NASP Featured in USFWS Video Series

The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) is proud to once again be featured prominently alongside other youth shooting sports programs in the latest U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Partner With a Payer video series. Check out the “Enabling Opportunities for the Future” YouTube video below.

This video is part of the Partner with a Payer initiative — a collaboration amongst the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), Archery Trade Association (ATA), and state and industry partners. It showcases how excise taxes paid by archery and firearms manufacturers under the Wildlife Restoration Act (Pittman-Robertson Act of 1973) serve as a primary source of funding supporting critical conservation efforts, expanding public access, and advancing hunting and shooting sports education programs such as NASP.

The latest video features NASP alongside several other national youth shooting sports organizations. It highlights the incredible value that shooting sports — including NASP — bring to young people and their communities, supported in large part through the federal excise taxes paid by sportsmen and women whenever they purchase bows, arrows, firearms or ammunition.

The video also highlights the incredible impacts that shooting sports programs have on the personal lives of our nation’s youth. From creating lifelong friendships to fostering lessons in hard work and success, shooting sports programs help millions of young people achieve personal goals long after they leave the program.

In 2024, NASP released a student survey that captured the powerful ways the program is shaping its 1.2 million annual participants. The findings strongly support the ability of archery to help students navigate challenges, handle adversity, and strive for success both in and out of the classroom.

“NASP is so proud to be highlighted alongside our valued shooting sports partners in this video,” said NASP President Tommy Floyd. “We are proud of the impacts we are making together on the lives of millions of youth, their families, and their communities.”

“We greatly appreciate the support of the Federal Excise Tax program for shooting sports and the vital connection it plays between participants, state fish and wildlife agencies, the USFWS, and the hunting and shooting sports industry,” said NASP Vice President Jeff Rawlinson. “Each year, these funds have real world impacts in communities all across the U.S.”

USA Archery Election Results Announced

USA Archery has announced the results of its most recent election for two positions on the organization’s Board of Directors, confirming leadership for the At-Large Athlete Director and Para Athlete Director seats.

Following the conclusion of the election, USA Archery welcomed At-Large Athlete Director James Lutz, and Para Athlete Director Kevin Mather.

Kevin Mather, who ran unopposed, will continue his service as Para Athlete Director, beginning his second term. A dedicated advocate for Para athletes and 2020 Paralympic gold medalist, Mather emphasized his commitment to representing athlete needs and strengthening pathways for inclusion and growth within the sport.

“Archery is a valuable part of my life, so I want to do my part and serve on the board to give back to the sport and community that have given so much to me,” Mather said.

He noted that his priorities remain centered on listening to athletes, elevating their concerns, and working collaboratively toward solutions. His goals include advancing policies and programs that make archery more accessible for new Para athletes, while continuing to ensure the board understands the unique challenges faced within Para sport.

Joining the Board for his first term is James Lutz, who will serve as the At-Large Athlete Director. Lutz brings a wealth of competitive experience, including standout international performances and a deep passion for athlete advocacy.

Lutz first burst onto the global stage in 2019, capturing compound gold at the World Cup in Turkey with a perfect score and later securing a World Championship title in the Netherlands.

Lutz said, “One of my proudest moments came in 2024 at the World Cup Final in Tlaxcala, Mexico, where I shot 45 consecutive 10s to win gold. It was my first time advancing past the opening round in that event, and it meant the world to me.”

Known for his unconventional but effective shooting style and remaining calm approach under pressure, Lutz expressed enthusiasm for contributing to the broader athlete community. He shared that he hopes to serve as a strong voice on the Board and to help ensure athletes’ needs remain central to organizational decision-making.

“I know my form isn't textbook — I grip the release differently, I ‘punch’ instead of pull — but it works for me,” Lutz said. “That’s kind of my philosophy: be yourself, trust your process, and never stop learning.”

Both directors will begin their three-year terms on January 1, 2026. To learn more about USA Archery’s governance structure and committees, visit usarchery.org/about/governance.

Whitetails Unlimited Grants More Than $160,000 to NASP

Whitetails Unlimited (WTU) awarded more than $160,000 in grants to the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) this past fiscal year. NASP is an in-school target archery program aimed at improving educational performance among students in grades 4-12, with 1.3 million students participating in all 50 states. With this program, students are learning focus, self-control, discipline, patience, and life lessons required to be successful in the classroom and in life.

Both WTU and NASP are deeply committed to helping develop archers and hunters, especially when it comes to youth. WTU’s support of various local NASP programs over the years has not only supported their mission of preserving the hunting tradition and shooting sports, but it has also allowed young archers the opportunity to learn and grow, both as individuals and as outdoorsmen and women.