FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 6, 2026
Contact:
Jameson Hibbs – hibbs@backcountryhunters.org
Aaron Hebeisen – hebeisen@backcountryhunters.org
Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Brings First Major National Event to the Region with The Greater Kankakee Jamboree
Hunters, anglers, and conservationists set to gather at Stoney Run County Park in Hebron, Indiana for a weekend of public land advocacy, outdoor education, and community
HEBRON, IN — Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) will host The Greater Kankakee Jamboree August 21 through 22, 2026, at Stoney Run County Park in Hebron, Indiana. This marks the first time BHA has brought a large-scale national event to the region, and it’s built around the same spirit of shared campfires and public land advocacy that founded the organization more than twenty years ago.
BHA CEO Ryan Callaghan will join BHA staff and chapter leaders from across the region for the event, held at Stoney Run County Park, just thirty minutes south of Chicago and Indiana Dunes National Park along Lake Michigan.
Event Highlights
Speakers and panelists include a Women in the Outdoors panel, wild game cooking demonstrations with Chris Kyer (The Honest Omnivore) and Chris Whonsetler (The Okayest Cook), field dog training tips from Ron Boehme of the Hunting Dog Podcast, and a session on backcountry fishing the Great Lakes with Captain Mike Schoonveld of Brother Nature Charters and Great Lakes Angler Magazine. Backcountry Canoe Adventures with Paddle Don Cranfill, Gene Hopkins will cover the history of modern bowhunting and its ties to the Grand Kankakee Marsh, and federal and state policy roundtables will round out the education tracks.
Storytellers taking the evening stage include Ryan Callaghan, Brandon Butler of Driftwood Outdoors, and Ron Boehme, sharing stories from the field about hunts, mishaps, and life on public lands.
Families can take part in archery instruction through the National Archery in Schools Program alongside the Indiana DNR, explore more than two miles of hiking trails, and enjoy open space and the parks huge playground. An outdoor vendor village will feature exhibitors from across the hunting, fishing, and conservation industries.
The weekend kicks off Friday, August 21 at 6 p.m. with a Wild Game Welcome Party and potluck. Saturday begins at 11am and features the Wild Game Cookoff Competition, where twelve teams will have one hour to prepare a camp meal for a panel of judges, along with a sausage-making demo led by Chris Kyer. Auctions and raffles throughout the weekend will offer guns, optics, gear, coolers, clothing, and more, donated by local and national partners.
Camping and Tickets
Saturday Only options are available.
Primitive campsites are available on-site on a first come, first served basis, with limited spots for small RVs and campers. Full-service camping is also available nearby at Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana Dunes State Park, and Fair Oaks Campground.
Ticket options range from a free Saturday pass for kids 15 and under to a $100 Conservation Support Ticket, which includes full event access, a special raffle entry, two drink tickets, and tent camping. Individual Saturday tickets are $20, and weekend tickets, which include the Friday welcome party and a door prize entry, are $35.
All proceeds from The Greater Kankakee Jamboree support BHA’s work protecting public lands and waters, strengthening access, and advancing conservation and education efforts across Indiana and the greater Midwest.
Get Involved
Businesses and organizations interested in sponsorship can contact Aaron Hebeisen at hebeisen@backcountryhunters.org or Jameson Hibbs at hibbs@backcountryhunters.org. Teams interested in competing in the Wild Game Cookoff should contact Jeff Williams at jeff@pressroomchicago.com. Camping questions can be directed to Jameson Hibbs at hibbs@backcountryhunters.org.
More information and event registration are available at backcountryhunters.org.
About Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
Backcountry Hunters & Anglers seeks to ensure North America’s outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting through education and work on behalf of wild public lands, waters, and wildlife.
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