Back in February, when I first started writing this column for The Evening Sun, I stopped in to see Mike Mayhood at Mayhood's Sporting Goods. I wanted to chat with him about what's new in the neighborhood from the hunting, fishing and trapping perspective. Mike told me that a new group was forming, called the Bob McNitt Foundation. The goal of the foundation was to privately fund two NASP programs – one for the Norwich Middle School, one for the high school.
So, what the heck is NASP? Well, it’s the National Archery in the Schools Program, and it is designed to teach international-style target archery in physical education classes from grades 4-12. The core content covers archery history, safety, technique, equipment, mental concentration, core strengthening physical fitness, and self-improvement. And lots of target shooting!
The Bob McNitt Foundation, currently run by Josh Sheldon of Norwich, is collecting donations locally to help fund the program. In this day and age of tough economic times and tight school budgets, private funding would assure the purchase of the NASP curriculum and gear without any undue burden on taxpayers.
I called Josh to find out how much he had procured in donations. At the time, it was $600, far from the $6,400 figure needed to pay for the two programs. I told him I'd help secure more funds through the various outdoor organizations I belonged to and was familiar with. I've written grants for several outdoor organizations, so, piece of cake I thought. That was, until my conversation with middle school principal Scott Ryan, who informed me that the school already made the purchase agreement.
You see, in the grant application process, you procure the grant money first, and then set out to buying what you wrote the grant for. So, by the school district jumping the gun, so to speak, organizations like the Friends of the NRA, National Wild Turkey Federation, Safari Club International and others were legally unable to accept the request for funds from the Bob McNitt Foundation. Are you following me? Good.
Anyhow, when you deal with the outdoor sports, you find there are many generous people and organizations out there willing to provide financial help when it comes to recruiting and retaining youth with regard to any of the shooting sports. I first contacted Melissa Bailey of the NY DEC. Melissa is the NASP Coordinator in NYS. She is a wealth of information and trains and certifies teachers to run the program. Melissa was instrumental in obtaining a grant from NASP in the amount of $2,000, so that left $4,400 to go. So, in my little blue buggy I went. First stop was CANY, the Conservation Alliance of NY (www.canyus.org). I drove to Camillus and asked for a donation. They came through with $200. Next up, SHOTS, Sports People Helping Others Through Sharing (www.s-h-o-t-s.com). SHOTS is out of Cazenovia, but I met education director Charlie Pace at a sportsman's show in the Turning Stone Casino. Charlie said his group could probably fund half of one package, or $1,600. and with a handshake, he kept his word.

So with $2,600 to go, I was off to see my good friends of the Adirondack-Catskill Chapter of Safari Club International (www.adirondackcatskillsci.com). I am a life member of both SCI and ACSCI as are quite a few folks around Chenango County. Two such guys, Don Dubois of Pooleville, former superintendent of schools for Sherburne-Earlville School District and Del Law of Sherburne, retired accountant with Proctor and Gamble, had my back when I asked the ACSCI Board of Directors to fund half of one package ($1,600). The Adirondack-Catskill Chapter of SCI is no stranger to the NASP program. In fact about eight years ago, it entirely funded the NASP program for the Franklin Central School District in Franklin (Delaware County). Back then it was $2,500. That was the first NASP program in New York State, and I'm proud to say I was part of helping secure those funds too. Anyhow, I met in Oneonta with the "southern" members of ACSCI and was asked to present it also to the "northern" members (ACSCI covers an area from Pennsylvania to Canada, Vermont/Mass/Conn borders to US Route 81). So, a few weeks later I drove to Cold Brook and presented my case. All in favor (ALL), Opposed (NONE) - $1,600 more!
Interestingly enough, I contacted The New York Bowhunters, Inc. (www.newyorkbowhunters.com). President Martin Seeley promised me a donation in an email I received from him, but it never showed up. I would have thought that an organization dedicated to bowhunting would have come up big in supporting archery in the schools. Oh well.
With $3,400 in my hand and $2,000 from Melissa's grants, I contacted Josh and he told me the Bob McNitt Foundation had enough to cover the balance of $1,000. The Federated Sportsman's Clubs of Chenango County met with Josh, Scott and myself and there was agreement after the meeting that if needed, the Federation would come up with funds for maintenance and/or replacement of the bows, targets, arrows, etc..
So students in the Norwich middle and high school will have an Olympic-style archery program to look forward to when they go back to school in the fall, thanks in large part to the generosity of sportsmen and women.
Before presenting the two-week archery course, the teachers undergo an eight-hour NASP Basic Archery Instructor Training Program. In speaking with Scott Ryan, he told me 10 teachers were being certified. So, any problem with a teacher moving out of the district or calling in sick would be waylayed.
As far as the equipment, each program consists of 10 right-hand bows, two left-hand Bows, two boxes of arrows, five targets, one arrow curtain, one repair kit and one bow rack.
Students shoot at 80 -centimeter (thats 31 ½ inches across) bullseye targets placed before an arrow curtain in their gymnasium. Equipment used is state-of-the-art and designed to fit every student. Thanks to support from the archery industry, the $6,000 equipment “kits” can be purchased by schools for $3,200.
NASP started in 2002 when Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Commissioner, Tom Bennett wanted archery to become a high school sport choice. The KDFWR hosted a “Step Outside” event to introduce the Kentucky Department of Education to the sport of archery. It was suggested that archery would be a popular sport with students. The Department of Education agreed to help if the program was started as a PE class in middle school. Today NASP is in over 10,000 schools, nationally and internationally and more than 10 million students have gone through the program!
Now we can add Norwich to the list, and parents can rest assured that their concerns regarding safety, equipment, practice and competition sites, lack of or inappropriate training have been brought to the forefront and under NASP, these issues are now, non-issues.
Welcome NASP!

Any questions or comments on this article? Please contact Franke at george_franke@yahoo.com