The National Archery in the Schools Program Comes to Maryland

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Annapolis – The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is pleased to announce that Maryland is the 33rd state to adopt the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP). The program’s mission is to promote student education through participation in the sport of archery with the focus being to provide Junior Olympic Archery Development style target archery training in 4th - 12th grades in physical education classes. Core content covers the history of archery, safety, shooting techniques, equipment, mental concentration and self-improvement.

Students shoot at bulls-eye targets placed before an arrow restraint net in their gymnasiums as a unit in their PE curriculum. Equipment used is state-of-the-art and designed to fit every student. This program is unique in that it provides an opportunity for all students to participate regardless of gender, age or body size. Launched in Kentucky in 2002, NASP is already proving to be the most successful archery-introduction program in history.

Last month teachers from selected schools in 8 different counties of Maryland received the mandatory 8-hour training for Maryland NASP and were certified as a Level I instructors by the National Archery Association of the United States. Other teachers and some individuals from the Maryland Bowhunter’s Society received Level 2 certification which qualifies them to teach the Level I training.

If you would like to find out how your school can be a part of Maryland’s Archery in the Schools Program call Doug Wigfield, Maryland Coordinator, at 410-713-3852 or e-mail him at dwigfield2@dnr.state.md.us.

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December 8, 2005

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 446,000 acres of public lands and 18,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov