Kids go to Cowboy Camp

FREMONT — The 8th annual Cowboy Camp, on the 20-acre grounds of the Fremont Baptist Temple Church, concluded Sunday. Children from kindergarten to sixth grade participated in horseback riding, archery, crafts and other recreational activities, including singing for parents on parents' day."At the end of camp, I hear kids say 'why does it have to end?' They have exciting memories," said Gary Click, pastor. "The purpose of the camp is to reach boys and girls to direct them to Christ. It is also a way to give back to the community," Click said. "A lot of kids would never be able to do something like this."Children are learning responsibility while coming to understand it is fun to serve God, he said. "One girl has been coming to camp for seven years. She now helps groom and saddle up the horses," Click said.The idea for Cowboy Camp came years ago when Click lived in Indiana and helped another pastor hosting a Cowboy Camp."I was inspired by it, but I never had a chance to do anything like it until years later," Click said.That was when a couple who boarded horses, approached Click about a horse named Black Jack."The owner of the horse was not paying boarding fees or taking care of the horse," Click said.The couple knew Click had talked about starting a Cowboy Camp and gave Click the horse.Other pastors, some who had horses, offered to help.The event, which began with 50 kids, grew to reach 200 children this year."It is rewarding to see Cowboy Camp continue to grow. It reveals that we are meeting a need in our community and that is what it's all about to us," Click said.Registration is required for next year's Cowboy Camp. Anyone wanting to register for next year's Cowboy Camp can click here or go to fremontbaptisttemple.com/cowboycampReach Melissa Topey at topey@sanduskyregister.com, follow her on Twitter @topeymelissa and follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterUsing a toy Nerf gun in place of a BB gun, Logan Vinson practices his marksmanship during cowboy camp at Fremont Baptist Temple Church in Fremont on Friday, June 23, 2017. Traditionally the kids would learn gun safety and marksmanship with a BB gun; however, the camp was moved inside for the day due to rain. A child brushes one of the horses during cowboy camp at Fremont Baptist Temple Church on Friday, June 23, 2017. A group of children do arts and crafts at Fremont Baptist Temple Church in Fremont for cowboy camp on Friday. Fremont Baptist Temple Church's Pastor Gary Click teaches Brandon Cohen how to brush a horse on Friday, June 23, 2017. The horses were brought inside because of rainy weather. Cutting out pieces of a horse, Allivia Bauer participates in cowboy camp at Fremont Baptist Temple Church in Fremont on Friday, June 23, 2017.