scooter
03-16-2009, 04:30 PM
Archery club hits spot with school kids
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Several students took their best shot when they participated in an archery tournament over the weekend.
Ten schools from around the province participated in the first provincial National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) tournament held at Cochrane High School on Saturday. "I shot and I got a pretty good amount of points," said Sierra Unick from Canora Junior Elementary School.
The nine-year-old said she began the in-school archery program this year. Unick said when she first picked up the bow and arrow she wasn't sure if she would like it but now enjoys the sport. "Archery is a really good thing for letting out anger. Because when you pull out on the arrow and you let it go, I let go of my anger that way," said Unick. "I've gotten a lot better grades in school."
Joe Milligan, with the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, co-ordinates the program for the province. "NASP is a program designed to incorporate archery into school curriculum," explained Milligan. "The idea is to get kids back into the fold, get kids interested in the activity (so) they could feel a part of something. Our motto is changing lives one arrow at a time and I think we do a good job of that."
He said the program is becoming increasingly more popular because it's a program kids enjoy. "Right now we have 35 schools. In February 2007 we had 10 schools," Milligan said, adding there are seven more schools in the process of becoming trained to deliver NASP. "We have a very good program. This program sells itself."
The program began in Kentucky about seven years ago and has grown to include more than 5,000 schools in United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, he explained.
Milligan said one of the reasons the sport is so popular is because it's the safest sport out there. "There are no accidents in archery. It's almost unheard of," said Milligan. "It's a well thought out program, there's good coaching behind it, there's good equipment."
It's the one sport that you can start as young as nine years old and continue with until you're 85, he said.
Shaelynn Bazarski, a Grade 5 student from Canora Composite School, said she's been involved in the archery program for the past two years. She said archery is a really fun sport and plans to continue with it. "I thought I would be the worst one ever when I started but I've gotten fairly good at it," said Bazarski, who recommends the sport to others.
Those interested in finding out more about the program can call Milligan at 692-8812 or e-mail him at jmilligan@swf.sk.ca.
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PUBLICATION: The Leader-Post (Regina)
DATE: 2009.03.16
EDITION: Final
SECTION: News
PAGE: A4
BYLINE: Kerry Benjoe
SOURCE: Leader-Post
WORD COUNT: 362
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Several students took their best shot when they participated in an archery tournament over the weekend.
Ten schools from around the province participated in the first provincial National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) tournament held at Cochrane High School on Saturday. "I shot and I got a pretty good amount of points," said Sierra Unick from Canora Junior Elementary School.
The nine-year-old said she began the in-school archery program this year. Unick said when she first picked up the bow and arrow she wasn't sure if she would like it but now enjoys the sport. "Archery is a really good thing for letting out anger. Because when you pull out on the arrow and you let it go, I let go of my anger that way," said Unick. "I've gotten a lot better grades in school."
Joe Milligan, with the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, co-ordinates the program for the province. "NASP is a program designed to incorporate archery into school curriculum," explained Milligan. "The idea is to get kids back into the fold, get kids interested in the activity (so) they could feel a part of something. Our motto is changing lives one arrow at a time and I think we do a good job of that."
He said the program is becoming increasingly more popular because it's a program kids enjoy. "Right now we have 35 schools. In February 2007 we had 10 schools," Milligan said, adding there are seven more schools in the process of becoming trained to deliver NASP. "We have a very good program. This program sells itself."
The program began in Kentucky about seven years ago and has grown to include more than 5,000 schools in United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, he explained.
Milligan said one of the reasons the sport is so popular is because it's the safest sport out there. "There are no accidents in archery. It's almost unheard of," said Milligan. "It's a well thought out program, there's good coaching behind it, there's good equipment."
It's the one sport that you can start as young as nine years old and continue with until you're 85, he said.
Shaelynn Bazarski, a Grade 5 student from Canora Composite School, said she's been involved in the archery program for the past two years. She said archery is a really fun sport and plans to continue with it. "I thought I would be the worst one ever when I started but I've gotten fairly good at it," said Bazarski, who recommends the sport to others.
Those interested in finding out more about the program can call Milligan at 692-8812 or e-mail him at jmilligan@swf.sk.ca.
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PUBLICATION: The Leader-Post (Regina)
DATE: 2009.03.16
EDITION: Final
SECTION: News
PAGE: A4
BYLINE: Kerry Benjoe
SOURCE: Leader-Post
WORD COUNT: 362
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