"I wrote the following for one new director and thought that
perhaps it would be of help to others. So here's the unofficial 'Cubbie
Emergency Starter Kit': "
PRAY, PRAY, PRAY - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens
me." (Phil. 3:13) "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own
understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your
paths." Prov. 3:5,6
ACT:
1. Call your club commander. Ask for any left over materials.
Assuming you have done this --
2. Look on the
Club locator at
www.awana.org for other churches/clubs in your local area. Call and find
out who the commander and Cubbie director are. Beg, borrow, buy.... a copy of
the bear hug brochure, the current year's handbook, Celebration handbook and
leader's guide.
3. Go to the
Capital
Region Web Site's Cubbie Resource area (or this site!). Download
and print out the pdf forms for the Parent VIP night and Bear Hug Brochure
night. These will be the lessons for the first two weeks of club. Also
download the Hopper or Jumper (this year's book) Year at a Glance - This will
give you the outline of the year's lessons.
4. Determine your schedule. - Registration, Leader dry run or Training (see
below), Start date (Parent VIP night), week 2 is Bear Hug Brochure night, week
3 is Bear Hug #1 and continuing. Be sure to include holidays and special
lessons (if any) and end date. Confirm with your commander.
5. As you are doing the above, tell/ask everyone you know to pray for you,
Cubbies, and for God to raise up leaders. Be specific e.g. I need 5 leaders -
one secretary and 4 Table leaders plus leaders to help with music, games and
craft time. Ask for their help.
6. As parents register their children (assuming you do registration before the
first night), call each one and tell them you need one out of every four
parents to be a leader. Ask them to pray about it. Do not allow them to tell
you yes right away unless they have called you to volunteer. Tell them that if
God leads them to serve in Cubbies you would love to have them. But if God
tells them no, you have enough troubles already without someone helping that
God doesn't want there. But if they say no, they have to help you by praying
for you and more leaders. (This is more or less what I say to every parent.)
Leader Training - Find the nearest and earliest Cubbie
Leader training. Check with your Awana missionary or another local club to see
when one may be held. GO and take as many leaders/parents with you as
possible. Even if you have to go by yourself or with just one
other leader, GO!
Some helpful resources to have on hand:
1. Betty Luken felts - Check with your church to see if they
already have them. If yes, look at the Felt Number list
(available on this site) for a list keyed to the Bear Hugs.
2. Children's Bible - If you don't have felts, get a good
children's bible. e.g. Zonderkids NIrV (New International Readers Version)
Also a good way to reinforce or add variety to story time.
3. Basic craft supplies: Crayons, markers, kid scissors, glue
sticks, construction paper, yarn, paper plates (plain white), glitter glue,
lunch size paper bags.
4. Game supplies: Masking tape (Tape a large circle on the
floor to give Cubbies a place to go.), bubbles, balloons, bucket and bean
bags, chairs (musical)
5. Snacks - goldfish, animal crackers and small pretzels -
These keep well and can be bought in large quantities, inexpensively.
6. Music - Tape/CD player - Cubbie verses to song. Donut man,
Jana Allyra (sp?), or other Christian kid's tape.
7. Puppet Show - Make lunch bag puppets from Parent VIP night
instructions and use for the puppet shows.
Caution: Keep it very simple the first year. You can always add more as you
go. Keep good records, plan ahead and make notes for improvement for next year
(not necessarily next week:)!
