COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – For most athletes, archery is a pursuit of precision, performance and personal bests. For one young New Jersey archer, it has also become a powerful tool for connection, compassion and community impact.
What began as a simple moment between a grandson and his grandmother has grown into Aim for Unity, an organization founded by 16-year-old Samuel Kim, a student at Bergen County Academies, that brings safe, engaging archery experiences to seniors living with cognitive decline – and reminds all involved just how transformative the sport can be.
Growing up in a multigenerational household with his parents, sister and grandmother, Samuel saw the realities of aging up close. When his grandmother began showing signs of cognitive decline a few years ago, the experience became deeply personal.
At the same time, he was already immersed in archery, training and competing regularly and understanding firsthand how mental the sport truly is.
“I started wondering whether the focus, discipline and concentration required in archery could actually benefit brain health,” Samuel said. “When I looked into it, I found that activities combining physical movement, cognitive stimulation and social interaction are especially beneficial for seniors experiencing cognitive decline.”
That realization sparked an idea - and a leap of faith.
Using a safe training system called Arrovel by Fivics, which features Velcro-tipped arrows instead of sharp points, Samuel introduced his grandmother to archery. The equipment still felt realistic but removed the risks that would normally make the sport inaccessible.
The result was immediate and striking.
“After seeing how engaged and motivated she became after shooting, I realized I could help other people too,” he said.
He filmed a short video of himself teaching his grandmother and shared it with local senior centers. Once staff saw how simple, safe and enjoyable archery could be, doors began to open. From there, Aim for Unity was born. And what started as a solo effort quickly outgrew one person.
“When senior centers agreed to host workshops, I realized I couldn’t teach groups of 20 or 30 people by myself,” Samuel said. “Archery is very hands-on.”
He turned to his local archery community, recruiting friends and fellow competitors who already understood range safety, technique and coaching fundamentals. Many had experience through USA Archery instructor and judge certifications and were eager to give back.
Today, Aim for Unity works with a team of 19 volunteer coaches – all active archers who love the sport and believe in its power to connect generations.
Research shows that three elements are especially important for slowing cognitive decline: physical activity, cognitive stimulation and social interaction. In the right environment, archery naturally blends all three.
Physically, participants stretch, practice drills, draw the bow and release arrows. Even seniors in wheelchairs or with limited mobility can fully participate. Cognitively, they focus on posture, aim, memory and hand-eye coordination.
Socially, the sessions are filled with conversation, encouragement and shared moments of celebration.
“People cheer each other on, talk before and after shooting, and celebrate hitting the target together,” Samuel added. “Those shared experiences really matter.”
Samuel’s journey in archery began in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it was one of the few sports that could be practiced safely with social distancing. What started as a new hobby quickly became a serious commitment.
Now approaching six years in the sport, he trains at M&J Archery under Coach Baekwoon Mun and Coach Misook Jeong, and has attended two instructional seminars with Coach Kim Hyung Tak. One seminar with Coach Kim left a lasting impression.
“He introduced a simple ‘one-two-three’ method for beginners that we now use in every session,” Samuel explained. “I was shocked by how simple and structured it was. I had never thought about teaching archery that way.”
His own competitive resume continues to grow. He placed seventh overall at the 2025 Easton Foundations SoCal Showdown, won several New Jersey state tournaments, and was selected for the USA Archery Regional Elite Team in both 2025 and 2026. But for Samuel, the most meaningful results now extend far beyond medals.
Launching Aim for Unity required persistence as much as passion. Samuel began by cold-emailing local senior centers, sharing his video and explaining how the program would work. Many were skeptical at first. He followed up with phone calls and in-person meetings, walking staff through safety protocols, supervision plans and session structure.
Once a few centers agreed to try it, momentum built quickly.
“Word of mouth played a big role,” Samuel commented. “Once people saw that it was safe, engaging and genuinely interesting, introducing it to new locations wasn’t very difficult.”
As of January 2026, Aim for Unity has delivered 28 workshops across senior centers and assisted living homes. Every single one has asked the team to return.
Staff report that participants are more engaged and confident during sessions. Family members have reached out to express gratitude for seeing loved ones try something new and stay mentally and socially active. Most importantly, the seniors themselves keep coming back.
“Even participants who were hesitant at first often end up smiling, encouraging each other and asking when the next session will be,” Samuel continued.
For Samuel, the greatest reward isn’t competitive success. It’s watching fear turn into joy.
“We’ve had many seniors tell us they were nervous or even scared to join at first,” he said. “After encouragement from peers, they ended up loving it.”
The workshops also create rare opportunities for intergenerational connection.
“Younger and older generations who otherwise wouldn’t meet get to share something meaningful together,” Samuel said. “It’s really special.”
In the coming months, Aim for Unity will continue serving its New Jersey community while carefully expanding into nearby areas, including New York. Growth will be intentional, focused on maintaining safety, quality and consistency. Long-term, the vision is global.
“Archery is practiced worldwide, and dementia is a worldwide issue,” Samuel said. “If the program is structured correctly, any community can adapt it.”
For one archer, a sport rooted in focus and form has become something far greater – a bridge between generations, a spark of joy for seniors, and a reminder that archery’s impact can reach far beyond the shooting line.
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