Outdoors Briefs

Outdoors Briefs Subhead JAKES event set Sept. 21, youths statewide invited to attend Matt Williams Outdoors Writer Wed, 09/18/2024 - 06:12 Image

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  JAKES events sponsored by the National Wild Turkey Federation give youths the opportunity learn a wide variety of outdoor skills that some may not otherwise be exposedt to. The 31st Annual Pineywoods Chapter of National Wild Turkey Federation JAKES event is set for at 8 a.m. on Sept. 21 at North Boggy Slough Conservation Area. Youths statewide are invited to attend. (Courtesy Photo)

  JAKES events sponsored by the National Wild Turkey Federation give youths the opportunity learn a wide variety of outdoor skills that some may not otherwise be exposedt to. The 31st Annual Pineywoods Chapter of National Wild Turkey Federation JAKES event is set for at 8 a.m. on Sept. 21 at North Boggy Slough Conservation Area. Youths statewide are invited to attend. (Courtesy Photo)

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The 31st Annual Pineywoods Chapter of National Wild Turkey Federation JAKES event is set for at 8 a.m. on Sept. 21 at North Boggy Slough Conservation Area off State Highway 7 in Houston and Trinity counties. Youths aged 8-17 statewide are invited to attended.

JAKES stands for Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship. The annual event places an emphasis on teaching a wide variety outdoor skills to youths under 17 years of age. The annual gathering frequently attracts 50 or more youths from around the state, but there is always room for more, according to JAKES coordinator, Kathy Braden.

The upcoming event promises to be an educational experience in a number of ways. Branden says nearly a dozen different stations for youths to rotate through. Among them are archery, target shooting, turkey calling, fishing, track identification and more.

She noted that Dale Bounds launched the Pineywoods event 1991.

“It is our goal to continue make it even larger and successful,” she said. The JAKES event this year will have seven different classes,” she said. “Our goal is to teach gun and hunting safety in the woods and what to carry with you when you go hunting. We have heard stories of many of these kids learning to hunt and becoming avid hunters and outdoor enthusiasts because of their experiences at our event. In our eyes, that’s the payoff for what we do. Without our youth, we have no future. We as adults look forward to teaching our youth about the outdoors and why we love it so much!”

Cost of the event is $20, includes a NWTF JAKES membership, JAKES T-shirt and a lunch. For more information contact Braden at 936-635-3350 or kastax.service@gmail.com.