Lisbon Scouts learn about archery at L.L. Bean

LISBON — The Bear Den of Lisbon Cub Scout Pack 109 took a trip to L.L. Bean recently to learn about archery and knife sharpening.
Thanks to a few great instructors, the Scouts both learned and had fun at the L.L. Bean flagship store, in Freeport.

Emily Parker, who runs the archery section at L.L. Bean, gave the Scouts a safety lesson involving ranges, bows and arrows. She taught the Scouts to not dry shoot the bow, how to string the bow and how to correctly set the arrow and fire.

She also provided general range safety information before allowing the Scouts to fire away. The range is inside the main L.L. Bean store in Freeport and has an array of bows. For safety and teaching purposes, the Scouts used bows with 20 pounds of pressure and target arrows. They fired at balloons that were taped to large cardboard boxes.
A few of those balloons got popped, as Bear Scouts Rex Turnell, Camden Therrien, Jake Baird, Sophia Kuhl, Robert Lawler, Bentley Bosse and Arrow of Light scout Liam Kuhl fired away for well over an hour. They engaged targets, retrieved their arrows and watched their peers do the same.
Afterwards, Dave McClelland taught the Scouts how to sharpen a knife. Several knives and several different sharpeners were used. He walked the Scouts through it by starting with a general safety lesson, explained how to sharpen a dull knife while demonstrating how himself, and then had the scouts practice.
The Scouts all had their Whittlin Chip, and, so, had already been taught knife safety. Sharpening their knives was icing on the cake, but a good safety measure because there are twice as many injuries with dull knives as there are with sharp ones. Obviously, the knives are also more effective when sharp.
The Scouts had a great time and learned a lot on the Feb. 10 visit.
In addition to learning about archery and knives, the Bears sold candy bars and popcorn this year to raise money in support of a summer camp that allows them to camp with Scout leaders and no parents, readying them for camping with older kids. The Bears have two years to go before moving up to a troop, but they are not wasting any time getting ready for it.
For more information about these events and more, please contact the pack at Pack109.lisbon@gmail.com or look us up on Facebook: Pack109.Lisbon.

TOP PHOTO: Emily Parker, of L.L. Bean, with Lisbon 109 Bear Den Scouts, from left, Robert Lawler, Rex Turnell, Liam Kuhl, Camden Therrien, Sophia Kuhl, Jake Baird and Bentley Bosse. (Submitted photo)