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Emily Bee, a high school student from Hartland, was recently honored at a Michigan Natural Resources Commission meeting in Lansing for taking the world championship in the female division in the National Archery in the Schools World Competition. Pictured here with Bee, from the left, are: Frank Wheatlake, NRC vice-chair; Mary Emmons, DNR’s Archery Program coordinator; Rob Jellison, Bee’s coach at Hartland High School; Emily Bee; and DNR Director Rodney Stokes.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Michigan --(Ammoland.com)- In October, 1,071 kids from around the world arrived at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex to compete in the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) World Tournament.

The three-day competition included students in grades 4 thru 12 from 28 states, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.

Michigan student Emily Bee, a Hartland High School sophomore, emerged from the tournament a world champion archer. Bee scored 292 out of a possible 300 points earning first place in the female division and a NASP World Tournament title.

“When my name was called, I couldn’t believe it, I’m still in shock that I’m first in the world,” Bee said. Bee won more than $4,000 in scholarships, two new bows and a target, among other honors. Hartland also did well as a team, finishing fourth overall and only 15 points from first place.

“The Hartland archery program is an excellent representation of the Department of Natural Resources’ Archery in the Schools Program,” said Mary Emmons, DNR Archery Education coordinator. “Under Hartland Coach Rob Jellison’s direction, the school’s archery team has acquired seven state championships, two top five finishes at worlds, one national champion and one world record since the program started in 2007.”

DNR Director Rodney Stokes honored Bee at a recent Natural Resources Commission meeting for her world record achievement by presenting her with a plaque and a letter from Michigan Governor Rick Snyder.

“There is no doubt in my mind that archery is a challenging sport, both physically and mentally, but you can truly get children of every age, size, and athletic ability shooting arrows safely down range,” said Jellison, “I love seeing some of my star athletes from other sports shooting on the same team as students who have never been on a ‘team’ until archery.”

The DNR Archery in the Schools introduces international-style target archery to students in 4th through 12th grade physical education classes. The in-school curriculum’s core content covers archery history, safety, technique, equipment, mental concentration and self-improvement. To date, more than 500 schools across Michigan have implemented the program.

The DNR offers free archery certification classes for teachers. Additionally, archery equipment grants are available to schools, both public and private, that enroll in the Archery in the Schools program.

For more information on Archery in the Schools, contact Mary Emmons at 517-241-9477 or by email at emmonsm@michigan.gov. Information also is available online at www.michigan.gov/archery.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr

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Cacapon Resort State Park to host training for West Virginia’s Archery in the Schools Program February 22 – 23 2012
(Registration Deadline February 1 2012)

West Virginia DNR

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. – -(Ammoland.com)- The next training session for instructors of the West Virginia Archery in the Schools (AIS) Program has been scheduled for Feb. 22 – 23 at Cacapon Resort State Park, according to Krista Snodgrass, Program Coordinator. The training will be hosted by the Wildlife Resources Section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR).

“We are very excited to be holding our next training at Cacapon in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle,” said Snodgrass. “When possible, we like to provide trainings at our state parks and Cacapon is a perfect venue for PE teachers, coaches, and others wanting to get their school involved in the AIS Program.”

The AIS Program has become the DNR’s largest-growing educational program. Since its inception in 2004, nearly 60,000 students have been introduced to archery as part of their physical education (PE) classes in 238 West Virginia schools. The program teaches Olympic-style, target archery in both public and private schools Grades 4 through 12.

“In order for schools to participate in the AIS Program, they must first have a certified instructor – preferably a PE instructor or coach who will introduce as many kids as possible to the joys of target archery,” said Snodgrass.

“The DNR only has about four trainings a year and, because class size is limited to 25, training slots are highly sought after. As an added incentive, teachers taking this training may be eligible to receive Continuing Education Hours (CEH’s) provided they submit their paperwork to their principal before the end of the school year.”

To ensure a training slot, anyone interested in getting their school involved in the program is encouraged to apply as soon as possible. The deadline to register is Feb. 1. This training will cost $25 for all school employees and $50 for non-school employees. This fee will be paid to WVDNR – Archery in the Schools Program (via check, money order or exact currency only) during the first morning of the training.

To register for the AIS training at Cacapon Resort State Park, please call Krista Snodgrass at 304-558-2771; email Krista.R.Snodgrass@wv.gov for information on the AIS Program, or visit the DNR’s AIS website at www.wvdnr.gov/archery. For more information on Cacapon Resort State Park, go to www.cacaponresort.com

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