[dropcap]T[/dropcap]eaching life lessons isn’t new territory for Buda resident TJ Greaney.
As the founder of the Kids Outdoor Zone (KOZ), a Buda-based 501c3 nonprofit, Greaney helps guide fatherless boys with lessons learned through the world of the outdoors.
But Greaney and members of KOZ are learning perseverance as they seek a new base of operations. The Fellowship Church, which had hosted the nonprofit mentoring program, will bid Buda farewell soon.
Now Greaney and others aim to find an alternative site in order to keep guiding Buda youth.
KOZ of Buda has been operating as a 501c3 nonprofit organization since 2009. Greaney said the goal of the organization “is to create an outdoor ministry that provides kids with mentors and direction.”
Greaney said KOZ primarily helps fatherless boys between the ages of 8 and 18 connect with older men in local churches who act as mentors. The men not only teach boys outdoors skills, but life lessons to help them be more Godly adults.
“It’s kind of like a big brother program run through local churches where we teach the boys skills in archery, first aid, hunting, fishing and survival skills,” Greaney said.
Greaney said he has always had a passion for mentoring young boys. He saw a real need for male mentors once he saw a decrease in male volunteers in mentoring programs across the country.
Greaney, a past president of Texas Outdoor Writer’s Association, and the current host of The Outdoor Zone Radio Network, said it occurred to him one day to write down all his ideas and techniques for mentoring and share them with other Christian men.
As a result, Greaney created a six-and-a-half hour mentor-training program and manual to help teach men how to be mentors. The only requirement to be a mentor is support from a local church.
Individual churches that support a mentor are required to complete background checks before anyone is allowed to participate.
KOZ performs its own background checks on mentors for events, camps and outings.
“The other groups are all hosted by local churches who do their own background checks just like they do anyone who is in contact with kids in Sunday School classes or church trips,” Greaney said. “We provide the curriculum and training on how to use it. The churches operate independently.”
Greaney said even though KOZ could be sustained in its own church space, the program was designed to train mentors and have them operate out of their own churches.
“Really what we need is a piece of property that we can move our ministry to where we can do these activities with these boys, so we don’t lose the continuity we have gained,” Greaney said.
Therein lies the struggle for Greaney and the KOZ. The organization had planned to house operations at a proposed church site near Carpenter Hill Elementary. The site had been the brainchild of leaders from the Fellowship Church and Real Life Church.
However, a change in direction from Real Life led to the abandonment of those plans.
The KOZ program is looking for a church in the Buda area, where the boys and their mentors can go and enjoy outdoor activities in a central location.
Currently, the KOZ program meets at Bowie High in Austin, but Greaney said they are very interested in the Vertical Church, because it’s a “vibrant, community oriented church.”
“Kids need to get outside, fatherless boys need male mentors,” Greaney said. “That’s what KOZ does.”
