JAKES Day fun and educational
COSHOCTON – The National Wild Turkey Federation’s annual JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge Ethics and Sportsmanship) was held at the Coshocton County Sportsmen’s Club on Saturday, July 28. About 30 kids participated in the event.
Dwaine Scheetz, from the Muskingum Valley Chapter of the NWTF, said this is their 29th year to have a chapter/banquet and that they have had a JAKES event almost every year. The youth had the opportunity to shoot shotguns, air rifles, .22 rifles and bows. They were also going to build a blue bird house, assemble a pot turkey call and be shown how to use it.
“We want to instill early knowledge of ethics and sportsmanship in kids,” said Scheetz. “We give them supervised instruction at each station. The supplies for the bird houses were donated by the ODNR. Whit’s, Taco Bell and Burger King each gave us prizes to use at each station. This is all free to the kids today and they’ll all leave with a t-shirt, birdhouse, turkey call and a door prize.” Scheetz said they had a shot gun and an air rifle to give away as a door prize, plus an entire table of other gifts.
“Every kid takes a prize home. Even at our banquet in the spring, if a kid comes with parents, we make sure they win a prize to take home. Our chapter is really big on passing on the traditions of hunting and being outside,” said Scheetz.
Shawn Dickey, Regional Director of the NWTF, said this outreach program of the NWTF and has 125,000 – 150,000 kids in it. “This is a great youth program – it teaches kids safety, wildlife, boating – all sorts of outside activities. Everyone here is a volunteer and everything is free for the kids.”
“It’s great that so many parents are willing to take time from busy schedules to bring their kids to events like this,” said Dickey. “Our goal is to get them outside – to enjoy the outdoors and give them a chance to do something they may not get to do otherwise. How many kids can say they shot a bow today or a shotgun?”
“This area is fortunate to have Dwaine and his committee to put this on every year,” said Dickey. “We are also lucky to have the Sportsman’s Club be willing to let us use their facility.”
Jayden Adams, 14, said he came because it is so much fun. He also hit the dead center of the target with his bow. His bulls-eye won him a prize. “I don’t practice or anything and I don’t hunt with a bow, but I won the prize two years ago, too.”
Scheetz wanted to thank everyone who donated items to make the day possible. Sponsors include: P.S. Services (Pat and Brenda Spear), Triple M Enterprises, LLC (Kevin, Tricia and Zach Mullett), In Memory of Jr Prouty. Donors were Scheetz Marketing, New Bedford Engine, Basil Firearms, Backwoods Hunting and Fishing, Scott Boyer Agency, Scott Bare, Jr. from Mossy Oak Properties, Chuck Smith and Jeff Drennen Dealerships.
Category: Clubs & Organizations, Multimedia, Photo Galleries, Uncategorized
