Today we’d like to introduce you to Lynda Whitehead.
Lynda, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started archery in 2010 when a coworker put a basic compound bow in my hand. It was an instant obsession.
Not long after, I walked into Bass Pro Shops wanting a bow but having no idea what I needed. An associate quickly set me up with a pink camo Diamond Edge compound bow and had me shooting almost immediately. That same associate told me about local 3D shoots, where archers shoot at life-size foam animal targets for score, and I jumped right in.
That led me into the local 3D circuit, then bowhunting, and eventually volunteering at a local archery club in Pearland. It was through that club that I discovered my greatest love in the sport: coaching youth.
As more students began coming to me for coaching, it became clear that I needed a facility of my own. The building at 9701 Honeywell Street had been an archery range for as long as I could remember, and I had shot there myself. When the previous tenants were forced to close, the landlord was given my number — and the rest is history.
X10 Archery Academy was established in 2012 with a mission to support archers, grow the sport, and use the art of archery to help people find their potential. In 2023, we became a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit because, at our core, we are educators. We work with youth groups, Scouts, homeschoolers, school programs, and the local community, while also serving adults and families who have become an important part of the X10 community.
Today, X10 has developed a proprietary curriculum that uses archery as the vehicle to teach self-awareness, focus, confidence, personal responsibility, and human development. Archery may be the tool, but the deeper work is helping people understand themselves, manage pressure, and grow into their potential.
Our nonprofit status also allows us to partner with like-minded foundations and organizations, combining skills, resources, and networks to create a stronger impact in the Houston community.
What began with one bow in my hand has grown into a mission to help others discover what is possible in themselves.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, but it has been a meaningful one.
Archery is a niche industry, and historically it has been a very male-dominated space. As a female coach, business owner, and program visionary, one of the ongoing challenges has been earning credibility in environments where that was not always freely given. Many archery pro shops are centered around bowhunting, and the competitive archery world in Texas can be intense, opinionated, and, at times, difficult to navigate.
There have also been challenges around building something with a bigger mission. X10, from the beginning, always had the goal to use archery as a vehicle for growth, discipline, confidence, youth development, and community. Not everyone has understood that. At times, having a clear vision and a heart for developing young people has been misinterpreted by those who see archery through a narrower lens.
Financially, there have been difficult seasons. We have weathered hurricanes, a pandemic, rising costs, and the general uncertainty that comes with running a small nonprofit in a specialized industry. There have been times when I personally sacrificed to keep the doors open because I believed so strongly in the mission and in the people we serve.
Building the right team has been another major learning curve. Someone can know archery and still not be the right fit for a program like ours. X10 requires people who not only understand the sport, but also care about teaching, character development, inclusion, and community. That has taken time to build.
But through all of those challenges, X10 has continued to grow.
Today, we have the strongest team we have ever had, the most members we have ever had, our strongest programs, and a growing network of support around us. Since opening in 2012, we have introduced archery to more than 10,000 people, certified hundreds of instructors and coaches, and built a community of archers from many different backgrounds and walks of life.
Some of our greatest celebrations have been watching young archers start with us as beginners and go on to become national champions, members of the United States Archery Team, and athletes working toward Olympic and Paralympic dreams for LA 2028.
So no, it has not been smooth. But every challenge has shaped X10 into something stronger, clearer, and more purpose-driven.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
X10 Archery Academy is a nonprofit archery education and athlete-development organization in Houston, Texas. We serve youth, adults, families, schools, community groups, competitive athletes, recreational archers, and people who are discovering archery for the very first time.
At the surface level, we teach archery. But at the heart of X10, we use archery as a platform for human development.
Our programs help students build focus, confidence, discipline, emotional regulation, goal setting, and personal responsibility. Archery is unique in that it gives immediate feedback. The target tells the truth. Students learn very quickly that their thoughts, posture, breath, emotions, habits, preparation, and self-talk all affect the outcome. That makes archery an incredible tool for teaching life skills in a very practical and memorable way.
We are known for coaching, coach development, youth programs, adaptive and para archery support, community outreach, and creating a welcoming environment for people from many different backgrounds. We work with beginners who have never touched a bow, recreational archers who want a rewarding hobby, competitive athletes pursuing national goals, and youth groups looking for enrichment.
What sets X10 apart is that we are focused on who the archer becomes in the process of mastering the sport.
Our curriculum is intentionally built around both technical archery skill and personal development. We teach students how to understand their shot process, manage pressure, recover from mistakes, set goals, and develop confidence. Whether someone is training for competition, learning for fun, or participating through a school or youth program, the deeper purpose is the same: helping people recognize and develop their potential.
As a nonprofit, we are also able to partner with schools, Scouts, foundations, civic organizations, and other community partners to make archery more accessible. That is an important part of our mission. We want archery to be available not only to those who can already afford equipment, private coaching, and competition travel, but also to young people and families who may not otherwise have access to the sport.
Brand-wise, I am most proud that X10 has become known as more than a place to shoot. It has become a community. We have students who started with us as children and grew into national-level athletes, instructors, mentors, and leaders. We have adults who found confidence, connection, and a new sense of purpose through the sport. We have families who have grown with us for years.
The thing I most want readers to know is that X10 is about potential. Archery is the art form, the discipline, and the vehicle. But the real work is helping people build the skills, mindset, and confidence to become stronger in sport and in life.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Belief in the mission. That is a fundamental part of what we teach here at X10 – belief that the outcome will arrive when we focus on the path to get there. For the archer, that is being at peace with knowing there is a process to learn, visualize, practice, and reflect on. Trusting that when we dedicate ourselves to navigating the path, we will reach our destination.
Pricing:
- Try Archery starts at $40
- Lessons start at $70
- Memberships starts at $65
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.x10archery.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/x10archery/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/x10archery/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/x10academy/
- Twitter: https://x.com/X10Academy
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@X10archery
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/x10-archery-academy-houston
