Community Events Supported by Waterloo Optimist Club

Child camouflage clothing and an orange safety vest is smiling and holding the leg of a deer hanging upside down. The deer is suspended from a frame at an outdoor event - Baggin' and Taggin.

Taggin' & Braggin' Youth Deer Hunting Competition 

Local business owners collaborate to create an annual event for the youth of Monroe, Randolph & St. Clair counties in Illinois. The goal is to encourage youth to get outdoors and understand the importance of conservation and ethical hunting practices.

While this is not a Waterloo Optimist-sponsored event, we have a great time volunteering our time at Taggin' & Braggin'. It's great to see all the kids come out and get excited about spending time in the woods in pursuit of Whitetail braggin' rights!

An Optimist Club member helps a young boy are at a shooting range for Monroe County Longbeards Jakes Day. The boy is standing, aiming a shotgun, with an adult assisting behind him.

Monroe County Longbeards Jakes Day

Held at the Waterloo Sportsmans Club every year, the Monroe County Longbeards Jakes Day is a great event where kids across different age groups come out and learn about the outdoors. From animal and habitat show and tell and water fowl retrieving demonstrations, to archery and clay bird shoots, the Monroe County Longbeards put on a tremendous event every August.

The Waterloo Optimist Club is proud to volunteer at the event.