The Journal of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America April-June 2014 - (Page 6)

s TorIes oF P eacemakers El Ranchito: Sharing the Great Outdoors by Natalia Alas E ditor's note: Pat Ayres is a longtime supporter and friend of the BPFNA, and, before that, of the Baptist Peacemaker group in Lousiville, KY. We learned during this past year about a new project in which she is involved-a summer camp for low-income youth, sponsored by the Shield-Ayres family. The following is the story of El Ranchito. o n the outskirts of southwest Austin, TX, a summer camp by the name of el Ranchito resides on historic Shield Ranch. The Shield-Ayres family established El Ranchito in 2007, working in collaboration with el buen samaritano episcopal mission and the westcave outdoor discovery center to serve children and youth from lowincome families and to provide a place where young campers can come to connect with nature. for one week, children from the ages of 9 to 13 are able to partake in outdoor activities like horseback riding, hiking, rock-climbing, camping and stargazing. By allowing campers to explore nature to the fullest extent, el Ranchito's mission is to teach children a sense of respect for the natural world and the importance of caring for it. as children learn to care for the outdoors, they not only learn about the environment around them, but they also learn an appreciation for outdoor activities. In addition to these things, they gain a sense of self-identity through their newfound relationship with nature. it is important for children to get more exercise and to establish healthy eating habits, and having the opportunity to explore nature and to become immersed in the outdoors allows them to nurture their minds and bodies in a new way. Children from low-income families are especially vulnerable to obesity, mostly because of the low cost of, and abundance of, fast food. Today, the obesity rate in children in the us is well over 18 percent of the population. This high rate in obesity has been correlated with unhealthy eating habits, coupled with the tendency for children to spend most of their time indoors. children who spend time indoors are less likely to exercise. Children who are able to go outdoors, on the other hand, are more likely to spend their time participating in sports or other activities that require movement. for this reason, el Ranchito strives to take lowincome children and youth out into the great outdoors, where they are able to take part in an adventure they would not normally be able to experience because summer camps are usually too expensive. The owners of shield Ranch, an historic ranch established in 1938, have committed themselves to preserving the land and maintaining it in its natural state. It is the perfect place for young campers to get out of their busy urban lives for a few days-and to find Left: Low-income children learn to love the great outdoors at El Ranchito, a summer camp sponsored by the Shield-Ayres family near Austin, TX. Photo courtesy of El Ranchito. 6 Baptist Peacemaker Apr-Jun 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Journal of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America April-June 2014

También de este Lado Hay Sueños: This Side Also Has Dreams
El Ranchito: Sharing the Great Outdoors
Good News About Hershey's
The Birth of the Baptist Peace Fellowship
Letter to the Editor
Austin Heights Baptist Church & the Tar Sands Blockade
Future Peace Camp Locations
Remembering Rachel Gill
Inching Toward Peace Between Israel & Palestine
The BPFNA Companioning Program
Reflections From a BPFNA Young Adult Gathering
Wal-Mart Joins Fair Food Program
Resources & Opportunities
2013 BPFNA Highlights
2013 Contributors
Shalom Prayer

The Journal of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America April-June 2014