Campers and volunteers at the Take a Kid Kampin’ and Fishin’ weekend

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For 82 inner-city children and teens from the San Antonio Youth Centers (SAYC), they got to have an experience of a lifetime thanks to Bear Readymix Concrete, sponsor of the event. The company earned the honor of hosting the event since they were the highest bidder at the 2009 Niznik Charity Fun Shoot.

Sep. 17-19 was the Take a Kid Kampin’ and Fishin’ weekend held at the H-E-B Foundation Singing Hills Camp along the Frio River. The kids enjoyed hiking, fishing, swimming, kayaking, arts and crafts, campfires complete with s’mores, skits and bunking down in cabins.

Cindy Niznik, Niznik Enterprises Inc. said this is the 12th year they have been taking the kids fishing and camping. This year was the largest group that had ever attended the weekend event.

The reason she knows is that she and two other ladies, Pattie Gamez and Kim Olson, have always been the cooks for the event.

In addition to the cooks, Niznik stated there were 42 volunteers helping with the weekend outing. Many of the volunteers came from Victory Assembly of God church that brought along 15 young people to help with the activities.

Niznik said, “It is just serving those kids and seeing smiles on their faces, and knowing that they are going to go home with a very good experience, and maybe remember it. Plus they are getting God to boot. Trying to wrap up a whole package in one, it is kind of awesome.”

Cynthia Le Monds, CEO of San Antonio Youth Centers, said it best, “For many of our children, they have never experienced what is like to go fishing, stay in a cabin, or go kayaking.

“This trip is a world of “firsts” for them...their first fish, their first time being out of the city, their first time staying overnight in the woods.

“When children are exposed to a variety of different settings, they grow as human beings and learn to appreciate the natural world.

“It is because of the generosity of the construction community that our children have been given this opportunity for personal, physical and spiritual growth.

“Thank you for caring about the kids and for giving them a chance to experience nature.”  –dn

©2010 Construction News, Ltd.