An Outdoorsman’s Journal: A KAMO kind of weekend Hello friends, Kids and Mentors Outdoors (KAMO) was started by myself and the readers of this column in 2007. Our goal is to create the opportunity for kids to have outdoor experiences in both group settings as well as one-on-ones. Check us out at kamokids.org or on Facebook at “Kids And Mentors Outdoors KAMO.” This past weekend I joined six mentors from the Baraboo River and Dodge County Conservation chapters of KAMO for a fun and inspiring weekend camping at Juneau County Park on Castle Rock Lake with 12 KAMO kids. Mark Walters Friday, June 27th — High 77, low 51 Most of us would be tent camping for the weekend, and this would be a weekend of relaxation but also nonstop fishing, tubing, swimming, playing games, and eating very well. When I pulled into camp this afternoon, at what I can promise you is a campground well worth checking out, my good friend Rick Miotke was cooking burgers and brats. Rick does a lot of the cooking and ordering of food for our events and it is a huge job. I had my 3-year-old golden retriever, Red, along, and as usual, she was very popular. Tonight was a simple evening centered on shore fishing, a campfire, yard games, and cards, and, as always, it was very cool to see a group of kids become friends in a matter of hours. I slept on the ground for the millionth time and loved it. well as paddle a canoe, everyone had to be on top of their game. First, I took out 13-year-old Jeron Hannefeld of Beaver Dam. Setting boards and explaining the process while keeping the canoe moving went very well. We paddled for a 3-mile round trip and lucked out, as Jeron caught a walleye, which we released. With all three of the boys, we talked a lot and I made the experience fun. Next it was 8-year-old Leyton Gebo’s turn. Leyton is a third grader at Mayville Elementary School and was he ever happy when he landed a walleye that once again fell for a crawler harness and was let go. Last but certainly not least was 13-year-old Brody Mueller, who is going to be in eighth grade at Horicon Middle School. We hadn’t been paddling for two minutes when a 5-pound northern pike hit the Salmo crankbait on the end of his line. After that, Brody and I had a pretty deep conversation about life, and it was epic as he also caught a walleye and sheepshead and told me that he was pretty sure his dad was fishing in heaven at the same time that we were fishing. My heart about sank when Brody told me his story, but it also was happy as I knew it was good for him. Folks, I have to tell you, from what I have witnessed for many kids in our six chapters, KAMO can be a major outdoor outlet. I found out today that Jim Braker, Ken Jacobs, and his DCC chapter of KAMO are excellent at finding KAMO kids that could use some help and I have a strong feeling that all 12 of the BRC and DCCC young outdoorsmen and women are being well taken care of, as well as at least 200 more between both chapters. We ended our day with Cozy’s Pizza, a campfire, and a lot of yard games. Let me tell you, KAMO sucks up a lot of my time over a 12-month period, but when I see the effort, success, and smiles it puts on these kids’ face every time, it makes it all worth it. Greg Wagner of the Baraboo River chapter ran a bingo game where every kid won a prize and made his annual blueberry cobbler over the campfire to officially end our evening. Everyone was very tired when we called it a day. KAMO is worth checking out. We are willing to help start a new chapter or could use adult mentors, kids, and if possible, cash! Be kind, Sunset Venison Processing Black River Country Insurance Group, LLC Catering • Weddings • Funerals Family Reunions • Company Meals We are looking into the future to better serve your needs today. Saturday, June 28 — High 83, low 53 Saturday is the big day of this annual campout and after an excellent breakfast, we hunkered into a place near the beach where we could swim, paddle board, have a picnic, tube, and I could teach kids how to paddle troll out of my canoe. I am not the person that makes this event happen and I have to tell you, it is flawless. Rick uses his boat for the tubing and Pete Sheskey of the DCC chapter helps with boat launching and is an observer on the boat. Lori Schulz is a retired nurse who wanted to help in her community, the DCC area, and she is flawless in watching, entertaining, and making sure the kids on meds take them. My job was rather large today, and that was, one at a time, to teach the KAMO kids how to paddle troll with crankbaits and night crawler harnesses while using planer boards. This job is physical, and in order for my eager students to understand and possibly catch a walleye, as • Auto • Commercial • Farm • Home • Farm Bureau Life Annuities Tim Voigt, Career Agent 93304 450 Hewett St., Neillsville 715-743-2800 tvoigt@ruralins.com 84607 Ryan Dillenbeck, Career Agent 102 E. Main St., Thorp 715-223-2777 715-669-5400 rdillenbeck@ruralins.com www.smithbrosmeats.com Hwy. 13 South • Colby, WI 54421 An Outdoorsman’s Journal: A KAMO kind of weekend Hello friends, Kids and Mentors Outdoors (KAMO) was started by myself and the readers of this column in 2007. Our goal is to create the opportunity for kids to have outdoor experiences in both group settings as well as one-on-ones. Check us out at kamokids.org or on Facebook at “Kids And Mentors Outdoors KAMO.” This past weekend I joined six mentors from the Baraboo River and Dodge County Conservation chapters of KAMO for a fun and inspiring weekend camping at Juneau County Park on Castle Rock Lake with 12 KAMO kids. Mark Walters Friday, June 27th — High 77, low 51 Most of us would be tent camping for the weekend, and this would be a weekend of relaxation but also nonstop fishing, tubing, swimming, playing games, and eating very well. When I pulled into camp this afternoon, at what I can promise you is a campground well worth checking out, my good friend Rick Miotke was cooking burgers and brats. Rick does a lot of the cooking and ordering of food for our events and it is a huge job. I had my 3-year-old golden retriever, Red, along, and as usual, she was very popular. Tonight was a simple evening centered on shore fishing, a campfire, yard games, and cards, and, as always, it was very cool to see a group of kids become friends in a matter of hours. I slept on the ground for the millionth time and loved it. well as paddle a canoe, everyone had to be on top of their game. First, I took out 13-year-old Jeron Hannefeld of Beaver Dam. Setting boards and explaining the process while keeping the canoe moving went very well. We paddled for a 3-mile round trip and lucked out, as Jeron caught a walleye, which we released. With all three of the boys, we talked a lot and I made the experience fun. Next it was 8-year-old Leyton Gebo’s turn. Leyton is a third grader at Mayville Elementary School and was he ever happy when he landed a walleye that once again fell for a crawler harness and was let go. Last but certainly not least was 13-year-old Brody Mueller, who is going to be in eighth grade at Horicon Middle School. We hadn’t been paddling for two minutes when a 5-pound northern pike hit the Salmo crankbait on the end of his line. After that, Brody and I had a pretty deep conversation about life, and it was epic as he also caught a walleye and sheepshead and told me that he was pretty sure his dad was fishing in heaven at the same time that we were fishing. My heart about sank when Brody told me his story, but it also was happy as I knew it was good for him. Folks, I have to tell you, from what I have witnessed for many kids in our six chapters, KAMO can be a major outdoor outlet. I found out today that Jim Braker, Ken Jacobs, and his DCC chapter of KAMO are excellent at finding KAMO kids that could use some help and I have a strong feeling that all 12 of the BRC and DCCC young outdoorsmen and women are being well taken care of, as well as at least 200 more between both chapters. We ended our day with Cozy’s Pizza, a campfire, and a lot of yard games. Let me tell you, KAMO sucks up a lot of my time over a 12-month period, but when I see the effort, success, and smiles it puts on these kids’ face every time, it makes it all worth it. Greg Wagner of the Baraboo River chapter ran a bingo game where every kid won a prize and made his annual blueberry cobbler over the campfire to officially end our evening. Everyone was very tired when we called it a day. KAMO is worth checking out. We are willing to help start a new chapter or could use adult mentors, kids, and if possible, cash! Be kind, Sunset Venison Processing Black River Country Insurance Group, LLC Catering • Weddings • Funerals Family Reunions • Company Meals We are looking into the future to better serve your needs today. Saturday, June 28 — High 83, low 53 Saturday is the big day of this annual campout and after an excellent breakfast, we hunkered into a place near the beach where we could swim, paddle board, have a picnic, tube, and I could teach kids how to paddle troll out of my canoe. I am not the person that makes this event happen and I have to tell you, it is flawless. Rick uses his boat for the tubing and Pete Sheskey of the DCC chapter helps with boat launching and is an observer on the boat. Lori Schulz is a retired nurse who wanted to help in her community, the DCC area, and she is flawless in watching, entertaining, and making sure the kids on meds take them. My job was rather large today, and that was, one at a time, to teach the KAMO kids how to paddle troll with crankbaits and night crawler harnesses while using planer boards. This job is physical, and in order for my eager students to understand and possibly catch a walleye, as • Auto • Commercial • Farm • Home • Farm Bureau Life Annuities Tim Voigt, Career Agent 93304 450 Hewett St., Neillsville 715-743-2800 tvoigt@ruralins.com 84607 Ryan Dillenbeck, Career Agent 102 E. Main St., Thorp 715-223-2777 715-669-5400 rdillenbeck@ruralins.com www.smithbrosmeats.com Hwy. 13 South • Colby, WI 54421
Gilman running back Alex Copenhaver gets into some open space and eyes up a potential tackler from De Soto during scrimmage sessions held Friday in Cornell. Gilman has a big one to start the season Friday, hosting defending WIAA 8-Player state champion Owen-Withee at 7 p.m. MATT FREY/THE STAR NEWS
Makenna Tlusty bounces a tennis ball and Bayley Metz prepares to backhand it over the net during the Medford Raiders’ first practice of the season on Aug. 12. Tlusty and Metz, both seniors, are two of the handful of Raiders who bring varsity experience into the new season which, after Saturday’s quad in Amery was postponed, will start today, Thursday, at new GNC opponent Merrill. Medford hosts Ellsworth at 11 a.m. on Friday. MATT FREY/THE STAR NEWS
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