KAMO – August, 2025 Newsletter – 3 pages
For comments related to this document, contact Mike

President?s message – Hello KAMO members and friends of KAMO,
This is Kids And Mentors Outdoors president Mark Walters with my monthly report.
First, our annual raffle drawing is Monday, July 8th during the Baraboo River Chapter of KAMO’s meeting and I ask that everyone sell every ticket that you have.This is very important, simply to keep KAMO financially solvent.
Our meeting on the 8th will be attended by members from other chapters and is a get it done session for planning The Joe. PLEASE attend if you can. Speaking of The Joe, please take note, I have a Winchester SXP 12 gauge for our kids bingo session.This gun has not been fired and will be a great shotgun for someone.
On another note, in one way or another I have been president of Kids And Mentors Outdoors since its birth in 2007. I honestly feel that it would be wise for someone else that really wants to lead this organization to take the reins. I feel this would be very positive if the right person takes the job. If you have some thoughts on the subject, please contact me.
In closing, tomorrow is the bear season opener. I have a tag for Zone C and have been running baits since April 15th with my good friend Doug Cibulka who also has a tag. KAMO member Jeff Moll “should” be pulling in the driveway any moment and the mood is excellent.
As always, thank you for all that you do for KAMO!

Mark

Big River Magazine Article – The September/ October issue of Big River mag hit subscribers’ mailboxes yesterday. On pages 28 – 31 – the title – Forest Bathing – Immerse Yourself in a Driftless Area Forest. Kati Thompson of Coon Valley – a behavioral health manager at Emplify Health by Gundersen and KAMO mentor, is a certified Forest Bathing Therapist and is written about as part of the article. Her picture is also in there. The benefits of forest bathing for kids is discussed in the article as well.
Kati has led a number of Coulee outings since 2020 – Forest Bathing, fossil hunts, and outdoor art, are some that come to mind.

Chapter Reports

Baraboo – The Baraboo River Chapter of KAMO held our monthly meeting on August 11th with Mentor AJ hosting at his home campfire in the WI Dells. We greatly appreciate AJ feeding us as well. Our Chapter reported 56 hours of getting Kids Outdoors with a couple stories of fishing and camping. We made some plans for the WI Youth Waterfowl Hunt September 20th & 21st. Kids age 10?15 can hunt without a license this weekend and so far we have a couple kids lined up. We also discussed a nice write up from the Stevens Point Scholarship Winner. Sold raffle tickets were collected and a BIG REMINDER to all Mentors that we are holding the drawing at our next meeting on September 8th. All Mentors should sell their allotment and if having difficulty please reach out ASAP. The September 8th meeting will also be our Joe Hunt organization meeting with all Chapters invited to attend. Kevin Seymour will again be the Huntmaster and has recently sent out an email with needed information & looking for volunteers (1st Aid Contact, Female Dorm Chaperone). Rich still has several KAMO decals at Absolute Imprint available which can be put on almost any clothing item. Our next meeting will be held on Monday September 8th at Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center starting at 7pm.
Thanks,
Greg

Coulee – A mentor – Randy, and volunteer – Larry, ran a fishing outing on August 12th for a small group from the Boys and Girls Club at Pettibone Park. Mentors Randy and Jon H. assisted a local foundation running Cops and Bobbers at the Municipal Boat Harbor. 19 kids were at this event. Mentor Tim took a new kid to the Chaseburg Rod and Gun Club for the Family Fun Day on the 23rd and fishing on the river the 25th.
We have plans to take 3 kids hunting during the Youth Gun Deer season and have a scouting/ blind set up trip planned. We have a trap/ pigeon shoot on a September Saturday, and the potential to get some kids out fishing. The fall fishing in the La Crosse area is usually the best of the year and I?ve been hearing great fishing reports..
I share Mark?s thoughts as a leader. I have been Coulee?s leader for a long time, am aging ungracefully, not as capable of doing things. If someone is willing to take the role over, I would still be active in the group.
We are still looking for kids to participate in our trap/ pigeon shoot of Saturday, September 13th.

Dodge – DCC KAMO was busy this month. We had 2 locations for National night out and people were out by the thousands. There were a lot of people interested in what we do and 3 new people want to be mentors. 2 mentors took 2 boys and 2 girls sailing on lake Mendota and they had the time of their lives. They learned how to put up a sail and steer the boat,tie sailing knots and talk all the talk while on the boat. Looking forward to doing it again soon.
Our biggest activity was WWA WATERFOWL EXPO. Lots of people came through the youth building and thanks to Reed and Greg we were Front and center and nobody could miss our table. So many people were interested and we might even get a new chapter or two. Following up with a bunch of people and preliminary figures will be released and then the state will be informed of the findings. A Big thank you to all the volunteers that helped out in Oshkosh. It definitely could not have happened without their help. Thank you so much. Get a kid outside and see what happens..

Jim B.

Meadow Valley – Meadow Valley ? Hello from the Meadow Valley Chapter
Busy with the learn to hunt bear. Some raffle tickets left to sell. Aaron Bigalke is working with the 2 kids in the donor bow program.

Thanks – Jim

Northwoods – Hello from the north woods!
It?s been a busy few weeks giving bikes away and organizing our new event for this Saturday the 6th. Iron Mountain prop busters RC aircraft show Gary Steber memorial fly day will have KAMO as the fundraiser again this year. We will provide a shuttle and lunch for all that want to come out and learn about RC flying. We have also purchased 20 rooster pheasants for our fall hunt for October 6th. A long time donator for our chapter generously purchased 18 foldable stools for ice fishing! I?ll be mailing tickets today for the raffle for the drawing Saturday, All good things going forward from the northwoods!

Johnny Johnson from Florence Wi.