Ag Adventure day camp for kids provides farming and ranching experiences for 7-11 year olds. In the process they learn to appreciate God’s creation and understand how vital agriculture is to life. Here are some of the activities cowboys and cowgirls got to experience at Ag Adventure camp run by the Apela Foundation:
- Watching turkey chicks hatch then holding the new life,
- horseback riding every day,
- eating food made and prepped by the campers themselves,
- squirting milk from a goat teat,
- learning how to properly handle and shoot a BBG gun,
- playing horseshoes,
- learning to rope,
- building or making a craft,
- learning about and handling a variety of farm animals,
- doing chores
- and so much more
The Origin of Ag Adventure Camp
Ag Adventure camp is the brain child of Connie Grieb Willems and a few others who had like-thinking so they formed the non-profit, Apela Foundation. Now approaching it’s 10 year, many Ag Adventure camp memories have been made and much work has gone into this one-of-a-kind experience for youngsters.
Who Provides the Animals and Ranch Resources?
The Grieb Ranch family is one of the main suppliers of horses and tack for the cowboys and cowgirls to ride every day, the puppies for kids to love on, goats to milk, hatching turkey chicks, berries for the cobbler and many other fun items each year. Other local friends of Grieb Ranch also donate the use of their horses and livestock.
This endeavor involves the whole Grieb Ranch family and this year it took four generations to provide. Papa delivered the horses; Connie directed, taught classes, and managed help; Amanda assisted the staff; Cowboy P provided puppies and help; Little A kept his mama busy and played with other staff kids; while cousin Josh did all the heavy lifting and assisted where needed.
A great time was had by all, especially the campers many of whom experienced God’s creation through agriculture up close and personal for the very first time.