2024 Fall River JAKES Day
EDGEFIELD, S.C— The sound of laughter and overall good times could be heard ringing across South Dakota’s Cold Brook Reservoir as over 60 elementary school students from multiple South Dakota school districts attended the recent NWTF Fall River Chapter JAKES Day event, held near Hot Springs, South Dakota.
We have been doing this event for over 25 years, stated Ted Wick, NWTF Fall Rivers Chapter volunteer. It gets kids’ minds away from video games and gets them doing things outdoors.
Wick also mentioned the importance of the event, citing how the continuation of sound wildlife conservation practices hinges upon creating future hunters and outdoor enthusiasts.
Wick was referring to the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, an excise tax on long guns, bows, arrows and ammunition. This price is figured into the MSRP for the products and is paid for by the manufacturers. This money is then transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which proportionally appropriates funding to state wildlife agencies. NWTF JAKES events foster youth involvement in outdoor activities, furthering America’s hunting heritage and wildlife conservation funding; the recent NWTF Fall Rivers Chapter event was no different.
Dozens of fifth-grade students engaged in archery practice, elk telemetry tracking, turkey biology and hunting, boating, water safety and more.
National Park Service representatives from the Wind Cave National Park taught the JAKES attendees about telemetry tracking and how the service monitors elk populations. The NPS representatives put radio collars on multiple elk antler sheds and put them in varying locations — kids were able to learn how to track the collars using telemetry equipment.
Another hit with the kids was the boating activity, where they were able to cruise around the reservoir in an electric trolling boat.
In addition to the NWTF and the NPS, the South Dakota Department of Fish and Game, the Army Corps Engineers and the local Rotarian club made the event possible.
Local and state NWTF chapters host thousands of similar events nationwide each year to introduce youth to the outdoors through the JAKES (for ages 12 and younger) and Xtreme JAKES (13 to 17) Education and Outreach programs. JAKES stands for Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship, which conveys the NWTF’s dedication to educating the next generation of smart, ethical hunters. Many families enjoy hunting together and pass traditions on from one generation to another. Hunting also is important for the health of our nation’s wildlife and habitat because hunters fund conservation.
Established in 1981, the NWTF’s JAKES program is dedicated to informing, educating and involving youths 17 and younger in wildlife conservation and the wise stewardship of our natural resources. JAKES events help pass on the traditions of responsible hunting, teach the principles of habitat management, hunting ethics and safety.
For $10 a year, JAKES receive a year subscription to JAKES Country magazine (four issues), a chance to win a hunt of a lifetime and a membership card.
In addition to JAKES Day events, NWTF chapters across the country host various events that engage youth in the outdoors, including mentored hunts for a variety of game species.