| It is a pilot project for the nation. The Kentucky Department of Fish
and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) and the Kentucky Department of Education
(KDE) have joined forces to put together an archery program in Kentucky
schools. The program, less than a year old, is already being heralded as
a tremendous success on several fronts.
Much of the credit for this success goes to visionary archers, archery
associations and archery companies. Commissioner of the KDFWR, Tom
Bennett spurred creation of the program by his desire to see archery become
a "team sport choice" in Kentucky High Schools. KDE Commissioner Gene Wilhoit
was quick to recognize the value of an archery program that promised to
engage and involve more students in school life. Creation and implementation
of the program has been directed by 33-year bowhunter and KDFWR's Deputy
Commissioner, Roy Grimes.
The voluntary program starts by teaching the teachers. A school elects
to make the program, targeted primarily toward middle schools, a part of
its curriculum. Program instructors are trained and certified as Level
I NAA/NFAA archery instructors through a coalition office formed by the
KDFWR and the KDE. With this training and a set of professionally prepared
lesson plans, the teachers are ready for students. The course is a combination
of classroom instruction and hands-on shooting experiences. In the classroom
the students are introduced to the principles of shooting technique, safety
rules and archery history. On the shooting line the students are introduced
to F.I.T.A. style target archery.
A pilot project of 22 schools introduced the two-week program to 3,000
students during the spring 2002 semester. Results surpassed even the wildest
dreams of program developers. A post-program survey of the students found
virtually all were enthusiastic about the experience. Teachers reported
significantly improved attendance and on-task behavior on archery days.
Student attendance and attentiveness were good not only for the archery
class, but for the entire day. More than half of the schools have already
started after-school archery clubs and archery summer schools. One teacher
is using the archery course in a special reading class for each of the
school's 400-plus students.
Another key to the program's success is program coordinator Jennie Richardson.
Until a few months ago Richardson was a math and science teacher at Whitley
County Middle School in southeastern Kentucky. Richardson is also one of
the top-ranked professional archers on the women's tour. Her unique talents
as both a teacher and a professional archer combined with a full measure
of enthusiasm make her an ideal choice for this position. Her success in
using archery as a visual aid in her math class at the Whitley County School
brought her to the attention of state officials. She was offered a temporary
job administering the pilot program. Her contacts within the industry generated
much of the initial funding for the pilot program. Her ability to recognize
the educational needs of the students and her ability to relate to school
administrators and teachers have all contributed to the program's rapid
success.
Originally the program had a goal of 120 schools adopting the archery
course within the next three years. To the program developer's amazement,
90 schools have adopted the program within the first six months, far ahead
of the original schedule.
Perhaps the best part of this project is that the program has gained
the attention of schools across the country. Education and Wildlife administrators
from 26 states have expressed interest in beginning similar programs in
their schools. Kentucky will host an informational meeting outlining the
program for invited school and wildlife conservation administrators, from
other states this fall.
The equipment includes the Genesis one-size-fits-all compound bows,
aluminum arrows and 36" ethafoam F.I.T.A. style targets. The equipment,
like the lesson plans, is provided to the schools in a complete, turnkey,
package including 11 bows, five dozen arrows, five targets and a target
backdrop netting to catch misdirected arrows. The normal retail price of
this package is $4,800; a cost that might be prohibitive for some financially
strapped school districts. This is where supporters from within the industry
come in.
None of this would have been possible without help from the archery
industry. Industry leaders have stepped forward with money and discounted
equipment prices, reducing the package cost for each school to only $1,775.
In many cases schools are finding part or all of this amount paid by local
archery clubs or local sportsman groups. The United Bowhunters of Kentucky
has also helped by raising money to buy equipment packages for some schools.
Industry leaders making this program possible include Anderson County
Sportsman's Club, BCY, Inc., Bluegrass Sportsman's League, Brennan Industries,
Brownell & Company, Delta Industries, Easton Archery Products, Easton,
Tru-Flite Archery, Extreme Archery Products, Field Logic, Inc., Friends
of the National Rifle Association, Hicks Archery Products, International
Bowhunting Organization, Kentucky Department of Education, Kentucky Department
of Fish & Wildlife Resources, Knight & Hale, Mathews, Inc., McKenzie
Targets, Muzzy Products, National Alliance for the Development of Archery,
National Archery Association, National Field Archery Association,
National Wild Turkey Federation, Pape's Inc., Pulaski Bowhunters, Rinehart
3-D Targets, Saunders Archery, Steven Sims, Inc., and the United Bowhunters
of America. These companies have signed on to support this project because
of its merits, not because they expect some short-term gain. All of them
realize that if the project is a success in Kentucky and other states,
the entire industry will benefit. Together they provided 100% of the cost
of conducting the $134,000 pilot project this past spring.
The Kentucky Departments of Wildlife and Education have developed a
budget to cover the program for the next five years. They need $75,000-100,000/year
over the next five years to continue moving the program across and beyond
Kentucky. About $25,000/year has already been committed.
After this 5-year era of archery industry support, the Departments will
continue the program as a permanent feature in Kentucky schools.
There still remains a need for $50,000-75,000/year over the next five years.
Those who want to help the program succeed in Kentucky and move to other
states are encouraged to contribute.
Donations on behalf of the "National Archery in the Schools Program"
should be handled as follows: Check made out to: Kentucky Fish & Wildlife
Foundation - National Archery in the Schools Program. Checks should be
mailed to: KY Dept. Fish & Wildlife Resources, Roy Grimes-Archery Program,
# 1 Game Farm, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601.
Strangely absent from this list is the Archery Merchants and Manufacturers
Organization. The AMO, charged with the responsibility of promoting the
industry, had been invited to participate in the program. After the pilot
AMO offered financial support but was declined. It was unclear if
the program would have been as simple for teachers and students to learn
had AMO's support been accepted. In its absence, these manufacturers and
associations have picked up the ball and run with it.
If you would like to find out more about this program or make a contribution,
call or e-mail: Roy Grimes, Deputy Commissioner, KDFWR @ 1-800-858-1549
or roy.grimes@mail.state.ky.us.
* Reprinted with permission
from 3D Times & Bowhunting Magazine.
|
