August 1, 2025 – August marks National Shooting Sports Month, and the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP®) is proud to stand alongside conservation and industry partners in support of shooting sports and wildlife stewardship. In celebration of this month—and the growing recognition of archery’s role in conservation—the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has just released a compelling new video spotlighting NASP® and the important role that youth target archery plays in the broader conservation effort.
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/mzVy5on7-TM
This video is part of the Partner with a Payer™ initiative, a collaboration with the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) that showcases how excise taxes paid by archery and firearms manufacturers under the Wildlife Restoration Act (Pittman-Robertson Act of 1973) fund critical conservation work, expand public access, and support hunting and shooting sports education programming—like NASP®.
Earlier this year, USFWS released an addendum to its landmark 5-year survey on recreational shooting, which acknowledged NASP® as a likely contributor to the current participation rates in archery among youth under 18. This recognition helped spark further collaboration and the creation of this video.
In May, NASP® welcomed USFWS representatives to the Eastern National Tournament—one of the largest student archery events in the world. There, they captured interviews with students, coaches, and parents who embody the future of archery and conservation. The video highlights how the connection between equipment manufacturers who pay the federal excise tax, NASP®, and the state fish and wildlife agencies are impacting the future of conservation in the United States.
“It’s a perfect loop,” said a USFWS spokesperson in the video. “Youth learn about shooting sports and conservation in schools through programs like NASP®, which are supported by the very equipment manufacturers whose contributions fund wildlife and habitat restoration.”
NASP® is honored to be part of this initiative and grateful to work alongside USFWS, NSSF, and industry manufacturers who believe in the power of archery to inspire young people and protect the natural world.
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To learn more about this video series, visit partnerwithapayer.org
To learn more about NASP®, please visit www.naspschools.org
