The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission hosted the National Archery in the Schools Program State Archery Tournament on March 14 at the Alachua County Sports and Events Center in Gainesville. The event brought together students from across Florida, with a total of 522 schools currently participating in NASP as part of their physical education curriculum.
The tournament highlights the growth of archery among Florida’s youth and provides opportunities for teamwork and personal development. The program is designed to teach international-style target archery to students in grades four through twelve.
During the competition, Eli Damron and Abigail Cooper, both from Tampa Bay H.E.A.T., earned top honors in the male and female divisions of the 3D competition, receiving Bear Cruzer Ready to Hunt Bows for their achievements. Team awards were distributed across elementary, middle, and high school divisions, with Tampa Bay H.E.A.T. teams securing first place titles in both elementary and high school categories. Individual overall high scorers Joran Tokash (Tampa Bay H.E.A.T.) and Kiara Diaz (Baughman Homeschool) each received $7,000 for their performances.
Bill Cline, FWC’s Hunter Safety and Public Shooting Ranges Section Leader said: “Programs such as NASP bring together schools, families and communities in a meaningful way. It’s about more than scores – it’s about teamwork, personal growth and creating opportunities for students statewide, both on and off the range. I am proud to offer these opportunities to students in Florida.”
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has been influenced by figures such as Lovett Williams who contributed significantly to wildlife research according to its official history page. The agency secures external grants that make up over 40% of its funding for critical research projects according to its official website.
FWC also promotes public access and input into decision-making processes as part of efforts to foster conservation among diverse communities according to its mission statement. Its research facilities include the Wildlife Research Laboratory located in Gainesville which features specialized equipment such as an alligator egg incubator—originally used for brown pelican restocking—and animal holding pens as described on its history page.
Looking ahead, FWC continues working toward protecting Florida’s fish and wildlife resources through ongoing research initiatives according to its mission page. Information about how schools can participate further is available by contacting Grayson Giles at Grayson.Giles@MyFWC.com or calling 850-488-8984.
