LOCALadk Magazine

34 Fall 2020 LOCALadk Magazine LOCALadk I AM LOCALadk While many women hunters are introduced to the sport of bowhunting through their male family connections, that wasn't the stor y for avid outdoorswoman Jill Trunko. The first time she remembers shooting a bow was during college at a local Women in Nature one-day workshop held by the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs. She loved it and was hooked. Her interest in the outdoors flourished at that point. She received a bow as a graduation gift and has dedicated herself to the sport ever since. She credits the Girl Scouts and camping trips with her dad for her earliest immersions in nature. Trunko's other outdoor activities include hiking with her Siberian husky, Taiga, fly fishing, and biking. She and Taiga have hiked trails and mountains all over New York State, including the Adirondacks and Catskills. Their fa- vorite hikes include a river or waterhole of some sort so Taiga can cool off and splash around. These days Trunko works for the Department of Conser vation (DEC) as the New York State National Archer y in the Schools Program Coordinator and New York Explore Bowhunting Coordinator. She is also a certified hunter education and bowhunt- ing instructor. With NASP (National Archer y in the Schools Program) Trunko works to train teachers across the state who are interest- ed in including archer y in their curriculum. The state has certain requirements for teachers who want to do so. Trunko is a NASP-certified basic archer y trainer specialist. She conducts the training so teachers can get certified to teach their own students. "I really enjoy traveling around New York meeting the teachers that I'm working with," Trunko said. "There are so many parts of New York. I've been able to meet teachers from different size schools in different areas across the state. It's been really rewarding." Another facet of her role with DEC is to coordinate the Explore Bowhunting program within the state. The program specif- ically targets ages 11 through 17. It is designed to educate them on all aspects of bowhunting, including lessons on scouting, tracking, hunting preparation, setting up blinds, hunting attire, field dressing, and more. She coordinates with other instruc- tors to provide them with supplemental tools and training. They can then pick and choose when instructing youth during scout programs, after-school programs, or other related activities. "The program is ver y comprehensive," Trunko said. "Instructors can use one or two lessons out of the program or they can use all of them." Additionally, Trunko is also involved with the NYS DEC Becoming an Outdoorswoman (BOW) program as an instructor. Her background in environmental education and passion for archer y is a perfect blend for her work with the DEC . "I've always felt connected to the outdoors. I really liked the idea of outreach and environmental education. Combining science and teaching seemed like the perfect fit for me." Trunko received her undergrad degree in environmental studies with a concentration in communication, culture, and writ- ing from SUNY ESF and her Master's in Environmental Studies from Green Mountain College. For her, the appeal of archer y comes from both the challenge and the benefit. "I really like the way it requires strength and concentration," she obser ved. "As much of a sport as it is, it is relaxing. You have to be calm to be able to really get your shot. The method of nocking the arrow, pulling back and releasing, and then reflecting on that is a stress reliever." Teachers are also relaying this message back to Trunko. Many students are finding archer y an effective way to focus and channel energy. "The more I've been teaching it and hearing success stories from teachers about students, the more it reaffirms that a lot of people are experiencing this." Another thing that teachers are excited about is how adaptable archer y is for students of all abilities. The equipment can be adapted for students with visual impairments, hearing impairments, low mobility, and other issues. "Anybody can be an archer," noted Trunko. "It really is adaptable to all abilities. Archer y is a lifelong sport. The hope is that these students will carr y this on." For women interested in starting out, Trunko suggests attending a workshop (such as the DEC BOW program), utilizing online resources (such as Hunters Connect), connecting with other women to practice, and visiting a local archer y shop to get fitted for the proper equipment. By Megan Plete Postol

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