Taking Aim: Cloudcroft Schools Launch New Archery Program
NM Game & Fish Officer Anthony Chavez introduces NASP-- the National Archery in the Schools Program--to Cloudcroft
In the mountains of southern New Mexico, Cloudcroft Middle School students are taking aim at something new.
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Officer Anthony Chavez and Cloudcroft Police Chief Roger Schoolcraft recently led the school’s physical education (PE) students through their first lesson in the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP).
Together, they walked students through safety rules, whistle commands, and the program’s eleven foundational steps of proper archery form.
“Not everybody plays basketball. Not everybody plays softball. This is definitely a sport, whether you are in sports or not,” Chavez told students. “It just gives you another opportunity and something to look forward to in the future.”
Target Curriculum
Leading the effort from inside the school is PE Coach Tami Alexander — a bow hunter herself — one of five Cloudcroft staff members now pursuing the eight-hour Basic Archery Instructor certification required by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish before a school can officially launch the program. Others interested in continuing the program are teachers Bryan Casinger, Terri Snoddy, Brent Jewell, and Alana Blaine.
Students who participate must have a parent or guardian waiver on file before taking part.
NASP is a nationally recognized nonprofit curriculum active in more than a hundred New Mexico public schools and sponsored statewide by the Game and Fish Department.
Principal Nolene Adams says the school came to the program mid-cycle this year, which shaped how they’ve approached rollout.
“We plan to continue offering the program through our PE class and begin preparing students for competition next year, as we learned about the competition timeline too late this year,” Adams said. “We’ve started the process with students in the program and are laying the groundwork for competitive events in the upcoming school year.”
“The NASP Program is designed for 4th–12th grade,” Adams said, “but to get started, we are currently working with 7th graders to understand the program and how it fits with our school.”
Safety is foundational to how Chavez runs the program. “There have been no accidents to this day that have ever happened in the National Archery in the Schools program,” he said. “So let’s keep it that way.”
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Everyone Gets a Shot
According to NASP’s own student surveys, 68 percent of participants say the program helps them feel more connected to their school — a finding that matters in New Mexico, which consistently ranks among the states with the highest high school dropout rates in the nation.
Chavez pointed to academic research backing that up. “Studies show that by competing and getting involved in a program like this, you are keeping up with your academics,” he told students.
The program also levels the playing field. Every student uses identical equipment, and success doesn’t depend on size, strength, or prior athletic experience.
NASP has a dedicated section on its website called Reducing Barriers, which provides strategies for student support.
NASP says it continually receives inquiries from educators, coaches, and parents about how to enable participation for students with specific physical challenges, and has compiled guidance based on shared experiences of those who have successfully helped students experience archery.
For students with hearing challenges, a coach or support person may stand directly behind the archer, using light taps on the shoulder to replace whistle commands. For students who cannot draw with a hand, a mouth tab can be added to the bowstring, allowing the archer to hold it with their teeth and release by relaxing their jaw.
Adams sees the program as a natural fit for the mountain community. “It encourages quality time together and outdoor experiences while teaching a lifelong skill,” she said. “We have a wonderful and hardworking PE coach, along with many staff members willing to get certified.”
Community members interested in supporting the program are welcome to get involved. “If you’d like to help and support the program, please reach out to me or Coach A,” Adams said. “One requirement for involvement is a background check.”
For schools that grow a competitive team, the stakes can be significant. “You get possible scholarships. You get to win trophies for your school. You get to go compete in Albuquerque, here in Santa Fe, against hundreds of different schools that are in this program,” Chavez said.
For Cloudcroft, the target is set. Now comes the practice.
To learn more or get involved, contact Principal Adams or Coach Alexander at Cloudcroft Elementary/Middle School.
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