Highland Lakes - Skate parks are growing in popularity, but some kids are more at risk than others. While its arguable that the skater kids are possibly the most “at-risk youth” segment of kids today, one local group has big plans for them. CAMPUS, or Civic And Ministry Professionals United for Students, has begun a Skateboard Drive. Donations of new or used skateboards and parts are now being collected. And, why? In order to reach them, CAMPUS hopes to equip them.

Some of the team’s own members have had injuries that were due in large part to older skateboards or boards with faulty parts. Sometimes the wheels are old or have bad bearings or trucks that wind up creating spills on the pavement. Still other kids have no idea how to care for their skateboard, which we are also helping with. CAMPUS hopes to equip them with better boards, but this would not only benefit the team. They are planning a Skate-Mission.

Since the spring CAMPUS has been visiting Texas skateparks with its growing clientele of kids interested in action sports. In addition to skating, the CAMPUS X-Tour has made stops at several lakes for wakeboarding and has regularly frequented Texas beaches for surfing. The sky seems to be the limit when it comes to the number of
underprivileged kids that may benefit from the tour. CAMPUS plans to continue visiting skateparks in several cities, but not just for a skate demonstration.

The term “Skate Mission” was actually coined by one of the members of the CAMPUS X-Team. While on tour this past summer, the team stopped in Brenham, where the local kids surrounded them with inquiries about the team. Thirteen year old Chris Ammerman of Sunrise Beach, having witnessed a life-changing event of one of the Houston kids spiritually impacted by the CAMPUS leaders, told his younger admirers that his team was “On a skate mission.”

It was at that very moment that the little ‘X-Tour’ took on a whole new meaning. The team was realizing their impact on the kids they skated and surfed with during the Houston/Galveston leg of the tour. Even the excitement of having surfed the swells of Hurricane Dolly was surpassed by the spiritual impact they were having. Upon returning home from his time with the CAMPUS X-Tour, Ammerman and his other team members were more excited to talk of their spiritual impact. Now, the group plans on making a similar impression on as many skater kids as possible.

Cable television’s Speed Channel has a program entitled, “Drive.” On this program a pro skater visits skateparks throughout the world. Usually unannounced, upon his arrival at these parks he just jumps in and skates with the locals. But in the end, he also often gives skateboards to them. While Drive has major sponsors for the giveaways and the expenses, the CAMPUS “Skateboard Drive” plans to do the same with donations. Their tour will take on more of a local flair, however, as CAMPUS visits Austin and Central Texas area skateparks. Several local skaters will travel with them. Applications are being accepted for CAMPUS X-Team membership, which will be required for local skaters to travel or participate.

In the coming months the CAMPUS group will visit the skate parks in these cities: Austin, Lake Travis, Round Rock, Georgetown, Burnet, Temple, Killeen, Marble Falls, San Antonio. Other stops are possible upon invitations for such.

Donations of skateboards and parts OR monetary sponsorship donations can be made by contacting CAMPUS at events@campusoftexas.com or by visiting their website at www.campusoftexas.com .