weapon in Medieval Europe. I think it’s great fun for target practice but a tot must exercise care and caution like an adult would.