The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife is reminding educators looking for a physical education activity that all students can excel at regardless of strength, speed, and physical ability, and which is a sport that is safe, easy to manage, and currently soaring in popularity, they should consider the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP). NASP is a two week target archery curriculum that is aligned with 4th-12th grade National Physical Education Standards, run in a school gymnasium or outdoor field during physical education classes, and appeals to students of all abilities and backgrounds. NASP schools have the opportunity to compete against each other in state, national, and international tournaments. NASP has taught over 10 million students and is currently bigger than Little League baseball!

Nearly everyone can succeed at archery. Kids love archery, and archery helps students excel. Statistics show that school archery programs:

• Improve school attendance
• Increase self-esteem
• Increase physical activity
• Relate to subject matter
• Appeal to all students
• Get kids out-of-doors
• Can become an after-school activity

If a school is interested in implementing NASP, a training date can be scheduled through the Division of Fish and Wildlife. Teachers that will be instructing archery need to go through the Basic Archery Instructor certification training. The division provides the training free of charge, along with the training materials. The training is a full day (about 7 hours) and can be scheduled at the school's convenience and held in the school gym. Teachers generally take a professional development day or schedule a substitute in order to attend.

Once teachers are trained, they are ready to run the archery program in physical education classes or after school programs. The Division also has loaner equipment that can be used free of charge, allowing NASP to be implemented at no cost to schools. Equipment can also be purchased directly through NASP at a discounted rate; a typical school kit costs about $3000.

Last year, NASP doubled in size in New Jersey and now has more than 115 schools participating throughout the state. NASP continues to rapidly expand in New Jersey and the fall training calendar is quickly filling up! Contact the Division to schedule a NASP training session for the upcoming school year and join the growing number of schools implementing this wildly popular program!