Hint, Hint...

   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...

   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...

   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...

   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...

     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...

   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...

    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...

     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.

   Back to WKC

All Alone (almost)...

       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...

   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...

   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...

   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...

   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...

   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...

   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...

   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...

   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...

     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...

   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...

   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...

    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...

   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)...

   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...

   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...

   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...

   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...

   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...

   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...

      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...

   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...

   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...

   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...

   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...

   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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