"A dream deferred… dries up like a raisin in the sun." -- American poet Langston Hughes

 Two years ago, when my son Ben bagged his first white-winged dove at the age of 9, I felt confident that this would be the first in a virtually endless succession of rewarding outdoor adventures he would experience in his promising young life. That confidence was grounded in a conviction most parents take for granted, i.e. the blessing of their child's continued good health.

 Unfortunately, there are thousands of American families who share our love of the outdoors, but who can't share the assumption of robust health. They're families with a child suffering from a terminal illness or a wrenching disability that, tragically, will rob them of their lives before they reach adulthood. Like Ben, these kids harbor a passion for outdoor adventure; but - unlike Ben - their dreams may never be fulfilled.

 Fulfilling those dreams has become the mission of the United Special Sportsmen Alliance, a grassroots, all-volunteer organization based in Pittsville, Wisconsin. Through the USSA's "Outdoor Adventures" program and its team of volunteers (of which I'm a proud member), the Alliance has already placed hundreds of deserving youngsters on dream hunting and fishing trips. This year, we're determined to arrange 600 of these very special expeditions, and we're counting on people like you - my fellow Backwoods Bound readers - to help us reach this lofty goal.

 Essentially, your help can come in any of four ways:

 * If you know of a seriously ill or disabled child who dreams of a hunting or fishing trip of a lifetime, please have their parents or legal guardians contact us, and we will do everything we possibly can to fulfill the child's wish.

 * If you own a shooting preserve, hunting or fishing lodge, and would like to donate a trip to one of the children on our national waiting list, please contact us with available dates, species and requirements. From there, we will work hard match appropriate children to your donation, based on their desires and physical limitations.

 * If you have any gently-used hunting or angling gear collecting dust in the attic (or if you know of a tackle/gear manufacturer or retailer willing to open their heart to these needy kids), please consider donating your equipment to the USSA. Many or our children come from homes whose financial resources are all but completely drained by medical bills, ongoing treatments and therapy, and these small gifts - a rod & reel, a hunting vest - even a simple fishing patch for their jacket - often become treasured mementos.

 * If you would simply like to show your support by making a small financial contribution, annual USSA memberships start at just $25, and you can enroll online at www.ChildsWish.com. Contributions are tax-deductible, and because no one on the USSA staff accepts financial compensation of any kind, 100% of your gift goes directly toward helping children in need.

 There is, of course, a special sense of urgency here. You see, for these children, there is little time left to defer their dreams…dreams that can come true with the help of your kindness and compassion. Eric Badofsky

 The United Special Sportsmen Alliance is an all-volunteer, non-profit 501(C)(3) charity headquartered at 7864 Shotwell Road, Pittsville, WI 54466. For more information, or to make a donation, call (847) 676-8424, or log onto www.ChildsWish.com.

 Spring is here and it is time to uncover the boat and get it ready for the water. A couple of months ago we ran an article on getting your boat ready. This month we go over that vital and often overlooked piece of equipment .... the boat trailer.

 * We'll start from the bottom with one of the most important, if not the most important part on your trailer, the tires. Check them for excessive weather cracking and cupping. Measure the tread depth. A good rule of thumb is to replace the tires when the tread measures 5/32". Use the old penny test. Insert a penny into the thread with Honest Abe's head down in the thread. If you can see the top of his head, the thread is too worn. Replace the tire. Make sure the tires are aired up to the manufacturer's specifications on the side of the tire. Remember that ambient temperature is directly related to the pressure. In other words, when it is 40 degrees outside the tires will have less pressure in them than they did last summer when the temperature is 80 degrees. Don't forget to check the spare. You may never need it, but when you do you'll want it in top shape. Remember, don't take a chance with bad or worn out tires. The risk isn't worth it.

 * Repack the wheel bearings. Remove the tires and hubs, pull off the old grease seals, then clean and repack the bearings. A water resistant marine grease is best to use. Get it at your local boat dealer. Install new seals. Never reuse the old seals. The $10 - $15 dollars spent on new seals is well worth it. Many boat trailers use "Bearing Buddies" on the axles. You still need to clean and repack the bearings. The grease you pump into those hubs has to go somewhere. The result, a blown grease seal and then a seized bearing. It is no fun trying to find parts on a weekend afternoon and making repairs on the side of a busy highway. This is time repacking the bearing is time well spent.

 * While the tires and hubs are off, check the brake system if your trailer has one. Repair or replace any broken or worn out parts.

 * When reinstalling the tires be sure and torque the lug nuts to the manufacturer's specifications. Most are torqued between 105 to 115 foot pounds, but check to be sure. Most of the newer wheels have the recommended torque settings stamped onto them. Re-torque the lug nuts after you have pulled the trailer 50 miles to make sure they are still tight.

 * Now to that thing that attaches the trailer to your truck, the coupler. Check all of the components. Does it operate smoothly? Lube as needed. Does it lock tight down on the ball? If you have an extra hitch ball, insert it into the coupler and lock it. Try and pull the ball out of the locked coupler. If you can pull it out, either rebuild or replace the coupler. Check the welds or bolts that attach the coupler to the frame. Repair if necessary. This may sound stupid, but make sure you use the correct size hitch ball. They come in three sizes, 1 7/8 inches, 2 inches and 2 5/16 inches. Most boat trailers use a 2 inch size with some of the older ones and smaller ones using a 1 7/8 inch size.

 * While you're at the front of the trailer, check the winch, the strap and of course the hook that attaches to the boat. While you're at it, check the rear tie-downs as well. Repair or replace as needed.

 * Check the lighting to make sure the turn signals and clearance lights all work. This may be difficult if the trailer's still in storage and you don't have access to the vehicle battery. Here is a handy way to check the electrical system. Get the female end that matches your plug, strip the loose wire ends bare, then use a 12-volt battery charger as a power source to power the lights. Now you can trace down and fix problems with the electrical system. Also, replace all cracked lens and blown bulbs. Carry extra bulbs with you.

 * Lastly, look the trailer over front to back. check for cracked welds and loose bolts. Crawl under it on a mechanics creeper and check it over good. Make any necessary repairs.

 Follow this check list and you can save yourself a big headache this fishing season. The important thing to remember is fixing small problems before they turn into big problems that can ruin a fishing trip. As my Grandma always said, "An ounce of prevention goes a long way." Have safe and enjoyable fishing season.