Photo by: Jim Tatum/Journal Scene

Tim Smith, AKA  children’s author Buck Wilder, addresses a group of Summerville Elementary School students during a special visit Tuesday at the school.

Photo by: Jim Tatum/Journal Scene

Kindergartner Kayla Dales introduces author Tim Smith/Buck Wilder as Media Specialist Tammy Bertram looks on during the author’s visit Tuesday.

When it comes to Buck Wilder and his tall tales, it’s all about the imagination, says author Tim Smith.

Smith, the creator of the wildly popular children’s nature adventure series featuring outdoorsman Buck Wilder, says he wants to not only teach children about the wonders of nature, but give them encouragement to unlock their creativity – to let their imaginations go, well, Buck Wild, as it were. Unlock those imaginations, allow those minds to explore, and children can learn to be self-reliant, have faith in their abilities, and build self-esteem, he said.

Smith brought his message of creativity, curiosity, and self-esteem to area school children earlier this week, including stops at Summerville Elementary on Tuedsay and Knightsville Elementary on Thursday.

“I write under a pretend name with a pretend face,” he said. “It’s pretend because I need to use my imagination. Can you see this long face and bald head on a Buck Wilder book? No – I needed a character who looks and sounds rugged and outdoorsy.”

The point he makes, in his easy going, humorous, to-the-point manner, is that he, Tim Smith, is no one particularly special – he is like many other people, a husband, a father, literally the guy next door.

But with his imagination at work, his world changes.  And that imagination, running happily amok in a world that never ceases to bring wonder, joy, and amazement, is the driving force and persona of the beloved character, Buck Wilder and all his friends.

Smith wants kids – and adults – everywhere to look at the world in new ways. That’s the beauty of spending time outdoors and getting to know nature, he said.

“I love to put on my fishing hat – I hope every one of you can have a fishing hat in your life,” he said. “I love to go fishing – and here’s the thing: fishing is not just about catching fish.”

When he is out fishing, he has a chance to see new things, to observe the world as it is, to appreciate the beauty and wonder that is our world, he said. In fact, that is one of the main reasons he started writing the Buck Wilder adventures, he said.

“I’ve been all over the country – the statistics are alarming,” he said. “So many kids don’t get outside very much. They’re watching TV or playing video games. They aren’t active.”

This not only serves to stagnate the imagination but it contributes to other problems, like obesity, he said.

To get out and experience nature – even something as simple as watching ants on a sidewalk or watching birds in the backyard, is to open a window on entire new worlds, he said.

“Ants are awesome,” he said. “Did you know they can communicate with each other with their antennae better than people can communicate with computers?”

Smith’s stories come from simple observations of the world outside. It takes him more than a year to write one of his books, because he puts so much time and care into it. And everything he does, he says, starts with a single sheet of paper and a pencil – which brings him to his next point.

That is, don’t be afraid to try new things or make mistakes, he said.

Each one of his ten Buck Wilder books are examples of all this, he said. His stories are written around the edges of pages that are whimsically illustrated by his drawings. He hides characters and personalities on every page and in every illustration.

“I’ve been even known to write backwards,” he said. “You have to pick them up, turn them sideways, even upside down. That’s what makes them different.”

Being different is not a bad thing, he says. For one, that’s one of the qualities that make Buck Wilder books unique.

“Look at this,” he said, showing the group a pencil. “I’m a little different. Most people might look at this and say, ‘wow, great pencil.’ But I look at it and say, ‘wow, great eraser.’”

The reason? Well, that’s yet another one of Buck Wilder’s – and Smith’s -- mantras.

“Erasers are on the end of pencils because everybody makes mistakes,” he said. “But that’s ok – you make a mistake, you can fix it. Don’t be afraid to make a mistake.”

Journalscene.com ® is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Journalscene.com ® does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not Journalscene.com ®. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.

Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by reading our terms and conditions, and then signing up below!

• Santee Cooper announces 2012 refunding bond sale
• Santee Cooper announces organizational changes in operation and finance departments
• Santee Cooper employees pitch in on Day of Caring
• Aerial herbicide treatment on lakes under way
• Santee Cooper Board Authorizes Rate Study
• Santee Cooper announces refunding bond sale
• Santee Cooper, Florida Municipal Power Agency enter into letter of intent for share of planned V.C. Summer Station units
• Santee Cooper, Duke Energy Carolinas enter into letter of intent for share of planned V.C. Summer Station units 2 and 3