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 ~~~
001 Early Morning Set-up- Moving the BB Gun Range into place are (left to right) Ryan Catlett, Wayne Kaiser, Randy Keiller, Bruce Nunes, and Dave Inman. All are active members of the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter
004 Orientation- John Millican highlights the learning stations to participants. Most importantly, John stressed event safety and keeping hydrated on a hot day
007 Draw, Aim, Release- Participants quickly put their newly learned skills to use.
010 Taking Careful Aim- A JAKES puts the gun sights on a Turkey target. Wayne Kaiser offers assistance.
013 More Happy Shooters- Billie Martin, McKenna Falwell, and Dakota Martin (left to right) pose with their Safe Shooter Youth Awards and perforated targets
016 The Main Course- Dave Kemnitz (right) and Dave Winiesdorffer do serving honors with the hamburgers and hot dogs at the beginning of the chow tables
018 Save Room For The Watermelon- Nothing better than cold slices of watermelon on a hot June day!
021 What’s Your Pace- JAKES measure distance by first determining the length of their pace at the Land Navigation and Compass Reading Station.
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002 It All Starts Here- The JAKES Banner marks the Registration Desk
005 Archery Station- Gerald Busha, master instructor and coach, demonstrates proper bow selection and shooting. He was assisted by several volunteers, many of whom are past students and members of the local match team.
008 Retrieval- Safe pulling of arrows from the target was stressed as well
011 And The Results- Keegn Crowell proudly displays his targets.
014 Tending “The Grill”- Meanwhile, Egypt Niles prepares some hamburgers and hot dogs on a hot grill on a hot day. Lunch time is fast approaching.
019 Land Navigation and Compass Reading- Dave Kemnitz discusses maps and gps units. Dave Winiesdorffer assists. This station stressed techniques and tools for safe orienteering.
022 Turkey Calling Station- At the fourth station, basic turkey calling was taught by Karon Nunes, Bruce Nunes, and John Millican
024 Sounding Good- Another JAKES does some clucking and putting with his call. Each JAKES received a similar call for more practice at home.
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003 Tending To The Details- Joey Fuller signs up a participant and parent. Tom Fuller looks on.
006 On The Firing Line- An archer is ready to send his arrow down range. His volunteer instructor looks on.
009 BB Gun Range- JAKES practiced their shooting skills at the BB Gun Range
012 Another Shooter Draws A Bead- This time Ryan Catlett watches as a shooter sends a BB towards the target
015 The Line Forms Fast- JAKES Day participants take a noon-time break for lunch
017 Fill Up That Plate- There is plenty of food for everybody!
020 Working Tools- Reading maps and using compasses are basic tools in land navigation. You can’t always rely on a gps unit or a cell phone to find camp.
023 How Are You Doing?- A JAKES practices her calling with the assistance of John Millican
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025 Group Portrait- The successful JAKES of 2018 pose for a group picture
026 A Last Look- The layout of JAKES Day 2018 at Soldier’s Creek Park in Sierra Vista
027 That’s A Wrap- John Millican, Wayne Kaiser, and Dave Inman (left to right) roll up the BB Gun Range at the end of JAKES Day. Good job by the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter with another successful community event!