National Archery in the Schools Program

[Tim Nuss]

Just wondering what everyones opinion was about the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP)?
 Will it help or hurt us in Traditional Archery?

 Tim

[Shaun]

Mostly wheelie Genesis bows from Mathews - no archery involved.

[Morning Star]

Anytime you can put a bow in a kid's hand is a good thing.  This program brings them to more kids than any other.

As far as "no archery involved".  The Genesis bows operate without letoff and draw length adjustments, so I fail to see how the process of shooting is any different than a traditional bow.

Like many of us here, I only needed the fire to be lit with a compound.

[cbCrow]

I'm all for anything that gets kids involved in Archery.  

[adeeden]

It's a great program, yes they use the mathews genesis bows but no sights or releases so the fundamentals are still there! Our local club helps support the program finacialy in our high school and jr high school by buying bows, replaceing stings, cables and so forth.

Just a few weeks ago our local jr high won the IL state championship and will be going to Louseiville KY to compete in the national championship! I'm proud to say two of my boys are on that team!

Yeah my boys initialy complained abit they couldn't shot there recurves but applied what they already knew from instinctive shooting to turn in some good scores!

Anytime you can introduce kids to archery it's a great thing!

[Nosight]

As said above a great program...

We support it here at  our club also and we see kids getting started with archery.

The best part is on kids day some of us show up to help and the kids start to ask what we all shoot. Well we get the comments of "oh all of the old stuff".  But for some silly reason they give it a try.

Well for the rest of the day most of the "new stuff sits on the rack....

All we know is greatfun had by all...

Later.....Buzz

[Don Stokes]

I smile every time I see the scores reported in our local newspaper. All archery is good. The youngsters involved are not likely to become anti-hunters, either.

[KentuckyTJ]

Fantastic. Getting kids into archery of any kind has no ill effects. I applaud those who have taken their time to create and maintain this program.

[Barney]

I think Morning Star said it best.  

[BobCo 1965]

I think it is a great idea. I would even go as far to say the Genisis bow is a good choice. There is no let off on a Genesis bow, however addional energy can be stored in the cam. A little guy in forth grade can get decent arrow trajectory out of a 10 pound bow and is not overburdened by the size of the bow. One instrucor (who usually transports the equipment from school to school in a district) the can use the same bows from elementary all the way to high school because no draw length adjustments are needed from archer to archer and the exact same size bow can be used for all students (well except if the student draws over 30"). Often times the instructor also owns the equipment which he can also personally use to instruct 4-H, boyscouts, personal instruction courses, etc.

[imskippy]

I agree that any archery (whhels or not) is good for youth involvement. Our trad group in NJ supports many schools NASP programs. I'm actually considering going for the instructor course to get certified so I can try to impliment a program into our locals schools. I would love to be involved in something like that.

[oneeye]

"no archery involved" WOW, I find that statement to be so unbelievable! I guess it proves that some of us are own worse enemies.

This program gets the kids, many of whom would not get introduced to it otherwise, started on the basics of archery. They do not use sights, releases and the bows do not have a "wall" or "let-off".  I do not know what could be bad about that.

The local elementary team has shot good enough to make it to the Nationals 2 years in a row. Next year my daughter will be old enough to take part in the program and I wil be proud to have her participating in it.

[Ninnescah Hog]

Our club here in Kansas strongly supports the program.  Recently, they held a state tournament in Hays, which was won by our local middle school. (Clearwater)  Coach Moore said it is amazing to watch the kids really get in to shooting.  According to him, most of these kids would not be involved in school activities if it weren't for archery. Personally, I strongly endorse the program

[crotch horn]

It is a great program. ANYTHING that promotes hunting as fun or in a good light to kids and their parents is a VERY good thing. We all need to support programs that get our youth thinking outdoors. I think we can forget that many kids get no exposure to our lifestyle whatsoever. Just because we teach our families the lifestyle doesn't mean "Matt & Mary" have ever learned anything about it. If this gets them inti it great, but like stated, it may keep them from being antis as well. I to started with wheels and at age 40 finally took them off. Love archery more than ever.

[lt-m-grow]

I don't know the details of the program but I suspect it is better than what is done for archery in our school district as I suspect that beyond the equipment -- there is also some curriculum.

In our high school gym class for one of the they "events" they get to shoot arrows from old recurves.  My son, who knows how to shoot, says it is a mess.  The bows are junk, no form is taught, and kids just fling arrows with no feedback for several days.   I offered to lend the class some of my bows and to come and help with the session, but was turned down.   So there you have it, the type of bow doesn't make it better.  :-(

So yeah, I am all for NASP.

[BCWV]

It's a very good program. Our club is also  involved and like anything else we just get out of it what's put into it.
 We also have family and kids days where we help anyone who would like to take up archery at our club.
 I enjoy traditional but wheels or not, it's all good.

[Eugene Slagle]

Originally posted by Morning Star:
Anytime you can put a bow in a kid's hand is a good thing.  This program brings them to more kids than any other.

As far as "no archery involved".  The Genesis bows operate without letoff and draw length adjustments, so I fail to see how the process of shooting is any different than a traditional bow.

Like many of us here, I only needed the fire to be lit with a compound.

I agree 100%, granted the Genesis bows aren't the best thing out there but for what they are made for they do work beautifully.

I help teach archery courses from time to time with a instructor friend of mine & the NASP program does exactly what it's designed for, bring new kids to the sport of archery but like my friend & I emphasize on is that if the individule want's to persue archery further then proper fitting of a better bow is a requirement to get that person shooting properly for the long haul.

Many of us Trad shooters came from the wheels be it a nitch to them or a passion all together but the NASP really puts the spark in there for the person to take further.

[Shaun]

I guess I'm just an old trad fuddy duddy, but when I was a kid in grade school we had lemonwood longbows and wood arrows. We shot outside at round target butts in gym class (another long gone item in most school systems).

Compton does not sponsor wheel bows in the schools.

If there is "no let off" on a Genesis bow, then what are the wheels for?

Maybe we should take personal responsibility and - Each One Reach One, Each One Teach One!

[Northwest_Bowhunter]

I think the cool techie nature of the Mathews Genesis will make more kids want to shoot.  As they get older and learn more about archery they will decide if they want to shoot "training wheels" or traditional.  In the mean time, they have a bow in their hands and they are enjoying the art of archery.

I think that's a BFD (as the Vice President would say).

[BobCo 1965]

Originally posted by Shaun:


If there is "no let off" on a Genesis bow, then what are the wheels for?

Hi Shaun!

Although there is no let off and no draw length, there is a cam that does store additional energy. The "wheels" also keep the draw weight consistant thoughout the draw. If it's set for 15#'s say, it is 15#'s at 20" and 15#'s at 30". Not saying I love the bow, but it sure seems practical for what the program uses it for. It would seem to be a much easier sell to the school district knowing a 4th grader or 12th grader could use the same bow without any adjustments at all.