Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." — 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

At Blue Sky Acres, we believe that some of life's most meaningful lessons come from serving others. That's one of the reasons we love welcoming schools, organizations, and community groups to the farm. Every visit is an opportunity to build connections, develop new skills, and create experiences that benefit everyone involved.

In early June, we had the privilege of partnering with the Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society (LDSS) of the greater Savannah and Lowcountry area through their Camp Buddy Program. Now in its 17th year, Camp Buddy provides children and teens with Down syndrome opportunities to continue developing important physical, occupational, speech, and social skills throughout the summer while reinforcing the progress they've made during the school year.

This year, Blue Sky Acres was honored to provide a place where the teen campers could experience the joy of volunteering and giving back. On a very hot Tuesday afternoon, fifteen teens, accompanied by five adult volunteers, spent four hours working around the farm. Divided into two groups, they tackled several important projects. One group cleaned the horse pastures by collecting manure and transporting it to the manure pile, while the other weeded the garden and planted new vegetable plants.

What impressed us most wasn't just what they accomplished—it was how they accomplished it. Despite the heat, humidity, and plenty of gnats, not one camper complained. In fact, we had to insist they stop for water and a snack break! Their enthusiasm, teamwork, and willingness to help were an encouragement to all of us.

As they worked, we talked about why these jobs matter. Clean horse pastures are essential to the health and well-being of our horses. A well-tended garden allows vegetables to flourish and provides a beautiful space for everyone to enjoy. Every task they completed helped create a cleaner and more welcoming environment for the participants and families who come to Blue Sky Acres for mentoring sessions.

One of our goals at Blue Sky Acres is to help people discover that every person has something valuable to contribute. Watching these young volunteers take pride in their work reminded us that service builds confidence, creates purpose, and strengthens our community. We are grateful to the Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society for allowing us to be a small part of their incredible Camp Buddy program, and we look forward to future opportunities to serve alongside these remarkable young people.

In Him,

Jackie Garman- Program Director

Upcoming Events

July 23, 8:30 am -12:00 pm Summer Moments of Service: teens can join the Jr Equine Team. Help feed the horses, do a farm chore, learn horse skills and make new friends. Limited spots still open. Email jackie@blueskyacres.org to sign up.

To sign up for a Moments of Hope Tour to learn more about Blue Sky Acres, click here.

Open Enrollment for our Blue Sky Moments Mentoring Program begins July 10. For more info, click here.