June 10, 2019
The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP®) is extremely pleased to announce that Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund has again invested in the kids of NASP®! When millions of happy customers make a purchase at their local Bass Pro Shops or Cabela’s store, they’re asked if they’d like to “round up” the total to the nearest whole dollar to help a worthy outdoor cause. Those who agree are saying “yes” to helping millions of eager youth to discover their interest and aptitude for archery.
NASP® is very pleased to announce that it has been selected as a repeat recipient of a grant from the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund. With this award, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund remains a Gold Medal NASP® Sponsor with its award.
Guided by the visionary leadership of Bass Pro founder Johnny Morris, the Outdoor Fund empowers Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s 200 million annual customers to support conservation efforts by rounding up their purchases. Rallying passionate customers alongside dedicated team members, industry partners and leading conservation organizations like NASP®, Bass Pro is creating North America’s largest conservation movement to collectively shape the future of the outdoors and all who love it for generations to come.
NASP® is a 17-year old non-profit youth target archery program presented by educators as part of a school’s curriculum to students in grades 4-12. Last school year more than two million students, in almost 14,000 schools located in 47 states, eight Canadian provinces, and nine other countries participated in NASP®. At its US National Tournament in May of this year, the record for the world’s largest archery tournament was set again by NASP® at 16,198 students. NASP® is very proud to report that 100 percent of previous year’s funds from the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund supported two areas that directly impacted students. Half the donation was used to increase NASP®’s annual equipment grants to schools. Once teachers at a school become NASP®-certified they purchase a $3,100 NASP® equipment kit to begin the program. These kits include: 12 Genesis bows, 120 Easton aluminum arrows, five targets from Morrell, American Whitetail, Feradyne, or Rinehart, a backstop curtain, a repair kit, and a bow rack. New schools, recommended by their jurisdiction’s coordinator, are provided up to $1,000 towards the purchase of this new equipment. Over the past seven years of this equipment grant, more than 2,700 schools have been provided such grants. This grant by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund will help provide financial support to about 300 new schools joining the program. According to participation surveys, this means about 35,400 new students will be added to NASP® participation roles in 2019-2020.
The other half of the previous Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Funds were awarded in the form of cash scholarships to 143 student archers at various NASP® State Championships this past February-April. These scholarship funds are held in the student’s name until they decide to pursue education or training after high school. When the student contacts NASP® with his or her plans, checks are made to the educational institution and sent to the student to use as financial aid. To date, NASP® has awarded $1.8 million dollars in cash scholarships! NASP® again plans to also direct all new grant funds totally toward students!
NASP® President Roy Grimes said, “We are tickled with the continued support from Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor fund. As the world’s largest youth archery organization, we certainly believe that this investment in youth and in the shooting sports makes great sense for business and conservation.”
To find out how your student’s school might join NASP® see: www.naspschools.org