Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office holds first female re-entry course
October 11, 2018
Get your tickets now to the Oyster & South Festival!
October 22, 2018
Kendall Nelle was as shocked as anyone when she pulled in the 18-inch largemouth bass flipping at the end of her line.
A spectator commented: “That’s very impressive on a cane pole. Most of what we’re catching is little pan fish.”
The 12-year-old angler smiled at the size of her prize fish but was happy to keep her distance with a polite “No, thank you” when asked by a nearby mentor if she’d like to hold it for photos.
The big catch was one highlight of a weekend of friendly competition, new skills and camaraderie for youth who attended the ninth annual Children Today Leaders Tomorrow (CTLT) STAR Leadership Camp earlier this month.
Other activities during the weekend camp, held at Triple R Ranch in southern Chesapeake, included campfire entertainment, rock climbing, laser tag, a dance competition and plenty of cooking out.
Thomas Cullen, at seventh-grader at Deep Creek Middle School, had much to say about those cookouts, enthusiastically reeling off a long list of his “favorite” camp eats. Cullen, in fact, is pretty enthusiastic about every aspect of the camp.
“This is my third year,” he said, grinning. “I’ve been on the Vipers for the third year straight.”
Team commitment runs deep among many campers. This year’s camp served 62 youth divided across eight teams. Their first mission upon arrival Friday night: Decorate their team’s cabin space to reflect a theme.
It’s fun with a larger purpose. “STAR” stands for Standing Tall, Always Reaching. It describes city sheriff and program founder Jim O’Sullivan’s hopes for every child that his volunteers serve.
“I grew up in a single-parent home and my mother worked full time,” Sullivan said. “Youth camps and athletics were vital. They gave me an outlet and introduced me to mentors and role models that helped me throughout my life. I want to offer our local children the same opportunities.”
Christopher Pascal, a captain in the Sheriff’s Office and the coordinator of this year’s STAR camp, explained that CTLT is a year-round program. Since this past fall, for example, youth and mentors have teamed to feed the homeless, tour the Chrysler Museum and assist elderly Chesapeake residents with yard work and minor home repairs. The youth are looking forward to football camp this summer, too, an event that has been popular every year.
“Get them outdoors,” Pascal said. “Away from video games.”
Pascal said whether the activity is one of service, learning or just fun, mentorship is key. CTLT volunteers are encouragers first. They check in with youth families regularly, expecting to hear reports that the kids are keeping their grades up and being respectful to their parents.
Pascal said mentors want to get the message across that being responsible pays off – and that’s where STAR Leadership Camp comes in.
“This is like the reward,” Pascal said.
Janelle Scott, public communications specialist for the sheriff’s department, said many of the deputies have special interests they are eager to share with kids, from being “a real grillmaster” to expertise in archery to a great magic act.
“The volunteers love it as much as the kids,” Scott said.
Though it’s still relatively young, the CTLT program is already growing its own volunteers, too. Youth who have aged out of the usual participant range of 10-14 can continue as junior mentors.
David LeBeauf Jr. is one of them. An honor roll student, violinist and regular volunteer with the ministries of Norfolk’s Calvary Revival Church, this Western Branch High sophomore makes it his business to stay involved with CTLT, too.
“Good weather, good activities,” LeBeauf summed up the 2018 STAR camp.
Participants and junior mentors don’t have to be rich kids to enjoy the program. Camp fees are among the community expenses paid for in full by the charitable organization that the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office runs.
“Our programs are based on three missions,” O’Sullivan explained: “To engage and empower our youth, to protect and serve our seniors, and to bring our seniors, children and law enforcement together to make Chesapeake a better place to live.”
AnnaLisa Michalski, aminquiry@yahoo.com
