JAKES Day
Soldier’s Creek Park
Sierra Vista, Cochise, Arizona
June 23rd, 2018
What: The Huachuca Gould’s Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation hosted a JAKES Day for area youth recently. Thirty-two participants learned various outdoor skills at 4 teaching stations.
When: June 23rd, 2018.
Where: Soldier’s Creek Park, Sierra Vista, Cochise County, Arizona
General Information: For the 12th year, volunteers from the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter offered a day of conservation skills and ethics for local youth. This JAKES event was supported by the Chapter’s annual banquet and the National Wild Turkey Federation. As always, there was no charge to the participants.
JAKES stands for Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship. This year, 32 youths registered for the event. Home towns included Hereford, Sierra Vista, and Patagonia. Farther traveling JAKES came from Tucson as well.
Soldier’s Creek Park in the City of Sierra Vista of southeastern Arizona was the site of the JAKES event. Using a local city park was a shift from past JAKES Day sites. Hopefully, the site proved to be more convenient for the participants and their families.
The weather, well, can only be described as mighty warm for a late-June day in Cochise County. It was sunny with the high temperature of 95˚ F at 2:00 PM. Several canopies for shade along with unlimited bottles of water kept the heat tolerable.
A brief orientation followed the morning registration. Then participants divided into small groups and headed to 4 teaching stations. These stations were scattered around the park on the green, lush grass.
At one station, Gerald Busha conducted an archery clinic. Proper bow and arrow length, aiming, arrow retrieval, and safety were taught. Gerald was assisted by 6 volunteers, several of whom were former students of his past classes and now tournament competitors. Land navigation and compass reading were taught at a second station. An inflatable BB gun range was the third station. Here safe firearms handling and basic target shooting tips were provided. For the fourth station, hands-on Turkey calling was offered. Each JAKES received a turkey caller as well.
A delicious lunch of grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, fixings, chips, watermelon, and refreshments was provided at mid-day to the JAKES and their families numbering about 60. The chow line formed fast and the chairs and tables in the shade were very welcome by the group!
Participants posed for a group portrait with the colorful BB Gun Range as a backdrop.
And so another fun filled and educational day for JAKES and their families concluded.
Wayne Kaiser, Huachuca Gould’s Chapter, did an outstanding job of organizing the event and coordinating with volunteers and presenters.
The presenters deserve special thanks. They were:
- Archery Clinic- Gerald Busha and volunteers
- Land Navigation and Compass Reading- Dave Kemnitz and Dave Winiesdorffer
- Turkey Calling- Karon Nunes, Bruce Nunes, and John Millican
- BB Gun Range- Wayne Kaiser, Ryan Catlett, Randy Keiller
Running the Registration Desk was Joey Fuller. And don’t forget the cooks. Thanks go to Tom Fuller, Dave Inman, and Egypt Niles. Michael Kaiser served as the on-site first responder. Tom Deecken was there to take pictures, also.
And finally, a special thank you goes to all the parents, relatives, and friends for bringing a youth to JAKES Day!
What: The Huachuca Gould’s Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation hosted a JAKES Day for area youth recently. Thirty-two participants learned various outdoor skills at 4 teaching stations.
When: June 23rd, 2018.
Where: Soldier’s Creek Park, Sierra Vista, Cochise County, Arizona
General Information: For the 12th year, volunteers from the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter offered a day of conservation skills and ethics for local youth. This JAKES event was supported by the Chapter’s annual banquet and the National Wild Turkey Federation. As always, there was no charge to the participants.
JAKES stands for Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship. This year, 32 youths registered for the event. Home towns included Hereford, Sierra Vista, and Patagonia. Farther traveling JAKES came from Tucson as well.
Soldier’s Creek Park in the City of Sierra Vista of southeastern Arizona was the site of the JAKES event. Using a local city park was a shift from past JAKES Day sites. Hopefully, the site proved to be more convenient for the participants and their families.
The weather, well, can only be described as mighty warm for a late-June day in Cochise County. It was sunny with the high temperature of 95˚ F at 2:00 PM. Several canopies for shade along with unlimited bottles of water kept the heat tolerable.
A brief orientation followed the morning registration. Then participants divided into small groups and headed to 4 teaching stations. These stations were scattered around the park on the green, lush grass.
At one station, Gerald Busha conducted an archery clinic. Proper bow and arrow length, aiming, arrow retrieval, and safety were taught. Gerald was assisted by 6 volunteers, several of whom were former students of his past classes and now tournament competitors. Land navigation and compass reading were taught at a second station. An inflatable BB gun range was the third station. Here safe firearms handling and basic target shooting tips were provided. For the fourth station, hands-on Turkey calling was offered. Each JAKES received a turkey caller as well.
A delicious lunch of grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, fixings, chips, watermelon, and refreshments was provided at mid-day to the JAKES and their families numbering about 60. The chow line formed fast and the chairs and tables in the shade were very welcome by the group!
Participants posed for a group portrait with the colorful BB Gun Range as a backdrop.
And so another fun filled and educational day for JAKES and their families concluded.
Wayne Kaiser, Huachuca Gould’s Chapter, did an outstanding job of organizing the event and coordinating with volunteers and presenters.
The presenters deserve special thanks. They were:
- Archery Clinic- Gerald Busha and volunteers
- Land Navigation and Compass Reading- Dave Kemnitz and Dave Winiesdorffer
- Turkey Calling- Karon Nunes, Bruce Nunes, and John Millican
- BB Gun Range- Wayne Kaiser, Ryan Catlett, Randy Keiller
Running the Registration Desk was Joey Fuller. And don’t forget the cooks. Thanks go to Tom Fuller, Dave Inman, and Egypt Niles. Michael Kaiser served as the on-site first responder. Tom Deecken was there to take pictures, also.
And finally, a special thank you goes to all the parents, relatives, and friends for bringing a youth to JAKES Day!
~~~ Gallery of the Event ~~~
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