Last Updated: Wednesday, August 1, 2007 3:28 PM CDT
Outdoors : KAMO's first event - Tradition Forward for kids
by Mark Walters - Columnist
Hello friends,
A year ago, I came up with an idea for adult mentors to take kids on outdoor experiences that may not have that opportunity. Last January, I wrote about that idea and said that the first three people that got a hold of me would be where I would start the first three chapters. I had no idea of how this group would work.
I received an e-mail from Tim Pape, in Lake Delton, who is now the president of the Baraboo River Chapter of KAMO. I also received an e-mail from Nick and Sara Murawski who are now the president and secretary of the Indianhead Chapter of KAMO (Ladysmith area).
Last but certainly not least, I received an e-mail from a lady from the Florence area who chose not to become a part of KAMO, but is responsible for the Northwood's chapter of KAMO being chosen.
This week, I finished the sixth round of meetings for KAMO, and I am happy about two things. First, everything from insurance, to a group name, to background checks, to by-laws, and what we stand for, is being thought of and worked on. We even have a motto, Tradition Forward, which was thought of by Jon Hilmer.
We presently have a solid core group in each chapter and will always be looking for more mentors and kids to show a good time too.
What really trips my trigger is, this week I have something very positive to write about and that is KAMO's first ever event and that was held by the Indianhead chapter on the Flambeau River this past week. Read on for further details!
Friday, July 20
High 80, low 44
For the most part, KAMO is being designed to let individual mentors take kids out on simple outdoor experiences. The first event for the Indianhead chapter was a bit larger than our original plan.
Four adults, with two kids in a boat, took a total of eight boys on a day trip float fishing down the Flambeau River. We had several girls in the mix and they all had a change of plans.
Our operation was run by fishing guide Joe Flater, who owns Flater's Resort. A special “atta boy” needs to be pointed in Joe's direction for doing a lot of work to pull this off.
Joe would be floating down the Flambeau with Mitch Crause, 14, and Zach Dault, 12.
Joe's son, Austin Flater, came up from Portage where he works at Columbia Correctional Instituition and guided Adam and Levi Folgate a couple of ten-year-old twins. John Hopperdietzel, a semi-retired businessman from Marshfield, who has a cabin on the Chippewa River, would spend the day in a 14-foot boat with 13-year-old Ross Hennekens and Tyler Holman who is 12.
In my boat, it would be 12-year old Kyle Harmon, and 13-year-old Adam Weissenger. All of the kids on this event were either from Ladysmith or Holcombe.
The night before, Joe, John and I placed four, 14-foot boats on the shoreline of the Flambeau at Rivers Edge Bar and Restaurant.
This morning, everyone showed up and our day began under perfect conditions. I would soon find out that Kyle Harmon and Adam Weissenger had very little experience casting while floating down a river but were anxious to learn.
We had not been floating more than 15 minutes, when Austin Flater and the Folgate twins came across two, sumo sturgeon that they figured were in the 80-pound category as they could see them perfectly in the one to three feet of water. By days end, Austin and his crew would see 13 sturgeons.
Every experience with what, in this case, were kind of strangers has a turning point where the numbers become a group. That happened today when we pulled over for lunch and the boys swam, explored, played Frisbee and did nothing.
Joe Flater, who was bull dogging it throughout the day because he is fighting Lymes disease, cooked up an awesome shore lunch. Catfish, fried potatoes and beans washed down with soda and Gatorade.
Half way through lunch and for the rest of the day, laughter began. Luckily when we hit the water, fish cooperated.
Smallmouth bass, a few northern pike and one walleye made up our catch of which all were released.
Joe Flater and I stuck with musky gear and, as usual, I was bad luck for myself and everyone around me when it came to catching musky.
What truly made my day was listening to every person in every boat as we floated down river. Simply put, we all had a blast! Two boys caught what they said were the biggest fish of their lives.
In a simple way, we explained to the boys what KAMO was all about and let them know that our goal was to offer outdoor experiences, in a regular way, once KAMO is fully operational.
I have no idea what got into me to start an organization like this, but I feel like it is destiny now that it has begun.
The future is bright as the Baraboo River Chapter has their first event in mid-August and The Northwood's chapter will be having an overnighter on September 8 in cabins on Lost Lake in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
We're looking for kids, and adults!
See ya!
Sunset
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Fishing guide, Joe Flater, cooking up a shore lunch for the KAMO kids.v
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Comments
Monte Klund Jr wrote on Jan 28, 2008 6:54 PM: