Big Red’s Ranch {Non-Profit Spotlight}

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The RGV Moms Blog is taking some time this year to write about our local non-profit organizations in a monthly series. We believe that it is important to know what organizations are available locally, and to share with our readers opportunities to give back and help out. We begin this series with the following Non-Profit Spotlight of Big Red’s Ranch.


Big Red Ministries

Who we are:

My husband and I have been Children’s Pastors for the past 17 years and have always had a heart for kids and families. We served as Children’s Pastors in Dallas, Colorado, and as of recent, Brownsville. In the past, my husband and I have done many events for kids and families: Vacation Bible Schools, Father/Son camp-outs, Mother/Daughter events, Day Camps, Overnight Camps, Retreats, and more.

Why a Camp in the Valley?

In the summer of 2012 as we were serving at a church in Brownsville, we felt like there was something else we were supposed to do. We stepped down from our Children’s Pastor position six months later, still not sure exactly what it was we were supposed to do. God had given us a heart for the kids and families in the Rio Grande Valley. We heard from so many people that said that they would love for their child to have that camp experience but couldn’t afford to send them to Corpus Christi or to San Antonio. And many kids in the valley have never had the opportunity to even go to camp! Starting a camp ministry just felt right (and needed).

We started Big Red Ministries (aka Big Red’s Ranch) and began taking the steps necessary to start a non-profit here in the valley. We wanted to be a resource for parents to have a fun and safe place where they could send their kids. We wanted the kids in the valley to have the opportunities that other kids had to go to camp. And we wanted a place where families could come out and have fun together.

We have been blessed to use a campground for our overnight camps in Mission at Brand Christian Youth Camp (next to Bentson State Park). And about a year and half ago we were able to acquire a Ranch in San Benito for Day Camps and other events.

Big Reds Ranch Kid with Horse

Here at Big Red’s Ranch we offer a variety of fun events and activities!

We do Overnight Camps, Day Camps, Father/Son Camp-outs, Mother/Daughter Retreats, Field Trips, Retreat Days for High School Students & Youth Groups, and we offer Family Days for the community. We have also partnered with Buckner International and host groups coming out on missions trips. We bus kids out from the Colonias to have camps and events just for them. One of our goals at camp is that these kids feel accepted, loved and of course, have fun!

During our summer camps the kids get to enjoy canoeing, archery, swimming, human foosball, bazooka ball, gaga ball, paintball targets, field games, crafts, hikes, a teaching time, and so much more. During the Day Camps the kids definitely have a favorite activity… it’s the animals! Here at Big Red’s Ranch we have 2 peacocks, 4 adult pigs, 6 baby pigs, 7 bunnies, 2 horses, 1 miniature horse, a donkey, 4 goats and a baby goat, Koi fish, a turkey, Guinea hens, 2 cats, 2 dogs, baby chicks, baby quail, and a lot of chickens!

Big Reds Ranch Kids

We hope to see your kids this summer at our Kid’s Camp!

For our Day Camps, the ages are graduated 1st through graduated 6th grade. For our overnight camps, the ages are graduated 3rd through graduated 6th grade. Also, if you would like your child to come for a unique field trip experience, pass our information along to their teacher!

Here’s a video of last years Family Camp-

Family Camp 2016

We raise all of our support throughout the year and hope to offer many more fun events in the future! We also have a heart for single moms and try to help with scholarships whenever possible. If you would like to know more about what we do or to make a tax-deductible donation, please go to: www.bigredministries.org or email Jonathan Barnard at [email protected]

To see our upcoming events, you can join our Facebook group ‘Big Red Events’ and to see what else is going on around the Ranch, go to our Facebook page ‘Big Red’s Ranch’.

If you’d like to come check us out, we are having a Family Day open to the community at the Ranch on these dates: Saturday, March 4th and Saturday, April 8th from 3-5 for a donation of any amount! (See Big Red Events).

We look forward to continuing to serve the community to strengthen families and fight for the fatherless!

 

Big Red's Ranch Non Profit Spotlight RGV

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