San Diego Students Take Top Honors in State Virtual Archery Competition

Media Contact: Lesa Johnston, CDFW Communications, (916) 322-8933

For the second year in a row, two students from Kearny High School in San Diego won top honors in the California National Archery in the Schools Program (CalNASP) statewide virtual archery competition. Elementary, middle and high schools from throughout the state participated in this year’s tournament, which is hosted annually by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).

“We would like to congratulate all of the students who participated in this year’s tournament, and we would especially like to commend the top male and female shooters from Kearny High School,” said Lesa Johnston, CDFW CalNASP coordinator. “The great thing about archery is that it teaches dedication and focus yet can be enjoyed by students of all abilities. It also encourages students to lead a more active lifestyle and get outdoors.”

Robert White, a junior at Kearny High School, came in as the top male shooter and top overall shooter in the state competition. D’Layna Hickman, a freshman at Kearny High School, is ranked the top female shooter and came in third in the High School Division of the competition. Each will receive a new Genesis Special Edition compound bow donated by the manufacturer.

The virtual state archery tournament is designed to give students the opportunity to challenge their mastery of the sport in a supportive environment in which they can compete with other students statewide without traveling. Students shoot in their own gymnasium and their scores are posted in a national database that not only ranks the state scores, but also allows students to see where they rank at a national level.

Honorable mentions were awarded to Wyatt Vaineharrison, from Gracious Trail Academy in San Diego, who came in as the second-place male overall shooter and rank-one in the male Middle Division; and Anthony Perez from Kearny High School, who ranked third-place male overall shooter and rank-one in the High School Division.

Kally Norvell from Gracious Trail Academy was the second-place female overall shooter and rank-one in the female Middle School Division. Rachel Landro from Excelsior Middle School in Discovery Bay located in Contra Costa County was third-place female overall shooter and rank-one in the female Middle School Division.

The CalNASP is a school-based archery program that both teachers and students enjoy and is quickly gaining popularity among public and private schools. Those interested in implementing archery into a school curriculum can contact CDFW for additional information at www.dfg.ca.gov/nasp.

April 2013 California Department of Fish and Wildlife Calendar

Media Contact:  CDFW Office of Communications, (916) 322-8911

DATE EVENT

Weekends — Elkhorn Slough Ecological Reserve (95076). Docent-led walks are scheduled every Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Binoculars and bird books available to the public to borrow at no cost. The visitor center and main overlook are fully accessible. Day use fee is $4.32 per person, age 16 and older. Groups of 10 or more should schedule a separate tour. Directions and additional information are available at  www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/er/region4/elkhorn.html

Every Monday — Volunteer Stewardship Field Crew Mondays at Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, 1700 Elkhorn Rd., Royal Oaks (95076), 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Help preserve natural habitat by doing seed collection, planting, trail maintenance and weeding introduced species. For more information, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/er/region4/elkhorn.html  or www.elkhornslough.org.

1 — First day of red abalone season, except for Fort Ross closure area.  For more information, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/invertebrate/abalone.asp.

6 —  Annual Salt Pond Mud Stomp in Moss Landing from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Moss Landing Wildlife Management Area, on the east side of Highway 1 immediately north of Elkhorn Slough in Monterey County (95039). Visitors can view snowy plovers and other shorebirds as they begin nesting and participate in habitat enhancement. To register, please contact Amanda at (831) 728-2822 ext. 303, or at Amanda.Ankenbrandt@wildlife.ca.gov.

10 — Lobster Advisory Committee meeting from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the CDFW Los Alamitos Field Office and Laboratory at 4665 Lampson Ave., Suite C, Los Alamitos (90720). The meeting is open to the general public. For more information, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/lobsterfmp/involved.asp.

11 — CDFW Climate College lecture:  In it for the long haul: CDFW Going Green Sustainability Initiative from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Natural Resources Agency Building Auditorium, 1416 Ninth St., Sacramento (95814). It will also be broadcast live via WebEx. Guest speakers are CDFW Senior Information Systems Analyst Crilly Butler and CDFW Climate Change Associate Whitney Albright. Lectures are designed for CDFW employees but are open to CDFW partners and the public. Please e-mail registrar@wildlife.ca.gov to sign up if you are not already registered for the course, and indicate if you intend to participate in person or via WebEx. Please register at least two days prior to the lecture. For more information, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/Climate_and_Energy/Climate_Change/Climate_College/.

13 — Trout Fest at Moccasin Creek Hatchery, 15300 Hwy 49, Moccasin Creek, 95347 (at the junction of Hwy 49 and Hwy 120). This free event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn the ABCs of trout fishing — how to tie knots, rig a pole, cast, handle trout, and clean and cook trout. Tour the hatchery, learn where to fish and see Lahontan cutthroat trout. Those under 16 years old can fish free and all equipment will be provided. For more information, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/Events/Trout_Fest/, email TroutFest.wildlife.ca.gov or call (559) 765-4824.

13 — Sycamore Island Fishing Derby: Celebrating a Vibrant San Joaquin River, 8 a.m. to noon,  Sycamore Island, 39664 Avenue 7 ½, Madera (93638). Participants will pay the regular site use fees: $9 per vehicle and $5 per trailered boat. CDFW, San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust, Natural Resources Defense Council, Trout Unlimited, San Joaquin River Partnership, and San Joaquin River Conservancy are cooperating to celebrate fishing opportunities and public enjoyment on the San Joaquin River. CDFW has stocked Sycamore Island with 3,500 pounds of trout raised at the San Joaquin River State Fish Hatchery, with approximately 25 percent of the fish carrying reward tags that can be redeemed for $10 through CDFW. The event will highlight changes and fishing opportunities in conjunction with restoration of the San Joaquin River. For more information, please visit www.riverparkway.org.

13 — Fishing in the City’s free Fly Fishing-O Rama, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Howe Park Community Center, 2201 Cottage Way, Sacramento (95825). The event, co-sponsored by California Fly Fishers Unlimited and the Fulton-El Camino Recreation and Park District, will feature instruction for both children and adults. For more information, please call (916) 358-2872.

17 — Fish and Game Commission meeting, Flamingo Conference Resort & Spa, 2777 Fourth Street, Santa Rosa (95405). For more information, please visit www.fgc.ca.gov/meetings/2013/index.aspx.

20 — Fishing in the City clinic at Scottsdale Pond in Novato. Clinic is from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. with fishing until 11:30 a.m. For more information, please email ethan.rotman@wildlife.ca.gov.

20 — Fishing in the City clinic at Lake Elizabeth in Fremont. Clinic is from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. with fishing until 11:30 a.m. For more information, please email ethan.rotman@wildlife.ca.gov.

20 — Fishing in the City clinic at Lake Chabot in Vallejo. Clinic is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. with fishing until 11:30 a.m.  For more information, please email ethan.rotman@wildlife.gov.

27 — Trout Fest at the Kern River Hatchery, 14415 Sierra Way, Kernville (93238). This free event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn the ABC’s of trout fishing — how to tie knots, rig a pole, cast, handle trout, and clean and cook trout. Tour the hatchery and learn where to fish and see the future home of the Kern River rainbow trout. Those under 16 years old can fish free and all equipment will be provided. For more information, please visit the CDFW website at www.dfg.ca.gov/Events/Trout_Fest/, email TroutFest.wildlife.ca.gov, or call (559) 765-4824.

28 — Fishing in the City clinic at Sandy Wool Lake in Milpitas. Clinic is from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. with fishing until 11:30 a.m. For more information, please email ethan.rotman@wildlife.ca.gov.

CDFW to Offer Clinics for Young Archers

March 7, 2013
Media contact:  Lesa Johnston, CDFW Communications, (916) 322-8933

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will offer two beginning archery clinics this spring for young archers between the ages of 8 and 17.

The first clinic, the Youth Archery Spring Fling, will be held Saturday, April 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Maya Archery Range, 750 Galleria Blvd. in Roseville (Placer County).

The second clinic, the Mojave Youth Archery Blast, will be held Saturday, June 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mojave Archers Range, 10500 Eaby Road in Phelan (San Bernardino County).

“Archery is a sport that motivates youth to spend time outdoors, and California has some of the best and most scenic outdoor ranges available to the public,” said Lesa Johnston, CDFW’s coordinator for the California National Archery in the Schools Program. “We hope that by offering archery opportunities, youth will be encouraged to explore the possibilities and participate in this lifelong sport.”

Each clinic includes a safety orientation, fundamental archery instruction, an introduction to various types of equipment and plenty of actual target practice. Clinic participants will be supervised by adults as they practice shooting at the outdoor stationary bull’s-eye targets.

Separate instruction will be provided for youth (8-12 years old) and teens (13-17). Participants of both age groups must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The cost is $15 for all ages, and includes the use of the equipment, snacks and lunch. Parents and guardians will also receive a lunch at no additional charge.

CDFW will co-sponsor the clinic with the California Bowmen Hunters and the State Archery Association. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Online registration is available on the CDFW website at www.dfg.ca.gov/yo. For additional information, please call the program coordinator at (916) 322-8933.