WHEREAS, the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP), was established in Kentucky in March 2002 with 22 middle schools participating in the first year, and
WHEREAS, of the 1600 kids (45% girls; 55% boys) participating in the NASP during its initial year, 72% did not own a bow and 62% had never shot one before, and
WHEREAS, 89% of the participants enjoyed the class, and 45% wanted to own archery equipment, 59% wanted to become target archers and 39% wanted to try bowhunting after participating in the program, and
WHEREAS, over 800 Kentucky schools have adopted the NASP program and in 2006 the NASP championship competition attracted 2,164 student archers, and
WHEREAS, NASP has been adopted by 44 states as of September 2007; Australia and Canada have also initiated NASP, and
WHEREAS, over 3 million youth have participated in archery through NASP, during school hours, and
WHEREAS, there have been zero accidents/injuries involving participants or instructors, proving that NASP is a safe and carefully thought out program, and
WHEREAS, the instructors and teachers of the NASP are required to attend training where they are taught safety and how to institute the NASP in the schools, and
WHEREAS, NASP was introduced to Louisiana in 14 pilot schools around the state in 2004, and
WHEREAS, C.E. Byrd High School in Shreveport held the first Louisiana NASP tournament in May 2007, with 37 young archers participating in the competition, and
WHEREAS, although just 3 Caddo Parish schools participated in the NASP during the 2006-2007 school year, over 700 kids learned about archery and benefited from the program, and
WHEREAS, considering the decline in hunter recruitment, especially among youth, and low youth participation in the shooting sports, NASP is a perfect program for schools to introduce kids to archery skills that can lead to a lifetime of wholesome recreational enjoyment as well as promote the development of capacities that will be useful to them throughout their lives.
THEREFORE IT BE RESOLVED that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation (LWF) supports the growth of the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) in Louisiana and urges the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries (LDWF), in partnership with the Bayou State
Bowhunters Association and other appropriate sporting and education groups to promote the development of NASP throughout the state.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the LWF urges the LDWF to consider establishing a position of “shooting sports coordinator” within the agency to work on the development of the NASP and other organized shooting education programs, activities and events to promote the shooting sports among youth and adults alike.
Adopted by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation in Convention Assembled, March 16, 2008 in New Iberia, Louisiana