Put the phones down.Pick up a bow.
Empowering youth to build focus, confidence, resilience, and connection through archery and outdoor experiences.
Focus
We help students build concentration and mental clarity.
Confidence
Archery builds self-belief and helps students discover their potential.
Connection
Students build stronger relationships and a sense of belonging.
Outdoors
We inspire a lifelong appreciation for nature and our community.
Where Kids Unplug, Reconnect & Grow
Colorado Archery Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit using archery and outdoor education to help young people unplug, reconnect, and develop skills that last a lifetime. Archery is the foundation — but the lessons reach far beyond the range.
Programs Built For Growth
School Programs
Structured archery programming delivered inside partner schools, prioritizing communities with limited access to enrichment. Character development, teamwork, and focus woven throughout.
Enrichment
After-school archery clubs and summer camps that give students a supportive, screen-free environment to build confidence, discipline, and lasting friendships.
Community Events
Family days, community outreach, and outdoor experiences that connect students, families, and neighbors through the shared adventure of archery and nature.
A Generation That Needs To Slow Down
Shorter attention spans. Increased anxiety. Less physical activity. A growing disconnect from the world. Archery asks students to slow down, control their breathing, and be fully present — and students of all abilities find success.
- Focus, calm, and discipline through hands-on practice
- Confidence for students who never felt it in traditional sports
- A real connection with peers and the natural world
Reaching More Students Than Ever
*Program length and school count are goals for the upcoming year — final numbers to be confirmed by the organization.
Educators, Mentors & Outdoorsmen
Zach Hodges
Luke Essley
Austin Stevens
Molly Hartman
Changing Lives, One Arrow At A Time
Archery reaches students that traditional programs often miss — and the results speak for themselves.
Illustrative outcomes drawn from school archery research — we'll update with our own program data as it grows.
Voices From The Range
My child used to dread anything competitive. Archery gave them a place to focus, breathe, and finally feel proud of themselves. The change at home has been real.
I'm responsible for where the arrow goes — not the bow, not the target, not the person beside me. That lesson stuck with our students far beyond the range.
Archery reached kids who had never found their place in a sport. For the first time, they felt like they belonged to something — and their whole school year changed.
Sample testimonials — we'll replace these with real quotes from your students, families, and partner schools.
Made Possible By Our Community
We partner with schools, families, volunteers, and sponsors to give students the chance to grow. Sponsor and partner logos scroll below and will grow with our network.
Bring Archery To Your School
Give your students a screen-free way to build confidence, focus, and connection. Partnering with the Academy is simple — let's talk.
Our Story
From one classroom in Colorado to a growing movement for youth.
Have you noticed a shift in today's generation of students? Shorter attention spans. Increased anxiety. Less physical activity. A growing disconnect from others and the world around them.
For our founder, this wasn't just a trend — it was something he witnessed every day over 15 years as an educator in Omaha and Denver Public Schools. What once felt like occasional classroom challenges became consistent patterns. Students were struggling to focus, collaborate, and engage in meaningful ways. As screen time continued to rise, it became clear that something needed to change.
Determined to find a better path forward, he pursued a Master's degree in Educational Leadership and began exploring ways to give students meaningful, screen-free experiences. That journey led to the introduction of archery into his physical education program through a partnership with his longtime friend Luke, a certified archery instructor and professional outdoor guide. With support from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, they launched a school archery program — and the results were immediate and powerful.
It required students to slow down, control their breathing, and be fully present. Students of all abilities found success — including those who had never felt confident in traditional sports. Many showed noticeable growth in emotional regulation, patience, and self-belief.
A Movement Begins
In 2022, Colorado Archery Academy was founded to expand this impact beyond a single classroom. Beginning with after-school programs and summer camps, the organization grew into a movement focused on helping students reconnect — with themselves, their peers, and the natural world.
Today, Colorado Archery Academy partners with public schools and prioritizes those serving low-income communities, students with disabilities, and schools with limited access to enrichment opportunities. Each partner school receives structured programming designed to help students learn and grow.
Beyond The Range
While archery is the foundation, the lessons extend far beyond the range. Students develop focus, resilience, teamwork, responsibility, and confidence. They learn to support one another, reflect on their habits, and build meaningful connections. Through outdoor experiences and hands-on learning, they gain skills that carry into every area of life.
Our Vision
Our goal for the 2026–2027 school year is to partner with schools and reach more than 6,000 students through in-school programs, after-school enrichment, and community events. But we can't do it alone. As a nonprofit, our work is made possible through the support of schools, families, volunteers, donors, sponsors, and community partners.
We're not just teaching archery — we're helping shape a stronger, more connected generation.
Our Mission
Meaningful, life-changing experiences through structured, screen-free programming.
At Colorado Archery Academy, our mission is to serve students by providing meaningful, life-changing experiences through structured, screen-free programming delivered in partnership with schools and community organizations. Archery serves as the foundation of the program, but the mission extends far beyond the range.
Program Elements
Through our curriculum, students engage in a rich mix of hands-on learning designed to build both skill and character:
Core Values
Every session reinforces the values that help students succeed in and out of school:
What Students Walk Away With
Grow in confidence & strengthen focus
Students find their footing and learn to stay present under pressure.
Build meaningful relationships
Teamwork and mentorship create a genuine sense of belonging.
Develop resilience & leadership
Students build lifelong skills and a stronger connection to the outdoors.
Meet Our Team
Former educators, mentors, and lifelong outdoorsmen who came together for something different.
Meet Our Board Of Directors
Support Our Mission
Help create meaningful, screen-free opportunities for students across Colorado.
One of the biggest challenges for any nonprofit startup is securing the funding needed to begin and sustain programming. Community support, outreach, donations, and sponsorships are critical to helping us build impact and expand.
Colorado Archery Academy is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Every donation directly supports our mission and is tax-deductible. Upon donating or sponsoring, you'll receive an automated tax-exempt receipt via email for your records.
Choose Your Impact
Sponsor A Student
Give one student a full season of archery instruction, mentorship, and outdoor learning.
Give $25Sponsor A Bow
Equip a student with the gear they need to learn safely and build real skill.
Give $50Make A Donation
Any amount fuels equipment, instructor training, and free school programming.
Sponsor A School
Fund an entire school's programming for the year and transform a whole community.
Become A Monthly Sponsor
Sustained giving lets us plan ahead and reach more students year-round.
Corporate Sponsor
Partner your business with a professional, community-focused youth nonprofit.
Corporate Sponsorship
Support meaningful opportunities for youth while gaining visibility across the communities we serve.
Colorado Archery Academy offers several levels of corporate sponsorship. Businesses can support a specific school or provide broader funding for schools and programs throughout the year. Sponsors receive recognition across our school materials, social media, website, trailers, and program equipment.
Community
- Website recognition
- Social media thank-you
- Support a local school
Partner
- Everything in Community
- Logo on program equipment
- Recognition on Academy trailers
- Fund a percentage of schools
Champion
- Everything in Partner
- Premier logo placement
- On-site corporate archery event
- Employee team-building day
Bring Archery To Your Team
Corporate partnerships can bring our programs directly to corporate events, employee appreciation days, summer camps, and community groups — engaging, safe team-building focused on:
Wear The Mission
100% of apparel profits go directly to our school programming budget.
Support Colorado Archery Academy by repping our apparel and becoming part of something bigger. Every hat, hoodie, and shirt represents a commitment to building stronger students and stronger communities. Apparel sales help provide archery instruction, mentorship, outdoor experiences, and youth enrichment.
Wear It With Purpose
Support the mission. Every purchase helps a student put down the phone and pick up a bow.
Contact Us
Bring archery to your school, sponsor a program, volunteer, or just say hello.