Washington JAKES Day Introduces Kids to Conservation

That spirit was on full display at the annual NWTF Washington State Chapter JAKES Day, where 55 kids and their families gathered at Tacoma Sportsmen’s Club for an afternoon of hands-on learning, outdoor discovery and conservation education. With parents, partners and volunteers included, more than 100 people took part in the event, making this year’s JAKES Day the chapter’s largest and most engaging yet. 

For the kids, the afternoon was designed as an adventure. Each participant received a JAKES Day Passport and set out to collect stamps from stations throughout the event, giving them the chance to try new activities while moving from one experience to the next. They could practice archery and BB guns, learn about turkey calling, try a .410 shotgun, cast a fishing rod or take part in a mock turkey hunt. Other stations introduced them to navigation and basic first aid, while conservation partners offered opportunities to learn about Washington’s forests, wildlife and natural resources. 

The variety of activities was intentional. JAKES Days are not simply about teaching a child one particular outdoor skill; they are about giving young people enough opportunities to discover what excites them. For one child, that might mean picking up a bow for the first time. For another, it could be learning how turkeys communicate or hearing from someone who works to protect the forests and wildlife they enjoy. Along the way, kids were able to meet members of the Northwest Game Hawkers, explore with Pierce County Fire, learn from the USDA Forest Service and visit with the Hawk Hunters. A special appearance from Smokey Bear added another memorable moment to an afternoon centered on enjoying and caring for the outdoors. 

Yet the value of JAKES Day goes beyond the activities themselves. At every station, there was someone willing to stop, teach, answer questions and encourage a child to try something new. That is where the importance of volunteers and community partners becomes especially clear. An afternoon spent showing a young person how to safely handle a piece of outdoor equipment, explaining the importance of healthy forests or answering questions about wildlife may seem like a small contribution, but those moments can become the experiences a child remembers long after the event is over. 

“JAKES Day 2026 was more than an event; it was a celebration of community, conservation, and the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts,” said Michelle McDonald, NWTF Washington State Chapter outreach coordinator. “We were excited to share our love of the outdoors and the NWTF mission with so many people.” 

That community effort is central to the NWTF’s JAKES program, which stands for Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship. Through JAKES events, young people are introduced to outdoor skills and responsible recreation while developing an appreciation for wildlife, conservation and the places where those experiences happen. Just as importantly, they are introduced to a network of adults who are willing to invest their time in helping them build confidence and find their own connection to the outdoors. 

Washington’s 2026 JAKES Day brought together a wide range of organizations and volunteers, each contributing something different to create that experience. Tacoma Sportsmen’s Club provided the setting, while the Forest Service, Pierce County Fire District, BHA Armed Forces Initiative, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement, Pierce County Conservation District, Long Shot, Western Boys Outdoors, Northwest Game Hawkers and Puyallup Rock and Mineral Club all helped fill the afternoon with opportunities for kids to learn and explore. NWTF volunteers hosted five interactive stations of their own and worked throughout the event to keep the activities running and the kids engaged. 

It is that kind of collaboration that makes community-based outdoor events so valuable. Conservation organizations, sportsmen’s groups, public agencies and individual volunteers each bring different experiences and expertise, but when they come together, they can offer young people a much broader introduction to the outdoors than any one organization could provide alone. For the adults involved, JAKES Day is an opportunity to pass along knowledge and traditions; for the kids, it can be the beginning of discovering an activity, a place or a passion that stays with them for years. 

There is no way to know which station will make the biggest impression on a particular child. A first experience with archery might lead to time spent practicing at the range, while a turkey calling demonstration could spark an interest in hunting. Learning about forests and wildlife might lead to a deeper interest in conservation, or simply give a child a better understanding of the places their family enjoys together. The goal is not to determine that connection for them, but to give them the opportunity to find it. 

Before the afternoon came to a close, every child received a raffle prize to take home, giving them one more piece of the experience to carry beyond Tacoma Sportsmen’s Club. More importantly, they left having spent time outdoors, learned from people who care deeply about those experiences and saw firsthand what can happen when a community comes together to welcome the next generation. 

JAKES Day may last only an afternoon, but the investment behind it reaches much further. For the Washington State Chapter, success is not simply measured by 55 kids participating or more than 100 people attending. It is reflected in the volunteers who gave their time, the partners who shared their expertise and the kids who left with new skills, new interests and a stronger connection to the outdoors. Those relationships are what give JAKES its lasting value, and what helps ensure that the next generation has both the opportunity and the community support to become stewards of the places they have learned to love.