Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of serving as a fishing instructor at the Virginia Beach edition of Raise Em Outdoors (REO) camp at LZ Grace Warrior Retreat. These 1-2 day outdoor camps put on by my friend Erin Crooks, who runs the 501(c)(3) organization. Prior to hosting one here in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Erin hosted camps in Oregon and Austin, TX.
In addition to being a fishing instructor, I decided to put my photographer’s hat on and take some pictures of the kids at the camp. We mentored 25-30 kids aged 5-12, many of whom were first-time anglers. Below are some pictures of our camp attendees, who were kids of active military servicemen:
Here’s what REO is always looking for to outfit their camps:
Raise ‘Em Outdoors is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Contributions are tax deductible in accordance with IRS rules and regulations.
REO is accepting donations year round. We are aiming for a few big give aways through out the holidays and spring time. If we get any specific gear requests during any other time of the year, we will try to fulfill each request! Donations are being accepted at all times for new and gently used outdoor gear. Below is a list of what we accept:
- Shooting sports gear
- Bows
- Targets
- Fishing rods (fly, spinning, bait caster, etc.)
- Reels
- Fishing tackle (all kinds accepted)
- Waders, nets, polarized sunglasses, gloves, pliers, anything fishing related
- Hunting clothing (camo clothing for all weather, ages 3/4 – 18)
- Knives
- Game calls
- Binoculars
- Face paint
- Headlamps/Flashlights
- GPS
- Books
- Any and all gear that relates to shooting sports, fishing, and hunting is accepted.
To learn more about REO, go here and donate to them. Follow REO on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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