Youth archery development is key to growing one of the fastest growing segments of the shooting sports in theunited states

The Nebraska Game & Parks Commission received a $106,667 formula grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 6 under the Enhanced Hunter Education and Safety Program (CFDA 15.626), effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. The award supports the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP), which delivers foundational archery skills training to youth across Nebraska schools. The program provides a two-week curriculum covering safe archery handling, shooting skills, and overall archery sports development to over 25,000 youth annually across 315 participating schools in the state. This initiative advances recruitment and retention strategies for the shooting sports while supporting Nebraska's R3 (recruitment, retention, and reactivation) conservation efforts.

The Enhanced Hunter Education and Safety Program, administered by Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Directors, funds the enhancement of hunter and archery education programs, development of shooting ranges, and public target range acquisition under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, as amended. Eligible recipients are limited to state fish and wildlife agencies that have passed assent legislation protecting hunting and fishing license revenues. Awards under this program typically range from $100,000 to $350,000 and support activities including hunter education course delivery, archery program implementation, and shooting range construction or renovation across participating states.

Since its inception in 2004, the national archery in the schools program (nasp) has reached OVER25,000 youth annually in nebraska and continues to expand to over 315 schools in nebraska. The program providesyouth with a two-week foundational archery skills program, preparing youth for the field by providing safearchery handling skills, archery shooting skills and overall archery sports development, further support NEBRASKAR3 efforts.