Radford City Sheriff Mark Armentrout says he can’t wait for next summer and the return of the Life Skills Camp he and his department hosted for more than 100 kids in August.
Armentrout addressed the Radford City Council Monday evening to announce the camp will make an annual return to the city and said the first outing was a great example of the community coming together for a fun and educational event for kids.
“We couldn’t have done this without the businesses and our volunteers,” said Armentrout. “We had over 100 campers, 40 volunteers, and $7,000 in prizes donated. It was great to see the kids excited about what we were doing.”
The camp included learning everything from archery to car repair, law enforcement scenarios, fishing skills, camping and hiking; hand tool use, and general automobile care and knowledge, safe fire practices, campfire building and extinguishing, traffic stop simulation, 911 and dispatch and law enforcement scenarios, and running a course similar to the one law enforcement agencies use.
The camp was free and open to all children in Radford.
“Our goal is to expose our youth to real-life situations and help develop skills that will prove invaluable as they grow,” the sheriff’s office said in a written statement about the camp. “Giving Radford’s youth access to life situations and activities they typically may not run into in day-to-day life is our focus.”
Armentrout publicly thanked all sponsors of the camp:: Mullins Funeral Home, Sal’s, First NRV Credit Union, Dean’s Body Shop, Knock and Hook, Snap-on Tools, Tangent Outfitters, Harvey’s Chevrolet, Sams Brothers Builders, Kollmorgen, Aaron’s, Anthony Blackburn’s Taxidermy and Archery, Wal-Mart, Advance Auto, Keller Williams NRV, Rural King, State Farm Insurance, Lowe’s Food City, Food Lion, Southwest Outdoor Power Equipment, Patrick and Angela Moore, Sherwin-Williams, JES Towing, Radford Welding, the Radford City Police Department, Radford Fire and EMS, Hunters Helping Kids, the Department of Wildlife Resources, Radventures on the New, the Radford Recreation Department, Eleven West, Radford Drug, and Audiotronics ND Sign Systems.
