NASP is a joint venture between state Departments of Education and Wildlife. The program promotes student education and participation in the life long sport of Archery. NASP has been successful in teaching 1.4 million students during school hours in 2006 alone. Archery taught by the NASP is accessible to all students of nearly all age groups. NASP "engages the unengaged" and inspires students to greater achievement in school.
This is the second year of the program at West. Last year we took 7 kids to state. This year we had 46 kids sign up for the club and we took 21 to the 2009 NASP State Championships in Des Moines. There were over 550 shooters from across the state shooting for individual and team awards. Jessica Shadden won an award for her 4th place finish. The team took 5th at state and qualified for the National Archery Tournament on May 8th & 9th in Louisville, Kentucky, where over 3840 kids from across the USA will shoot for individual and team championships. The team also took 2nd place at the Anamosa Invite, and 2nd place at the Mount Vernon Invite earlier this season.
SCTP:Iowa High School Scholastic Clay Target Program
SCTP is a team-based clay target shooting program that is changing the lives of grade, middle and high school students nation-wide and in Iowa. Through organized clay target shooting, kids are learning lifelong skills such as gun safety, teamwork, respect for self and others, mental focus and self-discipline. Starting in March, teams are lead by certified coaches, practices are conducted, and local matches are held with neighboring teams. All of these activities lead up to the Iowa High School and SCTP Championships in June.
This is West first year in the program, and we currently have 27 students signed up. We start practicing this week and have our first meet March 28th in Dewitt against Maquoketa.
Bob Gill is certified in Archery and Trap Shooting. He coaches the Archery team and the SCTP team. The Assistant Coaches for the SCTP are Gene Belz and Steve Saladino.
Photos courtesy of Iowa Department of Natural Resources