August-September 2025 • Nebraskaland 55
eff orts are underway to improve the connection, including
the addition of a 3D target competition at tournaments in
recent years.
But even if participants only shoot in PE class and never
shoot again, the National Archery in the Schools Program
has been a tremendous success and continues to grow each
year.
Simply getting youths involved in the sport was the goal,
said Aaron Hershberger, Outdoor Skills Education supervisor
and former coordinator of NASP in Nebraska.
"It's still kind of surprising to folks that we harnessed the
attraction in the fl ight of the arrow into a school curriculum
taught during the school day," Hershberger said.
N
Grants from state and national organizations
help defray much of the cost of equipment
needed to start a program. The first 12 schools
to submit an application are guaranteed to
receive a kit, which includes 13 bows, 5 targets,
arrows, an arrow curtain and a repair kit. If more
than 12 apply to join the program, staff will work
to find funding to keep the cost of additional kits
down.
Game and Parks staff will also travel to
new schools to train teachers and help them
secure the required Basic Archery Instructor
certification.
For more information, contact Megan Price at
Megan.Price@Nebraska.gov or 402-471-6133.
How to Get NASP
in Your School
Wanting to continue shooting in NASP after a hand injury left Natalie Nutzman of Milford unable to pull back a bow, she
adapted by learning to shoot with a mouth tab.
Silas McDaniel of Lincoln began shooting a bow in NASP and
graduated to Game and Parks' Youth Mentor Hunt program,
where volunteers have helped him harvest three deer,
including this whitetail buck in 2024. JOHN HAY
