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The National Archery in the Schools Trailer is Ready to Roll

RALEIGH, N.C. (March 5) – Mickey Strader, the vice president and youth coordinator for the North Carolina Bowhunter’s Association, proudly presented an archery trailer to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission on Feb. 16 that will be available to schools in the state free of charge.

The mobile unit, dedicated in honor of late Wildlife Commission Chairman John Pechmann, is the fruition of a long-time goal for Strader.

The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) began two years ago with 10 pilot schools across the state. It teaches fourth- through 12th-graders the basics of shooting a compound bow while stressing accuracy, discipline and safety. Response to the program has been very positive, but the equipment start-up costs of nearly $3,000 caused many schools to hesitate in joining.

That’s where the trailer came in. After Pechmann urged Strader to follow through with the idea in July, the longtime bow hunter began searching for funding. He wound up with enough money to get the trailer and fill it with 12 bows, 60 arrows and a portable archery base that can store and carry the necessary supplies.

Strader felt the donations, which came from the NCBA, the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Commission, will have a positive impact on the lives of school children across the state.

“When you see a kid’s face light up when he hits a target, that makes all the effort worth it,” he said. “You don’t have to say any more.”

Capt. Chris Huebner will be traveling across the state with the portable unit, teaching school instructors the basics of the archery curriculum, as well as giving students a taste of the sport. He said the program, which can last up to two weeks per school site, is a good one because it puts all children on equal footing.

“It’s something that anyone can do,” he said. “They don’t have to be physically talented. They’re all competing on a level playing field because all the equipment is the same.”

Bow tension can be adjusted so that children of all ages and sizes can comfortably draw and shoot. The bows also vary in color, so teachers can easily keep track of which bows are set at higher tensions and hand them out to students accordingly.

The trailer also hauls a backstop measuring 30-feet wide and 12-feet tall, which means the bows can be shot in gymnasiums when weather prohibits outdoor activity.

For more information about the program or reserving the trailer, call (919) 707-0030.