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

President?s message – This is KAMO President Mark Walters with my monthly section of the newsletter.I have to make a confession and I think it is important. Since April 1st, I literally have had zero free time. In simple terms, I am very active and all over the map almost every waking hour of the day. Though what I am doing such as my job, hobby farming, KAMO, NOAC, the finishing touches on building my pond, overseeing the building of a disc golf course in Necedah which we had our grand opening last night it is all very positive, I have been running hard, an example would be, every day, I stop at 9.30 pm, cook, clean up and start by 6 the next morning. That being said, KAMO has not had as much of my attention as it should, I am sorry. I have to admit that this will last until my return from Canada in late June but there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
In March, I traveled to La Crosse, where Mike Brown and I went and spoke at the Radisson during the UMRCC Convention. We received very good feedback from the attendees. The UNMRCC group decided to donate their event fundraising proceeds to two groups, the Mississippi Valley Conservancy (La Crosse region) and KAMO. The state KAMO received a check for over $1300.
Bob Broduer has sent out our raffle tickets to the 6 KAMO chapters and we will be doing our drawing at the annual “Joe” planning meeting in early September. I am asking each individual to take the sale of these tickets seriously and I am also very open to ideas on how to spend our
money to help get kids outside.
Sidney Seymour has begun the process for our fb page and this is a project that if completed and maintained will make a difference for KAMO. Please add interesting posts with pictures. I cannot emphasize this enough, I honestly believe, we can achieve our goals in an easier
way if KAMO has a fun and interesting fb page with regular posts.
As always, I want to thank each and everyone of you for everything that you do for KAMO, from my end of things where I receive a lot of information, it is obvious that between our 6 chapters we are doing a great job of getting kids outside.

Mark G Walters

Keeping up with changes – We have someone putting posts from all chapters on the KAMO State Facebook page. In order for her (Sidney) to be successful, she needs fresh pictures and narrative from chapters when they have activities.The idea is that as time goes along with increased content on the state FB page, people will notice, word will get around. This may result in increased awareness that there is a KAMO and if we are really fortunate, more potential members. If you need the email address to send your submissions, please contact me (Mike).
There is a new brochure coming up. It will have a QR code directing interested people to our website. There are already some existing documents with our website?s QR code.. There is a statement on the website front page encouraging people to check out the webpage of the chapter nearest them. Is your webpage up to speed? The answer was ?no?, the last time I looked. That included my oversights on the Coulee Chapter?s page. People are looking for activity information. If you don?t have something coming up, you can always direct people to contact someone in the chapter or mention something later in the year like the Joe hunt.
Chapter Reports

Baraboo – The Baraboo River Chapter of KAMO held a fundraiser on Saturday May 10th and this acted as our monthly meeting. We had 5 Mentors participating, but AJ was the Chef & anchor of putting this Chicken Dinner Fundraiser together. We had 46 whole rotisserie chickens along with sides and drinks. Although it was slower than expected, we did generate a profit and learned several tips if we do this again. Our Chapter was active in the Outdoors with fishing, turkey hunting and hiking during the past month. Our next activity will be the annual camping trip June 27?29th at the Juneau County Park on Castle Rock Lake. 5 spots have been reserved and we will be joined by the Dodge County Chapter again. Plans and menu will be finalized at our June meeting. Our Chapter remains hopeful that we can set up a fishing event with the Lake Wisconsin Chapter in July or August, but no plans have been set yet. There continues to be discussion on an ATV safety class, and we did find a couple being offered in late summer. If you know of upcoming classes in the area, please let us know.
Our next meeting will be 7pm on Monday June 9th at AJ?s campfire. Address is 917 Gillette Lane. WI Dells 53965.

Enjoy the Outdoors with a Kid,

Coulee – Our group met on the evening of May 1st to discuss planning for upcoming summer activities. We have a bug day, pontoon rides, and a memorial fishing event on free fishing weekend. We have fishing events coming up on June 7th and the 14th. The latter date is to support the newly formed Izaak Walton League in the area. Getting participants for events and volunteers to run them can be challenging, but if everything fell in our laps perfectly all the time, that might get boring.
Some mentors have gone in to help Summit Elementary with a first grade class at a local farm and the Genoa Fish Hatchery where 200 Onalaska Middle School Students came in for an activity day. Mike took a group of 6 kids and 3 parents on Sunday, May 4th at the Pettibone Park Lagoon. The fishing was slow, but kids around water always have a blast. Mike went to MOHEE for a couple days to help with the fish ID trailer and the Genoa Fish Hatchery KIds Day. to clean trout.

Dodge – Pretty slow month but we are revving up for a busy summer. Myself and Vice President Greg Pahl participated at MOHEE.where over 4000 kids 4th-7th graders from all over the State came to see what Wisconsin has to offer in the great outdoors. Volunteers are always needed there and bringing in new people really helps these kids get the perspective of what they can do all year round in our great state. Speaking of Volunteers, WWA expo is right around the corner and with KAMO helping out as part of the Youth Building, Please discuss this issue with your chapter at your next meeting and Try and show up one of the 2 days and help out and show the crowd who we are and what we do. As I am writing this our Chapter took 6 kids ( picked through a drawing) panfish fishing on Lake Okachee and what a successful day it was . Over 100 fish were caught and 6 Boys went home with a few fish frys and big smiles on their face. We will be Co-sponsoring the Free Fishing weekend with our local lake improvement association. and meaning a number of stations to help kids learn everything they need to know about fishing and water safety. Co-chapter campout at the end of the month with the Baraboo chapter and we are looking forward once again to have one great weekend with them . As always get a kid outside and see how it changes their mood and attitude.
Jim B.

P.S. WWA volunteers.

Lake Wisconsin – One mentor took a kid out on a turkey hunt.

Meadow Valley – Hello from the Meadow Valley Chapter.
Some KAMO members and Mentees participated in the youth turkey hunt. 9 participants
and 2 successful hunters.
It is the time of year that we are reviewing scholarship applicants, and we will coordinate
with Mark Walters regarding presenting the scholarship. This year we expanded our
scholarship pool ? New Lisbon, Mauston, Tomah, and Necedah.
Coordinating the learn to hunt bear for this fall. Bob Nicksic is coordinating with the DNR
and submitting the required paperwork. The mentee and the parents have been notified
and will meet with James Newlun to go over the logistics for this event.

Thanks, and have a great summer – Jim

Northwoods – Hello from the Northwoods!
Things have been fairly quiet here. I gave our economic development director a few KAMO cards to spread around while doing radio interviews in the area. We have a meeting scheduled for June 5th to line up our summer events, a Facebook person and fundraisers. Our summer fishing event will be July 12th on Lake Emily. A new event is scheduled for September 6th.. U.P. Prop Busters radio control aircraft group will be doing an exhibition fly day and donating the proceeds to us!! Super fun for families for sure. My daughter will have a Sponsor Recognition poster for me to review this week, no charge, I will send a couple different styles to the group. Good things are happening for sure!

Johnny Johnson from Florence, Wi.