Outdoors Just for Kids

Mark Henckel

Mark Henckel is the Outdoors Editor of The Billings Gazette. A native of Wisconsin, he joined the Gazette staff in 1972 and has been covering outdoor news and issues in Montana and Wyoming ever since. He has also written numerous magazine articles on the outdoors, authored more than dozen books for adults and children and can be heard weekly on the Montana Outdoor Radio Show.

John Potter

Artist John Potter began his art and illustration career at the age of 10, selling his first illustration to the United Way for use as a fundraising poster.

After receiving his bachelors degree in illustration from Utah State University, John went on to work for The Billings Gazette in 1981, enjoying a long and successful career as the newspaper's sole editorial artist, producing graphics, illustrations and political cartoons - and eventually, a popular illustrated humor column - for nearly 20 years.

John made the jump from illustrator to fine artist in 2001, and now makes his living at the easel, in his pajamas, painting the landscape and wildlife subjects that he loves, in oils. See his work at johnpotterstudio.com

John and his wife divide the year between homes in Vermont and Montana - and he still illustrates The Gazette's "Just For Kids" feature - because it doesn't require him to get out of his pajamas.

Jeff the Nature Guy

Jeff Ewelt has been within the animal field for over 10 years. He obtained his degree at The Ohio State University in Environmental Communication and Interpretation and began his career volunteering at an Ohio wildlife rehab center and selling hot dogs at a concession stand within the Columbus Zoo. Soon after graduating, he became the Animal Ambassador Manager at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo in Florida and now directs the Beartooth Nature Center in Red Lodge Montana.

To date, Jeff has reached nearly 300,000 people through his off grounds animal programs, over 1 million zoo guests on grounds, and nearly 10 million people through his numerous media appearences. Over the years, Jeff and his animal collection have been featured on programs such as Late Night with Conan 'O Brien and ABC's Extreme Home Makeover. Find out what Jeff is up to at beartoothnaturecenter.org