It all started with the Hunger Games.
That's when Dawn Procter's phone started ringing off the hook.
The sci-fi thriller that pitted teenagers against each other with the deadly accuracy of a bow and arrow until one survivor remained, increased the popularity of archery.
"The Hunger Games definitely brought notoriety and a big interest in the sport," said Procter, a long-time member of Prince George's Silvertip Archers Club as well as the zone 8 representative on the B.C. Archery Association. "I've seen the sport grow and increase in popularity. It's a low-cost sport for families, most clubs provide the equipment and the season is year-round."
Every Father's Day weekend, the Silvertip Archers host a 3-D shoot at their outdoor range, firing their arrows at foam targets such as Yeti, dinosaurs, tree frogs and other animals.
The junior indoor program at the Silvertip club boasts about 150 juniors (ages 8 to 21), while the outdoor program fields 65 kids.
"It's huge to see the development of the juniors come to this point," said the club's junior archer co-ordinator Carolyn Kelly. "We could have one or two on the B.C. team [that will compete at the 2015 Canada Winter Games]. We're going in the right direction. Some won't get on the B.C. team, but the experience competing in a venue and event like this is priceless."
The venue and event Kelly is referring to was the 600 Shoot, the Silvertip Archers Club tournament at the Northern Sport Centre on Saturday. It was a test event for the 2015 Games.
One of those Canada Winter Games hopefuls from the Silvertip club is Maya Schouwenburg, a 16-year-old who's only competed in the sport for two years.
She was on the range Saturday.
Schouwenburg is coming off gold and silver medal performances (indoor) at the 2014 B.C. Winter Games. She won gold in the women's 1,200 round and silver in the match play shoot-off, setting three Canadian records in the process.
She'll also compete at the national outdoor championships Aug. 1-10 in Lac La Biche, Alta. and the B.C. outdoor provincial championships Aug. 30 - 31 in Prince George.
Her personal best is a 252 with the recurve bow. The highest possible score is 300.
"It's a stress reliever and it's fun to shoot stuff," said the Grade 11 Duchess Park secondary student. "In competition I'm usually nervous during the first round but it goes away after that. I block out everything around me.
"I'm happy with how my season's going and it's great to compete at home. My scores have steadily improved."
The Silvertip Archers Junior Olympic Program that takes to the range Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
"I find with the kids they either like it or they don't," said Kelly, who's been with the club for 15 years. "It's such mental game. If you shoot a bad arrow, you have to forget about it and move on. It's a big learning curve for the kids."
But she never forgets what it's like to witness an athlete pick up a bow and arrow for the first time and have success.
"To see an eight-year-old and the first time they hit a target, it's magic to me. I'm just so happy with what we've done here."
For those who want to learn more about archery, they can attend the Father's Day 3D Shoot on June 14 -15 at the outdoor range on Highway 16 East.
