Jon Hillmer, The Kids Mentor
Baraboo, Wis. Equipment rental company owner

Three years ago, Jon Hillmer and outdoor columnist Mark Walters were sitting in an ice shanty on Lake Winnebago, fishing. When the conversation got to kids not getting outside much anymore, the men decided to start a volunteer group that takes kids hunting, fishing, trapping, canoeing, and camping. The result was Kids and Mentors Outdoors (KAMO).

"We find kids who want to do things outdoors and link them with one of our mentors," says Hillmer, 50. "We get our mentors through Mark's newspaper column, or word of mouth, then we go to the Boys & Girls Clubs, or the schools, and we let people know we're here and willing to help."

Many of the young people involved might otherwise never get a chance to hunt or fish. "When we get an interested kid, the mentor goes and meets the parents, and they set up a date to go out. It's not just about catching fish, shooting birds or deer, or going for a stroll in the woods, either. Our people teach these kids about the habitat."

KAMO (kamokids.org) now has four chapters, all in Wisconsin, with 10 to 25 members in each. Dozens of kids, ranging in age from 5 to 17, are involved. "And we need more kids," says Hillmer.

To date, KAMO has gotten donations from Alliant Energy and help from groups such as Pheasants Forever (Hillmer is vice president of the local chapter), Walleye North America, and the National Wild Turkey Federation. "But a lot of our funding comes from individuals donating money, time, or gear. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources also works with us, especially when it comes to the learn-to-hunt and habitat-rebuilding programs." The group has planted hundreds of trees and created a stocked pond. And that's not all.

"We do crafts, too," he says. "We make turkey calls with the kids, decoys, wood-duck and wren boxes, and so on."

Ultimately, Hillmer would like to see a chapter in every county in every state. "Why can't we do that?" he asks. "Anything is possible. Maybe the next step is a KAMO Kids Plus group, in the colleges!"