The call of the wild
Getting kids outdoors. Sounds simple, but in today’s world of movies on demand, 24/7 texting, iPods and video games, it is much more of a challenge than it may seem. According to the Children and Nature Network, there is significant “research linking children’s time spent outdoors to increased physical activity, healthy development, and overall well-being.”
Peter Novotny, Ohio Division of Wildlife regional supervisor, was on hand to help with the effort to encourage kids to explore the great outdoors at the first ever JAKES Day at the Norma Johnson Conservation Center near Dover.
“We are helping to provide funding for this to get these types of programs into local hands, like the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) here today, to provide hands-on outdoor recreation,” explained Novotny.
“JAKES stands for Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics, and Sportsmanship,” said Jamie Miller, of Strasburg, who is president of the local NWTF chapter. The group call themselves the Tuscarawas County Struttin’ Toms. “We also help out with the Norma Johnson fishing derby in July, and provide a yearly scholarship of $600 to a student from Tuscarawas County.”
The idea for the August 27 JAKES Day began with center director Marsha Zoller.
“Last year, I went to a program where we were able to make our own turkey calls. It was a great experience, and I decided I wanted to provide that activity here. I got in touch with the local NWTF, and got things going with ODNR and NWTF support,” noted Zoller.
For the first JAKES Day, 40 to 50 youth, primarily ages 6 to 12, filled in 75 of the available slots. Youth up to age 17 were eligible to attend.
“We are very happy with the response for the first year. We also had parents here with the kids,” Zoller said.
The young people were separated into four different groups, and went to five different activity stations, accompanied by their parents and other adults.
The Deerasic Park deer research facility in Cambridge had a display of deer antlers and other interesting items pertaining to whitetail deer, which the children were eager to hold and examine. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources hosted an archery station, where the children excitedly took advantage of the opportunity to shoot at targets inside the center’s barn, while another station taught them how to create their own turkey calls. A display of animal traps and trapping techniques was yet another attraction, and Ten Point Crossbows of Alliance operated a very popular crossbow activity.
“Wow!” exclaimed 6-year-old Carson Zoller, after his adult helper carefully assisted him in shooting off his first arrow. “That was cool.”
Zoller was even more excited when he realized that his arrow had missed the target, instead plunging into, and directly through, the aluminum chair on which the target was placed. The shot quickly made him a celebrity among the other young participants. Adult helpers quickly worked with him to perfect his aiming techniques.
“This looks like it’s going to be our biggest event to date,” noted Brent Laner, also of the local NWTF. “We do a banquet each year to help raise funds for these types of things.”
“It’s good to see the parents here with the kids,” added Miller.” We appreciate, and need, the parent ‘buy-in’ on this to make it a true success.”
After a lunch served by Norma Johnson staff, the participants trooped down to the center’s pond for a very special event. Jack Hupp had brought his golden retriever, a trained waterfowl retriever dog. Over and over again, the dog listened to Hupp’s commands and retrieved dummy ducks out of the water, much to the delight of the children, who were given the opportunity to sound the duck call and throw the targets out into the pond.
“It’s been a great day,” said Marsha Zoller. “We look forward to growing it even more in 2013.”
For more information, call the Norma Johnson Center at 330-339-7976.
Peter Novotny, Ohio Division of Wildlife regional supervisor, was on hand to help with the effort to encourage kids to explore the great outdoors at the first ever JAKES Day at the Norma Johnson Conservation Center near Dover.
“We are helping to provide funding for this to get these types of programs into local hands, like the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) here today, to provide hands-on outdoor recreation,” explained Novotny.
“JAKES stands for Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics, and Sportsmanship,” said Jamie Miller, of Strasburg, who is president of the local NWTF chapter. The group call themselves the Tuscarawas County Struttin’ Toms. “We also help out with the Norma Johnson fishing derby in July, and provide a yearly scholarship of $600 to a student from Tuscarawas County.”
The idea for the August 27 JAKES Day began with center director Marsha Zoller.
“Last year, I went to a program where we were able to make our own turkey calls. It was a great experience, and I decided I wanted to provide that activity here. I got in touch with the local NWTF, and got things going with ODNR and NWTF support,” noted Zoller.
For the first JAKES Day, 40 to 50 youth, primarily ages 6 to 12, filled in 75 of the available slots. Youth up to age 17 were eligible to attend.
“We are very happy with the response for the first year. We also had parents here with the kids,” Zoller said.
The young people were separated into four different groups, and went to five different activity stations, accompanied by their parents and other adults.
The Deerasic Park deer research facility in Cambridge had a display of deer antlers and other interesting items pertaining to whitetail deer, which the children were eager to hold and examine. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources hosted an archery station, where the children excitedly took advantage of the opportunity to shoot at targets inside the center’s barn, while another station taught them how to create their own turkey calls. A display of animal traps and trapping techniques was yet another attraction, and Ten Point Crossbows of Alliance operated a very popular crossbow activity.
“Wow!” exclaimed 6-year-old Carson Zoller, after his adult helper carefully assisted him in shooting off his first arrow. “That was cool.”
Zoller was even more excited when he realized that his arrow had missed the target, instead plunging into, and directly through, the aluminum chair on which the target was placed. The shot quickly made him a celebrity among the other young participants. Adult helpers quickly worked with him to perfect his aiming techniques.
“This looks like it’s going to be our biggest event to date,” noted Brent Laner, also of the local NWTF. “We do a banquet each year to help raise funds for these types of things.”
“It’s good to see the parents here with the kids,” added Miller.” We appreciate, and need, the parent ‘buy-in’ on this to make it a true success.”
After a lunch served by Norma Johnson staff, the participants trooped down to the center’s pond for a very special event. Jack Hupp had brought his golden retriever, a trained waterfowl retriever dog. Over and over again, the dog listened to Hupp’s commands and retrieved dummy ducks out of the water, much to the delight of the children, who were given the opportunity to sound the duck call and throw the targets out into the pond.
“It’s been a great day,” said Marsha Zoller. “We look forward to growing it even more in 2013.”
For more information, call the Norma Johnson Center at 330-339-7976.
Published: August 28, 2011
