Shekinah Ranch: An eastern site for western kid camping

Pastor Tom Ravasio had a dream and today that dream has become a reality.

Shekinah Ranch, a place for western camping in the Mon Valley, will open to campers today after more than eight years in the planning.

The first week includes youngsters from ages 8 to 12 experiencing all-around cowboy camp.

With four brand new bunkhouses the site can house 20 campers each week.

"There are two things we hope to achieve through this experience," said Ravasio. "We want every boy and girl to know that God loves them and we want them to know that God has a plan for their lives."

Ravasio wants to use horses to accomplish those goals.

"Growing up, I loved horses," he said. "To me they were bigger than life. They were animals that were awesome, powerful, glorious and wonderful."

Ravasio said the combination of a child and a horse is "magical."

The idea for the project, including the name for the ranch, came to the pastor through prayer.

"I was on a prayer walk praying about the concept of starting a ranch for youth when God gave me the name -- Shekinah," said Ravasio. "I'm a Bible college graduate and the name didn't click right away."

Ravasio learned that Shekinah meant "the place where God's glory dwells."

"When I first started hearing God and realized this was something He wanted done in our area, I began visiting Christian camps and saw lives literally transformed," said Ravasio. "Overshadowing all that was the emphasis of God's love. You don't see that happen in all churches."

Ravasio said he believes that all campers will experience lifetime memories while participating in a week at the ranch.

"I hear repeatedly from people the lifelong memories they have of these types of experiences of their youth," he said.

While Ravasio did not experience camp as a youngster, his conviction of such experiences came through his travels.

"Statistics show that 80 percent of all boys and girls that go to a Christian camp have a significant life-changing impact," he explained. "I'm a numbers person. I love stats so I looked at those numbers and wanted the evidence to back it up. My journey to these camps led me to see why there's so much value on this kind of outreach."

A new group of campers will be at the ranch each week. On a typical day, the campers will rise to a breakfast fit for ranchers after which they will attend devotions in the chapel. From there the activities will start.

Instructions on handling horses will top the list of activities.

"The instructions will depend on the level of horsemanship experience the boys and girls have," said Ravasio. "For example, beginners' first day will include basic instructions including safety and procedures before they ride a horse. They will learn why horses are so wonderful and yet why they have to be so careful around the horses."

After morning activities the campers will have lunch. Activities such as swimming, arts and crafts, fishing from a pond, nature walks, a full day of programs will fill the hours. Campfires and campfire stories will be part of the agenda for the evening hours.

Shekinah Ranch, a former church campground located on Chestnut Road, just minutes off the Speers Exit of Interstate 70 near Charleroi, is comprised of 21 acres and includes a chapel that will eventually be the western town hall with kitchen, dining area, offices and indoor activity center.

Also found on the grounds are an outdoor riding arena, Conestoga covered wagon, four 12- by 20-foot wooden cabins, swimming pool, miniature golf, shower buildings, fishing pond and 10-stall horse stable.

The property was donated to the ranch project by former elders Harry and Barb Simpson, Olive Krimm and Sylvia Foor of the former Bethany Bible Fellowship.

"We kind of feel the Lord had us hold this property for just this purpose," said Harry Simpson. "We had our dreams and visions of what we could do with the property, similar to this but not necessarily a youth center."

Simpson said the former parish had thought of converting the property into a Christian retreat with a chalet sitting on the hillside.

"We didn't get to that point and we just couldn't keep the property going any longer," said Simpson. "When the opportunity came, we realized the Lord had us reserve this property for the Christian activity and we're extremely happy to see it take place."

The charter of Bethany Bible Fellowship dates back to 1979. Simpson said membership had declined, causing them to close their doors. The property, formerly a recreational vehicle campground, was donated last year to complete Ravasio's dream.

"We did not have the youth in the church that brings growth," said Simpson.

Bethany Bible Fellowship was a nonprofit entity and the by-laws required the entire church holdings be turned over to like kind, Simpson explained.

Ravasio was the pastor of the Mon Valley Community Church in Webster from 1992 until recently. He also experienced the closing of a church.

"We recently closed our doors because of the decline in membership," said Ravasio. "It was very difficult emotionally. We did a lot in 10 years. There was a tremendous amount of outreach that was done, but you can't keep doing that without a financial base. The Mon Valley is tightening up incredibly, drying up in many ways."

With the help of many local businesses and individuals Ravasio began to get the property ready for the campers.

"We started with the infrastructure, replaced water lines, redid the road, built the barn and cabins, put the riding arena in, ran new electric, landscape and redid the shower building inside and out," said Ravasio. "Quite a bit has been done. My sincerest appreciation to everyone who helped take my dream and turn it into a reality."

Ravasio said there are too many names to list. All work has been done with private contributions including cash, supplies, equipment and services.

"They bought into the vision," he said. "They loved it and we're here today because of all those people."

The property will sustain itself through the $290 per week tuition of the campers, explained Ravasio.

"We tried to base the price with our economy here in the area," he said.

The pastor said eventually scholarships will be offered to supplement the tuition for those children who could not otherwise afford to participate.

"We want every kid to have a chance to go to camp whether they can afford it or not," he said.

Bert Hutsenpiller, of Belle Vernon, jumped on the wagon with Ravasio once he heard the dream. Hutsenpiller is the groundskeeper for the camp.

"It's going to do a great thing," said Hutsenpiller. "It's going to keep kids off the street, I believe. It's going to show them there's a whole lot more to do than get into trouble. I wish there was something like this when I was a youngster."

There are still openings for this summer. The tentative camp schedule is as follows: Today through Friday, ages 8-12, All Around Cowboy Camp; July 20-25, ages 13-18, Wranglers, Beginners Camp; July 27-Aug 1, Waste Management Sponsored Week; Aug. 3-8, ages 8-12, Cowpokes Beginners Camp; and Aug. 10-15, ages 13-18, All Around Cowboy Camp; Aug. 17-22, ages 15-18, Trailblazers Classic Camp.

For more information or to register for a week, call 724-483-4343.