DEC to Host State Youth Archery Tournament on March 15

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DEC to Host State Youth Archery Tournament on March 15

Number of Students Participating in DEC's "Archery in Schools" Program Continues to Grow Each Year

More than 600 students from 32 schools across New York will be competing in the 11th annual National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) tournament at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse on Friday, March 15, Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today. The program encourages youth to participate in outdoor activities and specifically the sport of archery, with the New York's competition winners moving on to a national tournament this spring.

"The National Archery in Schools Program is a great way to introduce young people to archery and a life-long outdoor activity that will strengthen their connection to nature," Commissioner Seggos said. "Archery teaches concentration and patience, and success in the sport breeds confidence and focus that can be applied to any discipline."

The event will host 47 teams of students in one of three divisions: High School, grades 9-12; Middle School, grades 6-8; and Elementary School, grades 4-5. Awards are given out in each of the three divisions for first through 10th places. Individuals who place in the Top 10 in their division, and teams that place first in each of the three divisions, qualify to compete and represent New York State at the NASP tournament held in Louisville, Kentucky, in May.

More than four million students at 8,500 schools in 47 states and five countries have participated in NASP. Since New York implemented the Archery in Schools program in 2008, more than 400 schools and 40,000 students have participated. Last year's state competition drew 485 students from 25 school districts across New York, and a brief video of last year's tournament can be viewed on DEC's YouTube page.

The NASP initiative is a great way to introduce young people to archery and serves as a potential conduit to becoming interested in hunting and the outdoors. Educators report that NASP inspires students of all athletic abilities to greater academic achievement. DEC has facilitated the statewide program since its inception, helping schools to start and run their programs, training instructors and staff on teaching methods, and facilitating the collection of equipment for start-up programs.

For more information on how schools can become involved, visit DEC's website. To learn more about the National Archery in the Schools Program, visit NASP's webpage.

A list of participating schools by county:
Richmond: ST. JOSEPH BY THE SEA HIGH SCHOOL
Sullivan: ELDRED ARCHERY CLUB
Otsego: COOPERSTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Columbia: NEW LEBANON CENTRAL SCHOOL
Warren: JOHNSBURG CENTRAL SCHOOL
Fulton: MAYFIELD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Essex: SCHROON LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL
Franklin: TUPPER LAKE MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL
Lewis: GLENFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Lewis: HARRISVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL
Lewis: PORT LEYDEN ELEMENTARY
Lewis: SOUTH LEWIS CENTRAL SCHOOL
Herkimer: LITTLE FALLS CITY SCHOOL
Herkimer: MOHAWK VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Oneida: STALEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Oswego: ALTMAR PARISH WILLIAMSTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOLS
Onondaga: FABIUS-POMPEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Onondaga: JORDAN ELBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
Onondaga: LIVERPOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL
Madison: MADISON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Tioga: NORTH SPENCER CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Chenango: NORWICH CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Steuben: ARKPORT CENTRAL SCHOOL
Ontario: BLOOMFIELD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Ontario: HONEOYE CENTRAL SCHOOL
Ontario: MIDLAKES MIDDLE SCHOOL
Allegany: CANASERAGA CENTRAL SCHOOL
Allegany: GENESEE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL
Erie: GRAND ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL
Erie: HOLLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL
Cattaraugus: HINSDALE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Cattaraugus: SALAMANCA HIGH SCHOOL

http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/press.html