MADISON - Why would officials from the National Archery in the Schools Program look to Wisconsin to increase the number of kids involved?
It's all about hunting traditions, according to NASP National Director Roy Grimes, who led the discussion at a workshop hosted by the Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Wildlife Management recently in Madison.
"When we decided to expand the program, Wisconsin was a natural choice based on the strong outdoor heritage that exists here," Grimes said. "That's especially true of archery."
The goal is to engage more students in the educational process to improve classroom performance and reduce dropout rates. Educators have long understood that those who are most at risk of dropping out of school are those who are not involved in extracurricular activities.
One reason the program is a success, NASP officials say, is that archery is accessible to nearly all students, including those with disabilities. Students embrace the challenge of shooting at bulls-eye targets backed by an arrow-resistant net in their gymnasium.
The NASP was originally conceived as a method of promoting and expanding the sport of archery in schools, but teachers and administrators quickly realized that the additional benefits to its participants reveal the real story behind the explosive success of the program.
The latest in archery equipment designed to fit every student is available through the program In Wisconsin, NASP equipment has been delivered to more than 200 school districts. The equipment includes bows, arrows, targets and a 30-foot arrow resistant safety net. The setup is safe, durable and easy for the teacher and the student to learn to use.
The Madison workshop included representatives of a wide range of Wisconsin outdoor organizations, including the Wisconsin Bowhunters Association.
Association member Larrie Hazen of Mt. Hope says there is strong support for the program within his group. "We're behind the program 100 percent," he said.
According to Hazen, WBA contributes monetarily with equipment purchases for schools while many of its members serve as certified NASP instructors. WBA boasts more than 7,000 members statewide.
Mathews, a nationally recognized Wisconsin-based bow manufacturing company, has also been a strong NASP supporter, contributing more than $2 million in financial support over the past six years.
Representing Mathews at the workshop was Kevin Stay of Brennan Industries, makers of Genesis, the official bow of NASP. Brennan makes the Genesis bow available at reduced prices directly to schools, government agencies and other non-profit organizations.
Many archery organizations would like to see the program incorporated into their local school's physical education curriculum. Kevin Winkler is president of the South Central Wisconsin Archers, a group that operates a state-of-the-art archery facility in Monroe.
"So many families out there do not have a parent who is involved in the outdoors," he asserts. "It may be the only way some of these kids would get an opportunity to experience archery."
"It's something anyone can enjoy," says Winkler. "Anyone - boy, girl, athlete, non-athlete - they can all become good archers."
According to NASP officials, the program can be incorporated in the school curriculum with ease. The NASP lessons were co-written by educators and archers and were designed to be compliant with core content standards at both the national and state levels.
In many cases, NASP participation offers after school activities plus the potential for involvement in local, state and national tournament competition. Disney World's Wide World of Sports will host the first World NASP Tournament in Orlando, Florida, Oct. 8-11, 2009.
Since its beginning in 2002, more than 3.2 million students from 4,700 schools in 46 states and five foreign countries have participated in NASP. Most recently, the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and Nova Scotia have engaged the program.
Roy Grimes and a group of like-minded archers founded the National Archery in the Schools Program in Kentucky in 2002. "If we continue to grow at the current rate, NASP will impact a million youth per year," said Grimes. "And that's something to be proud of."
- Lee Fahrney is the Monroe Times outdoors writer. He can be reached at (608) 967-2208 or fiveoaks@mhtc.net.
It's all about hunting traditions, according to NASP National Director Roy Grimes, who led the discussion at a workshop hosted by the Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Wildlife Management recently in Madison.
"When we decided to expand the program, Wisconsin was a natural choice based on the strong outdoor heritage that exists here," Grimes said. "That's especially true of archery."
The goal is to engage more students in the educational process to improve classroom performance and reduce dropout rates. Educators have long understood that those who are most at risk of dropping out of school are those who are not involved in extracurricular activities.
One reason the program is a success, NASP officials say, is that archery is accessible to nearly all students, including those with disabilities. Students embrace the challenge of shooting at bulls-eye targets backed by an arrow-resistant net in their gymnasium.
The NASP was originally conceived as a method of promoting and expanding the sport of archery in schools, but teachers and administrators quickly realized that the additional benefits to its participants reveal the real story behind the explosive success of the program.
The latest in archery equipment designed to fit every student is available through the program In Wisconsin, NASP equipment has been delivered to more than 200 school districts. The equipment includes bows, arrows, targets and a 30-foot arrow resistant safety net. The setup is safe, durable and easy for the teacher and the student to learn to use.
The Madison workshop included representatives of a wide range of Wisconsin outdoor organizations, including the Wisconsin Bowhunters Association.
Association member Larrie Hazen of Mt. Hope says there is strong support for the program within his group. "We're behind the program 100 percent," he said.
According to Hazen, WBA contributes monetarily with equipment purchases for schools while many of its members serve as certified NASP instructors. WBA boasts more than 7,000 members statewide.
Mathews, a nationally recognized Wisconsin-based bow manufacturing company, has also been a strong NASP supporter, contributing more than $2 million in financial support over the past six years.
Representing Mathews at the workshop was Kevin Stay of Brennan Industries, makers of Genesis, the official bow of NASP. Brennan makes the Genesis bow available at reduced prices directly to schools, government agencies and other non-profit organizations.
Many archery organizations would like to see the program incorporated into their local school's physical education curriculum. Kevin Winkler is president of the South Central Wisconsin Archers, a group that operates a state-of-the-art archery facility in Monroe.
"So many families out there do not have a parent who is involved in the outdoors," he asserts. "It may be the only way some of these kids would get an opportunity to experience archery."
"It's something anyone can enjoy," says Winkler. "Anyone - boy, girl, athlete, non-athlete - they can all become good archers."
According to NASP officials, the program can be incorporated in the school curriculum with ease. The NASP lessons were co-written by educators and archers and were designed to be compliant with core content standards at both the national and state levels.
In many cases, NASP participation offers after school activities plus the potential for involvement in local, state and national tournament competition. Disney World's Wide World of Sports will host the first World NASP Tournament in Orlando, Florida, Oct. 8-11, 2009.
Since its beginning in 2002, more than 3.2 million students from 4,700 schools in 46 states and five foreign countries have participated in NASP. Most recently, the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and Nova Scotia have engaged the program.
Roy Grimes and a group of like-minded archers founded the National Archery in the Schools Program in Kentucky in 2002. "If we continue to grow at the current rate, NASP will impact a million youth per year," said Grimes. "And that's something to be proud of."
- Lee Fahrney is the Monroe Times outdoors writer. He can be reached at (608) 967-2208 or fiveoaks@mhtc.net.
