Camp Jabez teaches kids using horses

by Daniel McCoy

Xenia, OH–About five miles south of Xenia is a day camp called Camp Jabez. Seemingly in the middle of nowhere, Camp Jabez uses the open country to help out kids who don’t fair well in a classroom setting by training them in various tasks including farm management and landscaping.

Soon after the camp opened, Dean Piovesan, an experienced rider from Minnesota, was asked to take charge of the project. Because the camp had been vacant for two years, it was a healthy undertaking. Piovesan now lives on the grounds with his wife and two kids, and calls the job a “dream come true.”

Last October, Greene County approached the camp with an idea for using it as a place for alternative education. The board accepted the idea and Piovesan began preparing the camp and the subsequent programs.

The alternative education program is for kids who have behavioral problems or learning disabilities. The surrounding district principals recommend those who show potential for learning better in non-traditional environments and have expressed interest in horses and outdoor training. The kids spend half of the day at Greene County Academy, where they get their traditional education. The other half of the day is spent in either the equine management or outdoor education program. Outdoor education includes farm management, maintenance, landscaping, and construction. The equine management program teaches them to ride and care for horses.

This past January saw the first group of kids in the program. Ten kids were in the first group, and 21 are expected to start this school year on Aug. 27. Because of his training at the camp, one of last year’s students is working at J&M Studios, a stable in Beavercreek.

When the camp opened last year, donations had blessed the camp with eight horses, and since then, their population has grown to eighteen. They have Arabians, Frisians, Miniatures, and a Tennessee walking horse. They all have quirky names like Rumorhazit, Shadrach, Jazzy, and Mister Perfect. Most of them are former show horses, so they are all highly trained. Piovesan says they hope to acquire some smaller, gentler horses for beginner riders.

During the summer, the camp puts on Vacation Bible School style day camps with crafts, Bible studies, games, and a horse ride or two. Most recently, they welcomed around 150 kids from the Boys and Girls Club. The camp does not presently offer overnight camp weeks, but Piovesan says building cabins will help bring the camp to its full potential.

Shekinah Ranch fights for survival

by Pendra Lee Snyder - CCN-USA

 DAYTON,OH–Pastor Donovan Larkins loves the great outdoors. He believes God’s creatures have a lot they can teach humans. In fact, when the founder of Shekinah Ranch trains a horse to go against its natural instinct of survival, Larkins parallels that with how Christians need to “lay down our own self-seeking and self-survival to trust God to come through for us.”

These days Larkins’ own words are taking on a deeper personal meaning. The talk now is about survival of Shekinah Ranch, which is nestled in Jefferson Township near Moraine at 5600 Shank Road. The camp is like a frontier to the inner-city kids who attend.

Six years ago Larkins entered into a rental arrangement with the landowner. Now the landowner wants to sell. Shekinah Ranch needs to raise the $140,000, which is the appraised price. They have pledges of about $80,000. Larkins is concerned that if they do not come up with the total amount quickly, the landowner will double the price and hold out for a developer bringing more suburban sprawl.

Larkins’ attorney, Gary Froelich has managed to get all parties into meditation. “We hope that in mediation we can find out what concerns her (the landowner) and continue on to develop the programs [for the kids].”

Some of the current Shekinah Ranch programs include: Horsemanship and Character Education Training Camps; Guided Horse Lovers Camps; Animal Tech Education, taught from a creation position; Wilderness Survival; Nature Programs; Conflict Management; Anger Management; Communication and much more. Groups can schedule one to three day excursions.

Larkins says that when they moved onto the farm they spent a lot of time clearing brush and debris. “It took us three month just hauling off trash and fixing it up to make it workable,” said Larkins. “We started this because we saw the devastation coming upon today’s youth. We got a God idea and so we started pioneering it, cultivating it and we ended up buying a bunch of horses and buying other animals.” The menagerie includes potbelly pigs, deer, chickens, a couple of farm dogs and a bunch of barn cats.

Last year Shekinah Ranch served over 1,500 children and their families. A future goal is to build an indoor arena with classrooms, a “Character Academy” and lodging for ministers and missionaries needing rest.

The first round of mediation ended on August 23, 2002 with Pastor Larkins saying, “There was progress and we’re moving forward.”

To contact Pastor Larkins and Shekinah Ranch call (937) 268-5202.

The camp I went to

by Chrissie Snyder - CCN-USA

 CAMDEN, OH-The camp I went to this summer is not like your regular church camp… it is so much better! I got to go to Pleasant Vineyards and since I did not know anyone, I was a little scared. My family came up to the front desk and turned in all my forms. Mom got my cabin number and Dad carried my bags up to the cabin in which I stayed. I met my leader and the other girls in the cabin. We became great friends we still even write a little.

Enough about my trip…let me tell you about the camp. It is on very large grounds; they have cabins, bunkhouses, and teepees. They also have different programs so campers can choose what they like to do to spend your time, like paintball, art, drama, and horse camp. They even have two hiking trips that last for a week (give or take a day). I went to horse camp and had the time of my life!

Now to the God part… Christ is the focus of the whole camp. The leaders really care about your walk with the Lord. All the chapel services are great. Campers do not just sing worship songs… but fun songs, too, like “The Little Green Froggy” and “The Wigalo”! The last night is for rededication to the Lord or to give your life to Him for the first time. I saw a girl in my cabin get saved that night!

It is a great camp for a kid of any age. I’m glad I went to Pleasant Vineyards Horse camp not only did it help me with my riding, but the camp brought me closer to the Lord.

I am so going back next year.