Take It Outside!

Discovering Nature With JAKES and Xtreme JAKES

By Brian Purtymun
Courtesy of the National Wild Turkey Federation

Concerns about the fitness level of America’s youth have been at the forefront of the news lately. But for more than 27 years, the National Wild Turkey Federation has been helping provide opportunities for youth to get outside, get active and have a great time learning new skills and making new friends.

All About JAKES

In 1981, the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) created the JAKES program. JAKES stands for Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship, but any of its members will tell you that what JAKES really stands for is “fun.” In wild turkey terms, a jake is a young gobbler, and it’s active youth whom the NWTF wants on their team.

The JAKES program is about introducing youth to the outdoors while keeping fun first. The program’s main goals are teaching North America’s youth about wildlife management, appreciating and enjoying the wonders of nature and passing along the traditions of safe, ethical and responsible hunting. The JAKES program is designed for kids up to age 12, and Xtreme JAKES is aimed at teens ages 13-17.

Activities at JAKES/Xtreme JAKES events typically include shooting, fishing, hunting, wildlife watching, canoeing…you name it. If it’s outside and it’s fun, it’s probably happening at a JAKES event near you!

All JAKES members receive JAKES Magazine, a full-color magazine that is issued four times a year and is filled with amazing wildlife facts, photos, Critter Cards, answers to kids’ wildlife questions as well as stories and pictures submitted by youth across the country.

Outdoor Fun Fights Childhood Obesity By Shannon Coggin An estimated 19 percent of Americans ages six to 11, and 17 percent of Americans ages 12 to 19 are overweight according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2003 to 2004. Parents and kids can take control of this epidemic by leading more active lifestyles and taking part in the outdoors. Check out calories burned for each outdoor activity, many featured at nearly 1,000 JAKES and Xtreme JAKES events held throughout North America. To find an event near you, visit: www.nwtf.org/jakes.
Outdoor Activities/1 Hour of Participation Calories Burned
Canoeing (2 mph) Hunting Kayaking Hiking Backpacking Rock Climbing Archery Bicycling – Mountain Fishing Walk/Run/Play with kids	255 285 285 338 398 622 195 480 175 225
This is an estimate of the calories a person weighing 125 pounds will burn. Generally, to maintain your weight, the amount of calories you take in should equal the amount you burn. To lose one U.S. pound, you must burn 3,500 more calories than you take in as food. www.healthstatus.com
Click Here to Download Text Courtesy of the National Wild Turkey Federation

Outdoors To The Extreme With Xtreme Jakes

Some people would say that today’s teens are only into text messaging, MySpace and video games. Well, thousands of Xtreme JAKES members across North America would disagree with that. Founded in 2002, Xtreme JAKES is custom-tailored for teens ages 13-17 and provides outdoor opportunities and challenges more in line with older JAKES abilities and experiences.

“Xtreme JAKES members know how to have a good time,” said Matt Linder, JAKES Magazine editor. “One of the best things about working with Xtreme JAKES is the positive attitude I hear from its members. Sometimes the mainstream media likes to portray teenagers as lazy and inactive, but there are lots of talented young people with bright futures who are very active in Xtreme JAKES,” Lindler said. “So many of the lessons that we learn from outdoor activities, such as practicing good sportsmanship, respect for others and never giving up carry over into other aspects of life,” he said.

The Xtreme JAKES section of JAKES Magazine is geared specifically for members 13-17 years old, and focuses on advanced hunting and fishing strategies, snowboarding, rock climbing and other exciting sports. Xtreme JAKES magazine also includes gear reviews, do-it-yourself projects and more. The entire magazine is filled with profiles of young people, as well as news and stories that they want to read about.

JAKES Team Members

The NWTF has an entire team at the Wild Turkey Center and volunteers all over North America who want to see kids get outside, be active and have fun in the Great Outdoors. These volunteers are your neighbors who come from all over your community and beyond to help your kids discover a new outdoor hobby that they’ll enjoy for years to come. "JAKES events let me spend a day outdoors making friends and having fun," said Chelsey Holmes, an Xtreme JAKES member from South Carolina. "Every year, I learn something new that I can do the rest of the summer."

In 2007, local NWTF chapters conducted more than 1,000 JAKES/Xtreme JAKES events featuring hands-on activities all across the continent, so odds are there is an event coming soon to a location near you! Click here to locate a JAKES event in your area.

Mandy Harling, JAKES program manager, said she likes seeing JAKES members having a good time at the events. “I enjoy working with kids and introducing them to the outdoors. I love to see the expression on a child's face the first time they shoot a bow or play hide-and-seek in their camo,” Harling said. “It’s also great to see our Xtreme JAKES meet new friends that have the same interests,” she added. “Young people are the future of hunting and fishing, so we have to do everything we can to pass the tradition on.” That tradition is being kept alive and well as JAKES membership continues to grow.

By Shannon Coggin

1. Come One, Come All
JAKES events are fun for everyone, and are open to youth ages 17 and younger. Youth who have not found a place to fit in on a school sports team may especially enjoy shooting a bow, paddling a kayak or casting a line. At JAKES events, no experience is required

2. Let’s Get Physical
The words, “I’m bored” are said far too often in households nationwide. JAKES events present opportunities for youth to put down their video game controllers, head outside and try fun new activities that can build strength, tone muscle and get their heart rate going.

3. Save Your Pennies
Like any sport, fishing, archery, canoeing and shooting all require the right equipment. JAKES days offer the perfect opportunity to try a variety of fun activities free of charge.

4. Patience is a Virtue
The idea of taking time to enjoy a hike through the woods or wet a line and wait for a fish to bite may seem foreign to many youth who are accustomed to instant gratification. With the help of expert instructors, JAKES day participants can learn the benefits of patience and slowing down to enjoy their surroundings.

5. Inside or Out
While the purpose of JAKES days is to get youth outside to enjoy nature, many fun JAKES activities— such as archery, rock climbing and running— also can be enjoyed indoors during cold or rainy weather.

6. Mix and Mingle
JAKES events give youth opportunities to meet new friends while learning new skills, and allow for in-person social interaction, which is great for youth who may often spend more time talking to their friends via the Internet or text message.

7. Focus, Focus
Many activities at JAKES events can help improve hand-eye coordination and train participants to tune-out noise and other distractions, which can be beneficial when completing homework assignments or taking tests at school.

8. Confidence 101
Participants at JAKES events can feel a confidence boost and enjoy the satisfaction of winning personal mental and physical battles, whether it is breaking a clay target in mid-air, hitting the bulls-eye on the archery range or finding success in one of the many other activities offered.

9. Safe, Not Sorry
Expert instructors are on hand at JAKES days to offer supervision and tips to help each participant use the proper form and technique while staying safe. By learning the correct and safest ways to accomplish tasks, youth learn to keep safety a priority, which helps train responsible hunters and conservationists.

10. All in Good Fun
JAKES events teach youth about the outdoors and the importance of conservation, create opportunities to form new friendships and learn new skills in a safe and stress-free environment. Best of all, JAKES events are fun!

Click Here to Download Text
Courtesy of the National Wild Turkey Federation

What’s In It For You?

In addition to a whole new world of outdoor opportunities and friends, for just $5 kids will also receive four issues of JAKES Magazine, an NWTF membership card and a decal. If that isn’t reason enough, each member will also have the chance to win a hunt of a lifetime. Each JAKES/Xtreme JAKES member is eligible for a drawing to win a hunt on the legendary King Ranch in Kingsville, Texas!

Scholarship Programs and Assistance

Everyone at the NWTF believes that education is important. That’s why each year, the NWTF presents a $10,000 national scholarship as well as many $1,000 state/provincial academic scholarships and hundreds of $250 local scholarships. The scholarships are awarded to young people who have demonstrated a commitment to conservation, academic excellence and building leadership skills. Applicants must be licensed hunters to be eligible.

Each year, over $500,000 is available in scholarships to JAKES/Xtreme JAKES members. To date, the NWTF has awarded more than $2.7 million through the scholarship program! The program is just one way the NWTF is helping to ensure we have the dedicated conservationists needed for the future.

The NWTF also partners with Future Farmers of America (FFA) to provide scholarships to its members. The NWTF provides a $5,000 scholarship to a student pursuing a wildlife management or agricultural degree. The scholarship fund is administered through the National Future Farmers of America Foundation.

Often, scholarship and college applications ask for your involvement in community service projects. The Xtreme JAKES Xtra Credit department will help you find projects and, at the same time, help the conservation effort. Xtra Credit helps Xtreme JAKES members become more involved in their communities and get hands-on experience with wildlife and natural resource conservation.

The Good Times Keep Rolling

Thousands of young people have gotten to experience fun things at JAKES and Xtreme JAKES events they might have otherwise never had the chance to do. Most importantly, they’re learning how to help conserve North America’s wildlife for generations to come. After all, the future of hunting and fishing depends on the next generation of hunter conservationists.

For more information about the JAKES/Xtreme JAKES program or to find an event near you, visit www.nwtf.org/jakes.