Video Shows Advantages of School Conservation Programs

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently released a new Partner With a Payer video highlighting the importance of youth shooting sports programs in securing long-term conservation funding. This video is part of a collaborative effort with the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), Archery Trade Association (ATA), and various state and industry partners.

Under the Wildlife Restoration Act, also known as the Pittman-Robertson Act of 1973, archery and firearms manufacturers pay excise taxes that serve as a critical source of funding for conservation initiatives, public access expansion, and education programs for hunting and shooting sports. By involving the next generation of hunters and shooters, these funds will be available for future generations.

The video, titled “Enabling Opportunities for the Future,” features the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) and several other national youth shooting sports organizations. It underscores the significance of shooting sports in the lives of young people and their communities, with these programs being supported primarily by the federal excise taxes paid by sportsmen and women when purchasing bows, arrows, firearms, or ammunition.

Tommy Floyd, president of NASP, emphasized the crucial role that sportsmen and women play in funding conservation efforts, saying, “We live in a nation that treasures wild places, wild creatures, and wild things. The sportsmen and women of this country have helped pay for that conservation. Together, we are inspiring millions of our young people to foster that role long into the future.”

Additionally, the video showcases the positive impact of shooting sports programs on the personal development of the nation’s youth. These programs not only create lasting friendships but also instill lessons in hard work and perseverance, helping millions of young people achieve personal goals even after they have completed the program.

In a 2024 student survey conducted by NASP, findings highlighted the profound ways in which the program shapes the lives of its 1.2 million annual participants. The survey results strongly suggest that archery can assist students in overcoming challenges, handling adversity, and striving for success both in and out of the classroom. This data further confirms the invaluable role that shooting sports play in the holistic development of young individuals.