West Virginia Schools Encouraged to Start Preparing for the Mar. 24 Archery in the Schools State Tournament
OutdoorHub 01.27.12
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) will be hosting its 7th Annual West Virginia State Archery in the Schools (AIS) Tournament Saturday, March 24, 2012, at the Charleston Civic Center. The DNR anticipates nearly 800 students from across the state will be participating making this the largest indoor youth archery tournament ever held in West Virginia.
The AIS Program is the DNR’s largest and fastest growing educational program, reaching more than 60,000 students through the participation of nearly 300 schools.
“Since the DNR implemented the program in 2004, more than 2,000 students have participated in six state tournaments. Several hundred have qualified and competed at the National Tournaments held in Louisville, KY. This year we had several students participate in the World Tournament in Orlando, FL,” according to AIS Program Coordinator Krista Snodgrass of the DNR Wildlife Resources Section.
“With the interest in our state tournament, we’re encouraging all participating schools to start working with their students now to get their registration material in before the February 24th deadline,” said Snodgrass. “We are encouraging all parents, principals and teachers to actively support their AIS Program and consider coming to this year’s tournament. Schools can attend even if they do not have a full team of 12 co-ed students; schools can still be represented by sending students to participate in the Individual Division.”
Schools that have trained AIS instructors but have not yet purchased archery equipment still have the opportunity to participate in the tournament. “Certified instructors may volunteer to help with the tournament,” said Snodgrass. “In fact, it provides instructors first-hand knowledge of what goes on at a tournament, which would be of great benefit to their school. However, volunteers will need to contact us well in advance.”
For more information on the AIS State Tournament and how to get your school involved, visit the DNR’s website at www.wvdnr.gov/archery or contact Krista Snodgrass at 304-558-2771.
