It's a program designed to help keep kids in school and off drugs.

Officials with Operation UNITE and the National Archery in the Schools Program, or NASP are teaming up to train instructors to teach kids how to have fun without getting into trouble.

Jennie Richardson of NASP says the sessions are a joint effort between Operation UNITE and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. She says by the time they leave the session, instructors will have all the training they need to properly set up an archery program.

“They're going to learn how to set up a safe range,” Richardson says. “They're going to learn how to shoot a bow they're going to learn how to teach someone to shoot a bow and how to work on the equipment and the whistle commands and the structure that's associated with the program.”

Debbie Trusty with Operation UNITE says the joining of regional groups is going well.

“In the past, through the community coalitions has funded 22 programs,” Trusty says. “And this is a program that can be taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.”

Teachers from more than five counties participated in the training, learning that shooting a bow and arrow improves discipline and self esteem. Richardson says the teachers can use the training to possibly bring an archery program to their school.

“Approximately 75 percent of students in a regular school is not engaged in any after school curriculum and we're finding that this program is making a difference with some of these kids that are not involved in any after school programs,” Richardson says.

One Martin County school teacher says they are looking to restart their archery program, and this gives them the perfect opportunity.

“We had it about two years ago, and they really enjoyed it,” Inez Middle School teacher Pete Greene says. “So we're trying to start it up again and get more kids involved and it gives them excitement outside of school within the school system.”

And teachers hope they can hit the bull’s-eye when it comes to keeping kids active.

The final training session is Monday in Somerset.