11-02-2007, 07:10 PM
Washington, DC. -- Recently, the National Archery in the Schools Program® (NASP®) was the focus of a briefing and archery clinic sponsored by the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus on Capitol Hill. The event took place in the Rayburn House office building and caps 5-1/2 years of remarkable growth for NASP. Roy Grimes, NASP president, along with ten students from Roanoke, Virginia assisted more than three dozen senators, congressmen, and other dignitaries as they learned to shoot and improve their target archery skills.
The event was sponsored by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation and was hosted by the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus. Caucus co-chairs Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) and Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) kicked off the breakfast briefing by expressing their support for innovative outdoor and physical activities for America's youth. Both congressmen are avid outdoorsmen and bow hunters and stated the importance of providing activities such as NASP to engage students in physical education class. "Activities like NASP will keep our kids focused on the need to remain physically fit and active," said Congressman Kind. "NASP proves that we can find physical activities for all kids and you don't have to be able to dunk a ball or kick a field goal to enjoy your physical education class," said Congressman Ryan.
The Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus supports the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSFhttp://www.sportsmenslink.org/about/staff.asp). Foundation president, Jeff Crane, was quick to point to the economic impact of hunting, shooting and outdoor related recreation. "NASP is a great introduction for millions of kids to the shooting sports. Having a program like NASP helps wildlife conservation through the sale of bows, arrows, and equipment. It's the only sport where girls and boys can participate side-by-side on the same team. NASP is a winner for conservation and introducing youth to outdoor skills. It's a great way to grow the sport of archery," said Crane.
NASP president, Roy Grimes, highlighted the remarkable five-year history and growth of the program. "Target archery taught in the NASP method is one of the safest activities for kids. NASP is taught by physical education teachers in grades 4-12, and 94% of the students say they enjoyed their archery lessons." To date, more than 2.3 million kids in 43 states, Canada and Australia have taken archery lessons from their PE teachers. Grimes went on to cite other data from a 2004 study done by Responsive Management of Harrisonburg, Virginia. The study was funded by the Archery Trade Association and indicates that 84% of the students expressed an interest in archery after completing the class. Almost 80% want an 'archery club' and many schools (37%) actually started after school archery clubs. Most significantly, 27% of NASP participants later purchased archery equipment. NASP meets or exceeds national and state physical education standards. Each teacher participates in Basic Archery Instructor Training regardless of prior training or experience. "NASP equipment is universal and fits every student and is taught in the school gym," said Grimes. The original goal of NASP was to operate the program in 25 states by the year 2008. Canada's entry in the program last month marked the third country which has adopted the NASP. Victoria, Australia implemented the program in 2004.
The breakfast briefing was attended by several members of congress, dozens of congressional staffers from the U.S. House of Representatives, members of the U.S. Senate, and a number of conservation organizations and supporters. In addition to Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) attendees included: Senator Wayne Allard (R-Co), Congressman Leonard L. Boswell (D-IA), Congressman Brian Bilbray(R-CA), Congressman Steve Pearce (R-NM), and Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA). Also in attendance were Mitch King and Michelle Duerr from the Archery Trade Association, Mary Beth Charles from the American Sport Fishing Association, Matt Hogan, executive vice president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and Ken Schwartz, Government Affairs and communications manager for Safari Club International.
Following the breakfast, everyone was invited to the basement of the Rayburn House Office Building to shoot Genesis® Bows with ten students from Hidden Valley High School in Roanoke, Virginia. David Whitehurst, Director of the Virginia Game and Inland Fisheries Department and Karen Holson, VGIF NASP coordinator hosted the clinic. More than three dozen participants attended the 2-hour clinic. "We're proud of our NASP program and especially these great high school students from Roanoke. They showed remarkable poise and confidence as they taught congressmen and their staffs to shoot," said Director Whitehurst.
The Roanoke students provided one-on-one attention to the congressmen and their staffs. On several occasions, the kids used positive language and encouragement to improve the success of their "new students.'' One congressman was running late for a meeting and was in the process of leaving when he was reminded by Roanoke student Emily Waddell that he could not leave the shooting area until he had, "pulled his arrows from the target."
Security requirements in Washington, DC were strict. Kevin Stay, president of Mathews Manufacturing, Inc. was quick to point to the great cooperation from the United States Capitol Police. "We received remarkable cooperation from the Capitol Police. Moving bows, arrows, targets, equipment and the Roanoke High School students into Washington, DC was a challenge. Jack Looney, assistant to the Sergeant at Arms and Lieutenant Kathryn J. Stillman helped us every step of the way. They are tremendous ambas
ors for the United States Capitol Police," said Stay.
For more information on The National Archery in the Schools Program, visit www.archeryintheschools.org.
Media Contact:
Tom Bennett, director of Government Relations, NASP Foundation, (502) 594-9575, or tbennett@nasparchery.com
The event was sponsored by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation and was hosted by the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus. Caucus co-chairs Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) and Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) kicked off the breakfast briefing by expressing their support for innovative outdoor and physical activities for America's youth. Both congressmen are avid outdoorsmen and bow hunters and stated the importance of providing activities such as NASP to engage students in physical education class. "Activities like NASP will keep our kids focused on the need to remain physically fit and active," said Congressman Kind. "NASP proves that we can find physical activities for all kids and you don't have to be able to dunk a ball or kick a field goal to enjoy your physical education class," said Congressman Ryan.
The Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus supports the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSFhttp://www.sportsmenslink.org/about/staff.asp). Foundation president, Jeff Crane, was quick to point to the economic impact of hunting, shooting and outdoor related recreation. "NASP is a great introduction for millions of kids to the shooting sports. Having a program like NASP helps wildlife conservation through the sale of bows, arrows, and equipment. It's the only sport where girls and boys can participate side-by-side on the same team. NASP is a winner for conservation and introducing youth to outdoor skills. It's a great way to grow the sport of archery," said Crane.
NASP president, Roy Grimes, highlighted the remarkable five-year history and growth of the program. "Target archery taught in the NASP method is one of the safest activities for kids. NASP is taught by physical education teachers in grades 4-12, and 94% of the students say they enjoyed their archery lessons." To date, more than 2.3 million kids in 43 states, Canada and Australia have taken archery lessons from their PE teachers. Grimes went on to cite other data from a 2004 study done by Responsive Management of Harrisonburg, Virginia. The study was funded by the Archery Trade Association and indicates that 84% of the students expressed an interest in archery after completing the class. Almost 80% want an 'archery club' and many schools (37%) actually started after school archery clubs. Most significantly, 27% of NASP participants later purchased archery equipment. NASP meets or exceeds national and state physical education standards. Each teacher participates in Basic Archery Instructor Training regardless of prior training or experience. "NASP equipment is universal and fits every student and is taught in the school gym," said Grimes. The original goal of NASP was to operate the program in 25 states by the year 2008. Canada's entry in the program last month marked the third country which has adopted the NASP. Victoria, Australia implemented the program in 2004.
The breakfast briefing was attended by several members of congress, dozens of congressional staffers from the U.S. House of Representatives, members of the U.S. Senate, and a number of conservation organizations and supporters. In addition to Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) attendees included: Senator Wayne Allard (R-Co), Congressman Leonard L. Boswell (D-IA), Congressman Brian Bilbray(R-CA), Congressman Steve Pearce (R-NM), and Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA). Also in attendance were Mitch King and Michelle Duerr from the Archery Trade Association, Mary Beth Charles from the American Sport Fishing Association, Matt Hogan, executive vice president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and Ken Schwartz, Government Affairs and communications manager for Safari Club International.
Following the breakfast, everyone was invited to the basement of the Rayburn House Office Building to shoot Genesis® Bows with ten students from Hidden Valley High School in Roanoke, Virginia. David Whitehurst, Director of the Virginia Game and Inland Fisheries Department and Karen Holson, VGIF NASP coordinator hosted the clinic. More than three dozen participants attended the 2-hour clinic. "We're proud of our NASP program and especially these great high school students from Roanoke. They showed remarkable poise and confidence as they taught congressmen and their staffs to shoot," said Director Whitehurst.
The Roanoke students provided one-on-one attention to the congressmen and their staffs. On several occasions, the kids used positive language and encouragement to improve the success of their "new students.'' One congressman was running late for a meeting and was in the process of leaving when he was reminded by Roanoke student Emily Waddell that he could not leave the shooting area until he had, "pulled his arrows from the target."
Security requirements in Washington, DC were strict. Kevin Stay, president of Mathews Manufacturing, Inc. was quick to point to the great cooperation from the United States Capitol Police. "We received remarkable cooperation from the Capitol Police. Moving bows, arrows, targets, equipment and the Roanoke High School students into Washington, DC was a challenge. Jack Looney, assistant to the Sergeant at Arms and Lieutenant Kathryn J. Stillman helped us every step of the way. They are tremendous ambas
ors for the United States Capitol Police," said Stay. For more information on The National Archery in the Schools Program, visit www.archeryintheschools.org.
Media Contact:
Tom Bennett, director of Government Relations, NASP Foundation, (502) 594-9575, or tbennett@nasparchery.com