Liberty Lake approves week-long Dragonflight Archery pilot at Rocky Hill Park

The City of Liberty Lake Parks and Arts Commission on Monday approved a pilot Explore Archery program run by Dragonflight Archery at Rocky Hill Park this summer.

The four-day, two-to-three-hours-per-day pilot will target participants roughly age 8 and older and is run by Dragonflight Archery, a Spokane-based nonprofit led by program founder Eliza Jeks. The commission voted to move forward with the pilot and directed staff to finalize logistics and verify insurance and paperwork; the motion passed unanimously.

Dragonflight Archery’s program uses the official Explore Archery curriculum published by USA Archery and is intended as an introductory offering. “The program itself has several different games and activities that go with it so that kids or adults are really learning some of the basics of range safety and proper form,” Jeks said during the March 3 presentation. Jeks said she will provide all equipment and targets and described program structure that limits groups to about 12 participants.

Jeks told commissioners the nonprofit carries the required liability coverage and compliance for USA Archery programs. “All of the liability coverage would be covered by Dragonflight,” she said. She also described safety measures used in her programs: certified coaches who pass background checks and SafeSport training, instructor-to-student ratios she plans to use (for a 12-child group she said she would have at least three instructors, possibly four), and whistle commands for range control.

Commissioners discussed location and safety; Rocky Hill Park was suggested because of its natural backdrop and sightlines. Commissioners also noted the pilot would allow staff to test community interest before committing to a recurring series. Staff member Mikael Stevens will complete facility clearance steps, confirm insurance and waivers, and coordinate scheduling through the city’s programming process.

The pilot is structured as a trial: if successful, commissioners said the city and Dragonflight could consider additional sessions or year-round options (indoor at the presenter’s space) in future seasons. The commission did not adopt a contract or long-term agreement at the March 3 meeting; staff will return with paperwork and any required council-level approvals.

Details commissioners recorded at the meeting: the program targets ages 8 and up, runs up to four consecutive days at roughly two to three hours per day, limits groups to about 12 participants, and will be staffed by certified USA Archery coaches supplied by Dragonflight Archery. Insurance and liability coverage will be provided by the nonprofit and verified by city staff prior to the program.