The CVSG has made an annual commitment to the Jakes program by offereing youth age 17 and younger an opportunity to 

expereince ice fishing in South Dakota.  Numerous participants, both young and old, have experienced

the thrill of pulling a fish out of the ice.  The primary drive behind this event is instill outdoor activities in the heart of the winter season. 

 

The NWTF started the JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship) program

as a way to give youth 12 years old and younger the chance to explore the outdoors through hundreds

of fun, kids-only events called Porter Wagoner JAKES Conservation Field Days. JAKES members also

receive a subscription to JAKES Magazine.

 

In JAKES, children ages 12 and younger learn the basic outdoors skills necessary to becomesuccessful

 stewards of our natural resources. They also learn to be responsible outdoorsmen and women

 through fishing, camping, and hunting seminars taught by legends in the field. They learn

 to identify plants and animals, as well as how to effectively call in those elusive toms.

 

The NWTF has a great opportunity to teach children the value of our natural resources and

the importance of conservation. These children will grow up knowing hunting plays a key role

in wildlife management, and the dollars they spend to hunt go right back into state and

federal conservation efforts. Hundreds of JAKES events are held across the nation each

year and reach thousands of kids.

 

 

The NWTF’s newest program, Xtreme JAKES (ages 13-17), provides opportunities and challenges

 more in line with older JAKES abilities and experiences. JAKES which stands for Juniors Acquiring

 Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship is dedicated to informing, educating and involving youth

in wildlife conservation and the wise stewardship of our natural resources.

 

Xtreme JAKES provides opportunities and challenges more in line with older youth abilities

and experiences. Xtreme JAKES get to try cool activities such as mountain biking and kayaking,

and learn advance hunting techniques, plant and animal identification and wise stewardship

of our natural resources. Xtreme JAKES members also receive a membership to the

Xtreme JAKES Magazine.

 

They also learn to be responsible outdoorsmen and women through fishing, camping and hunting

seminars taught by legends in the field. They learn to identify plants and animals, as well as

how to effectively call in those elusive toms.

 

The NWTF has a great opportunity to teach youth the value of our natural resources and the

importance of conservation. These children will grow up knowing hunting plays a key role

in wildlife management, and the dollars they spend to hunt go right back into the state

and federal conservation efforts.

 

Hundreds of JAKES events are held across the nation each year and reach thousands of kids.

The national event is held annually at the Wild Turkey Center, home to the NWTF.

 

Youth from most states, plus several essay contest winners, earn the trip to South Carolina to

meet some of the biggest names in the turkey hunting industry, who share their experience

and wisdom with the children. These events are an important aspect of the NWTF’s

outreach programs. But, most importantly, they provide an opportunity to help

build tight family bonds and memories that will last a lifetime.