NWTF New York Hardwood Strutters Chapter Hosts Annual JAKES Day

Volunteers like Norm Ridley, New York’s NWTF Hardwood Strutters Chapter president, took it upon himself to start a JAKES Day event over 30 years ago, just to give the youth of his community the same opportunity he and his son had. The event has grown considerably over the decades.  

Initially, there were a dozen or so youth participants that would attend the Hardwood Strutters’ event each year. But with the help and support of Ridley’s family, chapter volunteers and the local community, this year’s event broke the attendance record with 118 attendees. 

The Ridleys wouldn’t have been able to host so many youths without their neighbors and their local sportsman’s club. The community comes alive to help with donations, volunteering and participation. 

“We had a person from our sportsmen’s club volunteer at the event last year,” Ridley said. “When they saw the depth of our day and how the kids were so involved, they doubled their donation, and we had even more club members come help us out this year because of how highly one person spoke of the work that we do.” 

Hosted at North Seneca Sportsman's Club, the event offers a wide range of activities including animal track molds, .22 rimfire rifle shooting, rock painting, archery shooting, introduction to turkey calling, building bluebird houses, shotgun shooting, tie-dying shirts and learning about white-tailed deer. In the past, they’ve had a friend bring a small excavator for kids to ride in with an operator. There’s also a range officer at their event to ensure safety, which exposes the kids to a safe, positive experience.  

“Every year, we expand our JAKES Day, adding something new,” Deb Ridely said. “This year we added tree identification. My brother-in-law is a forester, and he offered a plant and tree identification walk for the first time this year. It was really well received. He did two walks through the woods and pointed out poison ivy and did some basic tree ID.” 

Offering courses like this allows adult family members the opportunity to engage with the event as well. Oftentimes, guardians will want to try some of the stations with the support of an NWTF volunteer. 

“It's becoming a family day,” Deb said. “Lunch is free for everyone, and we do door prizes, enough for every child to win one.” 

The big draw to the event is the raffle, where lifetime hunting licenses for New York are given away to a youth selected by random draw. Deb came up with the idea when she read about a local hunting and fishing organization doing a similar giveaway for the youth.  

“I remember saying to Norm, ‘That’s it, that’s the draw,’” she said. “If you want to touch more of these kids’ lives, there has to be a pull. We would do a lawn sale each year to raise the funds for the giveaway, as well as receive monetary donations from local sportsman’s clubs.” 

This year, with the help of the Canandaigua Lake Duck Hunters Inc., two lifetime hunting licenses were given away. A young man won the lifetime hunting license that was donated by the Canandaigua Lake Duck Hunters. Two years ago, he lost his mother to an illness, and last year he started battling an illness himself. Winning a lifetime hunting license was the reminder to him and his family that God has a plan for him. A young girl won the lifetime license from the Hardwood Strutters.  

“It always means so much,” Deb said. “A few years ago, we had a young man win, and his father cried because he said it was something he couldn’t provide for his son but he always wanted for him. That fall, that young man posted the deer he shot with his winning ticket. It's very heartwarming when you volunteer for events like this. It makes all the hard work worth it.” 

Thanks to the support of our community and dedicated NWTF volunteers, we’re able to share the life-changing power of the outdoors with future generations. 

“At the NWTF, none of the goals we’ve achieved would be possible without the dedication of our volunteers and the individuals who give their time, energy and hearts to something greater than themselves,” said Austin Zweck, NWTF regional director. “This year, the Hardwood Strutters have been nothing short of conservationists and advocates for the mission of the NWTF. The huge success of their JAKES Day is proof of a growing community connected by a shared purpose and a love for the outdoors. We are changing lives and giving people opportunities they’ve never had before, whether it's introducing a child to their first outdoor experience, shooting bows, turkey calling, mentoring new hunters or giving away two lifetime hunting licenses. The NWTF is proud to support our volunteers, and we are excited to see where their dedication takes them.”