Williamsburg, KY – From the most humble of beginnings, Scholastic 3-D Archery and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation have grown to become strong and steadfast in their common voice of advocacy for conservation. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) has risen to become one of the most effective and efficient conservation organizations in the United States. In sanctioning nationwide 3-D target archery tournaments as well as coordinating conservation- centered activities at these events, S3DA is furthering the goal of both organizations in creating a new generation of hunters and conservationists who will likely become avid outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen for life.

The demand for the S3DA program is growing faster than the current organizational infrastructure has been able to support. With such demand, and the assistance of the RMEF, S3DA hired a National Conservation Outreach Coordinator and is currently working to build a team across the United States of State Conservation Outreach Coordinators. Each State Conservation Outreach Coordinator will work with the S3DA clubs and teams within their respective states to provide archery, hunting and conservation related activities to the youth especially during regional and state tournaments. The long-term goal of this project is to project to the youth of our nation the importance of celebrating and maintaining the rich heritage of outdoor freedom we love in the United States.

This grant from the RMEF also allowed S3DA to obtain the assistance of strategic volunteers needed to organize, set-up, and maintain conservation centered activities at our 2019 S3DA National 3-D Tournament which was attended by thousands of participants and spectators.

S3DA invites everyone to watch and share the recent film the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation released featuring Shane Mahoney called “Hope”. Shane has dedicated his entire life to the conservation of wildlife and his hope is that humankind can come to value landscapes and wildlife that live in those environments. Shane Mahoney is a staunch supporter of the S3DA program, and you can find more information about him featured on the conservation tab of the S3DA website (www.s3da.org) as well as being quoted in many of the S3DA marketing materials.

“The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is proud to support the growth of S3DA and its conservation outreach,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer. “S3DA is helping to put and keep archery equipment in the hands of youth while also providing them and their families with beginning-to-end mentored hunt opportunities. This dovetails perfectly with RMEF’s mission focused on hunting heritage and conservation.”

About Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

Founded more than 35 years ago, fueled by hunters and a membership of nearly 235,000 strong, RMEF has conserved more than 7.9 million acres for elk and other wildlife. RMEF also works to open and improve public access, fund and advocate for science-based resource management, and ensure the future of America’s hunting heritage. Discover why “Hunting Is Conservation™” at rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

About Scholastic 3-D Archery

Scholastic 3-D Archery (S3DA™) is a unique, family-oriented youth archery program which has grown exponentially across the United States as a next-step initiative to follow introductory archery programs. The mission of the Scholastic

3-D Archery program is to foster, educate and guide youth in the areas of 3-D, indoor target and outdoor target archery as well as safe, ethical bowhunting practices. The goal of the S3DA™ program is to provide archery and bowhunting opportunities to youth in after-school settings, as well as with archery-affiliated clubs and businesses in the community. S3DA™ students participate in 3-D and target archery using compound and traditional archery equipment. Students can participate at local, regional, state and national archery events and earn college scholarships from colleges and universities across the United States. S3DA™ addresses the need for a program to bridge beginning target archery experience and more advanced activities such as 3-D shooting and bowhunting. The program currently operates across the United States with hundreds of certified coaches serving thousands of young archers, grades 3–12.

Contact the Scholastic 3-D Archery National Office at:

www.s3da.org or 225 North 3rd Street, Williamsburg, KY 40769, Ph: 606.524.3685

Media contact Kayla Bolton at kayla@s3da.org, Ph: 423.494.2204