 |
Mandy Harling JAKES Coordinator |
JAKES Take Aim
Safe shooters bustin' targets
I love the feeling I get when I hear good news. I mean really good news. A spine tingling, goose bump-generating excitement rushes over me, and I can't stop smiling. There's a slight hop in each step I take.
Last summer I received a phone call that almost made my heart jump out of my chest. The NWTF was the recipient of a substantial contribution from Larry and Brenda Potterfield, founders and owners of MidwayUSA. Their generosity set in motion a new youth shooting program that I hope you find as exciting as I do. It's called JAKES Take Aim, and its goal is to give more youth a chance to shoot, which directly addresses the NWTF mission of preserving our hunting heritage.
The NWTF will provide fully-equipped shooting trailers to 48 states, which will be distributed over four years. They'll arrive with everything necessary to set up a safe airgun shooting range, including a portable shooting range, pellet guns, ammunition, safety glasses, hearing protection, targets and pellet traps.
Trailers will be available for use through state agencies and NWTF state chapters and can be used at events all over the state, such as JAKES Days, wildlife expos or in partnership with Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, FFA, 4-H, Trailblazers, Boys and Girls Clubs and other conservation organizations.
 |
Another part of the JAKES Take Aim program includes NWTF chapters hosting local, regional and national youth sporting clay events at gun clubs around the country. While the NWTF has hosted sporting clays events in the past, we have not held events specifically for youth. Both new and experienced shooters are encouraged to participate.
The NWTF will provide training for staff and volunteers who use the trailers. Chapters and organizations participating in the program will be required to report event information, so we can keep track of its effectiveness.
We have the opportunity to make a tremendous impact through the JAKES Take Aim program. Our goal is to introduce at least 150,000 youth to the shooting sports in the next four years. I hope that you will make JAKES Take Aim part of your effort to reach youth in your region.
And if you see one of the trailers cruising down the highway, give 'em a honk. Whoever is driving is doing their part to ensure the future of shooting sports. — Mandy