GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES WILDLIFE RESOURCES DIVISION 
 
For more information, contact 
Jennifer Bailey Pittman WRD Shooting Sports Program Director 
2065 U.S. Highway 278 Social Circle, GA 30025 
(770) 918-6416 jennifer.pittman@dnr.state.ga.us 
www.georgiawildlife.com 
 
ARCHERY 
in the Schools 
PROGRAM 
 
NASP Engages the Unengaged 
"Educators love the program because it engages a large percentage of the student body in the educational process - early data demonstrates that attendance, behavior and self-esteem are improved through this program." 
-Roy Grimes, NASP Director 
Safe, Easy and Affordable 
The archery course can be set up in a school gymnasium in a safe, easy fashion, and the equipment is available at reduced rates to teachers. The program is part of the state's hunter and bowhunter education efforts - programs that are supported from the sales of archery equipment through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service "Federal Assistance in Wildlife Restoration" efforts. 
 
Partners in Georgia NASP: 
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division 
Georgia Department of Education Georgia Wildlife Federation Georgia Outdoor Network 
National Wild Turkey Federation Anheuser-Busch Charity NASP, Inc. Mathews, Inc. Morrell Targets Easton Sports 
Archery Shops all across Georgia 
 
Changing Lives One Arrow at a Time 
 
 ARCHERYin the Schools 
 
The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) is a joint venture between state departments of Education and Wildlife. Several archery equipment manufacturers and organizations are partners in the program. NASP promotes student education, physical education and participation in the lifelong sport of archery. 
The program's focus is to provide international-style target archery training in elementary through high school physical education classes. The program is designed to introduce target archery to students during a two-week physical education course. 
Archery is a life sport that circumvents traditional barriers to engage students of all genders and physical abilities, even facilitating participation and competition in students with disabilities. The ability of archery and NASP to engage this broad spectrum of students has led to rapid growth and acceptance of the program, as well as expansion to after-school clubs and inter-school competition. Schools participating in NASP have 
 
experienced a number of favorable spin-off benefits as well, including reduced behavior problems and improved school attendance. 
Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division Objective: To provide needed funding and general support for hunter education and for wildlife conservation efforts. 
Georgia Education Agency Objective: To engage more students in the educational process to improve classroom performance and reduce dropout rates. 
Development History:  The program began in Kentucky with the training of 
39 educators in 2002.  The program began in Georgia with 18 educators in 
2004.  By 2008, 276 educators in Georgia will have been 
trained.  By 2008, more than 3 million students will have 
participated in NASP during physical education class. 
 
"Students and success go hand in hand, like a bow and arrow." 
-Matt McPherson, Mathews Archery 
Kentucky Survey Results 
(55% boys and 45% girls) 
Before the Course  72% did not own a bow.  62% had never shot a bow. 
After the Course  89% enjoyed archery.  45% wanted to own archery equipment.  59% wanted to become target archers.  38% wanted to try bowhunting. 
In a November 2005 study by "Responsive Management," 50 of the 315 schools participating in Kentucky's program were surveyed. 
Of the archery student graduates surveyed...  94% said they enjoyed archery.  61% felt better about themselves after taking 
archery.  49% liked their school better because archery was 
taught.  66% like PE class better with archery being taught.  72% reported that they liked the fact that archery 
let them work more closely with their teacher.  22% bought archery equipment after taking the 
class.