Kings Mountain Archers (“KMA“) is a volunteer organization whose mission is to teach, promote and encourage the safe practice of archery for youth and adults by providing free classes, free training, and free educational seminars, as well as opportunities for archery competition. KMA is formed for educational and charitable purposes.
KMA runs the San Mateo County Public Archery Range at Huddart County Park. Pursuant to a County resolution the County Board of Supervisors granted KMA a use permit to maintain this 25 acre range for the public good. KMA has had this use permit continuously since 1956 because of its continued service in maintaining this land for the people of San Mateo County. KMA volunteers regularly participate in maintenance projects including building and maintaining 46 permanent targets, repairing trails, picnic areas, restrooms and outbuildings.
KMA has changed its focus in recent years to concentrate on making archery more available to the public through its educational programs, and encouraging youth to try the sport of archery. For example, KMA holds hunter safety seminars for the public, and has partnered with the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts to offer archery education and safety programs for those groups. KMA also hosts a monthly free archery lesson program so members of the public can experience archery. KMA recently held a community Easter egg hunt at the range to introduce the range to members of the community. All KMA programs are provided by KMA member volunteers.
KMA maintains a 28 target Field Range and Practice Range that are approved by the National Field Archery Association. KMA also maintains a “Kids’ Corner” section for training purposes, bow tuning and teaching young children about archery in a safe environment. Although KMA is a membership organization, it welcomes members of the public at all of its events.
The majority of KMA’s funding comes from membership, with smaller amounts coming from contributions and registration fees from archery competitions.
KMA provides archery competitions that are open to anyone who wishes to participate. Archers who have practiced and honed their skills at KMA have won archery tournaments throughout the world. KMA currently has several world, national and state champions practicing and instructing at its range, including a KMA member who won a team gold and individual silver medals as a member of Team USA at the World Field Championships in France.
The range is located amid tall redwoods and landscaping such as only nature can produce. The targets are challenging due to the terrain and range in distance from 20 feet to 80 yards. The practice range affords archers a flat area to shoot targets from 10 yards to 100 yards. The entrance to the range has parking facilities, as well as picnic areas and barbecue pits for an occasional cook-out. We are very proud of our range and encourage guests at our shoots and at club meetings, which are held the first Thursday of each month. Club shoots are held on the second Sunday of every month.