​JAKES Day
Soldier’s Creek Park
Sierra Vista, Cochise County, Arizona
June 26th, 2021 

What:  The Huachuca Gould’s Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation hosted a JAKES Day for area youth recently.  Twenty-eight participants learned various outdoor skills at 4 teaching stations.

When:  June 26th, 2021.

Where:  Soldier’s Creek Park, Sierra Vista, Cochise County, Arizona     

General Information:  For the 14th year, volunteers from the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter offered a day of conservation skills and ethics for local youth. As for previous JAKES Days, there was no charge to the participants.

JAKES stands for Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship.  This year, 28 youths attended the event. 

Soldier’s Creek Park in the City of Sierra Vista of southeastern Arizona was the site of the JAKES event.  This was the 3rd year that the event was held in Sierra Vista to encourage local participation.   

While still a warm late-June day in Cochise County, the temperature stayed in the low to mid-90s for the highs. Those highs were considerably lower than the 100s seen recently in Sierra Vista. 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 the 4 teaching stations.  These stations were scattered around the park on the green, lush grass. 
At one station, Gerald Busha and the Sierra Vista Shooters Archery Club conducted a clinic on  proper bow and arrow length, aiming, arrow release, and safety. Basic knot tying was taught at another 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, the San Pedro Flycasters gave hands on experience in the basics of fly fishing.

Each group spent about 50 minutes at a station before rotating to the next.   
 
A delicious lunch of grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, fixings, chips, watermelon, and refreshments was provided at mid-day to the JAKES, their families, and the volunteers.  The chow line formed fast and the chairs and tables in the shade were very welcome to the group!

By early afternoon, participants and their families were headed home after another successful JAKES Day.
Wayne Kaiser, Huachuca Gould’s Chapter, did an outstanding job of organizing the event and coordinating with volunteers and presenters.

Thanks go to the San Pedro Flycasters and Sierra Vista Shooters Archery Club for hosting a teaching station covering their respective sport.

Running the Registration Desk were Joey Fuller and Wayne Kaiser.  Bob Pourier, Dave Kemnitz, John Millican, Tim Warne, Steve Tritz, Randy Keiller, and Dave Winiesdorffer assisted at the teaching stations. And don’t forget the cooks, Dave Inman and Tom Fuller. Tom Deecken was there to take pictures, also. All are members of the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter.

Representatives of the Arizona Game and Fish Department were present to answer questions about wildlife conservation and regulations and assist with instruction as well.
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And finally, a special thank you goes to all the parents, relatives, and friends for bringing a youth to JAKES Day!  
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001 This Must Be the Place- JAKES Day 2021 was held at Soldier’s Creek Park in Sierra Vista, southeastern Arizona

002 Early Morning Setup- Randy Keiller, John Millican, and Dave Kemnitz (left to right) inflate the BB Gun Range

003 Registration Desk- Joey Fuller and Wayne Kaiser sign up a participant and parent.

004 Event Orientation- John Millican highlights the learning stations to participants. Most importantly, John stressed event safety, COVID-19 guidelines, and keeping hydrated on a hot day. Wayne Kaiser, right, assists.

005 Starting with the Basics at the BB Gun Range- Dave Kemnitz demonstrates safe handling and sighting of firearms before any shooting begins. He is assisted by Dave Winiesdorffer.

006 Taking Aim- A young shooter takes aim at the target. Dave Kemnitz looks on.

007 Good Shooting

008 Hear Ye, Hear Ye- Dave Inman rings the Chapter cow bell signaling a station change

009 At the Archery Range- JAKES learn the basics of bow shooting from the Sierra Vista Shooters Archery Club

010 Tools of the Sport

011 Down Range Flies an Arrow- A JAKE releases an arrow towards its target

012 With Good Results¬- One bullseye and a couple pretty close

013 Meanwhile Back at the Grill- Dave Inman does the flipping

015 Practicing a Tight Loop at the Fly-casting Station

016 And There Were Some Lunkers to Be Hooked, too

017 A Display of Useful Knots- At the 4th teaching station knot tying was the focus

018 Bob Pourier Demonstrates the Use of a Slip Knot

019 Then a Sheet Bend is Next- That knot looks a little more complicated but still very useful

020 So That’s What a Finished Sheet Bend Looks Like- Just as Bob Pourier tied it

021 Thanks for Coming to JAKES Day 2021!