Keeping the North American hunting tradition alive, the National Wild Turkey Federation has a fun way to get our youth excited about the outdoor sports and conservation with the JAKES program. JAKES stands for Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship, not to mention a lot of fun.

In JAKES, children ages 17 and younger learn the basic outdoor skills necessary to become successful stewards of our natural resources. They also learn to be responsible outdoorsmen and women through fishing, camping and hunting seminars taught by legends in the field. They learn to identify plants and animals, as well as how to effectively call in those elusive toms.

The NWTF has a great opportunity to teach children the value of our natural resources and the importance of conservation. These children will grow up knowing hunting plays a key role in wildlife management, and the dollars they spend to hunt go right back into state and federal conservation efforts. Hundreds of JAKES events are held across the nation each year and reach thousands of kids. The national event is held annually at the Wild Turkey Center in South Carolina, home to the NWTF.

Children from most states, plus several essay contest winners, earn the trip to South Carolina to meet some of the biggest names in the turkey hunting industry, who share their experience and wisdom with the children. These events are an important aspect of the NWTF's outreach programs. But, most importantly, they provide an opportunity to help build tight family bonds and memories that will last a lifetime.