Conservation News

NWTF AND OTF ANNOUNCE FIRST-EVER CROSS-PROMOTIONAL PARTNERSHIP TO GET KIDS OUTSIDE

EDGEFIELD, S.C.—The National Wild Turkey Federation is joining forces with the Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation to support national conservation and R3 efforts through their first-ever, cross-promotional partnership. The NWTF will promote OTF’s unique Outdoor Adventures program to its more than 200,000 members in nearly 1,600 local chapters, and OTF will promote NWTF’s JAKES program to its 65,000-plus Outdoor Adventures students in 40 states and 652 schools nationwide.

“We are thrilled to announce this promotional partnership between the Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation and the National Wild Turkey Federation,” said Sean McLelland, OTF executive director. “The NWTF and OTF share a love of the outdoors, wildlife and its habitat and getting kids outside. NWTF’s promotion of the Outdoor Adventures school curriculum to its members and chapters will elevate awareness about this great program to other outdoors lovers throughout the country.”

“Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation is a great fit to advance the outdoor heritage NWTF is passionate about,” said Mandy Harling, director of Hunting Heritage Programs. “The JAKES program is central to our mission and efforts to educate youth about hunting and the role it plays in conservation. OTF provides outdoor education to 65,000-plus students every year, and NWTF hopes to engage those same families outside of school in local, hands-on events where they can put the skills they are learning into practice.” 

JAKES is NWTF’s outreach program dedicated to informing, educating and involving youth in wildlife conservation and the wise stewardship of our natural resources. NWTF chapters provide opportunities for youth ages 17 and younger to explore their outdoor world through fun events and help pass on the traditions of responsible hunting, while teaching the principles of habitat management, hunting ethics and safety. On average NWTF chapters host more than 1,600 hunting heritage events per year.

OTF’s Outdoor Adventures program is a fun, interactive course taught in 652 schools nationwide, where students learn lifelong skills using an integrated curriculum including math, science, writing and critical thinking. Detailed lesson plans cover angler education, archery, hunter education, boater education, orienteering, survival skills, camping, outdoor cooking, challenge course, backpacking, mountain bike camping, paddle sports, rock climbing, shooting sports, CPR/first aid and wilderness medicine.  

“Both NWTF and OTF share a passion and commitment for educating the next generation of outdoorsmen and women,” OTF Board Chair Ricky Fairchild said. “We teach kids to appreciate, respect and conserve our wildlife, wild spaces and our outdoor heritage. We’re grateful that NWTF shares our mission and will offer hands-on experiences to our Outdoors Adventures students through the JAKES program.”

National Wild Turkey Federation joins these other supporting partners: 

Advance Financial Foundation

Bass Pro and Cabela’s Fund

Conservation Frontlines

Grand Slam Club/Ovis

Houston Safari Club Foundation

IOSH Eastern Priory

Kinder Outdoors

McBride Conservation Fund Foundation

MidwayUSA Foundation

Nancy Chappelear-Weldon Foundation             

Park Cities Quail Coalition

R. N. Family Trust

RBC Foundation

Safari Club International

Shikar Safari Club International

Sportsmen’s Club of Fort Worth

Tailwaters

Texas Outdoor Camps

Texas Wildlife Association

Texas Youth Hunting Program

Warren Wildlife Gallery

Weatherby Foundation

In addition to being sanctioned by Texas Parks and Wildlife, the Outdoors Adventures educational program is now supported by the Oklahoma Department of Conservation and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission–and certified by all 50 U.S. states’ Department of Natural Resources.

Founded in 1981 in Dallas, OTF is a public nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. For many schools, grant money offsets the cost of the program, plus OTF offers matching funds for equipment as new schools join. The resulting classes can be taught as a P.E. course, local elective or with agricultural science and wildlife management.  

For a complete listing of the courses offered through the Outdoor Adventures program, please visit www.GoOTF.com.

About the National Wild Turkey Federation

When the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded in 1973, there were about 1.3 million wild turkeys in North America. After decades of work, that number hit a historic high of almost 7 million turkeys. To succeed, the NWTF stood behind science-based conservation and hunters’ rights. Today, the NWTF is focused on the future of hunting and conservation through its Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative. Since 2012, this 10-year initiative has already eclipsed goals of conserving or enhancing more than 4 million acres of essential wildlife habitat, recruiting or retaining more than 1.5 million hunters and opening access to more than 500,000 acres for hunting and other recreation opportunities. This critical work will continue to impact wildlife habitat and our great outdoors in the final years of the initiative.

Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation

Since 1981, the Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation (OTF) has made its mission to teach outdoor education and promote wildlife conservation through the Outdoor Adventures program, currently in 652 schools across the country. The curriculum, impacting more than 350,000 students since it began, is accessed by 65,000 students annually in 40 states, including archery, shooting, fishing, camping, first aid, boater safety, hunter education, outdoor cooking and more. The OTF also provides grants for equipment, free workshops and teacher training and is accredited by state parks and wildlife commissions from each state. More info about Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation, and how to bring the Outdoor Adventure curriculum to a school near you, go to gootf.com.

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