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Posted 7/16/2007
The National Wild Turkey Federation's local and state chapters joined forces with the
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and other volunteer organizations to host
a learning event at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind (WVSDB)
Tuesday, June 5, in Romney.
During the event, students with varying degrees of deafness and blindness spent the
day learning about conservation, wild animals, how their furs and pelts feel and where
the animals live and eat. Students also learned how to cast fly rods, call wild turkeys,
tie flies, cast spinning fishing rods, shoot bows, learned about local ecology and
painted fish and turkey tracks on t-shirts. During lunch the USDA Forest Service's
Smokey Bear and NWTF's JAKE mascot also made an appearance.
The field day, the first NWTF event on a state school campus specifically for students
with disabilities, combined the Federation's Wheelin' Sportsmen and JAKES (Juniors
Acquiring Knowledge Ethics and Sportsmanship) programs to introduce the students
to a variety of outdoor activities modified to fit their needs.
"This event was a great day for everyone involved," said Christine Rolka, NWTF's
education coordinator. "This was a first for us and I know I learned a lot for future
events. We hope to make similar events available at schools for the deaf and blind in
all 50 states and this an annual event in Romney." Event Sponsors, Partners and
Participants
The students also spent part of the day shooting bows, which is nothing new to the
students who shoot during their physical education classes throughout the year.
Last year the students became the first in the nation in a school system for the deaf
and blind to participate in the National Archery in the Schools Program. Their
participation was made possible through a $2,000 donation to NASP from the NWTF's
West Virginia State Chapter and Potomac Highland's Chapter for archery equipment
and start up.
Their involvement in the program blazed a trail for other deaf and blind schools
nationwide. This year was the first time a team composed totally with blind students
participated in any state archery tournament.
A total of 21 students from the WVSDB participated in the state tournament May 19 in
Flatwoods. Eighteen of the students are deaf and three are blind.
Event Sponsors, Partners and Participants
- NWTF's Potomac Highland's Chapter
- NWTF's North Central Mountaineer Chapter
- NWTF's Chestnut Ridge Chapter
- NWTF's Eastern Panhandle Chapter
- WV NWTF State Chapter
- WV Division of Natural Resources
- USDA Forest Service
- 4-H
- West Virginia University
- Return to Nature with Mike Roberts
- WV Bass Federation
- WV Bowhunter's Association
- Trout Unlimited
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