The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) has been bringing the sport of archery to millions of students in schools across the United States since 2002. This year’s National tournament will be held in Louisville, Kentucky. With more than 390 schools attending, nearly 7,000 boys and girls registered (to date), and a 1,250 square foot target range – it will be the largest archery event to be held in the world in 2011!

On May 13th and 14th, 2011, teams representing 34 different states will be competing for more than 300 team and individual medals, trophies, plaques, and banners. The participants, which are boys and girls from the 4th through 12th grade levels, will have until April 25th to complete the registration. Every team registered for the tournament qualified first at the NASP Nationals held in their state.

The NASP is for both boys and girls. This year's National tournament has already registered more than 2,700 girls!

The event, which is being held at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, is open to the public. Adults and children over the age of twelve will have to pay a five dollar general admission that allows access to not only tournament viewing, but also to the more than 40 exhibitors expected on the show floor. Exhibitors will range from archery-related businesses to adventure tourism activities intended for the whole family to enjoy.

The NASP conducts this event with tremendous support from host-partner, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.  The NASP also partners with 47 state fish and wildlife agencies and the District of Columbia in this, the 8th National tournament.  NASP sponsors, the National Field Archery Association and Morrell Manufacturing, are providing much of the equipment and targets used in this tournament. More than 100 volunteers are also expected to be on-hand for this event.

This May, more than 7,000 students from different grade levels will be competing in the world's largest archery event for 2011.

About the NASP

Designed to teach international style target archery in physical education class with students from the 4th through 12th grades, the NASP program began with twenty-one Kentucky middle schools in March of 2002. Today it encompasses more than 9,000 schools and features two-million student archer athletes.

The two-week archery course covers history, safety, technique, equipment, mental concentration, core strengthening, physical fitness, and self-improvement. Before presenting this course, teachers must undergo an 8-hour National Archery in the Schools Program – Basic Instructor Training.

Once the certificate is completed, students from their school will be participating by shooting at 80 centimeter bulls-eye targets placed in front of an arrow curtain in their gymnasium. Equipment used for the program is state-of-the art, and designed to fit every student. Thanks to support from the archery industry, the $6,000 equipment 'kits' can be purchased by schools for as little as $2,800 and up to $3,100, dependent upon which targets and bow hanging units are chosen.

The Hunting Network staff encourages parents and local communities to get involved with children and archery by contacting the NASP for more information on how you can help bring this rewarding program to the schools. We would also like to wish the best of luck to all of the participating teams and individuals of this event.