W.K.'s Wilderness Journal

Closed Again...

2011-01-16T13:48:00.000-06:00

Hey – can you believe it? For the second time in a year, WKC has been attacked by Invaders. No kidding. It’s a real bummer, too, because we have lots of great stuff lined up. Not to mention we’re right in the middle of a bunch of other things. The staff says it’ll take at least a month to clean the site and replace the files that were lost, so, we’re on our own out here. Seriously.

As captain of the patrol, all I can say is for any of you Wilderness Protectors out there to keep taking care of your piece of the wilderness while we wait. Do some of your own research on anything you find interesting, and keep a Wilderness Journal of your experiences that you might want to share later on when the club gets back online. The last issue of the magazine is still up, and you can write to me if you have any questions or problems, by sending an email to the address on our About Us page. Just make sure you put “for W.K.” in the subject line. I’ll answer you back as soon as I can.

Meanwhile, I’ll be updating my wilderness journal (that’s on a different site and wasn’t wiped out) next week with some other interesting wilderness links you might like to look into. Especially one where you can read the rest of the story we had going on the feature page. You can write to me there by just making a comment at the end of the entry.

In the meantime, don’t give up the wilderness, because we can still do this if we stick together. Seriously. Oh, yeah – and don’t forget to keep feeding your birds, on account of a lot of them depend on handouts during winter.

Till later,

W.K.

Alone in the Wilderness...

2011-01-05T16:19:00.002-06:00

My turtle friends are gone, now. I guess when it gets this cold out, they dig a nice hole and hibernate. Wait for better times. I say wait for better times because they can hibernate for other reasons, too. Like during a draught when there isn't enough water. Or if someone puts them in a cage they can't get out of and it looks like the end of the world to them. Pretty cool actually.

Especially when you realize how long turtles live (some have been around since before the Civil War!) and how long they can go without food. A whole year. So, I guess they don't mind waiting around for better times if things don't look too good for them.

You can learn a lot of things from watching wildlife that textbooks can't tell you. Like if my turtle friend will still recognize me after being asleep for so long. That's just another one of the reasons why I'm on a quest to find out more about turtles than anybody ever knew. That and the fact there's nobody else out here in my piece of the wilderness, today. Because it's too cold to go outside. Which I way do not agree with.

Some bunch of adventurers -- not to mention WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHERS -- when it only takes a measly little bit of cold to scare you off the trail. So, here I am out here on patrol all by myself. Been out here... about fifteen minutes. No turtles, no squirrels, and even the birds are holed up with their feathers all puffed out for extra warmth. Hmmm... maybe they know something I don't...

Whoa -- it's starting to snow. I better head home instead of look for porcupines. Or at least over to Buddy's for some hot chocolate. Hey -- maybe he'll help me with my map case. Oh, yeah, and if you're looking for an extra Mystery Guest clue... he was a specialist on glaciers.

Seriously coming down, now.
W.K.

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An Amazing Story...

2011-01-04T17:12:00.002-06:00

Hey -- there's an amazing bird story up on the WKC Feature page, and it really happened. I like anything about birds. Next to reptiles, they are my favorite wildlife to watch. The guy that wrote this is a great storyteller. Only he's sort of old-fashioned, so you have to read through a couple paragraphs before your brain picks up the language. It will, though, so trust me. The human brain is better than a computer. No kidding.

We're gonna see this story in several different parts, but I should probably warn you that some parts are only for the strong-hearted. Because the real animal world is not the same as ours when it comes to things that are most important. Which is all I have to say about that, right now.

Oh, yeah... and my extra clue for the Mystery Guest Contest today is:

The guy who wrote the bird story is NOT our new Mystery Guest. He'd make a pretty good one though, if you ask me.

Later,
W.K.

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Hint, Hint...

2010-12-30T17:05:00.002-06:00

My Mystery Guest contest clue for today is more of a tip than a clue. But if we're talking about head-starts, this will get you one. It's about googling. Which is mostly how everybody finds things out these days. So, here we go...

I learned this little trick last year, when I was spending way more time looking at stuff I WASN'T interested in than the things I was. That's because droids (computers) aren't human. THEY DO NOT THINK. They can only give you back information that has been put into them, and the way they organize it is by the most popular. Which is good enough most of the time. But if you're really into research (like I am), you gotta be way more specific about what you're looking for.

For instance, if you google "survival guy" because you're looking for that guy on TV that gets dropped off in wilderness places, you'll have a whole page of other things pop up (like survival games, or how to survive, or people's blogs about survival) before you ever even see his name. Then you gotta really be on your toes, because if you forgot his name in the first place, you might not even recognize it (by the way, it's Bear Grylls I was thinking about because he's my favorite). That's why you gotta BE SPECIFIC when you're googling for the Mystery Guest. What I mean is, USE THE CLUES.

And that's all I'm gonna say about it now, because I think I might have just given the whole contest away. Uh-oh. I hope too many people don't read this journal entry today.

Seriously.

W.K.

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Surprise, Surprise...

2010-12-29T17:36:00.003-06:00

The new Mystery Guest Contest is on, and wait till you see the prize. And -- don't worry -- I won't be sabotaging any of the clues, or anything, because EVERYBODY WHO GUESSES RIGHT WINS. No kidding. I mean, we're not even gonna draw out of a hat. So, is that a cool contest, or what.

Starting today, the clues will be listed on the Mystery Guest page over at WKC. But -- like I said before -- I like to give my Wilderness Protectors a head-start. So, I'm gonna give a bonus clue right here in my Wilderness Journal every day, too. So, let me see...

Here's a good one:

This guy was so smart, that he talked some important scientists into changing the way they think about geology (study of the earth and how it was shaped). Now, we all think that way. So, I guess he was right. Heh, heh, heh...

Either that, or he was way good at talking people into things.

Don't anybody forget to vote.

W.K.

P.S. Oh, yeah. And if you want to know what the prize is, you'll have to look on the Mystery Guest page. Mostly because I need a head-start over to the voting box.

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Just A Hint...

2010-12-28T16:45:00.002-06:00

Tomorrow starts the new Mystery Guest Contest, and -- just like last time, I'm gonna give out the clues here in my Wilderness Journal before they show up on the Mystery Guest Page. Hey -- I like to give all my Wilderness Protectors a head-start on stuff. Heh, heh, heh...

So, here's the first clue:

This new Mystery Guest is an American man who spent a lot of years wandering around in the wilderness all alone.

Sheesh, can you believe that? I can see a couple of weeks, or something, but if I had to spend YEARS all by myself IN WILD PLACES, I'd get way lonely. Not to mention way scared. Seriously. But that's the truth, and that's what this guy really did. Which should narrow it down a little from all the other famous Americans.

Any ideas? Well, you better get with it, then, because the prize is THE SURVIVAL BOOK (it tells everything about how to survive on your own) and I really need one of those. So, I'm outta here to do a little googling and put in my first vote. But don't worry -- anybody who guesses right, wins.

Later,

W.K.

P.S. Oh, yeah -- and don't anybody vote for Sherlock Homes. He's just a logo picture for the Mystery Guest page, on account of he was practically the best mystery solver anyone ever heard of. In books, that is. Because he isn't real. And all our Mystery Guests are real people. Ooops -- I gave away another clue --

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Way Happy Holidays...

2010-12-27T17:34:00.002-06:00

Hey -- if you're like the rest of us around here, you've still got one more week of the holiday season before getting back to school, again. So, take advantage of it! Get outside whenever you can, and if you haven't found a piece of the wilderness to claim, yet -- let me know. I'll give you some tips about how to do that.

I'll also tell you how we made our Observation Outpost, which gets cooler every time we add more stuff. No kidding. Sometimes I think I could actually live in this place (only my mom would probably miss me). Anyway, it's a great place to spend time and do projects I usually can't do at home. Not to mention getting together with the rest of my patrol.

I hope you all had a great Christmas because we sure did. But you'll have to wait until next year to see the new things we got, on account of we only let that information out once a year. In the meantime, we're gonna have some way cool wilderness stuff you can make yourself, along with a few wildlife studies with real scientists.

Seriously.
W.K.

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P.S. Oh, yeah... and just because the holidays go by, don't forget to keep feeding your birds. On account of the worst of winter hasn't even hit, yet.

Buddy's Version...

2010-12-22T15:42:00.002-06:00

We've been joking a lot around here about "Buddy's Version" because it seems like Buddy has his own version of almost everything we do. Take feeding the birds, for instance. I bring a little something every day from home because I like how the birds seem to recognize me and get all excited when I come.

The Warner Sisters are more into the craft side of things. They make long strings of popcorn, cranberries, and raisins to hang up everywhere. They also make suet balls that look like regular works of art. Something tells me they like the decorating more than actually feeding the birds. But Buddy's method beats all, because he actually came up with his own idea instead of just copying something he heard about.

His idea is to carry a jar of peanut butter and a bag of birdseed around in his backpack (he has everything you can think of in there -- that thing weighs a ton). Then whenever he finds a pinecone, he slathers it with peanut butter, ties it up in a tree, and then throws birdseed all over it. What falls on the ground always gets eaten up, too, so nothing is wasted. How cool is that?

Sometimes I think Buddy's a genius.

Seriously.
W.K.

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Christmas is For the Birds...

2010-12-21T15:39:00.002-06:00

Hey -- you wouldn't believe how many birds we have around the Outpost, now. No kidding. Mostly because every time the Warner Sisters come, they bring something different to hang up around here. I actually think all these birds must be telling their friends.

Today, the girls brought suet-balls (yuk, but the birds like them), and they actually didn't look that bad. If you're a bird, I mean. Buddy said he could probably eat one if he was starving. But to tell you the truth, I think Buddy could maybe eat his socks if he was starving. Only that's another subject.

Anyway, these suet-balls were such a big hit with all our wild birds out here in the Parks Wilderness, the girls decided they would share the recipe with everybody. So, if you want it, it's over on the feature page. But I'll tell you right now, you better make a lot of them. Because it isn't even Christmas, yet, and the birds are already having a party.

Hey -- I wonder if we could sell these things?

But I guess we'd have to vote on that.

Later.
W.K.

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Deck the Halls With...

2010-12-13T16:28:00.002-06:00

We're decorating the Outpost for Christmas before we open it up for the rest of December. Usually, it's for members only. But since this is the one time of year when we tell where we got all our gear (in case anybody out there wants some of the same stuff we have), we took a vote and decided we should let people look around the Outpost, too.

I gotta admit, the Parks Wilderness is looking pretty cool right now. I mean, even our club mailbox is decorated. Oh, yeah -- and you can also drop a note in there while your visiting. Like if you want to make any suggestions, or anything, we'd be glad to hear it. I'm not sure which day this week we'll be letting people in, on account of the Warner Sisters are making some special things for you to take home with you when you come.

Sort of our way of saying Merry Christmas. Heh, heh, heh... Merry Wilderness Christmas, that is. Anyway, I'll try to hurry those girls up and keep you informed. In the meantime, I'm heading out to feed the birds. Hey -- this is winter and they're depending on me.

Seriously.
W.K.

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P.S. ... and if you haven't browsed through all our gear over at the Christmas Sale, yet -- head on over.

The Last Backpack...

2010-12-11T20:24:00.002-06:00

OK. So, C. actually did come through and get all her backpack stuff set out over on the feature page, today. But -- man -- it's practically bedtime around here. So, if you've been waiting around as long as me, you can still browse through tomorrow. Or even all the way up until Christmas, for that matter. On account of this is our once a year Christmas Sale.

Every week until then there will be something to make or do that will help you have a great wilderness Christmas of your own. I might even get my survival newsletter out pretty soon. You have to join WKC to get in on that, though. On account of I'm on a major campaign to get some more help, here. Sheesh. We need way more than one patrol to save the world.

Besides that, it's fun. Heh, heh, heh...

Seriously.
W.K.

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All Alone (almost)...

2010-12-10T20:21:00.003-06:00

Here's the deal. C. promises she's gonna get her stuff on tomorrow (even though we don't usually put anything up on the weekends) because the Christmas program is tonight. Which Buddy and I are gonna go to, on account of C. and S. are starring in it. Like I say, you always gotta have a "Plan B" when you're a kid. Because everybody else's plans come before yours.

Not that I mind so much. And not that I ever cared before. It's just that this wilderness thing has become way important to me over the last year. No kidding. I've never been so busy in my life. Never been so excited, either. Because I really think we can make a difference here. Seriously. And if all of us Wilderness Protectors pick out even a little piece of the wilderness to take care of... well, then it's gonna add up to a whole lot. Take my word for it. I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if -- while all the adults in the world are busy trying to figure out how to fix everything that's gone wrong in the world lately -- we kids are just gonna go ahead and do it.

Buddy had to go home early today, too. On account of he has a family Christmas party to go to. Mom and I are gonna pick him up from there to go to C. and S.'s Christmas program. So, I'm sitting here all by myself, whomping out this journal entry, just because I wouldn't be able to sleep all night if I didn't. I guess it's because I feel like all you Wilderness Protectors are part of our patrol, too. And I'm the captain. I gotta think about these things.

Seriously.

W.K.

P.S. Hey -- I'm not alone after all -- my turtle friend just showed up. Don't laugh, but I actually think he's smiling.

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I'm Dreaming of a...

2010-12-09T17:23:00.002-06:00

Am I surprised S. got her stuff set up for the Christmas Sale before the end of the week? Man-- I was just hoping for before Christmas. But she came through with flying colors, even though she had another practice for the Christmas program today, too. So, head on over and take a look. And if C. get's her things together by tomorrow, we'll still be on schedule around here (I have to think of that stuff, I'm the captain).

I don't mind saying I had to add a couple of things to my own Christmas list after seeing everything. I hope Mom has enough extra chores for me to do this year to earn them. Heh, heh, heh...

Which reminds me. I gotta get home early today to do some of those. On account of I want anything she orders to get here in time for Christmas. OK, so this happens to me every year. I get so excited about Christmas, I can hardly wait for it.

I wonder what Grandpa's gonna get me?

W.K.

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Surprise, Surprise...

2010-12-08T22:45:00.003-06:00

OK. So, the girls are late, again, but there's not a whole lot I can do about that. The trouble with having so many people on your patrol is you have to fit in with everybody's schedules. Which isn't the same as getting along, because we all get along great. But the Warner Sisters had to practice for a Christmas program today, and that was that.

Whatever. Anyway, at least Buddy and I got our backpack stuff set out this week (and if you haven't looked at it all, yet, head on over to the feature page and wander through). I spent a lot of time dreaming about stuff like that last year, and I guess that's half the fun. Like I say, though, we make a lot of things ourselves, and we're gonna get into that in a big way in January. Along with another Mystery Guest Contest, for all of you Wilderness Protectors out there who like to guess who it is.

Well -- like Buddy said, yesterday -- S. is up next. But your guess is good as mine if she makes it on time. Might as well check in, though, just to make sure. And I don't know what C. has in mind for her turn, but she's been working hard on something. All I know is, everybody's sure full of surprises around here. But that makes life interesting, right? I'll say.

So, see you tomorrow.
W.K.

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Ready or Not...

2010-12-07T15:26:00.003-06:00

We're all over at the Outpost helping Buddy get his stuff together for the Christmas Sale. Anyway, that's what Buddy and I are doing. The Warner Sisters are out decorating all the trees around here, and feeding the birds. But we won't be as late as last night, though. Mostly on account of Mom said I better be home by five tonight, or else.

So, I better get with it. Like we want to get this stuff set out before Christmas. Ready or not. I been working so hard on this whole project, I am way late on my other things. Like my newsletter for Wilderness Protectors. It's for members only, but if you want to get in on that, all you have to do is sign up. I'll get to it, sooner or later. Because winter is one of the coolest times for practicing certain kinds of survival stuff. I also have a lot of mail to catch up on.

Like who keeps voting in the Mystery Contest when we're already done with that? Don't worry, though, we're gonna have another one in January. And for all you Wilderness Protectors who voted for Sherlock Homes... well, you're sorta right. On account of it's his silhouette we use as the logo for the Mystery Contest. But -- hey -- if you want to vote in a contest, head on over and do the Winter Bird Feeding one. The prize is an official WKC Bird Feeder. You better hurry up, though. It's only on until December 15, and I think the Warner Sisters have been voting every single day. I guess they really want that bird feeder.

Gotta run. I think Buddy just busted one of his specimen jars. Sheesh -- I hope there was nothing that bites in there. Now that we have all this stuff spread all over the place, there's a bajillion places for something like that to hide. Uh-oh, there goes another one. This could be bad.

Seriously.

W.K.

P.S. Hey -- and if you haven't looked at all my stuff, yet, you can do that while you're waiting for Buddy's.

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Hold Everything...

2010-12-06T17:17:00.002-06:00

Hey -- I'm not lost and nothing bad has happened. It's just that these Warner Sisters thought we ought to clean up around here before we opened up for the Christmas Sale. Sheesh. So, we're gonna be working way late tonight before we get this thing going...

Personally, I thought it looked OK before we cleaned up. But that's me. Buddy didn't seem to mind too much, either, only I think that's because he wants to break for dinner and come back later.

So, back later.
W.K.

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Gearing Up...

2010-12-03T15:51:00.004-06:00

We are having an argument today about whether the stuff you have attached to you counts for backpack gear. Take me for instance. I wouldn't go many places without my fishing vest that Grandpa got me for Christmas, last year.

Not that I do that much fishing. It's just that thing has tons of pockets to put stuff in. It even has a big one across the back that will hold a map. I have practically all my ten essentials stashed somewhere in it. Which is great, because I don't always take my backpack everywhere unless we're headed out on patrol.

Then, I have my compass clipped to one of my belt loops. Of course, I carry my camping pocket-knife in my pocket. I even have a mini-flashlight on my key-chain. The way I see it, all that stuff is gear, no matter how you carry it around. I was pretty glad to have a couple extra granola bars and packets of hot chocolate stashed in there, last week, when we were stranded out on Sweeny Lake, let me tell you.

Buddy said a cookbook should be part of our gear, too. On account of he's been in a constant state of starvation most of his life until he found out how many things he could cook all by himself over a campfire. S. wouldn't go anywhere without her camera. Because you never can tell when you'll run into wildlife, and she wouldn't want to miss the shot.

C. won't go anywhere without her phone. Not that she spends a whole lot of time texting when she's out here. It's just that thing has a camera for snapping instant wildlife pictures, and she can get onto the Internet with it, instantly. In case she has to look up some important piece of information in a pinch.

So, it comes down to this. We figure everything we use out here is gear. So we're expanding the Christmas Sale next week to include everything. No kidding. And I mean everything.

So, get ready.

W.K.

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Get Ready for a Wilderness Christmas...

2010-12-02T17:14:00.002-06:00

OK. So, we're back on schedule with the Christmas Sale. Starting next week, all of us are going to have everything in our backpacks on display, with information on where you can get the same stuff. And -- let me say this right up front -- none of us were born rich. So whatever we have we worked hard for. Even if we did talk our parents into getting us some of the things for birthdays or Christmas, last year.

We also each have different opinions about what's most important. But that's what makes things interesting over at the Outpost. We're all good at something different, and together we make a pretty strong team. Now that I've got a patrol to work with, I can't imagine doing things just on my own anymore. I'll admit we all have our favorite places out here in the Parks Wilderness (our piece of the wilderness) where we like to kick back for some alone time once in a while.

And I still really like my turtles. Which is why I'd choose a field guide on reptiles over a campfire cookbook any day. But then that's me. Buddy would probably pick the cookbook since he can hardly go a whole hour without eating something. S. likes adventure stories, and C. is always reading about somebody famous. So, we're each gonna be sharing our own different collections on the bookshelf.

We're even gonna give away recipes for suet balls (yuk -- that's the Warner sisters idea) so you can make your own wilderness Christmas wherever you live, too. Not to mention we're gonna decorate a tree. OK, I admit it, I love Christmas.

But who doesn't?

W.K.

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The Bear Story...

2010-12-01T16:43:00.002-06:00

OK. So, here's how it happened. Grandpa and I were both getting pretty tired of being stranded on Mr. Johnson's fishing boat when we were supposed to be home having a nice Thanksgiving dinner. But there we were. A conked out motor on the back side of Sweeny Lake, and the first snow storm in years to block all the roads.

Not that we were in a desperate situation or anything, because the boat has a nice cabin on it and even some food and stuff. So, while Grandpa and Mr. Johnson worked on the engine, I had a lot of free time on my hands. Which is probably why Grandpa said we should row over to the nearest shore in the dinghy, while Mr. Johnson was putting the last part of the engine together and cleaning up after they fixed it. All right by me, on account of I was going batty by then, That boat's nice and everything, but it's still only about twenty feet long.

Anyway, I did all the rowing to get there. Totally wild on that far side of the lake -- no picnic tables, camp spots, or anything. You can only get there by boat. But we had a great hike. The snow made everything look like a Christmas card. We hiked through the woods, hearing our boots crunch in the snow, and ended up on a hill where we could look down at the lake and mountains all around it. It was a totally awesome sight.

We were just thinking how great it would be to have a campfire up there and drink some hot chocolate before we left, when the little knob of ground Grandpa was standing on started to shake. He was lower down than me, on account of there was sort of an overhang where he could keep out of the falling snow. Me, I was on the very top of the hill above him, catching snowflakes on my tongue.

But when Grandpa hollered and I looked down there, I saw he was standing on the back of a bear that had been buried in the snow. Maybe he was hibernating under that overhang, or something. All I know is, Grandpa must have woke him up standing on top of him like that. The next few minutes were sort of a panic.

While the bear was growling and getting up on his feet -- sort of groggy, I guess, because he was planning to sleep till next spring, I reached down and helped Grandpa climb right up over the top of that overhang to get out of his way. Not trying to be brave, or anything, that's just the first thing I thought of. I guess it must have worked though, because that bear was confused. One minute Grandpa was there, and the next minute he wasn't.

But we sure didn't wait around to see what he would do. We just high-tailed it back down the trail (you're not supposed to run from bears -- I don't know what got into us) and jumped in the boat. By the time I started rowing for my life we realized the bear hadn't even followed us. Sheesh.

I learned two things from that experience. Number one: bears don't want to be around us any more than we want to be around them. And number two: my grandpa has way more energy than I figured a guy his age could have. We laughed ourselves silly about how fast we got back to the boat, again.

So, being stranded wasn't as bad as it sounds. Mom and Grandma had plenty enough leftovers for us when we did get home, and Grandpa and I found out how much we could count on each other in a pinch.

You can't buy that.

Seriously,

W.K.

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Calling for Backup...

2010-11-30T16:29:00.002-06:00

   I figure we've gotta have a backup plan. It will be for those times when any of us gets stuck someplace we'd rather not be, with nothing to do. Here's the way I see it. Over on the Outpost page, we'll put a button called Plan B. Clicking on that will take you to a place where you can download projects to work on, or research you can do no matter where you are.

   And, hey, if anybody else comes up with more ideas for it, just drop me a line over at the WKC Mailbox (on the Outpost page). I'm not Einstein. It's just that I was wishing I had something like that when I got stranded out on Sweeny Lake in that freak snowstorm last weekend.

   Because there I was, with so much free time my eyes were crossing. I didn't even have my backpack with me. Man -- I coulda had my whole Christmas Sale stuff organized by now if I did. Instead, I had to pass the time by looking through Mr. Johnson's high-powered binoculars, fish off the end of the boat, or invent new things to eat.

   But before you say, "How cool is that?" let me ask you some things. Like if you ever tried looking through binoculars in a snowstorm (you can't see anything). Or how long you think you could keep fishing after your fingers go numb (hey, we weren't expecting snow when we headed out there).

   And -- don't flood me with comments, here, but -- how many things can you think of to eat with only peanut butter, canned sardines, and crackers? There was a bottle of green olives down in one of the lockers, too, but yuk, yuk, and yuk! Anyway, when I finally got home, Mom said I smelled like fish.

   I didn't mind so much by that time, though. Because Grandpa and I had the adventure of a lifetime when he let me row him over to shore for a hike in the woods the last afternoon. If I hadn't thought fast when he stepped on that bear... well, let's just say Mr. Johnson might have had to drive home by himself. Guess how I did it?

   Then come back tomorrow so I can tell you.

   Heh, heh, heh...
        W.K.

   P.S. Don't go looking for that Plan B button right away, because I haven't got it approved, yet. But I'll let you know when I do.

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Kidnapped...

2010-11-29T17:50:00.000-06:00

The thing I hate most about being a kid is the way everybody bosses you around. No kidding. I mean, when it comes to a group vote, mine only counts about half. Which is what happened over the holiday weekend when (in case you didn’t notice) I totally dropped off the map. Disappeared. Kidnapped, if you want to know the truth about it. See, what happened was, we ended up with way more company than usual around our house. Some neighbors of my grandparents who couldn’t fly out to see their own family because of the big storm.

So, right when I was gonna high-tail it outta there (because Mom usually likes me to stay out of her way when she’s cooking), Grandpa and Mr. Johnson decided to take a ride over to Sweeny Lake to see if the storm was pushing any of the big fish close into shore. I don’t know if that’s true (about fish coming closer to shore in storms). If you ask me, the women just wanted all the men out of the house so they could cook in peace. I mentioned I had some important patrol stuff I had to do with Buddy over at the Outpost, so they better go without me. But Mom said, no way. I was going. When was the last time I went fishing with Grandpa?

But Grandpa said I could invite Buddy, too, so I wouldn’t get bored hanging out with just him and Mr. Johnson. Only Buddy couldn’t go. On account of it was a family day, and he had to hang out with his cousins. Which is why I ended up stranded out at Sweeny Lake for two whole days in one of the wildest storms we’ve had around here in years. In case any of you are wondering why I didn’t show up to do all those special things we were planning for the holiday, over at the Outpost.

Here’s how it happened. It was only just starting to rain when we first drove off. By the time we got there (a little over an hour later), it still wasn’t too bad, only we didn’t have any luck fishing off the pier. That’s when Mr. Johnson said what would it hurt to take the boat out for a bit, just to see if they were maybe biting farther out. Grandpa said he didn’t mind, at least there was a top on the thing and we wouldn’t have to stand in the rain. He gets a little grouchy when he gets cold or uncomfortable, and I could tell he was headed in that direction. But Mr. Johnson insisted (man-- does that guy like to fish) and it was his boat. His car we had drove up in, too, so Grandpa and I had to sort of go along with it.

Anyway, that’s how it happened I spent practically my whole Thanksgiving weekend with a conked-out engine on the back side of Sweeny Lake in the first snowstorm we’ve had around this area for ten years (it started to snow on the second day). Living off peanut butter, crackers, hot chocolate, and Kipper snacks (you know what those things are? Try looking them up sometime). Oh, yeah, and fish. Lots and lots of fish. Which was pretty good actually. But they say your taste-buds change a lot when you’re starving. Meanwhile, Grandpa and Mr. Johnson worked on the engine, and we finally rolled into home on Sunday. Can you believe it?

We weren’t in danger, or anything. Grandpa and Mr. Johnson been fishing out there like that for years, and they’re always getting stranded somewhere. Usually some other fisherman comes by and tows them in. But nobody but us thought how fun it would be to go fishing in a snowstorm. Even Mom, Grandma, and Mrs. Johnson didn’t sound too worried when we called in (we had cell phones out there -- only the roads were snowed in), because all they said was they’d save us some leftovers. Sheesh. So, I guess nobody was worried about all that but me. Which is another thing I hate about being a kid.

Not understanding what adults are talking about half the time.

Way, WAY later,

W.K.

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Storm Weather...

2010-11-24T17:06:00.002-06:00

   I don't know about your piece of the wilderness, but we've got a storm heading our way around here. So, Buddy and I are gonna meet before Thanksgiving dinner starts tomorrow, to make sure the Outpost is still buttoned up tight, and set more bird food out.

   After I finish my extra chores, that is. On account of the old dried-up bread I found sitting on the counter (that Buddy and I fed to the birds, today) was supposed to get made into turkey stuffing. Sheesh -- how was I supposed to know? Mom went sort of ballistic when she got home from work, but it's not like I could get any of it back by then. So I gotta peel about fifty potatoes and clean the bathrooms. I might even have to vacuum. But by the time dinner was over, she was starting to lighten up, so, maybe not.

   Anyway, we're gonna meet over at the Outpost at ten. Which only gives me tonight to get all my gear ready to sell. So, I better get busy. Oh, yeah -- and if anybody stops by to take a look -- I'm giving out a free prize on Friday. To the person who guesses what my all-time favorite piece of gear is. I'll tell you more about that tomorrow because I think I hear Mom calling me.

   Later,
    W.K,

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Holiday Plans...

2010-11-23T16:50:00.003-06:00

This is Thanksgiving week -- but don't worry -- whenever we're on a holiday schedule around our house, my job is to stay out of everybody's way. Heh, heh, heh...

So, I'm gonna have lots of extra time to do things with the patrol. Like setting up feeding areas for our birds. And putting some of my backpack stuff up for sale. The Warner Sisters won't be around much, on account of they're putting together our WKC Campfire Cookbook for the Weekly Feature, next week. Besides that, they have to make pies and fruit salad with their family.

The only thing I have to cook on Thanksgiving is toast and coffee for Mom after she sleeps in. Then I have a couple extra chores to do so the place won't look like a disaster when my Grandparents come. After that, I'm on my own. So, Buddy and I are gonna meet up at the Observation Outpost and make plans. He's got a couple sisters, and they way don't want him in the kitchen, either.

So -- if you're not doing anything -- why don't you stop by? I'm gonna be checking my mail a lot more than usual, and answering a few questions that have been piling up. Oh, yeah -- and if you haven't joined WKC, yet to get into the "members only" area -- what are you waiting for? It doesn't cost anything.

   Seriously.
    W.K.

   P.S. Besides that, I still need more people on my patrol.

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Other People's Stuff...

2010-11-22T18:51:00.003-06:00

   I have changed my best friends. I didn’t mean to. It just sort of happened. One week I was doing one thing, and the next, I was doing something else. If I planned it, I would have said, “No way.” You stick with your friends, no matter what. Except it didn’t happen like that. See, I never meant to do it. What happened was, I took a hike into uncharted territory... and never came back.

    Don’t get me wrong. I am not a flake. And I guess if I would show up at the old places and say, “Hi, guys!” they’d all probably pound me on the back and ask where I’ve been. The thing is, I just plain don’t want to go there anymore. Not because they aren’t all great -- they are! It’s just that I got enchanted out here in the wilderness and haven’t been back, yet. But -- hey, I’m going to. One of these days when I’m not so busy.

    See, ever since I got elected captain of my patrol, I have way more responsibilities. Not to mention all the time it takes to be the star of a new wildlife documentary show, when you still have to keep up with homework and chores at home. Mom would never (and I mean NEVER) change her mind about that, even if I was the next Crocodile Hunter. That’s just the way she is, and -- like I say -- you can’t pick your parents.

    But the biggest reason I changed best friends is the people I met since I got here. On account of they’re just like me. Better even. Because I couldn’t come up with half my great ideas without all of them giving me their ideas to think over in the first place. And you know what? I didn’t even know wilderness stuff was what I liked best until I got here. Which only goes to show how much a person can miss out on if they don’t take a little time to look at other people’s stuff once in a while. Instead of just their own. Anyway, I’m way glad I did.

Seriously, 
   W.K.

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Sightings...

2010-11-19T15:25:00.002-06:00

   This weekend the patrol has some major things going on. At first, we were just gonna get together to work on my Backpack Campaign. But then we decided that would be a good place to start the show. Then we got all excited about setting up The Outpost as a sort of "home base" for our filming operations. Besides that, we found out if we have one person on a wildlife watch at all times, we get our best sightings.

   Last week they were doing some tree-trimming around the edge of the park that we're next to. So, while three of us were inside the Outpost trying to come up with more ideas for protecting our birds in winter, C. got some really cool shots of a porcupine family toddling past our tree, trying to get away from all that noise. It was way cool. We didn't even know we had any out here, so it was a major sighting for us. Footage like that comes in real handy when you're trying to put a wildlife show together. I mean, we at least gotta have some wildlife, right?

   Actually, we're getting a pretty good collection, already. So far, we have turtles, ants, raccoons, squirrels, birds, and porcupines. All we have to do, now, is try to get me in the same picture, talking about them. I guess. Heck, that's how everybody else does it. Then, again... maybe we should do something a little different than that...

   Any ideas? Hey -- where did everybody go? Gotta run. My patrol's onto something. Have a great weekend, and don't forget to add your suggestions to the WKC Winter Birdfeeding Contest.

   See you next week!
        W.K.

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My Name In Lights (maybe)...

2010-11-18T15:29:00.002-06:00

OK, they talked me into it. Starting next week, I'm gonna show everything I have in my backpack and tell where I got it. So all you other Wilderness Protectors out there can maybe ask for some of it yourselves this Christmas. I don't know about you, but whenever I ask for something special, I need to come up with a good reason to have it.

Then (on account of my mom works and everything) I have to find out where to get one at the best price (on account of she's not made of money, either). Man -- I used to spend a way lot of time trying to find out about things. Then I found this place online that actually does the looking for me. They even tell you where to get it used, if you only want to pay a little money for it. Which I do, sometimes, if something is way expensive, or I have to come up with the money, myself.

Like for some of the books I need. What do I care if somebody else read it already? I just want my own personal copy to lug around in my backpack (if it's a field guide), or set up on our bookshelf over at the Outpost, in case we have to look something up. Like if a queen ant sting is more poison than a regular ant. Stuff like that. And what the heck to do about it instead of run home to your mom every time something like that happens.

Hey -- we had to have a whole book on first aid just because Buddy gets hurt more than all the rest of us put together. We even had to get an extra box of Band-Aids (the Warner Sisters wrote his name on it), on account of his mom said the next time he tore the bottom off his shirt to use for one, he'd have to clean out the garage. Which is way worse than cleaning up your room -- or even doing dishes for a week -- because it takes practically a whole Saturday to finish something like that. So, we all pitched in.

Mostly because it would be a bummer spending a whole Saturday in the Parks Wilderness without Buddy. On account of he comes up with the best ideas. Which is why we're going into the backpack business. He figures if we sell enough backpack stuff, we might be able to finance our own documentary show. I don't know about that, but I'm gonna help anyway. On account of they said I could be the star. Heh, heh, heh...

Seriously,

W.K.

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Some Things You Have to Earn...

2010-11-17T16:15:00.002-06:00

   I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about things you can't buy. Like respect. You can't buy that even if you're a millionaire. It's something that comes from the way you treat other people. And I'm not just talking about bullies and school stuff here, I'm talking about everything. Because it seems like whatever you respect gives back to you. Take my mom, for instance.

   Of course I respect my mom (you can't pick your parents), and I'd get into some way deep trouble if I didn't. But I've been coming out to our piece of the wilderness -- The Parks Wilderness, I mean (sheesh, I gotta get used to calling it that) -- for over a year, now, and she still thinks all we're doing out here is playing games. At least, that's what I thought she was thinking. And don't even TRY asking her to go camping, because she hates that stuff.

   Which is why I was totally shocked when she showed up last week. We had been on patrol, like usual, and found out somebody trashed turtle creek. Not just trash, either. Would you believe they dumped a huge broken-down washing machine in there? Probably didn't have enough money to take it to the dump. But, man! Anyway, our patrol cleaned up all the trash all right, only we were gonna have to wait till Saturday for Uncle Joe to come out and load up the washer.

   Then Mom showed up.

   I almost passed out. I mean -- I don't know she even knew how to get here. So, I guess maybe she really was listening some of those times when she'd say things like, "That's nice," or "Sounds interesting," or "Great story -- how about setting the table, now?" when I was trying to explain to her what we were doing out here. Saving our piece of the wilderness. The Parks Wilderness.

So, when she showed up with a borrowed truck on Thursday (a work day and a school day!) and helped us all load up and take it to the dump, I was speechless. She even talked about how disrespectful it was for people to trash our wilderness places that way. Now, all I've been hearing from the rest of the patrol is, "Your mom is --like -- so cool!"

   I feel pretty good about that.

   Seriously.
     W.K.

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In It To Win It...

2010-11-16T16:58:00.002-06:00

OK, the contest is on over at WKC! Enter your ideas for feeding birds during winter in our piece of the wilderness and readers will vote for the one they like best. The winning entry will get an official WKC Bird Feeder that you can use at home, or in your own piece of the wilderness.

   So, hurry on over and submit your ideas. I already submitted mine (Hey -- I want one of those Bird Feeders), and now the patrol and I are busy thinking up even more ways to do it. On account of the more times we enter, the more chances we have to win (heh, heh, heh...). That's the way I look at it, anyway. Besides that, if we wait too long, somebody else might come up with those same ideas and get them listed before we do.

   And we have a lot of birds around here to feed.

   So, I'll race you.
        W.K.

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Tricks of the Trade...

2010-11-15T18:49:00.001-06:00

   Hey -- I'm telling some of my coolest secrets about campfire cooking in this week's feature article over at WKC. Like I say, Buddy and I have been at it for a whole year, now, and we have a lot of tricks for doing things the easy way out there in the great outdoors. OK, so we didn't exactly figure them all out for ourselves, but that's the point. Anybody can do this stuff!

   Besides that, it's totally fun. I might even let you guys in on a few tricks I picked up to get your parents (or other adults) to supervise you on regular camp-outs. Who wants to wait till next summer rolls around? Not me. Right now, I'm working up a campaign for "A Wilderness Christmas" Heh, heh, heh...

   Of course, I'll have to work my tail off to get something like that, but a guy's gotta do what he's gotta do. It worked really great last year, and it was way worth it. Which is why I have to keep this short today, because I have chores to do.

Seriously.
   W.K.

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This Is For The Birds...

2010-11-12T16:18:00.002-06:00

   OK, it's official. We're gonna have a contest over at WKC for who can come up with the best ideas for feeding wild birds during winter. Starting Monday, there will be a box where you can enter, and all ideas will be posted for two weeks. Then we'll vote. Whoever gets the most reader votes wins.

   Watch out, though. Because my patrol is pretty great at coming up with amazing ideas when we put our heads together. Besides, I really like prizes. I get a lot of my gear that way. In fact, I got my compass just for writing in to the company about how much I needed one in the line of work I'm in. Sheesh, a Wilderness Protector can't spend most of his time being lost in his own piece of the wilderness. How embarrassing is that?

   You gotta be able to figure out where you're going, or guess where you'll end up? Either one of two places. Nowhere -- because you didn't even try. Or, lost -- because you didn't know where you were in the first place. Like I always say, knowledge is power. But that's all I'm gonna say about that until after this contest. On account of I don't want anybody getting a head-start on me with my own advice. Heh, heh, heh...

   So, see you Monday.
          W.K.

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Who's Out There...

2010-11-11T21:22:00.002-06:00

   Like I say, we've been doing a whole lot of talking around here. About all sorts of things. Like camping gear, and compass guides, and who's gonna ask for what at Christmas. Then last week Buddy piped up and said, "Who cares? When are we gonna start protecting something?"

   Sheesh, he had a point. I mean, even the Warner Sisters didn't have anything to say about that, because it was true. The only protecting we've done around our PARKS WILDERNES, so far, is protect ourselves from the ant army. We even have that on film, which I am way not proud of.

   Right away, the girls wanted to make a list of all the wildlife we have around here, so we could get organized. But Buddy said if we got any more organized than we already are, he was gonna puke. That was when I pointed out that every one of us knew by heart exactly who lived around here, and even where most of their houses were.

   C. suggested we could maybe protect our squirrels from poachers. Only that lasted less than a minute before S. said nobody in their right mind would face the dangers of our "Sticky Woods" to catch squirrels when everybody in town had at least a dozen living in their own yards.

     It was quiet for a long time after that. Then -- out of the clear blue -- Buddy said one word. "Birds." But I told him they were the least of our worries, on account of they can fly. I had to remind him of how we still hadn't figured out a way to get closer than you could throw a rock to any of them, ourselves. Besides that, it's illegal to shoot guns in our town, so we didn't have to worry about hunters, either.

   "Winter," he said. "We gotta protect them from the time of year when there's hardly any food."

   Man -- you'd have thought he said, "Let's go to Disneyland" the way we all hooped and hollered what a good idea that was. So, now we're on a big campaign to find out the best way to do that. Which gave me one of the greatest ideas I've had in a long time, too. We can have a contest. And maybe other Wilderness Protectors will do the same thing so they could win a really cool prize. That is, if anybody out there would be interested.

   So, who's out there?
       W.K.

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We Name Our Wilderness...

2010-11-10T16:44:00.002-06:00

      When Buddy and I first started coming to our piece of the wilderness, we didn't talk things over. We didn't have to because we think so much alike. But now that we added C. and S. to our patrol, it seems like we have to vote on everything. Mostly because they keep coming up with things Buddy and I never even thought of before. Like naming our piece of the wilderness. They said, how could we protect something if it didn't even have a name?

     I guess they had a point. But then we had to vote on a name. In the end, we came up with THE PARKS WILDERNESS. On account of we are bordered on two sides by parks. Then we had to name all the places on our map. So, each of us would know where we were talking about when we had to meet up somewhere. They had a point there, too. Now Buddy's map is plastered all over with names like, "Turtle Creek," "Big Bug Canyon," and "The Sticky Woods."

     We've had to make a lot of changes since the girls joined up. Like when we camp out. Now, we have to take Aunt Sue along to watch out for the girls, along with Buddy's Uncle Joe. They even cleaned up the Outpost. There are special places to hang up our binoculars (for spotting wildlife), and a giant version of our wilderness map tacked onto one of the walls. C. blew it up on the computer, and S. colored it in with markers.

     At first, we did a lot of talking and arguing about things. Sometimes I think we spent more time doing that than actually getting out there protecting our piece of the wilderness. But lately, we've settled down into our own projects, and it's actually been kind of peaceful around here. Kind of exciting, too. Because if it hadn't been for the Warner Sisters and their homemade film studio, I would have never realized what I want to do with my life. I'm gonna be a wildlife photographer. Seriously. I've been in about eight Warner documentaries, already.

     I think maybe they're gonna help me get famous. Heh, heh, heh...

   W.K.

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Telling How...

2010-11-09T01:11:00.002-06:00

   The truth is, we don't have a whole lot of extra around our house. Which is why I started looking for ways to make things myself if I needed something. Like camping gear. The first things (and most important, if you ask me) I made were a sleeping bag and a hammock. Hey -- I only sleep on the ground if I have to.

That was almost a year ago, now, and I don't mind saying I'm still using those two things every time I go camping. They work great. Which is why I agreed to share exactly how I did it. Don't worry, it wasn't hard. In case your figuring on trying it for yourself. If you are, head on over to WKC and find out how.

   Of course there's other ways of doing it, but I'm just saying how it worked best for me. Besides that, I'm sort of proud of them.

   Seriously.
     W.K.

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Putting Our Heads Together...

2010-11-05T15:54:00.002-05:00

   OK. The Compass Class is a go, and my whole patrol is gonna help me with it. We'll each handle the part we do best. I'll go first and tell about how to use one when you're headed into uncharted territory, so you can get back without getting lost. No matter how far you get off the trail.

   Buddy will take it from there with the map section. On account of he is way good at drawing maps, and if you use your compass at the same time, it's a guarantee you won't get lost. C. wants to tell everybody how you can find your way if you DON'T have a compass.

   S. is going to show how to make one if you're already lost. You might wonder what good one would be then, but -- take my word for it -- a lost person needs a compass more than anybody. Because of how people have a habit of walking in circles when they don't know where they are. No kidding.

   Then all of us together will pool our ideas about the best kind of compass to buy. We each have different opinions about that. Except there is one thing we all agree on, no matter what. This time of year is the absolute best time to get a compass. On account of it's so close to Christmas, a lot of parents are asking kids what they want. Heh, heh, heh...

   Hey -- I wasn't born yesterday.

   So, stay tuned for times and dates, so you don't miss out on any of it. Meanwhile, have a great weekend. Oh, yeah. And if you don't have your own piece of the wilderness staked out, yet -- what are you waiting for? Get out there and find one!

   Seriously,
      W.K.

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Finding My Way...

2010-11-02T15:30:00.002-05:00

   OK. So, I've told everybody how I found my piece of the wilderness to take care of. It's a pretty big piece -- big enough to get lost in. On account of people have a way of walking in one big circle when they aren't following a compass, or navigating by landmarks. Our piece of the wilderness is mostly woods, so it's easy for that to happen. Which was why we decided to get a compass and learn how to use it.

   I didn't know how it worked when I first got one. To me, it just looked like some weird watch, only with letters instead of numbers. But I like doing research (finding out things other people don't know, heh, heh, heh...) so, I did a google search and found out how to use it. Then I told Buddy how, and we practiced. Man-- we're so good at it, now, I can get dropped off anywhere on the planet and find my way back, again. And I don't mind saying I'm pretty proud of that.

   Anyway, I was talking to the staff over at WKC, and they said my patrol and I could do a class on it. Which means I would have to let everybody in on the kind of compass we use (way cool), but it's for a good cause if it helps other Wilderness Protectors get started. Besides that, we're gearing up for a contest to pick out the coolest piece of wilderness to protect, and I wouldn't want it on my conscience if anybody got lost out there looking for one.

   I guess once you're a captain, you can't help feeling like one all the time -- even when you're not with your patrol. I don't know how that happened. I don't mind, though. Actually, I sort of like it. So, if you need any questions answered while you're out looking for your own piece of wilderness, you can leave them in the comment section of my journal, here. If I don't know the answer, I'll find out. Even if I have to time travel.

   Seriously.
     W.K.

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I Start My Patrol...

2010-11-01T15:33:00.002-05:00

   Like I say, I wasn't too happy when I found out my friend Buddy followed me to my secret place where I made friends with the wild things. I mean, he didn't even ask to come with me. He just popped out from behind a tree and said, "Boo!" when I was taking pictures of that turtle. But I got over it.

   Mostly on account of Buddy had some way good ideas about finding a parrot. It was actually his idea to make a map, so we could keep track of where we had looked so far. And it was his map that first gave me the idea of claiming that place as our own piece of the wilderness, and becoming Wilderness Protectors. It was a cool map. After that, one thing just led to another. I found out it was a lot more fun to be outside with someone than all by myself.

   Besides that, Buddy comes up with great ideas for getting us out of the kind of fixes we get into out there. Which is half the fun. The adventure. You can read about it all day long, but you have to get out there and experience it yourself to really know what I mean. So, get out there! Whatever it takes -- believe me -- you won't be sorry.

   And don't forget to catch the feature article over at WKC this week about getting your camping gear together. That's what our patrol will be doing. This is the best time of year to camp.

   No kidding.
   W.K.

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My Wild Friends...

2010-10-29T16:32:00.002-05:00

   I am sitting in the spot where my whole life changed. Well, not the exact spot (that was in the middle of the creek), just on the bank next to it. I come here a lot now, on account of its's my favorite out of our entire piece of the wilderness. That first day when I fell in by accident and got the spit scared out of me, I was about to go totally ballistic when I looked straight into somebody's eyes.

   No kidding. That was my first thought. "Who is that?" Then I realized it was just a big turtle sitting on a rock out in the middle of the creek a little ways away. He was looking at me with his head sort of cocked and a smile (it looked exactly like a smile!), like he was about to say, "Gotta watch that last step, bud." So, I couldn't help smiling back. I mean, all of a sudden I felt great.

   Sort of happy all over for some reason. Like a wild thing had looked right at me and -- for one split second -- we communicated. It was an awesome feeling. All of a sudden I didn't care that much how scraped up and wet I was, or that I was gonna have some real explaining to do when I got home. Man-- a wild thing had communicated with me!

   So, I got the camera out of my backpack and took a bunch of pictures of him. It didn't matter that there wasn't a contest for turtle pictures (just parrots). I wanted these for myself, to remember him by. In case I never saw him, again. But I did. After a while I found out he takes a nap on that rock around the same time everyday. He knows me and I know him, now. Since I've been coming here to visit, I've got to know a couple of other wild things around here, too. I love it out here. That's how I found out how much I like Nature.

   Can you believe it? I lived my whole life without knowing that until I accidentally fell into it one day. Sheesh. What if that never happened to me? I might have grown up without knowing how cool it is to be friends with the wild things. Personally. Without just reading about somebody else doing it. I like it even better the more time I spend here.

   I like the sound the trees make when the wind blows through way up high, and the smell of the creek banks. But I especially like how the wild things show up and let you watch them, as long as you're quiet. I guess I sort of thought about it as my own secret spot from then on, and I came here a lot. Sometimes just to think about things. I liked the quiet around there, too. I especially liked having a place to go that nobody else knew about.

   Right up until somebody followed me in here. Which I don't mind saying I wasn't too happy about, at first. Because nothing was the same after that. And I do not like changes. But -- hey -- I'm not a hermit, so we worked it out. Which led to the second best thing that ever happened to me. I'll tell you about that on Monday.

   Maybe you should go outside this weekend.

   I know I'm gonna.
           W.K.

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A Watcher in the Woods...

2010-10-28T13:51:00.003-05:00

   OK. So, there I was, sitting wet up to my waist (that creek was only about two feet deep), and it was way past five, already. We eat at six around our house. Mom doesn't have many rules (as long as I'm respectful and help her out with things when she needs me) but being home in time for dinner is way important to her. So, I try not to ever break that one. Besides, I have to do all the dishes if I do, and I hate that.

   She also likes to know what I've been up to. Which I can usually skirt around with, "Oh, just hanging out..." and she automatically thinks I've been over at Buddy's place. But if I was to come home wet and muddy, she'd ask some serious questions that I would have to answer. Hey-- I don't lie if anyone comes right out and asks me. It's an honor thing.

   Anyway, I was sitting there thinking about all that when I felt someone watching me. All kinds of things flashed across my mind then. What if some weirdo followed me in here? What if a bear lived in a cave dug into the creek bank (OK, so, he'd have to be a little one) and I demolished part of it when I fell in? Holy cow-- what if there were snakes in this water?

   I gotta admit, that last one froze me with fear, on account of I get the goose-bumps just looking at snakes through glass at the zoo. But in that one split second before I hollered and took off, I locked eyes with who was looking at me...

   That split second changed my life forever. No kidding. But if you want to hear the rest of it, you'll have to come back tomorrow. No, I am not late for dinner. And no, we do not have another patrol activity scheduled for today. It's because C is spying on me, again. I know because I just heard the click of that camera, and she has got it in her brain I'm the next Tarzan, or something. I mean, every time she's got me in her sites, she's taking another picture.

   So, tomorrow,
      W.K.

Back to WKC

The Phantom Parrot...

2010-10-27T17:21:00.002-05:00

   I did not come up with the brilliant idea to become a Wilderness Protector. I didn't even decide to be one because there was nothing better to do at the moment. I became a Wilderness Protector because of one day when I was out hunting for a wild parrot to take a picture of. I wanted to win a prize with it. Which I am not too proud of a puny reason like that, but I'm trying to tell the truth, here.

All this was before I found out we didn't have any wild parrots in our part of the country anymore. Anyway, I was out looking for one. We have a pretty cool park not far from our house, and I figured there would probably be some there. Only there wasn't. Just a bunch of people playing frizbee and some kids over at the playground area. There were a few joggers moving along the blacktop walkways, too, and some old people and tots feeding pigeons. But -- like I say -- I couldn't find any parrots. None. Zippo. Nada. Then I thought maybe parrots might be shy.

   Afraid of people.

   So, I headed out toward this clump of trees at the way back corner of the park. If I was a scared parrot, I figured that's probably where I'd head to. But by the time I got there, it was getting sort of late. Except I really wanted a parrot picture, so I went into that little stand of woods, anyway. There were lots of bushes and sticky vines to push through. But I kept on. My plan was to hide somewhere, and wait for all the the birds I scared off to to come back, again. Hey-- I knew I was making all kinds of noise in there, and I'm no idiot. Most wild things run when they hear someone coming.

   I was so into getting my picture -- looking up at the branches of the farthest away trees -- I didn't even notice the ditch. Only it wasn't just a ditch, it was a creek. Before I knew it, I was tumbling down the side of the bank, smack into that middle of that thing. All by myself. And nobody in the world knew where I was...

   Sheesh -- this is gonna have to be another "to be continued..." because here come the Warner sisters with their camera. Is it that late, already? Can we not do anything without putting it on film? I don't know if I want the whole world to see the first time we ever try to put a life-size tent together. But I guess we'll have to vote on that, too.

   See you tomorrow.

     W.K.

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Goodbye Sir Robert...

2010-10-26T16:04:00.002-05:00

   Hey -- the first of November is right around the corner, and there will be a brand new Mystery Guest Contest coming up. So, if you haven't read all the articles over there on the Mystery Guest page about my visits with Sir Robert Baden-Powell, himself, this is the last week you will get to do that.

   I really learned a lot from him. But --like all the Mystery Guests over at WKC -- they will be popping in now and then whenever we need them. How cool is that? I just love virtual worlds.

   Gotta run. On account of I left a way big mess on the living room floor trying to cut out tent pieces for when I meet with my patrol tomorrow. I hope Mom doesn't mind I had to use her--

   Uh-oh--

   Later,
    W.K.

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Ready, Set, Go...

2010-10-25T15:20:00.002-05:00

   Hey -- this week we're talking about how to set up a camp over at WKC. Which is way cool, on account of this is my favorite time of year to go camping. No kidding. There's lots of places to camp around our town, and lots of holidays between now and winter.

   Our patrol of Wilderness Protectors has decided to make all our own gear. It'll give us something to do until our next camp-out, and we'll all have the same stuff. We're each gonna make our own sleeping bags, at home, but everything else we're gonna work on together. I figure we'll have the coolest, most comfortable camp site you ever heard of by the time we're done (man-- will Uncle Joe be surprised).

   So, I have to keep this short, today, on account of I have to go do a little research on how to make a tent. Especially since I already told everybody I knew how to do that. What I meant was, I will by the next time we get together. Heh, heh, heh...

   Knowledge is power.
          W.K.

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My Next Quest...

2010-10-22T14:41:00.002-05:00

   So, I asked Uncle Joe if coyotes attack people, and he said, no. On account of it isn't in their nature. Unless they're rabid. But -- hey -- any animal will do that if they've got rabies. Even a rabbit. And get this -- compared to dogs attacking people, there is no contest. There are thousands of dog attacks every year, but only a few documented coyote attacks in all history.

   Coyotes are mostly night creatures. They sleep and hide during the day, and can adapt themselves to almost any environment. Which is why when that scientist guy up in Cape Cod heard about the golf course coyote family, he decided to check it out. On account of they're territorial. If it gets too crowded they just spread out or move somewhere else. None of his coyotes had made a home at the golf course, so maybe it was a new family.

   The maintenance guy told him they saw those coyotes all the time, even the little pups. They were so used to everything that went on at the golf course, they didn't run off when the lawn mowers went by, or even when a golfer got too close. He said, go ahead and take a look, because you could walk right up to about twenty feet away from them. So, they headed over there.

   There were a lot of people around that day, and the scientist saw a large male coyote that he didn't recognize, just laying at the edge of one of the overgrown places, watching everybody. He noticed some people got pretty close when they passed by, but the coyote didn't move. Nothing the people did seemed to bother him.

   That is, until he got a whiff of the scientist from about a hundred feet away. All of a sudden he was up on his feet, barking and growling so much, the maintenance guy was embarrassed. Said he'd never acted that way to anybody else before. About that time, the female showed up and started doing the same thing. But, now, it all made sense.

   That female coyote was one of the scientist's radio-collared ones, that he had been trapping and studying for years. She knew exactly who that scientist was, and she did NOT want him around her new pups. Which is natural. The weird thing is, the scientist and the male coyote had never seen each other before, but that coyote recognized him in a whole crowd full of people, and sounded the alarm.

    Considering the female coyote was the only one he could have found out about the scientist from, they must have had some amazing communication skills to even get a point like that across to each other. Way amazing.

   Which is why the next expedition I'm taking my patrol on is going to be a coyote expedition. They are the coolest animals I've heard about, yet. And -- if they're practically everywhere -- we ought to be able to at least find some sign of them in our own piece of the wilderness.

   Besides that, a coyote picture would be the perfect thing to enter into the WKC Wildlife Photo Contest that's gonna start on November 1. But I'll have to fill you in about that next week, on account of telling the end of this story has made me late, again.

   Have a great weekend!
           W.K.

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A Howl in the Night...

2010-10-21T17:06:00.002-05:00

   There's all kinds of ways animals talk to each other, and most of us learn some of that stuff in school. Like bees doing a dance back at the hive to let everyone know how far they have to fly to get honey ingredients. And I guess one of the most important reasons animals communicate is to give a danger warning. But what I'm gonna tell you about, right now, goes way past a danger warning.

   It happened a couple years ago in Cape Cod. That's way up in the northeast corner of the USA (for you Wilderness Protectors that live out there in the rest of the world). Anyway, there's this cool scientist guy that's been doing coyote research up there for a lot of years. He puts radio collars on them, tracks where they range, and studies their habits. To do this, he traps them in a wire cage, then sedates them while he checks them over. Before they wake up, he also gives them a free dose of flea and tick stuff. Hey, that's a real problem for wild things these days, especially in summer months.

   Anyway -- like I say -- he had been doing this for years. Knew pretty much every coyote for a hundred miles around. The thing he specialized in most was suburban coyotes. Those are the ones that have adapted to cities and neighborhoods. No kidding. They're all over the place. Which was why Buddy and I almost jumped out of our skin when we heard a howl (seriously!) only a couple seconds after Uncle Joe told us that part...

   Hey -- it was a campfire story, and he was making it a good one. Come to find out, he did that coyote call himself, but what did we know -- it was dark. I even dropped the best smore I ever made and had to roast another marshmallow. Buddy practically choked on his.

   But the actual story is true. Which is why when he told us how this one coyote family had made their home somewhere on the local golf course, and how they just watched people all the time and didn't even run away when somebody got too close...

   Well, that sort of gave me a chill, too. On account of I earn extra money sometimes, helping to pick up golf balls in places they get lost out on the range. Which is also why I had to ask -- right then (I couldn't even wait till he stopped talking) -- if coyotes eat people. If it's one thing about Uncle Joe, he always tells you the truth. No matter how scary it is. So, I'm gonna tell it that way, too.

   Only I'll have to finish tomorrow. On account of this is the longest journal entry I ever made, and Mom's gonna be ticked if I'm late for dinner one more time this week.

   So, later.
      W.K.

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Noises In the Dark...

2010-10-20T15:06:00.002-05:00

   Back when I was talking about how I ditched the fear monster, I mentioned how Buddy and I heard something big walking around down by the water on our first night expedition. But we made so much noise before we got the flashlight on, whatever it was took off before we could see it.

   We had to get real quiet -- and stay that way -- for over twenty minutes before anything got brave enough to come out, again. But we did it. On account of we had figured out the wild things were way more afraid of us than we were of them. Besides that, we were up in a tree. So, even though we knew we didn't have any mountain lions in our area for the past hundred years (unless one escaped from the zoo-- yikes!), we put a lid on it and stayed quiet. Because we wanted to see what kind of wildlife lived out in our piece of the wilderness.

   And -- sure, enough -- that thing came back, again.

   My heart felt like it was gonna jump right out my throat, but I got hold of myself, and turned the flashlight on without dropping it in the water, this time. Which made me feel pretty silly when we finally saw what it was. A raccoon. Washing his dinner down at the creek. Can you believe that? We saw his bandit mask and everything. He looked right at our light for about three seconds and then high-tailed it back into the woods. Sort of a fast waddle.

   Which made me think animals must spend a whole lot of time worrying about survival, too. I actually thought he might mention to his family to stay away from the creek for the rest of the night, because there were human-type monsters down there right then. He could have, because we didn't see anymore raccoons. Which is why I asked Buddy's Uncle Joe if he ever heard of animals warning each other about dangerous people.

   And -- man -- did he ever tell us a whopper of a story about that.

   Which I am gonna tell you about right here on this blog over the next couple of days. And -- no -- I am not getting off the subject of campfires for this week. On account of every campfire has to have at least one good story to go along with it.

   So, see you tomorrow.
   W.K.

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All About Punks...

2010-10-19T16:24:00.002-05:00

   I have been thinking about how many changes there have been since the beginning of time. But mostly how many there haven't been. OK, so we do a lot of stuff way quicker these days on account of technology. But some things haven't changed at all. Like what it takes to survive in the wilderness.

   Knowing how to build a fire and keep it going is still the best way to do that, if you ever end up in one of those situations. Seriously. So, I am way into practicing that kind of stuff. Because I don't ever want to be caught off guard in case something unexpected happens. Like I'd rather be a hero than a victim. Which is why I spend so much time figuring all this stuff out. Not to mention it's more fun than sitting around the house all day.

   The thing is, sometimes I find my best information in old books hardly anybody even knows about anymore. At first, I had a way hard time getting through some of them because a lot of words for things have changed since then. But I kept at it because I wanted to find out a few things. Then I made an interesting discovery. My brain sort of stepped up to the job. Like I picked up the language after the first few pages. I don't know exactly how. It's just that somewhere along the line it got easier to understand, and I hardly realize when it's happening anymore. Pretty cool, actually.

   Except sometimes it seems like one of those old-fashioned words is the only one that will fit for something I want to say -- and out it pops. Then I have a lot of explaining to do. Which is what happened today when I was sharing out Cool Tips about fire-building with some Wilderness Protectors over at WKC. I could have said kindling, but that meant something else. Or I could have said tinder, but that wasn't it, either. It was a mixture of things. It was a ball of...

   Sheesh, I still can't think of a better word. It was a punk. So, if you want to know what that is, you'll have to head over to the feature article at WKC and find out. Because I'm only good for one explanation a day.

   Besides that, I'm sorta proud I got to be in a feature.

   No kidding.
      W.K.

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Talk About Fire...

2010-10-18T16:40:00.002-05:00

   OK. So, I thought I knew everything there was to know about campfires. On account of I’ve been studying on it for a couple weeks, so I would look good when our patrol went camping to practice up on survival skills. Heh, heh, heh...

   Only there's a lot more to it than I figured. But with all the help we got (hey, it was our first time) everything turned out OK. Except for a few mistakes that happened with the cooking, and running out of matches. But we did such a good job on the second day, I got invited to share what I learned over on the feature page at WKC (which will way help me out on my captain skills). So, I hope all you Wilderness Protectors will head on over there and look in on things and tell me how I'm doing.

Besides that, I'm gonna be sharing all the cool fire tips we learned from a real wilderness expert. Which you just might want to know sometime if you get in any scrapes when you're out camping. Like dropping your matches in the water. Anyway, I hope somebody comes.

   Seriously.
      W.K.

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The Big Weekend...

2010-10-15T15:15:00.002-05:00

   This is it. The one we've been waiting for. Our patrol is going out on a full-blown expedition that will last for more than one day. Into the wilds. We will not be taking any high-tech gear, because the main purpose of this trip is to practice our survival skills. Not counting the the C.S. Warner Film Studio camera, of course (those girls never go anywhere without their camera) because you never can tell when an opportunity for some prize-winning footage will turn up.

   Hey, we are way into prizes around here. Which is why we're gonna enter our Survival World documentary in WKC's next contest for the best nature film produced by kids. But more on that, later. Right now, I gotta head over to Buddy's house and help out with the packing. Because we're leaving in a couple hours.

   I'll let you know how it goes.
               W.K.

P.S. And if you get stuck at home this weekend, you might want to make sure you read all the survival articles over at WKC about what to do if you get lost in the wilderness. On account of they'll be gone next week to make room for the Basic Survival Skills series that's coming up. Hey, don't miss it.

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While I was Waiting...

2010-10-14T15:12:00.002-05:00

I thought I might think back on how I got here. I'd like to say I was born loving the wilderness. That I had a real knack with wild things ever since I was a baby. But it all started with a parrot. It wasn't my parrot. It was nobody's parrot and it wasn't wild. To tell you the truth... there wasn't even a parrot.

   See, what happened was, there was this contest I heard about that was sponsored by PBS. You know who they are. The people who air all those animal shows on NATURE. They do a lot of cool science stuff, too, on another show called NOVA. My mom watches the news programs they put out, but I'm not really into those. Except walking through the living room sometimes when they're on is what got me so interested in survival skills. But that's all I'm gonna say about that, right now. In the beginning, it was the parrot.

   A parrot picture, actually. The contest was to find the best parrot picture, and turn it in for a prize. At the time, I didn't know what the prize was (or I probably wouldn't have done it). But I wanted to win that prize. I also had hopes of getting famous. Like maybe being the youngest wildlife photographer in the world. I mean, that's how I was thinking about it when I borrowed my Grandpa's old digital camera and headed out to get a prize-winning picture that could launch my career.

   OK, so nobody told me parrots weren't native to my part of the country. And I was no hand at remembering school assignments, either. I like science, but I do not -- and I mean, way not -- like doing all those questions at the back of each chapter in a textbook. I remember them about as long as long as they take to write down after you took twice as long to look them up than it did to read the chapter.

   Anyway, that's how I started out on my first expedition. It's how I got my first taste of adventure. It's how I found (stumbled on, actually) my own piece of the wilderness. I'm thinking about this stuff because I'm sitting up here in the Outpost (before the rest of the patrol gets here) working on notes for my new Captain's Class. "How to find your piece of the wilderness when you don't know anything about the wilderness, yet"...

   Yeah, that's gonna be my first subject. Like, where the heck IS the wilderness? Hey, this thing's gotta be real, or what good is it? So, I'm gonna tell how I found mine. It wasn't pretty.

   But -- if you're a captain -- you do what you gotta do.

   Better check if anybody signed up, yet.

   Later,
   W.K.

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My Bright Idea...

2010-10-13T17:42:00.002-05:00

   OK. Decision made. I am going to share out everything I've learned about being a Wilderness Protector. Including what's in my backpack. But I can't say I got a whole lot of help from you guys, so, you have to agree being captain of a patrol is NOT easy. That's why we need more of them. Seriously. I mean, how are we gonna protect all our pieces of the wilderness if none of us can make a decision in less than a week? We need more captains.

    Which is why the staff over at WKC has agreed to let me hold a Captain's Class. Where I can share out the hard stuff. Like how to get your people to follow you in the first place (man-- I had a hard time with that one). Or how to pick out the best pieces of wilderness to protect. I might even tell you how I talked the Warner Sisters into signing up. Heh, heh, heh...

   But -- hey -- you can't get in on my Captain's Class if you haven't even joined WKC, yet. On account of the Captain's Class is only for members. The sign-up sheet is posted over at the Outpost. If you want in, you'll have to head on over to WKC first, hit the JOIN THE CLUB link, and take the pledge. Then you get theWKC Handbook, Field Journal pages to print out and use on your own expeditions, and a subscription to my Survival Newsletter. That's where everything starts.

   Cone on, there's gotta be more captains out there.

   Seriously.
   W.K.

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It Isn't Easy...

2010-10-12T16:29:00.002-05:00

   I admit I've had to make a lot of changes since I came to WKC. But -- hey -- there's things I want to do more than not changing. Like being a wilderness expert. OK, I know it's a big dream. But what's a dream for if you can't make it a big one? And it's not like I'm too young, because age doesn't matter in this line of work. Seriously. There's no law about putting too much knowledge into your brain before you grow up. Not yet, anyway.

   Which is why I'm going for it while I still have the chance. Because if there's one thing I learned about survival, it's not to get caught off-guard. I figure it's like Sir Robert said, a guy's gotta BE PREPARED. Besides that, I like practicing all this wilderness stuff. Heck-- do you know how many real kid heroes there were down through history? Google it sometime, and you'll be up all night without getting to the end. They were prepared to do what they had to -- and they did it.

   I would really like to be like that. Go down in history, I mean. But the more I read up on it and try to figure out how those kids got to be that way, the more I keep bumping into things I can see -- right now -- I gotta change about myself. They just pop up. Then I gotta decide. Am I gonna change? Or am I gonna stay the same? The thing is, I only started having to make these decisions since I got elected Captain of our patrol. Because sometimes a leader has to decide on what's best for the whole group instead of just himself. Like sharing what's in my backpack with everybody.

   But here's the deal. I like being the only one who knows a few certain things. I like how the others think I'm way cool when I know something they don't. Only now I have this feeling I shouldn't be stingy with the cool stuff. I mean, what if some disaster happened and we all got separated before I got a chance to tell them everything I know about how to survive?

   All of a sudden I'm thinking that's more important than cool. But it isn't easy. On account of I worked way hard to learn all this stuff, and they'd get it for nothing. So, what should I do? Anybody has any ideas out there, let me know. Because, it's not easy being great.

   Seriously.
   W.K.

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Practice Makes Perfect...

2010-10-11T17:41:00.002-05:00

   Like I've been saying. Nothing makes you feel better than being able to take care of yourself in an emergency. Which is why I am way glad we are finally going to be starting our WKC Basic Survival Skills study, next week. Sure, it's important to know what to do if you get lost, and all that, but -- Hey-- let's get to the big stuff.

   Buddy's Uncle Joe and Aunt Betsy have agreed to supervise all of us kids (even the Warner sisters) on a camping trip next weekend, where we will have to do everything ourselves. Like we were lost in the wilderness. Talk about some serious practice. Which is why I am going to be practicing on my own every day after school this week, so I can be the best at everything. Hey-- I figure if you're Captain, you should be the best at everything.

   I sure hope that cold spell gets here tonight, so Mom will let me light a fire in the fireplace every day. Otherwise, I'm gonna have to think up some serious bedtime snacks I can't live without. Like s'mores. Mom's a softie when it comes to snacks. Heh, heh, heh...

   Keeping it real.
   W.K.

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Only For the Brave...

2010-10-08T15:41:00.003-05:00

   This is the one I've been waiting for. No kidding. How many books ever tell it like it is -- I mean, really is -- anymore? This is the real deal. Not to mention everything in it is true. Of course, I'm gonna read the other one, too. On account of I need all the help I can get with that woodcraft stuff.

   I mean, my backpack is bulging right now with important things I like to take on our expeditions. But -- hey -- what good is all that if you're like a person who only has feet (instead of hands) to work with? That's about how I felt when the chips were down on our Ant World Expedition and we had to bust out the first aid kit. The only reason we didn't have enough Band-aids to go around was because I fumbled it getting them out of my pack and dropped most of them in the water.

   So, I can see why Sir Robert talks so much about practicing. It's for those times when you don't have enough time to think. You just automatically do what you practiced most. And guess what you'll do if you never practice anything? Nothing, that's what. Zip. First little sign of trouble, you'll fumble. Maybe even freeze up totally. Ask me how I know. Not that we were in any life-and-death situation out there (who ever died of an ant bite?), but I'm just saying.

   I need to practice some things, that's what I'm saying.

   That's why our whole patrol is gonna meet at the Outpost on Saturday for some drills. Which I -- as Captain -- will be more than ready to head up. On account of I'm gonna read exactly how we're supposed to do it all on Friday night. Heh, heh, heh... So, I am way glad I found that book. Oh, and about that little red warning that says it's for brave hearts only? Well, I'm gonna read it anyway. By myself, of course. Under the covers with a flashlight, in case I can't handle it.

   Hey-- whatever it takes.
   W.K.

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I Decide to Get Serious...

2010-10-07T20:54:00.002-05:00

   OK. So, we've all heard it a million times. To get really good at something you gotta be willing to put some serious time into it. Truthfully? I haven't put serious time into much of anything. Ever. Except school. Which doesn't count because you don't get a choice with that.

   But I can't get this wilderness thing off my mind. I'm always thinking about it. And now that we have one of the best wilderness experts of all time as a Mystery Guest, I can't wait to try some of that stuff out. Seriously. There might have been a lot of changes in the world since he's been a kid, but you know what? We still have the same wilderness places. Hey-- the wilderness doesn't change. Not like everything else does. It's been the same for thousands of years. So, I figure the secrets to it haven't changed, either.

   That's why, if Sir Robert is still willing to let us in on them, I am way gonna figure out how to master some of that stuff. I have to. On account of-- as Captain -- I have my whole patrol depending on me to know what I'm talking about. OK, so it's only half a patrol. But it's a start. Now, I'm off to show them some woodcraft tricks.

   As soon as I spend some serious time with Sir Robert.

   Seriously.
   W.K.

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I'm Onto It...

2010-10-06T17:58:00.002-05:00

OK. I think I stumbled onto something way important about survival. That is, a lot more depends on who you are than what you do. Because if you don't have what it takes to survive in the first place, the rest doesn't matter. Which I was way bummed about, at first, because-- well, sheesh -- what if I don't have what it takes?

Then something Sir Robert said today in the second part of our interview over at WKC, made me feel a whole lot better. You can get that way by practicing. No kidding. That's what he said. Course, I don't think Mom would let me do half the stuff he got to do when he was a kid (she's the "that was then, this is now!" kind of person) but he said there's other ways you can do it. Which is great for somebody like me, who gets sort of nervous in those situations. Especially around boats. But only when they rock. Hey-- I'm being honest.

But maybe you should read it yourself.
W.K.

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My Famous Interview...

2010-10-05T17:37:00.002-05:00

   No kidding -- I could get famous just standing next to this guy! I mean, he's probably one of the best wilderness experts of all time. And get this -- I get to ask him any questions I want. So, you can bet I'm gonna find out everything I can from him.

   Then I'm gonna tell it all back to my patrol, and they're gonna think I am way cool. Heh, heh, heh... Unless they head over to WKC and listen in. Hey -- no running!

   I'm outta here.
   W.K.

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Fired Up...

2010-10-04T17:28:00.002-05:00

   WE WON THE PRIZE! Can you believe it? It was slow-going for a while (some of those clues were hard!) but we put our heads together (more heads are always better than one) and turned in our winning guess just before the deadline. OK, so one of the sisters actually guessed it. But whew! We really needed that FIRE BOOK. I hope some of you other Wilderness Protectors got one, too. If not, it will be available at the end of this week over at WKC.

   Like I say, you can't just take off into the wilderness without knowing some things, and building a decent fire is about the most basic skill there is. Because light, warmth, and cooking pretty much covers everything a person needs out there. Well, almost. Which is why Buddy's Uncle Joe agreed to take our whole patrol over to the fire pits at the picnic area and let us practice, this weekend. Hey -- you can't go lighting a bunch of fires in your piece of the wilderness unless it's in a campground somewhere and it's allowed. Which ours isn't and it's not. But there's lots of places to practice fire-building. Even in your own fireplace or barbecue at home (if your parents will let you).

   Anyway, we've got a lot coming up now that we know who the Mystery Guest is, but you'll have to head on over to WKC to find out. Heh, heh, heh...

I'll race you.
   W.K.

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Fighting the Monster...

2010-10-01T17:23:00.002-05:00

OK. This is how I beat the attack of the fear monster. There we were -- Buddy and me -- sitting up in that tree all by ourselves in the pitch dark, waiting for some animal to come to the drinking spot below. I was not too scared at that point, because we were safe up in the tree. But then we heard a noise. And it sounded big. Way big.

First, I thought it could maybe be a bear, and that thought made me feel like somebody was trying to choke me all of a sudden. But then I remembered there hasn't been a bear sighting in our city for over a hundred years. Not even in this neighborhood park on the fringes of town. We didn't have any wolves or lions, either. After that, I calmed down a little. Then, I realized the crickets were still making a noise (and even a few frogs), so whatever animal it was, it couldn't be too dangerous.

Then Buddy whispered, "Turn the light on, Dub!" (He always calls me that. It's short for W.)

Which I was just about to do when I fumbled getting the clip off my belt and dropped it. KERPLUNK! Right in the water. Then we both went sort of ballistic. How could we get back to the Outpost in the dark? Should we sit up in this tree until Uncle Joe came back? What if something weird bit us? I think maybe we even hollered.

That's when we noticed there were no more frog sounds. Even the crickets were quiet. We were making so much noise we scared everything off. I mean-- it was just like Uncle Joe said -- even the bugs were afraid of us. And that's when it happened. I lost my fear. I mean, it was gone. Zip. Totally.

So, we jumped down from the tree and fished out the flashlight. On account of that creek is only two feet at its deepest spot, anyway. And the flashlight was waterproof. Then we climbed back up and finished what we came there to do. And I'm telling you, it felt pretty darn good, too. Oh -- and get this -- I was never afraid of the dark anywhere else anymore, either. Not even open closets. How cool is that?

Have a great weekend, and don't forget to practice some survival stuff!

W.K.

Back to WKC

Into the Night...

2010-09-30T17:51:00.004-05:00

To get back to the story on how I ditched my fear of the dark, Buddy's Uncle Joe said to only bring what we could carry in our pockets or on our belts. NO BACKPACKS. Man -- I don't like to go anywhere without my backpack. I've got all my survival stuff in there. But -- hey-- we were going with a real Wilderness Expert, so we went with it. We ended up taking our emergency fire starter, a pocket-knife, our map (stuffed inside Buddy's shirt), and a flashlight clipped onto my belt.

But here's the weird thing. The day before we were supposed to go, we had to bury the clothes we were gonna wear on the night expedition in the dirt overnight. Can you believe it? We also couldn't use any soap or shampoo in the shower before we went, either. On account of animals can smell that perfumed stuff a mile away. That's why we all smelled like dirt when we met up at the observation post the next day. We didn't look so good, either. But -- like I say -- after a while, it was too dark to notice, anyway.

The first thing we did was tromp down to the creek, pick out a tree that hung over it about ten feet, and climbed up there. At least, Buddy and I did. Uncle Joe searched around below until he found some animal tracks leading down to the water. He said it was a major drinking spot, and all we had to do was wait around until we heard noises down there, click on our light, and we'd see whatever animal it was. Then he told us to keep quiet (or nobody would come around), don't waste our batteries (or we wouldn't have any way to see anything once somebody did come around). After that, he told us to meet him back at the Observation Post in two hours.

Two hours in the dark by ourselves? If I hadn't been so worried about getting called a chicken, I would have hollered, "No way!" right then. To tell you the truth, I wish I had. Because he hadn't been gone ten minutes before something way scary happened. Like I dropped my flashlight in the water. Which is how I ran head-on into PANIC ATTACK #1.

But I'll have to tell you about that tomorrow. Right now, I gotta head on over to WKC and make my last Mystery Guest contest entry. I really think I know who it is, this time. Heh, heh, heh...

Later,
W.K.

Back to WKC

A Confession...

2010-09-29T16:34:00.002-05:00

   Yesterday, I said I was gonna tell how I ditched my fear of the dark. Since I'm trying to be be a man of my word (hey-- as Captain of our patrol, I've had to make some changes in my personality, or nobody would respect me), I guess I'll have to do it. So, here goes. It happened on our first night patrol, when Buddy and I were still the only members.

   We had documented all the wildlife that lived in our area, but we had no idea what sort of creatures came out at night. So, we figured we better do a night patrol. First off, Mom said, "No." She wasn't gonna let us go tromping around in the woods after dark, and that was that. Mom never changes her mind. And since you can't pick your mother, I just have to live with it. Anyway, we thought of setting up a camera with a motion-sensor, instead... but we didn't have one, so, that was out.

   Then Buddy's uncle agreed to go with us. Which made Mom agree, on account of he was an adult and that changed things. I'll say it did. And I'll say something else, too. Up until then, what we had been doing in the wilderness would mostly have to come under the category of playing. Sad but true. Because the truth is, we didn't know what we were doing out there. And we sure didn't know what we were getting into when we decided to do a night patrol with Uncle Joe.

      We should have known something was up when he gave us a list of things to bring. Then he started handing out rules. Some really strange ones. I mean, if Mom would have heard some of those, she'd have said, "No," all over, again. Only she didn't have a clue. Neither did we, or we wouldn't have taken off with more excitement than leaving for summer camp.

   It was not like summer camp. But you'll have to come back tomorrow if you want to hear the rest, on account of tomorrow is the LAST DAY OF THE MYSTERY GUEST CONTEST over at WKC, and I have a little more research to do tonight before I make my last guess. Gotta make sure I win a copy of that FIRE BOOK for my field journal. Heh, heh, heh...

Later,
W.K.

Back to WKC...

This is Important...

2010-09-28T18:01:00.002-05:00

Now, we are really getting down to some business. Because -- as a Wilderness Protector -- you absolutely have to know how to get yourself in and out of places. Without scaring yourself. Seriously, if Buddy and I hadn't known a few basic things when we first started all this, we never would have had the courage to claim a piece of wilderness for our very own.

Look at all the adventures we would have missed! Look at all the cool -- and I mean way cool -- people we never would have met! Not to mention I'm not afraid of the dark, anymore. But that's another story. Right now, I have to remind all you Wilderness Protectors out there to get your whole patrol over to WKC and read What To Do If You Get Lost. You might be way glad you did.

I know I was.
W.K.

PS... OK, so come back tomorrow, and I'll tell how I ditched my fear of the dark...

Change of Pace...

2010-09-24T18:03:00.003-05:00

OK. So, I made a deal with the staff over at WKC to slow down a little bit. That's on account of we need way more time to try out some of the stuff we're learning over there. They said, all right -- under one condition. Our patrol has to share some of the expedition gear we made ourselves, so other kids could make some of their own stuff, too. Like the map case Buddy made for our map of the wilderness.

The cool thing is, it's waterproof. It had to be. Because we tromp around out here even when it's raining, and we're always making important changes to that thing. Like adding where all the ant colonies are. We actually had to re-draw it a couple times because it was always getting soaked. Until Buddy came up with that brilliant map case, that is. So, he's gonna share how he put it together sometime next week.

Meanwhile, we're practicing some of those "360 stops" they talked about on the WKC Feature, yesterday, so we can improve our landmark navigation. We're downloading a couple copies of the WKC Big 10 for the girls, too. On account of the only thing they've been bringing in their backpacks is snacks and film equipment.

Which did not help out the other day when we needed way more band-aids than Buddy and I brought along.

Like I say, we need some changes around here.

Have a great weekend!
W.K.

I Give My First Order...

2010-09-23T17:01:00.002-05:00

OK. Now we are getting down to what really matters in the wilderness. Like How NOT to Get Lost... which is today's feature over at WKC. I wish I had known this stuff last year, when Buddy and I were wandering all over the place trying to find our way out of here. Before we got familiar with our territory, I mean. It definitely would have saved me having to do so many chores when I was late for dinner all those times.

Which is why I've decided to make it a priority for our whole patrol to get in on all the survival features in this series. Even C. and S., who keep saying they're way too busy editing the Ant World documentary. So, I guess I'm gonna have to insist. On account of I'm the Captain around here, and I get to do that. Heh, heh, heh...

Don't you miss it, either.
W.K.

The Need to Survive...

2010-09-22T17:20:00.002-05:00

Hey-- our experience, yesterday, made us realize something. We need way more information on tromping around in the wilderness. Even in our little piece of it. That's why I am really glad they are starting the new feature series on SURVIVAL IN THE WILDERNESS over at Wilderness Kids Club, tomorrow.

I had fun finding out all that cool stuff about ants, all right. In fact, I seriously think THE NATURE CHANNEL would like the video footage we got, yesterday. That is, if we could take out all the screaming and hollering (C. and S. are working on that, now). And Hey-- did you get a look at that amazing ant city video? I'm just glad we didn't stumble into one of those on our expedition! Sheesh.

You can bet I won't be missing, tomorrow's survival feature. On account of I want to survive long enough to win a Mystery Guest Contest prize. I bet I'm the only one who can figure it out. Heh, heh, heh...

Later,
W.K.

Run for your lives...

2010-09-21T17:36:00.002-05:00

With all the planning we do before an expedition, I don't know why we keep getting caught off guard. But that's what happened to us, yesterday. It was bad enough having to tromp through a sticker patch to follow the ant trail, but we don't have any wimps in our patrol, and even the girls did it. The trouble happened when we decided to pick up that rotten log over the top of the ant hill so we could see better.

   We saw better, all right. Man-- we saw better than TV. Ants running all over the place to save their kids (OK, they were still just eggs -- but you wouldn't believe how they all worked together to carry them away safe somewhere). It was way amazing, and C. and S. were getting it all on film. I mean, we were really into it. Only just about the time I was figuring this was gonna be so good The Nature Channel would probably want it...

   The ants attacked! And I'm not just talking a bite, or two, here. I'm telling you -- they had to be mobilized like a regular army, or something. Because they sneaked up onto our feet and legs by the hundreds before we even realized it, then bit us all at the same time. No kidding. They must have been soldier ants. Probably had to go through some kind of training to learn that stuff.

    Anyway, we hauled off to the creek to get rid of them (more stickers, but we didn't even feel it till later). Had to go in up to our knees before we finally got everything under control, again. It's a good thing I had the first aid kit in my backpack, so we could take care of all those scratches and bites. Which -- being the Captain -- I felt pretty good that I was prepared for all that.

   I'm not way proud about how much I hollered, though. But I'll tell you something. The next time we go busting into some ant city, again...

   I'm gonna keep my eyes on the soldiers instead of the babies.
   W.K.

PS... I think maybe Buddy hollered even louder than me. He said next time he goes in, it'll be with armor. Hey-- I wonder if they know anything about ant armor over at Wilderness Kids club...

Headed for Disaster...

2010-09-20T12:43:00.002-05:00

   When the call came that we had an ant sighting in our piece of the wilderness ( I gotta admit it was the girls that saw them first, because they were out practicing with the camera) -- we were all ready. I grabbed my backpack, Buddy stashed the map in his back pocket, and we were on it.

   There were thousands of them! Swarming all over that piece of granola bar (Buddy's bait plan worked), with a long line of even more ants disappearing into the grass. So, we headed out to find their city. Buddy and I went first because C. and S. were moving a lot slower so they could get some action footage of everything that was going on.

   The ant city wasn't too far away. Only a couple hundred feet, actually. Except it was smack in the middle of a sticker patch (I wonder if they did that on purpose?). And under a rotten log. We couldn't really see much except a bunch of ants coming and going. Some were carrying things -- but, hey -- we really wanted to see the door, and maybe catch a look at some of the carpenters at work. So, we decided to move the log.

   Big mistake. I mean, REALLY big mistake. But I'll have to tell you about that tomorrow, because we're trying to set up a first aid station here...

   Sheesh.
   W.K.

P.S.... Maybe you better just head back to Wilderness Kids Club...

Oooops...

2010-09-18T13:36:00.002-05:00

   Hey -- I forgot to mention something really important about how we do things over at WKC this year. WEEKENDS ARE FREE. That means we have all of Saturday to get outside and go on expeditions for ourselves and stuff. Which I think is way cool, because I can get over to the Observation Post earlier (after I do my chores).

   Sundays are off, too, because most people have family things going on then. So, I'll see you back at WKC on Monday. I'll finish telling about our Ant World Expedition, then, too. Because we're headed out on that right now. Buddy's plan worked, and we are off to find the city of ants. C. and S. said we'll actually be able to see them better on the video they take...

   But I'll believe that when I see it.

   See you Monday!
   W.K.

The Importance of Everybody...

2010-09-17T16:30:00.002-05:00

OK. Here's what we decided. Everybody on this patrol will have a certain job to do, and that way we won't all be trying to make the same decisions. I'm the Captain. Hey-- that doesn't mean I push everybody around. It just means I'm responsible for communicating with WKC (headquarters), keeping the rest of the patrol updated on the latest information I bring back, and making sure the important stuff gets into our backpacks before each expedition.

Buddy is our Wilderness Guide. On account of he's the best at hiking in and out of the woods, and getting us out of the kind of fixes that always seem to pop up out there. Besides that, his Uncle has the old Indian Scout book we get a lot of tracking tips from.

C. and S. are the Film Crew. They really know their stuff, and having video documentation is way important to scientific research these days. Not to mention they're the only ones with a camera. They're also in charge of keeping the outpost organized -- but, hey -- Buddy and I weren't doing any of that stuff, anyway.

That's how it happened that we were all working away at our own jobs (instead of arguing) up in the outpost -- Buddy was making some notations on our Wilderness Map, I was checking the batteries in our flashlights, and the sisters were practicing close-ups on the granola bar Buddy tossed out the window-- when we heard the holler. "We got ants!"

Then the real excitement started. But I'll have to tell you about it tomorrow, because it's my turn on the watch, right now.

Back later.

W.K.

P.S... If I hadn't known what to look for after reading part 3 of the WKC Ant feature, today, I wouldn't have been able to figure out what we were looking at down there. Which makes me way glad I didn't miss that one. Now that I'm Captain and everybody is depending on me to know this stuff.

The Best "Ant-ser"

2010-09-16T15:10:00.002-05:00

   Even though we only have half a patrol so far, we're organizing our first expedition. Calling it the Ant World Expedition. Not that I care that much (Buddy and I never named any of our expeditions before) but C. and S. are insisting on it. Long as we get out there and do it, is what I say.

   There's been a lot of changes around here since the girls joined up (especially on the observation post). Which doesn't matter to me that much, either (not yet, it doesn't). Because it's all stuff I never really thought about. The important thing is to document the ants out here in our piece of the wilderness. Right?

   So, then we had this big discussion on how to find them. I mean, in ant terms, this place is bigger than the moon. Heavily wooded, too. So, they could be anywhere. Could take hours to find some. I said we just have to slog around in the brush -- even crawl around in the dirt if we have to -- until we find a trail of them going somewhere. Ants are always going somewhere. Like, let's get to it, already.

   That's when Buddy (who hadn't said much of anything, so far) tossed his half-ate granola bar over the rail -- our observation post is about fifteen feet up in a tree -- and piped in with, "I say we let them come to us and then follow them home."

   Is that guy brilliant, or what?

   I'll let you know how it goes.
   W.K.

P.S. ...And if you think ants are boring, head on over to the Wilderness Kids Club Magazine and read Part 2 of The Ant Boy. Oh, yeah, and don't forget to enter the Mystery Guest Contest, if you think you know who he is, now.

Wilderness Kids Club is back!

2010-09-15T14:34:00.004-05:00

With more things to do in the wilderness than ever before. There's probably a few things I should let you in on before we get started. Like the new links (check them out as soon as you finish reading this). Each one has something you can take into your own piece of the wilderness every day. No kidding. But it's sort of like dinner. People can fix it for you (thanks, Mom!) only nobody can eat it for you. Have to do that by yourself.

    We are way about doing things for yourself around here. Mostly because of what happens to your brain when you do that. It wakes up! Nothing feels as good as a wide-awake brain. Did you know you can train your brain to wake up on demand? Comes in real handy when you have to get yourself out of a fix. Or help someone else to get out of one. Which is all part of being a Wilderness Protector.

    Hey, I never said it was easy. Which is why we're gonna get help from some of the best experts in the field. Real survivors who are willing to let us in on how they survived. I don't know about you, but surviving has been on my mind a lot, lately. Probably from walking through the living room too many times when my parents are listening to the news. Anyway, I am seriously into practicing my survival skills.

    If you are, too, stick around.
    W.K.

P.S.... Looking for the Mystery Guest clues? They're over at the Wilderness Kids Club Magazine. Because the contest is officially open, now. Just click on the Mystery Guest link at the top of the home page, and you'll find out how to enter. I'm gonna enter it, myself. Because I really, REALLY want that prize. Heh, heh, heh...

Before we take off...

2010-09-14T08:52:00.002-05:00

ONE MORE DAY AND WE'RE ON! Tomorrow is the actual day Wilderness Kids Club Magazine will go live, and I hope you like all the changes. I know I sure do. OK, so I like being the center of attention -- but who doesn't?

And by the way, if I knew how much fun it was to share my piece of the wilderness with a Wilderness Kids Club patrol, I would have got with that a lot sooner. Which is why the very first thing I'm zeroing in on, next week, is how to join up and start your own patrol. Seriously.

   But in the meantime, here's the last clue I'll be giving out for the Mystery Guest contest. Listen up, because you could win it with this one...

   He has a nickname. It's B-P. Just like that. At one time, it was so well-known that he published one of his books using just that nickname.

   There, how's that?

   See you tomorrow.
   W.K.

This is the week...

2010-09-13T10:38:00.002-05:00

TWO DAYS TO GO... and Wednesday the Wilderness Kids Club Magazine will return with something new every day. Not to mention I get to start sharing my latest adventures right here in my journal.

   Our Mystery Guest Contest will officially kick off, too, and you'll be able to enter by following the Mystery Guest link from the WKC home page. Feel free to scroll back through all the clues I posted here in the journal every day (they're in red), to give all my special friends a head start. Hey -- Wilderness Protectors have to stick together. On account of it's the only way we'll ever get this big of a job done.

   So, today's clue is...

   Our Mystery Guest has about 300 MILLION followers around the world. So, even though he's not THE most famous person in the world anymore, that's still not too shabby. Heck, I'm having a hard enough time trying to get four more kids just to fill out my patrol. So, you can bet I'm gonna be paying some really close attention to how this guy does things.

I'll let you know how that goes.
W.K.

Our first recruits...

2010-09-12T12:47:00.002-05:00

   THREE DAYS TO GO, and we have officially doubled the size of our patrol. Almost by accident, really. See, we get a lot of company around here on Sundays, or I never would have met them. The Warner sisters. C and S. Don't ask me what that stands for because they won't tell us. They just caught our interest on account of they were wearing identical shirts (but they're not twins) that said, C.S. Warner Film Studio on them.

      Turns out they do wildlife documentaries (and they're just kids!). So, we figured we better recruit them. Because we really need people like that on our patrol. Which just goes to show you how much you DON'T know about the people in your neighborhood. But more about all that, later. Right now, let's just say our Wilderness Kids Club patrol is growing before it even gets started. Seriously.

   Which I am way happy about.
    W.K.

P.S. ... And the Mystery Guest clue for today is... He has camped out in almost every country of the world -- and written about it. He wrote lots of books. Mostly for kids. Pretty cool, huh?

Getting ready...

2010-09-11T11:54:00.002-05:00

   Day four on the countdown... and it's Saturday! I love Saturdays. Mostly because I can have the whole day to myself if I feel like it (if my chores are done). Today Buddy and I have a lot of work to do getting the observation post ready for the new patrol.

   Yep, you guessed it. We're going to start a patrol in our own piece of the wilderness. Because -- hey -- like I said, we can't do it all by ourselves, and protecting the wilderness is a really big deal, now. And kids can do a lot more than you think. Than adults think, even. But I don't go around bragging about things like that, on account of it's way easier to prove your point just by doing it. Then nobody can argue with you. Heh, heh, heh...

   Gotta go. Buddy's waiting for me.
   W.K.

P.S. Oh, yeah... the Mystery Guest clue for today is: He's an expert on camping and outdoor stuff. Which is the whole reason he got invited to be a Mystery Guest over at Wilderness Kids Club in the first place.

Look at this...

2010-09-10T16:18:00.004-05:00

    Day five and counting! Why am I excited? Because the real stuff starts after September 15th, when the Wilderness Kids Club Magazine goes live, again. For one thing, I get to tell all my adventures, here on the journal, and --man-- have Buddy and I been having some good ones. We have way more to share with other wilderness protectors now that we've had more experience. Hey, you can get a lot of experience in one summer, believe me.

   The Mystery Guest clue for today is the picture. OK, so it's an old one. Taken from the time when he was a hero. Did I mention he was a true-life hero? Well, he was. I'll get some more recent ones posted next week, when the contest officially begins.

   Meanwhile, this should keep you thinking.

   See you tomorrow!

   W.K.

Best Clue Yet...

2010-09-09T03:32:00.010-05:00

Countdown -- DAY SIX. Now, we are really getting close and I better get serious with these Mystery Guest clues. I'm looking for winners, here. Today, I'm going to tell something that hardly anyone knows about him. But it will really help the ones who are hot on the trail. Ready? Here we go...

Our Mystery Guest did some time as a spy. Can you believe that? He most often worked undercover as a butterfly collector and encoded important information in the drawings of butterfly wings. How cool is that? He even wrote a book about it.

   OK, that one ought to hit the jackpot for somebody out there. Especially if you're up on your research skills. But if you're still stumped, don't worry about it. Tomorrow, I'm actually going to post part of a photo.

    If the sponsors over at Wilderness Kids Club will let me, that is.

    Better cross your fingers...
    W.K.

The Next Clue...

2010-09-08T00:03:00.000-05:00

Day seven on the countdown until Wilderness kids Club goes live, again, and I'm pretty excited about it. I've got my own journal page, now, and Buddy and I -- hey, you remember Buddy, don't you? Well, if you're new around here, he's my best friend. The one that helped me stake out a piece of the wilderness to personally protect.

Then we decided to do it together because it's more fun to have company. After that, we thought we should start a club to let other kids pitch in. That is, if they were brave enough to stake out a wilderness piece of their own. Because things happen out there. Really.

Like the time Buddy's uncle helped us set up a camp so we could do some night tracking. Only something happened when we -- oh, yeah -- I'm not allowed to tell any of our adventures until after we get started. Right now, I'm just supposed to do the countdown every day and give out clues about the Mystery Guest.

Hey, I almost forgot the clue. OK. So, here it is...

The Mystery Guest was born in England, and became an expert tracker. I mean, so expert he got famous for it. Really famous.

Sheesh, I hope that doesn't give it away.

See you tomorrow,

W.K.

The Big Mystery...

2010-09-07T00:57:00.002-05:00

   Countdown day eight. If you've stopped by the Wilderness Kids Club lately, you've probably noticed we've got some new links. That's because we've had a lot of kids write in about finding out some things, so we're trying to make that happen. Anyway, one of my favorites is the Mystery Guest Contest.

   I'll be giving out a clue about the Mystery Guest every day until October 1, and anyone can try their luck at a guess in the box on the Mystery Guest page (after September 15, that is). The prize will be announced then, too. But in the meantime, I'm going to give some clues out right here, so my journal readers can get a head start. On account of I like sharing what I know with my friends.

   Ready? Here's the first clue...

This man was once the most famous person in the world, and was welcome in almost every country.

   Hey, that ought to at least keep you thinking until tomorrow!

   See you then.
   W. K.

This is it...

2010-09-06T00:17:00.000-05:00

The real thing. Nine days from now the new Wilderness Kids Club will go live, and we're opening it up for more members. In fact, the whole world, because there's wilderness in every country on the globe. Not only that, but we've got letters from kids everywhere who are willing to pitch in and help. How cool is that? Way cool. So, stay tuned. Because this is where you'll hear about it first.

Like the Mystery Guest Contest I'm going to talk about tomorrow, so don't forget to stop by. Hey, maybe you better bookmark this page, or something, so you don't forget. Did I say there's going to be prizes? There's going to be prizes for everyone who guesses right. Don't worry, I'll be giving out clues. Heh, heh, heh...

Later,
W.K.