The Second Annual Newton County Sheriff’s Department Summer Youth Horse Camp has wrapped up, and organizers are calling it a huge success. Held at the Newton County Fairgrounds, youngsters from the area learned how to ride horses and their basic care. They also learned CPR, firefighting, firearms safety and shooting, archery, and other skills.
They were also fed breakfast and lunch each day.
The event began last year, and this year it stretched over two weeks with three days each week of activities for the youth.
Sheriff Robert Burby created the event and it has proven to be very popular both with the kids who attended, and their parents. In fact, Burby says that on Thursday, the last day of this year’s camp, there was a total of 61 adults there which included parents, local elected officials, and others.
Burby said the camp hosted 14 kids the first week and 27 kids the second week, for a total of 41.
Burby said of this year’s camp, “It’s growing to the point that we’ll have to make some changes for next year. In fact, we’ll have a meeting next week to discuss and plan next year’s event”.
Something interesting about the camp is Burby said that each year’s theme colors are the school colors of the three school districts in the county. Last year it was the purple and white of Newton, this year it was the blue and white of Burkeville, and next year it’ll be the red and white of Deweyville.
Burby summed it up by emphasizing that steering kids in the right direction will help them stay out of trouble when they’re older. Burby said “If we’re going to make a difference, were going to make it with the children”.