Erick Kestila, right, with a participant in the 4-H After School Archery Program in Delta County.
When Erick Kestila first attended the 4-H After School Archery Program with his elementary school-aged daughter, he had no idea he would find himself leading the program one day. But he also had no idea how the program would affect his daughter's life, inspiring him to ensure the opportunity would continue to be available for other Delta County young people.
The Delta County 4-H After School Archery Program provided the perfect low-pressure venue for young Mariah Kestila to try out the sport. The six-week SPIN (special interest) club met once a week at the local civic center in Escanaba and offered young people an introduction to archery, along with several weeks of shooting experience to enhance their skill.
"We wanted to provide an afterschool activity for kids that were not into sports or academics," said Randall Allen-Napeahi, cofounder of the 4-H After School Archery Program. He and Michigan State University Extension 4-H educator Dave Radloff started the program in 2007. Erick is grateful that the two had the foresight to create such a program, which his daughter quickly took to and enjoyed.
With positive results for her hard work, Mariah soon grew something more than skill: confidence in herself.
To help provide Mariah with additional opportunities to practice her sport, Erick became a certified 4-H shooting sports instructor with MSU Extension. This allowed Mariah to practice at ranges where a certified instructor was required for safety purposes. Once certified, Erick and his wife, also a certified instructor, quickly began volunteering with the 4-H program, helping to provide archery experiences for Mariah and her peers.
Erick continued to help with the program for several years, and when Allen-Napeahi needed to step away from the club nearly a decade later, Erick stepped up to become the lead volunteer.
When asked why he remains committed to the program, Erick commented on the benefits that the 4-H archery experience provides for young people in Delta County.
Beyond school, Kestila sees other positive results for 4-H'ers involved in the sport.
However, the rewards of volunteering are not exclusive to the young people.
Kestila hopes others will join him in volunteering through 4-H to grow the next generation of true leaders.
To learn more about the 4-H shooting sports program or becoming a 4-H volunteer, visit the Michigan 4-H website.