Free Membership in Youth Conservation Group Offered

RALEIGH, N.C. (Nov. 6, 2006) – As a special opportunity, the local North Carolina chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation have paid for 1,500 memberships to the JAKES youth organization and are making them available to kids for free.

JAKES – which stands for “Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship” and also is the name for young Tom turkeys – is the National Wild Turkey Federation’s education and outreach program for members 17 and younger. Developed in 1981, the program works to involve young people in wildlife conservation and the outdoors.

“It is always good when a conservation partner creates an opportunity like this,” said Susie Fish, Hunter Retention and Recruitment Coordinator for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. “Kids who are involved in the outdoors, whether they hunt or not, grow up to be the people who help care for natural resources.”

What JAKES membership provides:

• A subscription to JAKES Magazine, a fun and educational publication, dedicated to involving youth in conservation and passing on the North American hunting tradition.
• Activities and special events designed for pre-teens and teens.
• Classes and programs, including learning to fly-fishing and target shooting.

For more information on JAKES and the National Wild Turkey Federation, go to www.nwtf.org. For a free membership, parents should e-mail their child’s name, age and address to National Wild Turkey Federation’s North Carolina regional director, Joe Fowler, at jrfowlernwtf@carolina.rr.com.