An Outdoorsman’s Journal:

Hello friends, Before I start this week’s column, I want to apologize in advance, as I may not be covering this year’s sturgeon spearing opening weekend. I have one of those nasty viruses and it is kicking my behind. If I can heal in the next 12 hours, I will be living on the ice.

This week’s column covers a ton of field work for me, going through the month of January and early February, and it is a dedication to good people all over the state of Wisconsin doing their best to help kids have outdoor experiences.

Thursday, Jan. 9 — High 33, low 5 I am at the American Legion post in Poynette and we are holding a “Let’s get this KAMO chapter stronger” meeting. The Lake Wisconsin Chapter of KAMO, or Kids and Mentors Outdoors, is in a rebuilding process, and this meeting was a very positive start to get the job done. We used Facebook to reach out to people and it really helped. Saturday, Jan. 11 — High 27, low 21 The Meadow Valley Chapter of KAMO, which is the New Lisbon area, held a kids fishery on Lake Tomah and it was well attended. My job at these fisheries is to help kids to learn how to use tip-ups for northern pike and I really enjoy it. In many situations I have observed, tip-ups are put out, but the kids do not learn as much unless they are actually taught. Though all the kids watch when a flag goes up and a youngster tries to catch what is on the other end, I pick a young girl or boy that has not caught a fish on a tip-up and talk them through the entire process, including running the auger in some cases. My good friends at Meadow Valley put up a canvas tent, set up a wood stove, and gave an ice fishing rod to each attendee and overall just did an excellent job of helping area kids enjoy a day on the ice. Saturday, Jan. 18 — High 23, low 12 My very good friend Mike Brown is the president of the Coulee Chapter of KAMO, as well as the vice president of all of KAMO. Today I witnessed what Mike can accomplish, when he pulled together a large number of adults to help a ton of La Crosse area kids have a great day on the ice. A tent was set up, I ran the tip-ups and gave classes, and at least a dozen portable shacks became a small village where KAMO volunteers taught young ice anglers how to fish with a jig pole.

Just like Meadow Valley’s fishery, each young fisher person went home with a jig pole and a lot of positive memories. Wednesday, Jan. 22 — High 23, low 16 I am the president and co-founder of NOAC, which is Necedah Outdoor Adventure Club. In our 25 months of existence, we have built a beach in Necedah with a picnic area. We have created an ice skating rink with lights and are currently working on a very cool disc golf course. NOAC’s goals are to create outdoor areas where people can be active and have fun. We have beach and skate parties where we provide food and music, and what I am witnessing in Necedah is very cool.

Tonight we had a skate party that was attended by 70 people. We had a campfire with s’mores and hot cocoa, and at the end we gave out a pair of skates in a kids-only drawing. I used to be a pretty good hockey player and NOAC has gotten me back into skating, as I maintain the rink. Wednesday, Jan. 29 — High 27, low 12 The Northwoods Chapter of KAMO is out of Florence and their president is Johnny Johnson. Johnny knows how to get the job done, as well as everyone else in his chapter. I did not attend this event, but today, Northwoods hosted 22 homeschooled children and their moms for a learn-to-ice-fish event. Folks, I saw a video of their experience and it would make anyone happy to watch it.

Wednesday, Feb. 5 — High 25, low 3 Last night this virus was kicking my behind, but we had a skate party planned and a local food truck known as“Pig Pen”gave out 80 pulled pork with mac and cheese meals to skaters and their families. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, as did at least 90 other people, and even did some skating. When I got home, I didn’t know if I should call the coroner or an ambulance, but as always, the sun still comes up in the morning.

Check out KAMO at kamokids.org. Hail to the people who help our youth! Sunset

Mark Walters