Could Archery be Part of your Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Bronze - Silver - GoldNik’s Journey
Nik is one of our young archers using Bowmen of Danesfield to complete the Physical section of his Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. His journey shows how archery can help participants build confidence, improve fitness and develop lifelong skills while working towards one of the UK’s most respected youth awards.
Read Nik’s journey to discover how he’s getting on.
Could archery be part of your Duke of Edinburgh’s Award?
Archery is an activity that can provide a rewarding way for young people to develop their physical ability, concentration, discipline, confidence and practical skills.
At Bowmen of Danesfield, we welcome young people who are interested in taking up archery and who may wish to use their participation as part of their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Whether you are completely new to archery, have tried it before, or are already an archer, our club provides a friendly environment in which you can learn, practise and develop your skills.
Important information for DofE participants
This activity may count towards the completion of the Physical, Skills or Volunteering section of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Please check with your DofE Leader before booking/attending.
Your DofE Leader will be able to advise whether archery is suitable for your particular Award, section and circumstances. You should agree your proposed activity with them before making arrangements to participate.
“This activity may count towards your Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Skills/Volunteering/Physical section. Please check with your DofE Leader before booking [attending].”
Why choose archery?
Archery is about much more than hitting the centre of a target.
Learning to shoot consistently requires concentration, coordination, physical control and patience. An archer needs to develop a repeatable technique, learn to control their equipment and body, and remain focused throughout the shot.
As skills develop, progress can be seen in many different ways. An archer might improve their accuracy, consistency, technique, understanding of equipment or confidence on the shooting line. They may set themselves personal goals, take part in club activities or eventually try competitive archery.
The sport also encourages perseverance. Improvement does not happen with every session, and learning how to recognise progress, overcome setbacks and keep working towards a goal is an important part of becoming an archer.
For a young person undertaking a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, these qualities can make archery a particularly rewarding activity to explore.
Physical, Skills or Volunteering?
The suitability of archery for your Award will depend on the section you are completing, what you intend to achieve and the approval of your DofE Leader.
Physical
Archery can involve regular physical activity requiring strength, coordination, balance, stamina and control.
A participant might work on developing their shooting technique, improving consistency, increasing their shooting distance or setting personal performance goals.
Progress can be recorded in a number of ways, including scores, shooting records, personal goals and observations about technique and consistency.
If you are considering archery for the Physical section, discuss your proposed activity and goals with your DofE Leader before starting.
Skills
Archery involves a considerable amount of learning beyond simply shooting a bow.
As an archer develops, they can learn about different types of bow, equipment, shooting technique, scoring, archery disciplines, range procedures and equipment care.
There are also opportunities to develop more specialist knowledge as experience increases, including equipment setup and maintenance, performance analysis, competition procedures and other aspects of the sport.
If you are considering archery for the Skills section, your DofE Leader can advise whether the activity and your proposed development plan meet the requirements of your Award.
Volunteering
An archery club provides many opportunities for members to contribute to the running of the club and to support other members.
Depending on age, experience and the needs of the club, volunteering activities might include helping with range setup and pack-away, assisting with club events, supporting activities for newer members, helping with equipment, contributing to communications or assisting with administration.
Volunteering should be discussed with your DofE Leader before you begin so that you can establish whether the proposed activity is appropriate for your Award.
At Bowmen of Danesfield, we are always keen to encourage members to become involved in club life and to develop the confidence and skills that come from helping others.
Bronze, Silver and Gold
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Each level provides an opportunity for young people to take on challenges appropriate to their age and circumstances.
If your DofE Leader agrees that archery is appropriate for your chosen section, your experience at Bowmen of Danesfield can develop as your own skills and experience increase.
Physical Section – Bronze Award
For many participants, Bronze is their first introduction to archery. The emphasis is on learning the foundations of the sport and developing confidence on the shooting line.
A Bronze participant may:
- Complete a beginner’s course.
- Learn range safety and etiquette.
- Develop a consistent shooting technique.
- Understand basic scoring.
- Attend regular shooting sessions.
- Demonstrate improvement in accuracy and consistency.
The focus at Bronze level is not on achieving high scores but on demonstrating commitment, participation, and measurable personal progress.
Skills Section – Bronze Award
Bronze participants focus on developing a broad understanding of the sport.
A Bronze participant may:
- Learn about different types of bows.
- Understand basic equipment components.
- Learn scoring systems and competition formats.
- Explore the history of archery.
- Develop an understanding of safety procedures.
- Learn how to care for equipment.
The emphasis is on acquiring new knowledge and demonstrating a growing understanding of the sport.
Volunteering Section – Bronze Award
Bronze volunteers begin by supporting routine club activities under supervision.
A Bronze participant may:
- Help set up and pack away equipment.
- Assist with target preparation.
- Support beginner sessions.
- Welcome visitors and new members.
- Assist with simple administrative tasks.
The focus is on reliability, teamwork, and developing an understanding of how a club operates.
Getting Started with Archery
New to archery?
If you have never shot a bow before, your first step is to join
Bowmen of Danesfield as a member. Once you have joined,
we will guide you through our induction and beginners’ programme,
introducing you to archery in a safe, supportive and structured way.
Your induction will introduce you to the club, our facilities, range
safety and the way our sessions operate. You will then progress through
our beginners’ programme, where you will learn the fundamentals of
archery, including how to use the equipment safely, basic shooting
technique, range etiquette and the principles of consistent shooting.
The aim is not simply to teach you how to shoot a bow. We want you to
develop the knowledge, confidence and skills needed to become a safe
and independent member of the club.
As you progress through the programme, we will help you understand how
to practise effectively and how you can continue to develop your
archery. Once you have completed the initial induction and beginners’
programme, you can take part in the club’s regular shooting activities
and continue developing your skills as a member.
If you are joining us because you are considering archery as part of
your Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, you should speak to your DofE Leader
before joining to discuss whether your proposed archery activity is
suitable for your Award and chosen section.
Already an archer?
If you already have experience of archery, joining Bowmen of Danesfield
is still the first step.
When you join, we will talk to you about your previous experience, the
type of archery you have undertaken and your current level of knowledge
and ability. This allows us to understand where you are in your archery
development and introduce you to the club safely.
Depending on your experience, you may be able to progress through the
initial induction more quickly, while still becoming familiar with our
range, procedures and way of working.
Once you are established as a member, you can take part in our regular
shooting sessions and explore the areas of archery that interest you.
This might include improving your technique, developing your scores,
learning more about equipment, taking part in competitions or becoming
more involved in club activities.
If you are considering using your archery as part of your Duke of
Edinburgh’s Award, speak to your DofE Leader before making arrangements
so that you understand what is required for your particular Award.
Club Membership
Joining Bowmen of Danesfield is the first step
Our approach is different from a traditional standalone beginners’
course. We do not offer a beginners’ course for non-members. Instead,
anyone wishing to learn archery with us joins Bowmen of Danesfield as
a member and then progresses through our induction and beginners’
programme as part of their membership.
This means that from the very beginning you become part of the club
rather than simply attending a short course and deciding later whether
you want to join.
Membership gives you access to our regular club activities and allows
you to become part of our wider archery community. It also means that
your learning and development can continue beyond the initial
beginners’ programme, with opportunities to practise, receive guidance
and develop your skills over time.
For young people in particular, being part of an established club can
provide much more than learning to shoot. It is an opportunity to meet
other archers, develop confidence, learn new skills, take part in club
activities and become part of a supportive community.
Many of our members begin with little or no experience of archery and
go on to develop their skills over many years. Some become recreational
archers, while others progress into competition, coaching, judging or
other areas of the sport.
“This activity may count towards your Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Skills/Volunteering/Physical section. Please check with your DofE Leader before booking [attending].”
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need previous archery experience?
No. Our beginners’ course is designed for people who are new to archery.
Can I use archery for my DofE?
It may be possible. However, you must discuss this with your DofE Leader before attending and obtain their agreement that the activity is suitable for your Award.
Can archery be used for Physical, Skills or Volunteering?
It may be suitable for any of these sections, depending on what you are doing and the requirements of your particular Award. Your DofE Leader will make the decision about whether your proposed activity is appropriate.
Do I need to become a club member?
If you want to continue shooting at Bowmen of Danesfield after completing our beginners’ course, you will need to become a club member.
Do I need my own bow and arrows?
No. Equipment is available for beginners while they learn the sport. We can advise you about equipment if you decide to continue.
Can Bowmen of Danesfield register me for my DofE?
No. Your DofE registration and Award are managed through your DofE Licensed Organisation, such as your school, college, youth organisation or other DofE centre.
We provide archery activities independently. Please speak to your DofE Leader before beginning if you want to use your participation towards your Award.
Interested in Trying Archery?
If you think archery could be an activity you would enjoy, we’d love to hear from you.
Whether you are looking for a completely new sport or already have experience with a bow, Bowmen of Danesfield offers a friendly environment in which to learn, practise and develop.
If you are considering archery as part of your Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, speak to your DofE Leader first and then get in touch with us.