The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Section (DNR) will hold its next instructor training for the Archery in the Schools (AIS) Program July 8 and 9, 2014, at Pipestem Resort State Park, according to Krista Snodgrass, program coordinator.
“We are very excited to be holding our next training at Pipestem Resort State Park,” said Snodgrass. “When possible, we like to provide trainings at our state parks and Pipestem is a perfect venue for PE teachers, coaches, and others wanting to get their schools involved in the AIS Program.”
The AIS Program has become DNR’s largest-growing educational program. Since its inception in 2004, nearly 90,000 students have been introduced to archery as part of their physical education (PE) classes in more than 300 West Virginia schools. The program teaches Olympic-style target archery in both public and private schools, grades 4 through 12.
“In order for schools to participate in the AIS Program, they must first have a certified instructor, preferably a PE instructor or coach who will introduce as many kids as possible to the joys of target archery,” said Snodgrass. “DNR has about four trainings a year and, because class size is limited to 25, training slots fill quickly. As an added incentive, teachers taking this training may be eligible to receive Continuing Education Hours (CEHs), provided they submit their paperwork to their principal before the end of the school year.”
To ensure a training slot, anyone interested in getting a school involved in the program is encouraged to apply as soon as possible, before the July 1 deadline. The training costs $25 for school employees and $50 for non-school employees. This fee will be paid to WVDNR – Archery in the Schools Program (via check, money order or exact currency only) during the first morning of the training.
Registration for the AIS training at Pipestem Resort State Park is available online at http://naspbai.org/ClassSearch.aspx?country=US&state=WV . For information on the AIS Program, please call Krista Snodgrass at 304-558-2771; email Krista.R.Snodgrass@wv.gov or visit the DNR’s AIS website at www.wvdnr.gov/archery. For more information on Pipestem Resort State Park, visit www.pipestemresort.com.
