New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today that students representing 37 schools across New York State will be competing in the 12th annual National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) state tournament at the State Fairgrounds in Syracuse on Friday, March 20. The tournament recognizes school students’ diligence and focus in the practice of target archery. Winners of the state competition will qualify for the national tournament to be held this spring.

"This popular tournament is growing in size every year as young people across New York discover the joys of a life-long outdoor activity,” Commissioner Seggos said. “Archery encourages students to focus, set goals, and work hard to achieve those goals. The state tournament is the culmination of hundreds of hours of practice over the course of the school year and we wish the students good luck as they compete to reach the nationals.”

The event will host 45 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 1st 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 national 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 41,000 students have participated. Last year’s state competition drew 542 students from 32 school districts. A brief video of the 2018 tournament is available on DEC’s YouTube page.

Participating Schools by County

Allegany County

Canaseraga Central School
Fillmore Elementary School
Fillmore High School
Genesee Valley Central School

Cattaraugus County

Hinsdale Central School District
Salamanca City School-Seneca Intermediate
Salamanca High School

Cayuga County

Port Byron High School

Chenango County

Norwich Middle School
Norwich High School

Columbia County

New Lebanon Jr./Sr. High School

Delaware County

Deposit Central School

Erie County

Grand Island High School
Holland Middle School
Holland High School

Essex County

Schroon Lake Central School District

Franklin County

Tupper Lake Middle-High School

Fulton County

Mayfield Junior/High School

Herkimer County

Mohawk Valley Christian Academy

Lewis County

Glenfield Elementary School
Harrisville Central School
Port Leyden Elementary School
South Lewis High School

Livingston County

Livonia Middle/High School

Madison County

Madison Central School District

Oneida County

Rome Free Academy
Staley Upper Elementary School
Strough Middle School

Onondaga County

Fabius Pompey Middle-High School
Liverpool Middle School

Ontario County

Bloomfield Middle-High School
Honeoye Central School District

Oswego County

Altmar Parish Williamstown

Richmond County

Notre Dame Academy High School
St. Joseph By the Sea High School

Schenectady County

Central Park Middle School

Tioga County

North Spencer Christian Academy

Ulster County

New Paltz High School

Warren County

Johnsburg Central School District

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.