The Greatest Show on Earth for Kids – Young and Old

By Rob Somerville

This coming, Saturday, September 15^th, beginning at 7:00 Am., THE “Largest FREE Outdoor Event in the World for Kids” is coming to Martin, Tennessee.

It is called the West Tennessee Youth Outdoor Jamboree, and the event is now in its 11^th year. The Jamboree was originally begun by me and some friends in our hometown of Kenton, Tennessee {The home of the white squirrels}.

It was designed to get parents and their kids involved in hunting and fishing, in a safe and ethical manner. We deemed this necessary, because we recognized the negative peer pressure that was steering our children along the wrong paths in life.

The first Jamboree was held in 1996. Our committee of volunteers thought it was a huge success, with 62 kids showing up. The last three years saw attendance grow to over 2500 children, coming from seven states.

Due to logistical problems, such as parking, we had to move to a bigger locale. The University of Tennessee at Martin was a natural fit. If you have kids, grandkids, or know some kids that would enjoy this fun-filled day, please bring them on out. And, get there early. We open the doors at 7:00 am.

I want to personally thank the University and its personnel, the city of Martin, the Martin Beautiful Committee, and the national and regional based businesses and companies that donated their time, prizes and money who supported this move.

I also want to commend the conservation groups such as the NWTF, the TWF, DELTA WATERFOWL, the TWRA and all of the committee members that worked so hard because they care about today’s youth.

Below is a program of the day’s events. Please bring all of the kids that you can and help us to spread the word about the Jamboree.

After all, if I’ve said it once, I have said it a thousand times.

“Our children truly are our most precious natural resource. They are our future.”

Hope to see ya there,

Rob.

2007 WEST TENNESSEE YOUTH OUTDOOR JAMBOREE

TO BE HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE AT MARTIN

NED RAY McWHERTER AGRICULTURE PAVILION

SATURDAY – SEPTEMBER 15^TH

7:00 AM

• REGISTRATION BEGINS, ALL KIDS RECEIVE “GOODY” BAGS – DO NOT LOSE YOUR TICKETS!
• YOU CAN PURCHASE BREAKFAST SANDWICHES, COFFEE, BOTTLED WATER AND SOFT DRINKS AT CONCESSION STAND ON UPPER LEVEL UP UNTIL 10:30 AM. PROCEEDS GO TO THE UTM EQUESTRIAN CLUB.
• VENDORS OPEN FOR BUSINESS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF PAVILION, AND ADULTS MAY BEGIN BIDDING ON SILENT AUCTION ITEMS.
• ADULTS – GET YOUR TICKETS FOR RAFFLE GUN TO HELP PAY FOR NEXT YEAR’S JAMBOREE

8:30 AM

• ALL KIDS AND PARENTS MUST BE INSIDE PAVILION AND SEATED IN BLEACHERS FOR OPENING PRAYER, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, NATIONAL ANTHEM, AND OPENING CEREMONY.
• GARRY MASON – NORTHWEST TENNESSEE DIRECTOR OF TOURISM – DEDICATION OF THIS YEAR’S JAMBOREE TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR ARMED SERVICES, FIGHTING FOR OUR FREEDOM AND RECOGNITION OF THREE WEAKLEY COUNTY, ARMED SERVICEMEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY.

8:45 AM – WELCOME – BY JAMBOREE FOUNDER – ROB SOMERVILLE

• INTRODUCTION OF UTM CHANCELLOR – TOM RAKES
• INTRODUCTION OF THE MAYOR OF MARTIN – RANDY BRUNDIGE
• INTRODUCTION OF KEYNOTE SPEAKER – DON KING – TWRA
• COMMITTEE RECOGNITION – GREG POOLE
• SPONSOR RECOGNITION – KERRY SPEER
• EXPLANATION OF EVENTS, VILLAGES, PRIZES AND GRAND PRIZE DRAWINGS – ROB SOMERVILLE

9:15 AM

• TALK TO THE ANIMALS SEMINAR AT MAIN STAGE WITH ROB SOMERVILLE OF WEST TENNESSEE OUTDOORS MAGAZINE AND “WORLD GOOSE CALLING CHAMPION” – KELLEY POWERS. AT THIS TIME ALL VENDORS ARE OPENING FOR BUSINESS.

9:30 AM

• KID’S CASTING CONTEST BEGINS INSIDE PAVILION FOR TWO AGE GROUPS ONLY – {AGES 7 THRU 10 AND AGES 11 THRU 14}

• SIGN UP NOW FOR KID’S DUCK AND GOOSE CALLING COMPETITION AT WATERFOWL VILLAGE AND TURKEY CALLING COMPETITION AT TURKEY VILLAGE
• THE EIGHT, EDUCATIONAL, OUTDOOR VILLAGES ARE NOW OPEN.
• REMEMBER – ALL KIDS AGES 8 THROUGH 16 MUST ATTEND A MINIMUM OF FIVE OF THE EIGHT VILLAGES AND GET THEIR TICKETS PUNCHED FOR PRIZE REDEMPTIONS. – NO EXCEPTIONS – SO, DO NOT LOSE YOUR TICKETS!
• ALL KIDS – AGES 0 THROUGH 7 MAY NOW GO TO PRIZE REDEMPTION CENTER UPSTAIRS, NEXT TO MAIN ENTRANCE, BY REGISTRATION TABLES.
• LITTLE KIDS GAMES, FACE PAINTERS, AND INFLATABLE PLAYGROUNDS, AGAINST SOUTH SIDE OF MAIN BUILDING {FOR AGES 0 THROUGH 7} ARE NOW OPEN.
• CLAY TARGET SHOOT, AND ARCHERY RANGES ARE NOW OPEN, IN THE FIELDS, WEST OF MAIN ENTRANCE.

11:00 AM

• HAMBURGERS, HOTDOGS, CHIPS, BOTTLED WATER AND SOFT DRINKS CAN NOW BE PURCHASED AT CONCESSION STAND ON UPPER LEVELUP UNTIL 3:00 PM. PROCEEDS GO TO THE UTM EQUESTRIAN CLUB.

• KID’S CASTING CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED
• KID’S DUCK CALLING CONTEST BEGINS AT WATERFOWL VILLAGE
• 1^ST TURKEY RELOCATION NETTING DEMO – OUTSIDE AT NORTH END OF BUILDING.

11:30 AM

• AS SEEN ON ESPN – SUPER RETRIEVER SERIES – RETRIEVER DEMO OUTSIDE AT NORTH END OF BUILDING

12:00 PM

• ALL GRAND PRIZES DRAWN FOR KIDS AGES 0 THROUGH 5, INCLUDING LIFETIME LICENSE DRAWINGS FOR AGES ZERO TO TWO YEARS OF AGE.
• LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD PLAQUES PRESENTED.
• KID’S GOOSE CALLING CONTEST BEGINS AT WATERFOWL VILLAGE

12:30 PM

• 2^ND TURKEY RELOCATION NETTING DEMO OUTSIDE AT NORTH END OF BUILDING.

1:00 PM

• LIVE AUCTION FOR ADULTS IN MAIN AUDITORIUM BEGINS
• TURKEY CALLING CONTEST BEGINS AT TURKEY VILLAGE
• 1^ST SILENT AUCTION TABLE CLOSED

2:00 PM

• 2^ND SILENT AUCTION TABLE CLOSED
• RAFFLE GUN DRAWN

3:00 PM – GRAND PRIZES DRAWN FOR REMAINING THREE AGE GROUPS.

NOTES:

• SEPARATE TICKETS ARE GIVEN AT DOOR FOR PRIZES AND LIFETIME LICENSES. YOU MUST NOT LOSE THESE. EXTRA TICKETS CANNOT BE GIVEN OUT.
• PLEASE PICK UP YOUR WASTE AFTER EATING OR DRINKING. HELP US TEACH TODAY’S YOUTH TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT.
• NO SMOKING, PROFANITY, ALCOHOL OR DRUGS ALLOWED ON PREMISES – THIS EVENT IS FOR THE KIDS – PLEASE RESPECT THAT.
• IF YOU WISH TO HELP BY MAKING A DONATION TOWARDS NEXT YEAR’S EVENT, SEE ONE OF OUR COMMITTEE STAFF MEMBERS.
• SHOP GENEROUSLY WITH THE VENDORS HERE AND THE SPONSORS ON OUR SPONSOR SCREEN. THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT CARE ABOUT YOUR KIDS. TELL THEM THAT YOU APPRECIATE THEIR EFFORTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS.
• ENJOY THIS FREE DAY WITH YOUR KIDS LEARNING ABOUT, AND HAVING FUN TOGETHER IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS.
• GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU

THE WEST TENNESSEE YOUTH OUTDOOR

JAMBOREE COMMITTEE

“Our kids are our most precious natural resource. They are our future”

Rob Somerville

THE 11^th ANNUAL WEST TENNESSEE YOUTH OUTDOOR JAMBOREE WILL BE HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE

– AT MARTIN, TENNESSEE ON SATURDAY – SEPTEMEBER 15TH.

IT IS THE LARGEST FREE EDUCATIONAL OUTDOOR EVENT FOR KIDS IN THE WORLD.

FREE EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS, FUN AND PRIZES GALORE!

ARCHERY, SHOTGUNNING, CALLING AND CASTING CONTESTS, AND SEMINARS WILL RULE THE DAY!

REGISTRATION BEGINS AT 7AM AND ALL KIDS MUST BE REGISTERED BEFORE 9AM TO QUALIFY FOR GRAND PRIZES,

WHICH WILL INCLUDE LIFETIME HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES.

OVER 60 VENDORS WILL BE ON HAND TO SELL THEIR OUTDOOR GOODS!

FOR MORE INFORMATION,

CONTACT ROB SOMERVILLE AT

1-731-446-8052

To: Businesses that care about our youth

From: Jamboree Steering Committee

Re: West Tennessee Youth Outdoor Jamboree for 2007.

Event Date: Saturday, September, 15th

Location: Agricultural Pavillion – University of Tennessee at Martin, Tennessee

Friends,

Please consider this a request for a donation for this year’s event. Last year we hosted over 2500 kids, age 16 and under, and their parents. It was a fun-filled day about the great outdoors. We gave the kids seminars on deer, turkey, duck and goose hunting, as well as fishing, stewardship etc.

The event starts out with local scouts leading the color guard and pledge. Then renowned country youth singer Mandy Callins gave a breathtaking rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. We had opening prayer, and the day began.

Events include a BASS sanctioned Kid’s Casting contest, youth turkey, goose and duck calling contests, a Kid’s Archery range, a TWRA sponsored shotgun range, a championship retriever demo, and much more.

This year, food will be sold by UTM’s booster clubs, and at the end of the day, we will pass out over $30,000.00 worth of donated door prizes, including eight lifetime hunting and fishing licenses. This is the 11th year of the event, and it has had a tremendous positive effect on area youth. All the work is voluntary, and it is totally non-profit and a tax deduction for your business as it is an umbrella charity under the 501-3C of the Tennessee Wildlife Foundation. Hope to see you there. I will give you a complimentary booth if you wish, and you can bring a banner for us to hang, and literature to put out.

Thanks for caring about our youth,

In your service, Rob Somerville – Founder

PS – You can see some of the fun from last year’s event at www.wtomagazine.com

“Our children are our most precious natural resource. They are our future”

The 2007 West Tennessee Youth Outdoor Jamboree.

**************

Kenton, Tennessee – 38233 t U.S.

Phone 731-446-8052 t Email twoww@iswt.com

**************

The 2007 West Tennessee Youth Outdoors Jamboree Moves!

By Rob Somerville

It started with a vision.

I had no idea where this concept would lead us to over a decade later.

The idea began as I headed home from work late one night. It was about 1:00 am., on a Wednesday. As I went to turn a corner, off of the main drag in the small town where I lived, I experienced what I would later know to be an epiphany of sorts.

I couldn’t help but notice a group of five or six kids, hanging out on a street corner. What really surprised me was that these boys and girls were between the ages of six and ten, it was after midnight, and there was school the next day. As I continued my drive home, these thoughts continued to pester my brain, kind of like an itch on your back that you just cannot reach. Part of me kept thinking, “They aren’t your kids, so quit worrying about it,” but another side of me persisted in reminding me that these kids were representative of today’s youth, and that they were the future of this great country we live in.

The next few days witnessed an internal struggle in my mind over what to do, if anything, about this dilemma. A concept formed in my head. I prayed about it and finally discussed my idea with my good friend, Scott McMackin. It was to introduce our love of the outdoors and its benefits to today’s children and their parents. He bought in immediately and we decided to propose our plan to other “like-minded” men and women in the community.

The inception.

The end result became the first ever West Tennessee Youth Outdoors Jamboree. It consisted of a free day of learning and fun regarding hunting and fishing, for all kids (ages 16 and under) and their parents. A committee of about ten dedicated members planned the event. It was held at the TWRA headquarters, just outside of Kenton, Tennessee. We had no idea what to expect.

We set up about ten vendor booths, some informative packets in bags for each kid, some demos on various outdoor oriented activities, a few door prizes and a big tent for our speakers.

At 6:00 am on the dayof the event, we watched the entrance, not knowing what kind of attendance to expect. By the end of the afternoon, we were “high-fiving” each other, happy as could be at the 67 kids and their parents that showed up and had what was in their own words, “The time of their life.”

We pretty much thought that it could not have gone any better and that the attendance was as high as we could hope for when conducting such a small, rural event.

Boy, were we wrong!

Word of our efforts to introduce kids safely and ethically into the outdoor lifestyle, while education their parents as to the importance of this concept, grew. We decided to make the Jamboree an annual event. Our plans were contingent of the fact that we knew it would grow to eclipse the previous attendance level, maybe even reaching an attendance of 200 kids.

What we did not realize at the time, but soon grew to understand, was that we were merely the boat in this venture. The motor and rudder were the controlling hand of the Good Lord upstairs. The “Master of All” must have approved of us steering these kids in a positive direction and including opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem in our program, because the next year, we witnessed around 600 kids attend the event. The Jamboree had reached a “snowball effect.”

Through word of mouth, it continued to grow. Sure, we had speed bumps in our planning steps. But, soon we learned to do what we could, and the rest would be taken care of by the Man upstairs. (After all, Jesus hung around with fishermen, right?)

Manageability issues

As the Youth Jamboree grew in attendance, and steering committee members came and went, some problems arose. The youth event had become near and dear to several of us that were coordinators, as well as to local youth and their parents. We just had to keep it going.

Helping Hands that care about our kids!

The first issues were ample parking room, safety, space, and securing enough donations and prizes to maintain it. But, our worries seemed to be for naught. We moved to the city of Kenton, utilizing the old school and surrounding grounds. The TWRA became a major sponsor of man-power, advertising and equipment (especially due to the extraordinary and above-board efforts of Dave Gabbard and Jeff Martin).

Soon, other companies like Bass Pro Shops, Muzzy, Knight & Hale, Avery Outdoors, Strike King, DoskoSport, and Buck Gardner teamed up with us.

Conservation organizations also recognized the importance of the event. Delta Waterfowl, Quail Unlimited, the Tennessee Wildlife Federation and our biggest financial supporter – the National Wild Turkey Federation, helped us bring the Youth Jamboree to the next level.

Local businesses, including outdoor stores, banks, vehicle dealers and more, budgeted a contribution each year to support it. We became a 501(3C), non-profit organization, designed a letterhead and held regular meetings throughout the year.

The Future!

The last three West Tennessee Youth Outdoor Jamborees have drawn over 2500 kids each, along with their parents. Due to logistics, such as available room and parking, we were forced to move its location. Several cities and locations were invited to attend the 2006 event. The biggest response came from the University of Tennessee at Martin, and the city of Martin, Tennessee. We held a committee meeting at the university, and we were overwhelmed by the attendees their enthusiasm and support. In attendance at this meeting were the University chancellor and several department heads, the mayor of Martin, the chief of police of both the campus police and the city, and several concerned individual citizens from Martin, including members of the Martin Beautiful Committee.

We immediately saw the advantage this move could hold. It was decided. The 2007 event would be held at the U.T. Martin – Ned Ray McWherter Ag Pavilion, on Saturday, September 15th.

The building, grounds, set-up and cooperative effort of all involved makes this move seem tailor made, and we locked it in for the next five years!

We are now taking applications for vendors to set up, solicitation of “tax deductible” donations, and seeking more manpower to improve this event together for 2007. We have already put together some of the biggest names in the outdoor industry to be speakers and have a tentative program put together. Projections are that we may nearly double our attendance!

Jamboree 2007 – Bigger and Better

With the new location and venue changes, the 2007 event promises to be even bigger and better. We are still in the process of putting on the final touches, and you will soon be able to get additional information, including the event’s program, directions and information contacts by accessing www.ucmessenger.com/jamboree2007. This link will be available as of August 1st.

Registration will begin at 7:00 am sharp, and I encourage everyone to get their early, as they will want to avoid long lines. Opening ceremonies will start promptly at 8:30 am, with opening prayer, posting of the color guard, the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. Then, we will award lifetime achievement awards for outdoor icons that have dedicated their lives to introducing kids safely and ethically into the outdoors. Immediately following the award ceremony, the fun begins. Kelley Haydel, of Haydel Game Calls, will partner with me and play “Guess the Animal,” as we mimic various animal vocalizations and let the kids in the audience guess them, while throwing prizes out to the crowd.

Next, we turn the attendees loose to have fun. The kids, in the zero through five age group, will play games, enjoy the inflatable playgrounds and get their faces painted.

As with past Jamborees, we will have eight educational villages. Every child, age six and above, will be expected to attend a minimum of five of these villages, and sit in on their classroom scenarios. Each village has expert instructors, who will be giving seminars that include portions on safety, ethics and habitat. The remaining parts of the classes will feature calling techniques and skills involving the village’s subject matter. For example, at the waterfowl village, part of the instructional village will include decoy placement and duck and goose calling techniques.

After each kid, ages six and over, get their tickets punched, verifying that they attended a minimum of five villages, they will go to the prize reimbursement center and be rewarded for learning about the outdoors.

Other activities during the day will include kid’s duck, goose and turkey calling championships, as well as a B.A.S.S. Kid’s Casting Championship, held each year by the Reelfoot Lake Bass Club.

Demonstrations on primitive camp living, identifying animal tracks, ESPN’s Super Retriever Dogs, turkey relocation netting and more, fill out the enjoyment young and old. Vendors will be on hand, all day long, displaying their discounted, outdoor wares inside the pavilion. There will be four-wheel drive trucks, ATV’s and boats on display for sale outside also.

At the end of the event, we will draw for grand prizes that may include shotguns, rifles, muzzleloaders, full family camping outfits, vacations, guided hunting and fishing trips, two-seater electric jeeps, and even lifetime hunting and fishing licenses.

Breakfast and lunches will be served, with the proceeds going to the U.T.M. Equestrian Team. We have limited booth space left. If you are interested in securing a booth space, inside or out, call me ASAP at 731.446.8052.

Another great option that the new facility in Martin offers is a two night, RV or bus parking, complete with electricity and water for $35.00. So, scout leaders, church groups and vacationers can benefit also.

How many opportunities to we have to bring our families to an event such as this, where we explore God’s wondrous world of nature. The outdoor lifestyle can be a positive link in bringing your family closer together. You will learn to communicate with your kids without the distraction of cell phones, beepers, TV’s or the internet. Who Knows? Maybe the next time the electricity goes out at your home, you may even be able to practice what has become a lost art between families … a conversation.

Attend the 2007 West Tennessee Youth Outdoor Jamboree. You owe it to your kids and the future of this great country and its heritage to teach future generations that a crappie is a fresh water fish, and not something that they will find in their baby’s brother’s diaper. You can show them that a pintail is a beautiful duck, and not a punk rock hair-do. And, you can show them that a buck is a majestic whitetail deer, and not just a piece of paper with a dead president on it to spend at the mall.

After all, our kid’s truly are our most precious natural resource. They are our future.

See ya there, Rob

Largest Free Outdoor Event for Kids in the World” to be held at the University of Tennessee at Martin, in Martin, Tennessee on Saturday, September 15th.