Hello, friends,

This week I have a good news story about the kids group Kids and Mentors Outdoors — or KAMO — that I helped start back in February of 2007.

Saturday, July 12

High 76, Low 55

I could tell when met with members of the Northwood’s Chapter of KAMO in the Florence area at the Trading Post that this well-organized group had an excellent plan for today’s big event.

Late last winter, Judy Waite and her daughter Penny Booth joined KAMO and almost instantly merged Hooked on Fishing with KAMO. This well-organized mother and daughter team, with help from Becky Jackiedallagrana, who is also Judy Waites’ daughter, have run Hooked on Fishing for seven years and recently lost their sponsor.

This morning and all day long I watched in awe as dozens of volunteers who did everything from take kids fishing to cooking brats and burgers went to work.

When I dreamt up the idea for KAMO and first wrote about it December of 2006, I never dreamt that it could be such a well-oiled machine just 19 months later.

I spent a lot of time with Northwood’s Chapter vice president Dwaine Drewa. I was impressed with how the local banks had the KAMO event on their electronic signs and local newsprint and radio were making sure that everyone in the area knew that a free picnic, door prizes and a chance for kids to fish for free all day long was there for kids that showed up.

This event was held on Lake Emily, which is beautiful piece of water that is 191 acres in size. One of the first things that I noticed was fishermen who had cabins and homes on the lake were pulling up with their boats ready to take kids fishing.

With an event like this, no one really knows how many kids are going to show up, so all you can do is make sure you have plenty of boats, life jackets and food on hand.

There was a pretty good-sized soccer tournament that took place in both Norway and Niagara which probably hurt the attendance, but by day’s end, 45 kids were able to spend all, or part of the day on the water.

There was an old timer by the name of Al Sanders who spends six months a year living on the Menominee River at Harding Park. I believe Al told me that he was 83 years of age and he was quite the inspiration for being a good person.

Al Sanders rebuilds fishing rods and reels and then goes to events like this and gives them to kids who are in need of a rod and reel. Al’s goal for this year is to give away 178 rods and reels and he seems to be well on his way.

At day’s end, the crowd gave Al a round of applause and he quietly packed his rods away and went home.

The amount of cash, food and rods and reels donated and the size of the list of donors was incredible and truly showed how people recognize the importance of showing our children a good time in the outdoors.

Two different people donated airplane rides and the young winners were thrilled when they found out they had won.

Kids and Mentors Outdoors has chapters in Ladysmith, Necedah, Florence and Lake Delton with each chapter covering a region.

Our only goal is to get more kids involved in the outdoors, especially those that may not have that option.

If you are interested in starting a chapter in your area or live where a chapter is currently located and know a kid in need, we can help. We have a lot to learn but are doing well with what we know. Visit us online at kamokids.org.

Sunset.