By Leslie Merchant
What do Griffin School students have in common with a feisty Disney princess, a mythical elf from Middle Earth, and a fictional teenage tribute? They are all young people just trying to find their way in the world, and they all happen to be extremely proficient with a bow and arrow. Thanks to Griffin parent, Paul Whitney, and Physical Education Instructor, Stacy Nelson, Griffin School elementary students are being introduced to the ancient skill of archery through a program called National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP). The program teaches international style target archery using standardized equipment in grades four through twelve.
Why archery? For one, it is a skill that is timeless, having been around for about 64,000 years. It continues to reign supreme during the Summer Olympics, as well as at a number of competitions throughout the nation. Second, it is a skill that anyone can succeed in whether or not they excel in other sports. Third, it is a thrilling experience that requires discipline and focus and leads to a sense of self-reliance and personal gratification. These qualities are not easy to teach to the masses in the typical classroom.
NASP was introduced to Griffin just last spring through the combined efforts of Whitney and Nelson. It has been wildly popular with Griffin students both as part of their regular P.E. curriculum and as an enrichment activity after school. In fact, thirty-four Griffin archers attended the state tournament in Ellensburg, Washington last month. Two of those students qualified to compete in the National Championship and will be traveling to Louisville, Kentucky on May 9 – 10.
Annie Buelt scored fourth for middle school and Hugh March scored ninth for fifth grade boys. Both students are in the state top ten who qualified to go to nationals.
Buelt is a bubbly sixth grader who just took up archery last year. She plays several other sports, but was drawn to archery because she really just likes to try new things. “Some of my cousins and uncles hunt, but my mom and dad have not done archery. I like the idea of archery. It feels really good when you get that good score. It’s just a really fun sport,” she says. Buelt will be travelling to Kentucky with her dad for the championship. She is both excited and a bit nervous about the upcoming tournament, but says she is trying to relax because it really helps her to shoot better.
March is a happy-go-lucky fifth grade boy who ended up in archery on a whim. He began getting serious about the sport during after school enrichment after an initial adjustment period. “Like all people, I shot pretty badly at first. The next year, I shot a little better and decided to join the archery team. I was encouraged to get in the 45 Plus Club, and then I got in the State Tournament,” March explains.
“I am very excited about going to the Nationals. I shot better each week since finding out about going,” says March who likes the encouragement, concentration and focus that are all part of the sport. His mother and father will be accompanying him to Kentucky.
Whitney emphasizes, “It really takes a P.E. teacher who is dedicated to incorporating archery into their curriculum to launch the program. You have to have it as a P.E. curriculum so that all kids are exposed to it. Then you can have it as an enrichment.” Nelson was just that teacher, and between the two of them the program has really taken off. Basic archery teachers must participate in a 10-hour training course to become certified instructors. Griffin hosted a training day where almost 25 teachers and volunteers from Griffin and other schools came to get certified.
Because anybody can participate, archery is an all inclusive sport. It takes a lot of focus and concentration, and it provides a chance to excel at a sport that both girls and boys can participate in. Target archery is instinctive shooting without using any sights or release aids, and it has one of the highest safety ratings of all sports. The playing field is leveled for NASP participants because all schools use the exact same equipment.
Whitney hopes that as the sport gains recognition, more local schools will offer the program. This will enable more teams to compete at the local level without having far to travel. Nationwide, NASP is offered at more than 12,000 schools.
