Outdoor Wisconsin | Program | #3103 - Featuring Jeff Robl
(Transcript)
WISCONSIN'S WINTER SPORTS SEASON IS IN FULL SWING, AND IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, JEFF KELM TAKES US ICE FISHING FOR WALLEYES ON THE TURTLE-FLAMBEAU FLOWAGE NEAR MERCER. THEN DEB WOLNIAK GOES SNOWTUBING AT SUNBURST WINTER SPORTS PARK. AND I'LL VISIT A MENOMONEE FALLS SCHOOL WHERE KIDS AND TEACHERS ARE INTO HANDS-ON LEARNING IN AN OUTDOOR CLASSROOM. YOU CAN DO A LOT OF LEARNING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT HERE TOO AT THE MAYWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL PARK IN SHEBOYGAN. I'M DAN SMALL, AND IT'S TIME ONCE AGAIN FOR "OUTDOOR WISCONSIN." SUMMER TO FALL, WINTER TO SPRING FROM GREEN BAY TO WHERE THE ST. CROIX SINGS FROM KETTLE MORAINE TO SUPERIOR'S SHORE OUTDOOR WISCONSIN OUTDOOR WISCONSIN COME TO THIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN MENOMONEE FALLS AND COME AROUND THE CORNER AND THERE'S JOHN MCGIVERN. HOW ARE YOU? WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? I'M DIGGING IN THE DIRT WITH THE FIRST GRADERS AND I'LL SEE WHAT THE SECOND GRADERS ARE DOING WITH THEIR READING. I'M DOING A PROJECT WITH THESE KIDS. THEY'RE GOOD KIDS, AREN'T THEY? THEY SURE ARE. LET'S CHECK IT OUT. WE ACTUALLY HAVE THREE GARDENS IN ALL, THE FRONT IS THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN, WHICH IS THE ONE THAT HAS THE MOST COLOR THAT WE LOVE TO HAVE PEOPLE SEE WHEN THEY DRIVE UP TO MARCY, ON THE SIDE, WE HAVE A RAIN GARDEN AREA, MORE PATHS, THAT THE KIDS WILL USE MORE WHEN THEY ARE GOING OUTSIDE, WRITING, READING, MORE OF A QUIET SPACE TO BE AND IN THE BACK, WE HAVE VEGETABLE GARDENS. WHY DON'T WE TAKE A SEAT RIGHT HERE ON THE GRASS. WE PLANT THIS TIME OF YEAR, THEY'LL HAVE FAMILIES COME IN, DO SOME WEEDING DURING THE SUMMER AND HARVEST IN THE FALL. SO TELL ME ABOUT THE TEACHER IN THE GRANT, HOW DID IT GET STARTED? SIX YEARS AGO, A THIRD GRADE TEACHER, PUT IN THIS GRANT BECAUSE AT THE TIME, THEIR THIRD GRADE CURRICULUM COVERED PLANTS. LOOK AT THE ROOTS. LOOK AT THAT COMING OUT OF THE BOTTOM. SO SHE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO GET THE KIDS OUT HERE DOING THINGS HANDS ON, SO SHE APPLIED FOR AN EDUCATIONAL GRANT, RECEIVED IT AND WERE ABLE TO GET IT GOING. GREEN SCHOOLS MOVEMENT, IS THAT WHY YOU'RE DOING IT? IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT. WE STARTED WITH THE GARDENS, VEGETABLES GARDENS AND PTO VOLUNTEERS, WE LOOKED AT THE GREEN SCHOOLS INITIATIVE, WHICH WAS GOING THROUGH CHECKLISTS TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WE WERE DOING WAS GOOD FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT AND THEY WERE THINGS THAT WERE SUSTAINABLE OVER TIME, SO WE ARE CONSIDERED A GREEN SCHOOL, SO OUR GARDENS ENHANCE THAT PART OF BEING A GREEN SCHOOL. YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE COOL THING? WE GET TO PLANT THIS NEWSPAPER AND THEN IT'S GOING TO DISAPPEAR INTO THE SOIL AND THEN WE'RE NOT WASTING ANYTHING. IS MARCY UNIQUE IN DOING IT KIND OF PROJECT? THEY'RE A BIG GO-GREEN HE INITIATIVE WITH A LOT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND EACH SCHOOL TAKES IT TO THEIR OWN LEVEL AND WE HAPPEN TO HAVE SOME TEACHERS THAT ARE REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT GETTING THESE BIGGER PROJECTS GOING, SO NOW YOU WANT TO TAKE YOUR SHOVEL AND YOU WANT TO DIG A HOLE. AND WHAT WAS NEAT ABOUT THAT PROCESS IS THE KIDS WERE ALL INTERVIEWED. IT WAS A WHOLE SCHOOL PROJECT, AND WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE GARDENS, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO HEAR IN THE GARDENS, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO FEEL IN THE GARDENS, AND THE GARDENS WERE DESIGNED BY THE KIDS WITH TONS OF HELP AND DONATIONS FROM COMMUNITY BUSINESSES. WHAT'S ALL THIS STUFF? THAT'S THE ROOTS? YEAH. SO SHALL WE PUT IT RIGHT IN THERE? OK. NOW WHAT? SO I THINK WE DEFINITELY GONE A LITTLE ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT SOME SCHOOLS MAY HAVE, BUT I THINK THE EXCITING PART IS THESE GARDENS ARE USED EVERY DAY. MY CLASSROOM IS RIGHT OUTSIDE THIS PARTICULAR GARDEN AND THERE'S CONSTANTLY CLASSES COMING OUT HERE, WHETHER IT'S TO READ, WHETHER IT'S TO LOOK AT SOIL SAMPLES, WHETHER IT'S TO DIG FOR WORMS, BUT MANY MANY PEOPLE USE THE GARDENS. ANOTHER GARDEN AT MARCY ELEMENTARY IS THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN AND I THINK KATHY MILLER'S SECOND GRADE CLASS IS DOING READING HERE. WHY ARE YOU READING OUTSIDE? WELL, IT'S FUN TO READ, AND IN THE SUN, AND -- AND THE FRESH AIR. DID YOU HAVE A HAND IN PLANTING THIS GARDEN OR DOING ANYTHING HERE? WELL, WE MADE THOSE -- WE MADE ONE OF THOSE BUTTERFLIES. OH, OK. WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THIS GARDEN? I LIKE ALL THE FLOWERS AND BUTTERFLIES AND THE BIRD FEEDERS. DO YOU SEE BIRDS COME TO THE FEEDERS SOMETIMES? Y. A LOT. WHAT KIND OF BIRDS. WELL, ROBINS AND ALL SORTS OF BIRDS. DO YOU SEE ANY BEARS HERE? NO. NO. NO BEARS? NO WAY. HOW COME? BECAUSE IT'S WISCONSIN. OH, THERE'S A LOT OF BEARS, BUT THEY LIVE UP NORTH. UH-HUH. AND THEY USUALLY COME OUT AT NIGHT. YEAH, THEY DO. JUST LOOSEN THE SOIL UP, JUST DIG AROUND, LOOSEN IT UP. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO PLANT HERE? BEANS. YOU HAVE BEANS. EACH YEAR WE ADD SOMETHING ELSE. WE ADDED A PUMPKIN PATCH IT YEAR AND AS THE KIDS SHOW INTEREST IN DIFFERENT THINGS, WE JUST ROLL WITH IT AND HELP IT HAPPEN. NOW I SEE SOME OF THE BIRCH TREES HAVE PAINTED ROCKS AROUND THEM. WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT? LAST YEAR, WE HAD SEEN AN IDEA THAT EACH KID SHOULD CREATE SOMETHING SO THAT THEY FEEL LIKE OWNERSHIP AND A PART OF THE GARDENS, SO WE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR THEM TO EACH PAINT A ROCK, THEY CAN CHOOSE ANY DESIGN OR PICTURE OR THEY COULD JUST DO ABSTRACT ART, AND EACH FIRST GRADER LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR GOT A ROCK, WE PAINTED IT, AND THEN WE SEALED IT UP. WE KIND OF DO IT DURING THE EARTH DAY TIME OF THE YEAR, SO WE CAN SAY LET'S REUSE THINGS AND THE KIDS PUT THEM OUT HERE AND THE IDEA IS THAT LATER IN THEIR SCHOOLING, THEY CAN STILL STEP OUT OF THE GARDENS AND SEE THE ROCKS THAT THEY MADE. HOPEFULLY IT'S STILL HERE AND LOOKING GOOD. WHAT HAVE YOU GOT THERE? YOU HAVE A TOMATO, RIGHT? ARE YOU GOING TO WATER THAT? YOU MADE A SIGN FOR IT TOO. WHAT DO YOU HOPE KIDS WHO ENJOY THESE GARDENS, WHAT DO YOU HOPE THEY TAKE FROM THIS? FOR US, IT STARTED AS A CURRICULUM PIECE BUT REALLY AT THIS POINT HAS EVOLVED INTO STEWARDSHIP. WE WANT THE KIDS TO DEVELOP AN APPRECIATION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, FOR THE AREAS AROUND THEM AND FOR KEEPING OUR WORLD BEAUTIFUL, SO NOW WHEN THE KIDS COME OUTSIDE, WE WANT THEM TO HAVE THE APPRECIATION AND CARRY IT ON FOR OTHER GENERATIONS. YOU CAN SEE PEPPERS ON THERE, THAT LITTLE GREEN PEPPER. THAT WILL TAKE A FEW WEEKS FOR THAT TO BE BIG ENOUGH TO EAT. THE KIDS GET TO DO ALL THE WORK NOW AN WE ENCOURAGE THEM IN THE FALL TO COME BACK WITH THE SECOND GRADE CLASSES AND CHECK IT OUT. DURING THE SUMMERS, THERE'S A SIGN UP FOR THE FAMILIES TO VOLUNTEER, AND THEY COME OUT AND THEY LEAVE THE GARDENS, THEY GET TO PICK AND TAKE ANY OF THE FRUIT OR VEGETABLES HOME WITH THEM AND JUST MAINTAIN THE GARDENS AND WATER THEM. SOME OF THE KIDS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GARDEN AT HOME, SOME OF THEM DO NOT, SO IT'S NICE THAT EVERYONE IS GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT HERE AND GET THEIR HANDS IN THE DIRT. YOU KNOW, WE CAN SHOW THEM PICTURES, WE CAN HAVE PAPERS THAT SHOW THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE PLANT, BUT FOR THEM TO COME OUT HERE AND TO LOOK AT IT AND KNEEL IT AND TOUCH IT, IT JUST MAKES IT REALLY REAL FOR THEM. WE'LL JUST REEF THAT -- LEAVE THAT WITH THE DIRT AROUND IT. LET'S GET THEM IN THE HOLE FIRST. KIDS LOVE THIS. WHEN THEY GET THEM OUTSIDE, THEY'RE INTERACTING WITH THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND MAKES US HAPPY AND THE KIDS ARE SMILING AND THEY ENJOY WHAT THEY'RE DOING. 200. YOU KNEW THAT. SO NOW 200, DO YOUR SWOOP. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING IN THE GARDEN? I THINK JUST WATCHING THE BIRDS AND THE FLOWERS. I LIKE THE BIRDS AND THE FLOWERS AND THE BUTTERFLIES AND THE TREES GROW. I LIKE EVERYTHING. I AGREE WITH EVA. OK, GREAT. NO BEARS THOUGH. NO BEARS. TODAY'S KNOW WISCONSIN HAS TO DO WITH SOMETHING GROWING IN MARATHON COUNTY. DID YOU KNOW THAT WISCONSIN IS THE LEADING PRODUCER OF GINSENG IN THE U.S. THE FOUR FROMME BROTHERS FROM HAMBURG WISCONSIN TRANSPLANTED 100 WILD GINSENG PLANTS ON TO THEIR FARM. TODAY, WILD AMERICAN GINSENG IS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES. BUT WITH THE PERSEVERANCE BY THE FROMME BROTHERS AS WELL AS THE FAVORABLE CLIMATE AND FERTILE SOIL HAVE MADE MARATHON COUNTY THE GINSENG CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. EXPERTS SAY ADD GINSENG TO YOUR DIET OR DRINK GINSENG TEA AND YOU CAN LOWER YOUR BLOOD SUGAR, CHOLESTEROL, NOT TO MENTION IMPROVED STRENGTH AND PROMOTE RELAXATION. NOW YOU KNOW A BIT MORE ABOUT WISCONSIN. WISCONSIN'S ICE FISHING SEASON GOT OFF TO AN EARLY START THIS WINTER, THANKS TO SOME COLD WEATHER BACK IN NOVEMBER. LAST WINTER, JEFF KELM TRAVELED TO MERCER TO SAMPLE A VARIETY OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. LET'S JOIN JEFF AS HE TAKES US ICE FISHING FOR WALLEYES ON THE TURTLE-FLAMBEAU FLOWAGE. THE TURTLE-FLAMBEAU FLOWAGE IS A WILDERNESS FISHING PAIR LOCATED RIGHT HERE IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, POSITIONED NEAR MERCER IN IRON COUNTY, YOU'LL FIND OVER 14,000 KAISER-PERMANENTE PHARMACISTS -- OVER 14,000 ACRES OF WATER. THIS WALLEYE FISHING PARADISE HAS QUICKLY BECOME A FAVORITE PLACE OF MINE, BUT I HAVE YET TO VISIT IT IN MY FAVORITE SEASON, WHICH IS WINTER, SO I MADE PLANS WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE MERCER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND GRABBED A FRIEND OF MINE, A PROFESSIONAL FISHERMAN, AND WE MADE OUR WAY TO THE FLAMBEAU FLOWAGE TO MEET GUIDE JEFF FOR A DAY OF FISHING THAT ENDED UP BEING A TRIP I WON'T STAND FORGET. -- WON'T SOON FORGET. JEFF, HOW ARE YOU DOING? GOOD TO SEE YOU. ABSOLUTELY. GUYS, THIS IS OUR FISHING GUIDE FOR THE DAY, WE HAVE JEFF FROM BOBBER DOWN GUIDE SERVICE. JEFF KELM. JEFF, TO MEET YOU. WE'RE FISHING FOR WALLEYES ON THE TURTLE-FLAMBEAU FLOWAGE. YOU'LL SHOW US HOW IT'S DONE TODAY. THE FISHING HAS BEEN PRETTY GOOD THIS SEASON, A LOT OF SNOW, NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT HERE, THE TRAVEL CONDITIONS ARE TOUGH. ALL RIGHT. LET'S GET OURSELVES SET UP, GETS LINE LINES IN THE WATER AND DO SOME FISHING TODAY. SOUNDS GOOD. DO YOU WANT TO RACE? THERE WE GO. NICE. FIRST WALLEYE. CAN'T COMPLAIN WITH THAT. NOW THIS IS A PERFECT EATER SIZE. THIS IS THE TYPICAL SIZE YOU CATCH HERE IN THE WINTER TIME ON THE TURTLE-FLAMBEAU FLOWAGE? THEY RANGE 14 TO 18 INCHES. A LOT OF TIMES ICE FISHING YOU GET NICER FISHING AT 16-18-INCH RANGE AND IF THEY'RE BIGGER THAN 18, I LIKE TO RELEASE THEM, BUT THAT'S A NICE SIZE TO KEEP FOR THE FRYING PAN. EXCELLENT. PERFECT LITTLE ONES. DIDN'T TAKE VERY LONG. LET'S GET THIS FISH OFF AND RESET EVERYTHING AND KEEP GOING. TRY THIS ONE. ARE YOU ON THERE, JEFF? THERE'S SOMETHING ON THERE. HE'S STILL THERE, HE'S STILL THERE. YEAH, THERE WE GO! THERE WE GO! HE SWAM TOWARDS US. HE DID. LIKE THE SIZE OF THE ONE THAT AARON GOT EARLIER. THAT'S A NICE EATING-SIZE FISH. NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BAG LIMIT. PERFECT FOR THE FRYING PAN. WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE TURTLE-FLAMBEAU FLOWAGE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO CATCH THESE FISH RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE TODAY? THE WATER STAINS, AND IN ICE FISHING, THEY DON'T ALWAYS BITE DURING THE DAY, SOMETIMES THAT LAST HOUR IS WHEN THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY TURN ON. THEY'RE PRETTY -- THEY GET PRETTY SLOW IN THE WINTER, LETHARGIC, BUT DURING THE SUMMER THE FISHING IS PRETTY GOOD ESPECIALLY DAYS WHEN THERE'S A CHOP ON THE WATER, WE'RE CATCHING FISH IN THREE OR FOUR FEET OF WATER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, SO IT'S A NICE BODY OF WATER IN THAT REGARD. CARRYING OVER TO THE WINTERTIME TODAY. I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT. ANOTHER ONE FOR THE FRYING PAN. WE'LL GET YOU SET BACK UP, CATCH SOME MORE FISH. OK. WELL PERSONALLY, MY FAVORITE THING IS FISHING. I CONSIDER ANY DAY ON THE WATER A GOOD DAY, WHETHER WE'RE CATCHING OR NOT. OF COURSE, IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD THING TO BE CATCHING REALLY NICE FISH. I'M BIG INTO THE PAN FISHING. NORTHERN FISHING. THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOME TYPE OF ACTION TAKING PLACE. I FISH WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM ILLINOIS, AND THEY GET OUT HERE AND START TYING IN THE SMALLMOUTHS AND THEY CAN'T UNDERSTAND ALL THE HOOPLA ABOUT THE WALLEYE FISHING WHEN THERE'S SUCH GOOD SMALLMOUTH FISHING OUT HERE. THERE'S PRETTY MUCH THE WHOLE GAMUT OF GAME FISHING IN THE TURTLE-FLAMBEAU. AND LATE SEPTEMBER THROUGH OCTOBER, THE WALLEYE FISHING IS REALLY GOOD OUT HERE. YOU GET NUMBERS OF FISH, THERE'S A LOT OF DAYS WE CATCH 50 WALLEYES. WELL, HERE WE GO AGAIN, TINA. GOOD FOR ANOTHER SHOT. GIVE IT A JERK. SET THE HOOK. THERE YOU GO. GOT HIM. ALL RIGHT. WE GOT ONE ON. WE DO. OH, ALL RIGHT. A LITTLE NORTHERN. THERE WE GO. MULTISPECIES TODAY. IT'S NOT A BIG PIKE. IT'S NOT A TROPHY PIKE HERE, BUT JEFF, PEOPLE WILL PICKLE THESE FISH, RIGHT? YEAH. THIS IS ACTUALLY A SIZE I LIKE TO USE FOR PICKLING. AND TO DO THAT, YOU JUST FILLET RIGHT THROUGH ALL THE BONES AND TAKE THE SKIN OFF, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO REMOVE ANY BONES, AND THEN THE PICKLING PROCESS DISSOLVES THE BONES AND IF YOU LIKE PICKLED HERRING OR SMELT, PICKLED NORTHERN I THINK ARE BETTER, THEY'RE REALLY GOOD. NOW RUMOR IS, TINA, THAT YOU MAKE THE BEST PICKLED NORTHERN IN THE NORTHWOODS. SO NOW YOUR TASK HERE I THINK IS TO TAKE THIS ONE HOME AND MAKE SURE THAT I GET A JAR OF PICKLED NORTHERN. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A DEAL. WE'LL PUT THAT TOGETHER. ACTUALLY, PICKLED NORTHERN, IT'S JUST -- IT'S A WHITEFISH, SO IT'S REALLY MEATY. YEP. IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE. IT'S SPERM MEAT TOO. IT'S REALLY GOOD. ON THE EDGE RIGHT THERE. WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR DEPTH? TEN FOOT. I FIGURED IT WAS A GOAT STARTING POINT. JEFF, GUYS! I CAME OUT HERE TRYING TO FIND A COUPLE OF CRAPPIES, FIRST DROP AND I POPPED A BIG SMALLIE. THAT'S AWESOME, DUDE. AND YOU KNOW, THAT SHOWS THE DIVERSITY HERE ON THE FLOWAGE. ABSOLUTELY. YOU CAN GET THESE WALLEYES, THE NORTHERN, SMALLMOUTH, THIS IS A SMALLMOUTH HAVEN. IT IS AWESOME. THAT IS JUST A BEAUTIFUL FISH. IT WAS 30 SECONDS IN THE HOLE, CAME UP AND JUST POUNDED THE SPOON. [LAUGHTER] THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL FISH. PRETTY COLORS, THEY'RE A REAL DARK FISH OUT HIRE FROM THE STAINED WATER. THAT'S PRETTY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FISH YOU CATCH IN THE SUMMER, A LOT OF SMALLMOUTH OUT HERE. WELL, LET'S GET IT BACK IN THE WATER. LOVE RELEASING THESE NICE BIG SMALLMOUTH. ALL RIGHT. THERE YOU GO. VERY GOOD. ANOTHER FLAG HERE. OH, IT'S A GOOD FISH TOO. IT'S A GOOD FISH. A NICE WALLEYE. NICE WALLEYE. THERE WE GO. THERE WE GO. THERE WE GO. NOW WE'RE TALKING. THAT'S A NICE, REALLY NICE FISH. NICE THICK FISH. YEP. ABOUT A 17-INCHER. YEAH. NICE. BIG, YOU CAN FEEL IT, ON THE END. DEFINITELY KNEEL IT. THIS IS A -- FEEL IT. THIS IS A NICE FILLET, 17, 18-INCH, IT'S A MEAL FOR TWO. IT'S A GOOD-SIZED FISH, BUT YET, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT 19, 20-INCHERS, THE FAT ONES WITH A LOT OF EGGS IN, LIKE TO RELEASE THOSE, BUT THAT'S A DECENT SIZE FISH TO KEEP. FOR SURE. WE'LL TAKE THIS ONE HOME WITH US. WE'LL GET THIS ONE OFF THE HOOK AND RE-BAIT THE LINE. WITH FISH TO CLEAN WE DEPART THIS DAY WITH MEMORIES THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME. WHETHER IT'S BECAUSE OF THE FISHING ACTION OR THE GREAT TIME SPENT WITH FRIENDS LIKE TINA AND AARON, I KNOW I'LL BE LOOKING FORD TO MY NEXT TRIP TO MERCER AND THE TURTLE-FLAMBEAU FLOWAGE. YOU MIGHT HAVE NOTICED THAT JEFF HAD ONE OF THESE ITEMS STRAPPED TO HIS ATV. THIS IS A NEBULUS FLOTATION DEVICE. IF YOUR ATV OR SNOWMOBILE BREAKS THROUGH THE ICE, YOU CAN PULL THIS YELLOW HANDLE AND TWO CO2 CARTRIDGES WILL INFLATE THE NEBULUS TO A 4X6 RESCUE UNIT IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS. WHEN INFLATED, IT WILL KEEP AN ATV OR SNOWMOBILE AND TWO PASSENGERS AFLOAT UNTIL HELP ARRIVES. IF YOU GO OUT ON THE ICE WITH AN ATV OR SNOWMOBILE, THE NEBULUS CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE. WE'LL POST MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEB SITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE. NOT ALL WINTER SPORTS INVOLVE AS MUCH RISK AS ICE FISHING. SNOWTUBING, ESPECIALLY ON A HILL GROOMED FOR IT, IS A RELATIVELY SAFE ACTIVITY. LET'S JOIN DEB WOLNIAK AS SHE GOES SNOWTUBING AT SUNBURST WINTER SPORTS PARK NEAR KEWASKUM. THEY HAVE A RECORD NUMBER OF TUBING RUNS. THERE IS SKIING, SNOW BOARDING AND TUBING, BUT THE BIGGEST NEWS THAT WE HAVE IS THAT WE ARE THE LARGEST TUBING PARK IN NORTH AMERICA. WE TOOK OVER SUNBURST ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND FEEL REALLY LUCKY AND PRIVILEGED TO BE INVOLVED IN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. WE NOTICE THAT TUBING WAS VERY POPULAR. THE FORMER OWNERS COMMITTED TO IT, ABOUT A DECADE AGO AND IT WAS A GREAT TUBING PARK, AT MAXIMUM, 20 LANES. WE EXPANDED IT, NEARLY TRIPLED, WE HAVE 42 LANES. THEY'RE A QUARTER MILE LONG AND THERE'S A 100-FOOT DROP. HOW DID THIS PARK COME TO BE? WHAT KIND OF CONSTRUCTION DID IT TAKE TO MAKE THIS PLACE? IT TOOK A LOT OF MOVING OF EARTH, BUT WE WORK WITH JUST THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND VERY IMPORTANT TO US TO HAVE GREAT CONDITIONS. YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR SKIING AND SNOW BOARDING AND TUBING, WE WANT TO PROVIDE A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR CUSTOMERS AND THAT TO US BOILS DOWN TO A FRIENDLY EXPERIENCE, BUT ON THE SNOW, ARE THEY GETTING A GOOD PRODUCT, THEY NEED TO GET A GOOD PRODUCT AND WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROVIDE THAT. AND YOU HAVE A SCHOOL GROUP OUT HERE TODAY, DON'T YOU? OUR SCIENCE OF TUBING PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED YEARS AGO, AND IT TAKES SCIENCE OUT OF THE CLASSROOM AND ON TO THE SLOPES IN A PLACE WHERE KIDS LOVE TO BE. WE GET THE KIDS OFF THE BUS, WE GIVE THEM OUR SPEECH ABOUT SAFETY, FUN AND LEARNING HERE AT SUNBURST, WE GET THEM SET UP WITH THE EQUIPMENT THAT'S PROVIDED BY US, THEY START WITH WEIGHING THEMSELVES FOR THE MASKED ZONE AND GO OUTSIDE AND USE THE SPRING SCALES AND THEY WILL START WITH THE FRICTION ZONE. THEY USE THE SPRING SCALES TO GET THE FRICTION, ONE CHILD WILL PULL THE OTHER CHILD. THEY'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ZONE ON THE HILL, WHERE THEY WILL DO ACCELERATION. AND THEN THEY DO THE AVERAGE SPEED WHERE THEY USE THE TIMERS AND THE FLAGS TO TEST THEIR ACCELERATION AND THEN FIND THE ANGLE OF THE HILL AS WELL. SO MANY OF THE KIDS JUST LOVE IT, THEY ENJOY IT AND THEY SAY THEY GET SO MUCH OUT OF IT, BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING FUN FOR THEM TO DO, OTHERWISE THEY'RE NOT JUST SITTING AND LISTENING TO IT. THAT WAS FUN! YOU HEAR THEM LAUGHING AND GIGGLING AND THEY'RE. COMING DOWN AND ASKING SO MANY GREAT QUESTIONS ABOUT KINETICS, ABOUT MOTION, ABOUT FRICTION AND MATH. ALL THESE LESSONS ARE REALLY GOOD TO SEE IN ACTION AND MOTION OUT OF THE CLASSROOM WHERE YOU CAN REALLY TOUCH AND FEEL SCIENCE. GO. SO IS A TUBING HILL REALLY FAST AND DO YOU HAVE A GOOD BASE? TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO TRAVEL UP TO 40 MILES PER HOUR. IT'S A QUARTER MILE LONG RUN, BUT WE HAVE FEET OF SPACE. THIS YEAR, WE HAVE MORE SNOW THAN EVER BEFORE HAS BEEN RECORDED AT SUNBURST. SO WE LIKE TO EMBRACE WINTER AROUND HERE, AND YOU KNOW, WE HOPE PEOPLE JUST COME OUT AND GIVE IT A TRY. ARE THE TUBES THEMSELVES PRETTY SAFE? SAFETY IS FIRST FOR US. WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, EVEN THOUGH FUN IS REALLY THE NAME OF THE GAME AROUND HERE, PEOPLE WANT TO COME OUT AND HAVE A GOOD TIME IN WINTER WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS. OUR JOB, OUR NUMBER ONE JOB IS TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND YOU WON'T BELIEVE HOW SERIOUS WE ARE ABOUT THAT. THAT MEANS THAT THE HANDLES ON THE TUBES ARE SECURE, THAT MEANS THE TUBE IS NEW AND IN GREAT CONDITION. THAT MEANS THAT THERE ARE LIFT OPERATORS WHO ARE SHOWING YOU THE WAY, HOW TO GET ON THE MAGIC CARAFATE CORRECTLY, DON'T SIT IN YOUR TUBE, YOU STAND, YOU STAND FIRM-FOOTED AND AT THE TOP, YOU'RE GREETED BY A LIFT OPERATOR WHO WILL SHOW YOU WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO AND IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A LANE THAT'S NOT QUITE AS FAST, THEY'LL GUIDE YOU THERE AND IF IT IS A FAST DAY, THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THREE TUBES ARE ALLOWED TO RUN THE GAMUT OF THE QUARTER MILE RUN AND SOMETIMES ONE, BECAUSE THEY'RE ALWAYS WATCHING. THEY WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFE. DOWN HERE AT THE BOTTOM ALSO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS WATCHING SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE COME ACROSS, OUR LIFT OPERATORS ARE ALWAYS WATCHING THAT AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE AREN'T STANDING IN THE LANES, AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL, SO WHEN WE TOOK OVER A YEAR AGO, WE SAID LET'S ADD A LITTLE BIT, SO THERE WILL BE FEWER LINES, MORE FUN FOR PEOPLE, AND IF YOU DON'T WANT TO HIKE UP TO THE TOP OF THE HILL, WE HAVE A MAGIC CARPET THAT JUST TAKES YOU UP, IT'S A FUN RIDE. WE TOOK OUR FIRST RIDE UP THE MAGIC CARPET RIDE. IT WAS FUN. I HAD THE BOYS PICK UP THEIR TOURS AND HOLD ON TO THEM -- TUBES AND HOLE ON TO THEM AND THERE'S NO GETTING TIRED BY WALKING UP AND DOWN THE HILLS. WE TOOK A RIDE UP AND TAKE A RIDE DOWN AND TURN AROUND AND GO BACK AND DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN AND THEY'RE GOING UP AND DOWN AS MANY TIMES AS THEY CAN POSSIBLY GO. SEE YOU LATER! I'LL MISS YOU. DEFINITELY PEOPLE HAVE THIS ON THEIR BUCKET LIST AND IT'S FUN. YOU CAN HEAR THE SCREAMS. PEOPLE HAVE A GOOD TIME. YOU KNOW WHETHER THEY'RE WITH A SCHOOL GROUP OR WHETHER THEY'RE WITH A BIRTHDAY PARTY OR JUST GOING OUT FOR THE EVENING WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY, IT'S JUST A GOOD FUN, WHOLESOME DAY. IT'S JUST PURE JOY. YOU FEEL LIKE A KID. OH. SO NICE. THAT LOOKS A LOT MORE FUN, AND A LOT SAFER, THAN SLIDING DOWNHILL ON A FLATTENED CARDBOARD BOX LIKE I DID WHEN I WAS A KID. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS WEEK'S FEATURES, VISIT WWW.MPTV.ORG AND CLICK ON OUTDOOR WISCONSIN. I'LL BE AT THE MILWAUKEE BOAT SHOW AGAIN THIS WEEKEND. THE SHOW RUNS THROUGH JANUARY 25 AT STATE FAIR PARK, SO STOP BY OUR BOOTH AND SAY HELLO AND LEARN ABOUT THIS YEAR'S RAFFLE PRIZE. I'LL ALSO BE AT THE WISCONSIN LAKE HOME AND CABIN SHOW AT THE ALLIANT ENERGY CENTER IN MADISON ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, SO COME ON OUT AND CATCH MY SEMINAR ON OUTDOOR FUN IN WISCONSIN. NEXT TIME, I'LL JOIN A GROUP OF YOUNGSTERS FOR A DEER HUNT AT MACKENZIE ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER NEAR POYNETTE AND TAKE YOU FISHING ON LAKE MICHIGAN WITH FISHING BUG CHARTERS OF RACINE AND TOM BENTLEY, THE HIGH BIDDER FOR THAT TRIP AT LAST YEAR'S "OUTDOOR WISCONSIN" BANQUET. AND EMMY FINK PLAYS A GAME OF FOOT GOLF IN MADISON. I'M DAN SMALL AT THE MAYWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL PARK IN SHEBOYGAN. JOIN US AGAIN NEXT WEEK FOR OUTDOOR WISCONSIN. MOVE MOVE FLASH OF A WHITE-TAIL MOVIN' THROUGH THE PINE THE LONG VOWEL OF THE OWL IN THE EVENING LOON ON THE LAKE, A MUSKIE ON THE LINE OUTDOOR WISCONSIN FREE YOURSELF LIKE AN EAGLE IN THE AIR FEED YOURSELF LIKE A BEAR IN THE BLACKBERRY LIKE A HAWK, PERCH AND STARE OUTDOOR WISCONSIN WHEN THE WORKIN' LIFE IS WAY TOO MUCH WHEN YOU'RE IN TOO DEEP AND WAY OUT OF TOUCH LACE UP YOUR BOOTS, GET OUT OF TOWN TAKE A WALK IN THE WILD OR SIT DOWN AND LISTEN LISTEN TO THE SOUNDS OF THE CRITTERS OF THE NIGHT TO THE WIND IN THE LEAVES AND THE LITTLE RIVER RUN COYOTE BROTHER HOWLIN' IN FULL MOONLIGHT OUTDOOR WISCONSIN HIKE, FISH, HUNT, CAMP, SAIL, CANOE SKI, PHOTOGRAPH, LAUGH, DO WHAT YOU WANT TO STICK YOUR NOSE WHERE THE WILD ROSE GROWS OUTDOOR WISCONSIN OUTDOOR WISCONSIN
