A week in an outdoor-oriented youth organization
Back in December 2006 I wrote in this column about an idea that I had to start an organization that would take kids on outdoor experiences. I was contacted by people from Ladysmith, Florence, Wisconsin Dells, and a year later New Lisbon.
The following is an example of what a week in the lives of KAMO members (Kids And Mentors Outdoors) and its president can be like.
Saturday, July 10
High 81, Low 52
It is a 240-mile drive from my house to Emily Lake, which is a beautiful piece of water located in Florence County and the location of the third annual Hooked on Fishing event sponsored by The Northwood’s Chapter of KAMO.
I remember our first meeting, which was held on March 1, 2007 at the Florence County Natural Resources Center in Florence.
I woke up that morning camped on a frozen lake in Mellen, drove through a snowstorm and met with eight people who like myself, believed that we could make the world a better place.
Fast forward 40 months and I am witnessing a true work of art as I watch the members of this chapter and several local volunteers, host an excellent day on the water and at the park on Emily lake for any kid that has the desire to go fishing.
The way that Mick Milnar, and the other members of The Northwood’s Chapter run this event is as kids show up they and are given a fishing rod to use along with a life vest and a safety briefing.
Several local fishermen volunteer their boats and time and take the kids fishing on Emily Lake. After the fishing part of the day is over, a meal is served and prizes are given to both the kids and the volunteers.
Today’s Hooked on Fishing event was well attended but a local soccer and Little League Baseball tournament did lower its numbers. When I headed home after this event I had an incredibly positive feeling about what I had just witnessed as well as the Northwoods Chapter’s plans for the immediate future.
Sunday, July 11
High 83, Low 54
The Meadow Valley Chapter is based out of New Lisbon and Necedah and its president is Aaron Bigalke. The Meadow Valley Chapter is seeking more members as well kids and today they marched in New Lisbon’s annual Wa Du Shuda Days Festival.
I arrived from my trip “up north” just in time to join seven members and 10 kids in the parade. We used KAMO’s trailer, which is a traveling billboard and had my good buddy Jody Bigalke, driving his Jeep and pulling a fishing boat behind it.
There were 10 kids in the boat and walking that were throwing candy. Four members, including myself, walked alongside of our setup handing out KAMO literature.
Today’s event was about as American as apple pie!
Monday, July 12
High 76, Low 51
I said that I would tell it like it is in this week’s column and that is what I am doing. Tonight, my 9-yearold daughter, Selina, and I attended The Baraboo River Chapters monthly meeting.
Tim Pape is the president of this chapter and I met him the night after The Northwoods Chapter’s first meeting back in ’07. Tonight’s started out with a new member who had volunteered to bring Facebook to KAMO.
Paul Braun just graduated from college back in May and will be an excellent asset to KAMO.
Tonight, Paul Braun, as well as Selina, witnessed a serious discussion on the pros and cons of Facebook. In other words, there is a lot of concern about bringing Facebook to a youth organization, but there is also concern about not keeping up with the times, especially in an organization that is reaching out to our youth.
In the end and with follow-up discussions the next day, we decided to put a short delay on the move to Facebook until later in the summer.
Selina and I were supposed to be heading up to Ladysmith three days later for The Indianhead Chapter’s annual float fishing trip down the Flambeau River. My good buddy, Joe Flater runs that event and I was pretty excited about spending a day on the water with “Musky Joe” and 10 KAMO kids and five mentors.
A major rise in the Flambeau, due to a 5-inch rainfall, postponed that event.
As I am sure you can see after reading this article, running an organization like KAMO is a big job for all of its members – specifically finding enough kids and adult mentors. If you are interested in joining KAMO or introducing a child to the outdoors through a credible organization or starting a new chapter, please go to www.kamokids.org.
Longtime member Jon Hilmer thought of our motto, which is “Tradition Forward” and that is exactly what we are doing.
Thanks for reading!
Sunset
