Children all over the world can write and draw to win one of a dozen dude ranch vacations offered as prizes in the Children’s International Arts Festival. Kids ages 5-12 can enter by answering and illustrating Bible-related questions for an online book the festival organizer plans to publish. Each winner may write an essay telling why his or her teacher should win one of the trips.
“These trips are major prizes,” said Carey Kinsolving, organizer of the festival. “Each child winner and immediate family will get to spend a week at a dude ranch, including food, lodging, horseback riding, and other activities.”
Why dude ranches?
Kinsolving feels that dude ranches capture the imaginations of children, and are one of the best types of vacations for families. “Kids love the horses and wide-open spaces, while parents enjoy the beautiful scenery and peaceful setting. It’s ideal for elbow room as well as for reconnecting with your family. When I tell grown-ups about the festival, they ask me if they’re too old to enter!”
Two Idaho dude ranches will open their gates to festival winners. Red Horse Mountain Ranch in Harrison boasts a highly adventurous kids’ program. Western Pleasure Guest Ranch in Sandpoint is big on their rustic, yet comfortable, family bonding atmosphere.
Both ranches, in operation since the 1940s, are located in the panhandle of Idaho, where pine-laden, mountain scenery, rushing rivers, and inviting lakes abound. Their strong riding programs carefully match horses to guests’ riding abilities. The scenic rides and horse-to-human companionship are a defining experience at these ranches.
Children who wish to enter the festival can get their parents to download an entry form by clicking here. There will also be a list of festival questions available to answer and illustrate. There is no entry fee.
Kinsolving plans to publish the best children’s writing and art in the “Kids Color Me Bible Gospel of John.” This online storybook Bible will be patterned after his popular “Kids Color Me Bible.” Each chapter features children’s writing and art. Children who print pages from the free, online book can add their writing and art making each chapter a personalized keepsake.
“Art is a universal language,” said Kinsolving. “Children have a way of cutting right to the heart of a Bible story when they draw art to illustrate it. Their answers to Bible-related questions can be humorous and insightful. We’re hoping that opportunities to win dude ranch vacations will motivate many children to share their insights while increasing their Bible literacy.”
The Children’s International Arts Festival is sponsored by Kids Talk About God, an online ministry that grew out of Carey Kinsolving’s syndicated column of the same name. He began the column after years of writing feature stories for The Washington Post and other major newspapers which received his feature stories through news services such as The New York Times News Service.
KidsTalkAboutGod.org is a non-denominational, Christian ministry that empowers children by publishing their faith expressions and making them available without charge to website visitors. The website features 60 Kid TV Interviews, Children’s Bible Art Gallery, “Kids Color Me Bible,” “Mission Explorers Streaming Video” and a Bible Lesson Archive. Visitors may download pictures from the Art Gallery and lessons from the “Kids Color Me Bible” for free. As a newspaper column, Kids Talk About God has been in syndication for more than seven years.