Pretty basic. Everyone dresses
up like a nerd. Hair slicked down for the guys. Unbalanced
ponytails for girls. Thick glasses, half tracked shirts,
flip flop shoes with white socks. POCKET PROTECTOR overstuffed
with pens. Dark blue eye shadow and poorly put on lip
stick. The list goes on and on.
...Games can be explained to where only mathematical/physics/engineering
professors would understand (then explained for real).
Add a twist to any event (bean bag carried on forehead
instead of head).
...Council time explain how God makes all of us different,
but yet no matter our differences we should care for each
other and work together to share the gospel.
| Oh
Where! O Where! Is My Hairbrush Scavenger Hunt |
This is a "Veggie Tales"
Scavenger hunt that we did. We called it: Larry Boy's-"Oh
Where! Oh Where! Is My Hair Brush" Scavenger Hunt
...We started out by listening to the song "Oh Where!
Oh Where! is My Hair Brush" off the "Veggie
Tales" audio cassette tape to build up excitement.
...We held our hunt outside in the Spring. I went early
and hid clues around the outside of the church building
and yard. Our church is in a rural area, so we had lots
of hiding places. We used scripture verses for clues.
For example, one clue read-"In Revelation 3:2, Jesus
says, "I stand at the DOOR and knock. If anyone hears
my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with
him, and he with me." We emphasized the word "door"
and told them to find the next clue at the place where
Jesus was knocking.
...I bought a little hair brush and the last clue led
them to it. The clubber who found it, got to keep it.
...For Green Meadow time, we watch the "Veggie Tales"
movie, "Are You My Neighbor?" In Sparkle time,
when they were finished saying verses, they colored a
picture of "Larry Boy" that I had down loaded
off the computer.
All leaders bring pictures
of themselves and the secretary puts them on a piece of
poster board. Clubbers try to guess who they are. The
one with the most correct guesses wins a prize. A couple
of fake pictures can spice up the game. Adults from the
church get a kick out of this as well as clubbers. The
secretary has to be very discreet. Game Time is played
with diapers, bottles, and pudding.
Everyone dresses in summer
clothes (no bathing suits). We play volley ball, frisbee,
and other beach games during game time. We usually do
this in January.
Of course we had this night
in December. Everyone had to whisper. NO LOUD TALKING!!!
We sang quiet songs. We had a guest speaker that worked
with hearing impaired people. She taught us sign language
and we sang a song with our hands. Game time was quiet
cheering and clapping and quiet games. The leaders loved
this night so much they requested it again for this year
- because club night was so nice and quiet!
This is a CRAZY night. Our
clubbers always enjoy it. I think that the leaders have
enjoyed it a bit more! It generates a lot of excitement
for the clubbers. They like to try and out do the leaders
each year. ...Clubbers and leaders dress up like they
were wounded. It could be a sprained ankle or face make-up
to make it look like a black eye. Some of the clubbers
cover themselves with Band-aids. The devotional for that
night centers around how Christ is the Great Physician.
Since AWANA is falling on
Halloween we are having a NOAH NIGHT. Children are to
dress up as an Animal from Noah's Ark or as a Bible Person.
We will be having Animal Crackers for Treats. The children
will be given bags to decorate with animals or Bible Verses.
For every section that they pass we will be giving candy
to put in the bag.
We have a Good Steward night
which we use as a night to gather aluminum cans to recycle.
This then helps with raising money for where ever you
may need funds for something. This goes good with the
clubbers recycling section of their book as well.
| What
I Wanna Be When I Grow Up Night |
Have the kids dress up to
be what they want to be when they grow up. One girl, who
I had in club, dressed up in maternity clothing with a
beach ball taped to her tummy. She said she wanted to
be just like her mommy and raise a family.
| Joseph's
Egyptian Storehouse |
The Flyer
...We sent flyers home with the clubbers the week before
with a verse in hieroglyphics. Just using the font "Wingdings."
The verse was Genesis 50:20:
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant
it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to
save much people alive.
On the back of the flyer was a code key. The clubbers
were to decipher the code and memorize the verse, for
extra points that week. The content of the flyer told
clubbers not to miss out on Joseph's Egyptian Storehouse.
And be sure to come to find out how Joseph saved Egypt
and the Hebrew nation. The flyer used Egyptians boarders
to draw interest in something different.
The Event
...The clubbers were given a pass to Joseph's Egyptian
Storehouse after passing a section. This took the place
of the pieces of candy we usually give them. The clubbers
were then allowed to go to the Awana Office Window which
was decorated up with Egyptian stuff just for the occasion.
There they were allowed to choose their own candy for
the treat they earned for passing their section.
Council Time Message
...You guessed it! The story of Joseph and how God brought
him to the position he did, just to save his own people!!
:)
Purpose
...Ok there was a two fold reason behind this theme night.
...1. We wanted to try to encourage the clubbers in passing
sections by doing something different. And it worked,
we had twice as many sections passed that night then any
other night. The clubbers just thought it was so neat
to get to go to the Awana Office Window and also to pick
out their own candy.
...2. Well, to be honest with you. We had a lot of left
over candy that we needed to get rid of. And IT WORKED
! Hence the title "Storehouse!"
| Feed
the Hungry & Awana Feeds You |
During the month of November,
around Thanksgiving, Clubbers will be challenged to bring
in canned goods for the hungry. Which ever Clubber brings
in the most canned items will win a free pizza (there
is room for options here). Clubbers will be competing
with each other as well as Leaders (obviously we expect
a Clubber to win). What a way to teach about sharing and
helping others in need. During council time, this would
be a good time to talk about the feeding of the 5000.
Everyone dresses up in something
that has to do with a ship, ie. Captains hat, fishing
vest or pole, sailor's hat, etc. (no real fish hooks please!)
Then we explain to the kids how the captain directs and
guides the ship and without him we would get lost. Then
we tell them how Jesus is the captain of *our* ship and
directs us spiritually on where and how to go. We have
a little contest for the dressed-up people: most original,
creative, etc. and we give out gummy fish as a treat after
game time.
You bring a life preserver
in and yell "man overboard" and throw it into
the audience. When they catch it you ask them, "Why
did I throw that and what is it for," the emphasis
being on the fact that you use it to save lives, right?
Well, who is our "lifesaver" when we are in
spiritual trouble? Jesus, of course. Then you take out
the original lifesavers (candy) and do the wordless book.
Then give them out as treats at the end of gametime.
We have the kids come dressed
to support their favorite sports team, either professional
or even the local school team. Whoever is the most supportive
gets a prize: usually a candy bar.
Based on the game show. All
clubbers had to dress up in order to play and I (Monty
Hall) dressed up also. The kids had a great time and the
leaders really enjoyed it as well.
This was our 1st year of
Awana and near the end of the year everybody is very busy
and tired of memorizing sections. So we decided to have
a contest for 4 weeks to push all kids - no matter where
they were in their book - to memorize the most sections.
The top two kids (over all the clubs) who said the most
sections just during that 4 week period put a pie in the
Commander's and Game Director's faces. Then the top two
kids in each club were allowed to do one of the following.
1.Put make-up on their director
2. Put a pie in the face of their director
3. Have a water gun show down with their director
We found this fun for all kids, not just the kids who
have blown through their books. This In Your Face night
was loads of fun.
We like to do this one the
week before Valentines Day. The kids have Valentines Day
on their mind and we play on that. The week before we
play this up by telling all the kids that next week the
boys have to hug and kiss the girls and visa versa. The
first year we did this it was a lot of fun to see their
reactions to this. Now they know we are just joking. On
our promotional flier though, we tell the parents that
their will not be any hugging and kissing, only that we
will be handing out hugs and kisses next week. We also
play our games with them as well as make sure that every
clubber gets at least one of each before they leave club.
Of course, I am talking about the Hershey's Hugs and Kisses
chocolate candy. Last year we took this night one step
further and bought the snack size ziploc bags. I printed
labels up on the computer that had a Valentine heart that
says I Love You and then put this message on it as well
- Jesus Wants To Be Your Valentine and them put our church
name and address on it as well. We stuck this to the outside
of the bag. On the inside we put some candy message hearts,
hugs and kisses as well as a simple, children's, gospel
track. This was a unique way to even reach these clubbers
parents at a time that they were not expecting to be hit
with something like this.
We all wear Pajamas, robes,
slippers and messy hair!! Contests for the best. You can
tie it in to not being "asleep" in Christ when
he returns. (Cubbies like this the best!).
We have Good Sam Night (Good
Samaritan) where all the kids bring a non-perishable food
item or toiletry item for a local charity. We just happen
to have a Christian homeless center for men called the
Good Samaritan Inn. But this could work for any charity.
Clubbers come dressed in
all school colors. We even had some kids color their hair,
skin, etc.. with their school colors! The clubber with
the most spirit won a prize of the commander's choice
and everyone else that participated got 5 AWANA shares.
Allow the clubbers to wear
their school t-shirt (t-shirt with the name and mascot
of their school).
Have the clubbers dress the
same as a friend and come as "twins."
We have also used this
in our club to promote visitors, and encouraged clubbers
to find someone with a shared attribute: A friend who
also wears glasses, a friend who also has red hair, etc.,
or just have the visitor come wearing the same colors.
- Scott Carter (AIE)
This is a good theme with
many variations. The clubbers can dress in large clothes.
Message on David and Goliath or David being chosen to
be king (small on the outside but big in God's sight.)
Game time is great: we get carpet rolls and cut them up
into huge batons, pillow-sized bean bags filled with Styrofoam
popcorn, and huge balloons. Our church also has a 6 foot
ball for games. We give out large candy bars to the winning
team.
One of our Theme nights this
year will be Save A Beanie Baby. Games, crafts and snacks
will revolve around this theme. The kids will bring in
their Beanie Babies and we will make Beanie Babies etc.
. .
You make a beenie baby by having pre-cut paper bag bears
and allowing the children to color them however they want.
Then, have the children glue them together, leaving a
gap in the head. They can then fill them with dried beans
and glue the head together.
For game time, they can pass
their real beanie babies like a baton, balance them on
their heads, run their races holding their beanie babies
etc. The clubbers should use the beanie babies that they
brought from home, because their craft bears will not
be dried properly in time for games.
We took and bought piņatas
from Wal-Mart. If you know a missionary in Mexico, they
can get them a lot cheaper. We filled each with candy.
We pulled it by a rope thrown over our basketball goal
and pulled it up and down while they were blindfolded.
Each clubber got a certain time to hit at it. When all
the candy was out, they all had bags to put the candy
in.
This was another name for
Wrap Your Leader Night. Our clubbers especially like this
night. We try to keep their suspense about the night by
changing the name so they won't know what it is.
This could be another name
for Scrambled Shoes Night, too! We had the clubbers loosen
their shoe strings and make it where their shoes would
come off easily. They kicked as hard as they could and
the clubber whose shoe went the farthest would win for
his team. The boys especially like this game.
We used this night toward
the end of the year. We had ice cream with all kinds of
toppings for everybody. We cut time off each segment so
we would have about 15 minutes at the end. All the Cubbie
and Sparks got one scoop of ice cream. The older clubs
got two. We had bowls filled with different toppings:
red hots, candy corn, gummy bears. M&M's, Skittles,
sprinkles, gum balls, gum drops, and any others you might
want. The leaders spooned toppings on each clubbers ice
cream. We allowed a limit of 5 to 7 toppings. This way
we made sure we would have enough. This takes a little
longer, but it went fine for us.
This is a another name for
Scrambled Shoes Night. We played this inside. We added
a new variation. After all the shoes were in the middle,
all the players faced the wall while the game director
mixed up the shoes. Then as they turned around, we turned
out the lights. Every ten seconds we would turn the lights
on and off. It was a very exciting game. The first team
with all their shoes on won.
This night was where we have
baby bottles for the teams. One player from each team
would try to be the first to drink all their bottle. We
also brought baby food fruit jars. We put them in a bag
and a player from each team would draw one out. At the
whistle they would see who could finish eating their jar
first.
Another name for Crazy Hat
Night. Each clubber creates their own crazy hat. We judged
each club separately and awarded a candy prize.
This was a great game for
the Sparks as well as the older ones. We went to School
Aids and bought blank precut puzzles. Then we drew the
faces of Sparkies on each puzzle. We put the pieces in
a zip-loc bag. At the whistle each team opened their bag
and saw which team could put their puzzle together first.
We had two games on this
night. First we would line up a clubber with a bowl of
chocolate pudding in front of him. The only problem was
he could not use a spoon or hands. They had to eat it
by licking it out of the bowl. We did use trash bags to
cover their clothes and we had wet ones for clean up.
Our second game was to have two clubbers blindfolded.
One clubber would feed the other clubber the chocolate
pudding. Since neither clubber can see, it does make for
a very fun experience.
We hung donuts from our ceiling
with strings at different heights for the clubbers. They
would have to eat their donut without using their hands.
This was very popular with our clubbers.
Last year Halloween fell
on our Awana Night. What we did was go to Wal-mart who
gave us free white bags with handles that worked great
for each clubber. Our church members all brought a bag
of candy to use. We played every game with candy. They
would do a relay in which they would go in the center
and get a handful of candy out of a big bowl and put it
in their sack. Then they would run back and tag the next
player. At the end of the night we also gave out candy
so that everyone left getting plenty.
This night we used fruit
for every game. Relay races with bananas. A toss game
with apples, oranges, or lemons. We used pineapples as
our color team pins. We also passed a banana (or another
fruit you like) over and under through a team line. The
last player had to eat the fruit and go in a get the pin
or bean bag.
This is another name for
Bubble game night. On this night we gave awards for the
biggest bubble. Another game was taking a 3X5 card and
chewing up a piece of gum. The clubber who made the best
baby on the card with their gum would win. We used our
club secretary to judge this event. The boys' clubs really
liked this one.
| Yippi-Yae-Yea
or Western Night |
All our clubbers came as
cowboys or cowgirls. We had awards for the best costumes.
We also played games with brooms as horses and rode around
the range.
We planned this night around
our Mission Conference time. Each clubber came dressed
in an outfit of a country of their choice. Some came as
Arabs, Mexicans, Koreans, etc. We also paraded them across
the platform so that all could see. Some clubs might also
want to give an award for the best costume. Our message
was from a missionary who spoke about getting the gospel
around the world.
| Whirlwind
or Ping-Pong Night |
Our clubbers love the games
we play with ping pong, but to peak their interest, we
try to rename some nights so they are not sure of what
will be happening. Our church has a ping pong table and
we will let three players from a team on one side and
three from another team on the other side. At the whistle
each team tries to get the ball to go off the other teams'
side of the table. Of course they are only using air -
their own. They score points when they succeed in doing
this. (We do not have a gym, so this is a great game when
the weather is cold or wet.) Another game for this night
is to have two or four teams line up (depending on the
room you have) and blow their ping pong ball across a
goal line. The first and second across earn points.
Lots of clubs I think have
this. We get pvc pipe, 20 feet, and cut them in half.
We tape the pieces together and put them on metal folding
chairs. Each chairs faces the opposite way of the last.
We cover it with aluminum foil. Then we put the banana
halves, ice cream, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and
cherries on top. This is how we begin our club year. It
makes a great way to draw children to see a 40 foot banana
split.
Have a parent/clubber night.
The parents have to go through handbook time with their
clubbers, say sections to the leaders, etc. Then they
go through game time with their clubbers - with a twist
- have them run the relays backwards. And finally, during
council time, have a message about being closer to God
than we are to our parents. Relate how God is our Father,
and bring a salvation message. We have several clubbers
who do not go to church anywhere, and are only allowed
to come to Awana. So far this year, we have had 3 clubbers
saved - all bus kids.
One of our clubs favorite
theme nights of the year is Junk Night. We tell the clubbers
the week before to fill their pockets with all kinds of
different items. The next week I take a list of various
items and ask for those items at different times during
the club night. The first person to bring me the item
gets points or a prize. We always have to be clear that
we will not be asking for sharp items or other things
that might be dangerous for them to bring.
| Country
Western Fair - Contest/Theme |
This event is held the last
Wednesday in October. Clubbers are given a ticket for
earning points in Awana beginning in September. We give
one ticket for every 200 points earned. The tickets are
used to play games during the fair, the harder the clubbers
work the more games they get to play. The clubbers look
forward to earning their tickets and we see the overall
number of sections passed increase each week as the time
for the fair approaches.
If you do not have a Fall
Festival or Carnival, this is a great Halloween alternative.
This is a fun night when the kids can dress as a character,
animal, or anything else they find in the Bible (examples:
baby, lightning bolt, snake, apple, David and sling shot,
use slime for Jonah coming out of the whale's belly, etc.).
Council time message - "Then, now or later, God loves
me" - John 15:13, Romans 8:35, Hebrews 13:5
Have Now&Laters chewy candy for treats.
Have a man or a woman who
plays golf come and demonstrate putting and the proper
swing of the club as well as the proper stance to keep
your balance. Also, have someone else come and be a terrible
golfer to show how practice and skill makes a difference.
Game Time includes golf clubs, bags, shoes, and golf balls
and perhaps a putting contest.
Council Time Message - "How to Stand and Keep Your
Balance" OR "Practice and Study Make the Difference"
Scripture references: Romans 14:4; I Corinthians 16:13;
Ephesians 6:14
Awards and Treats - Sam's Wholesale Club sells golf balls
bubble gum in buckets for awards
This is a night to discuss
the love Christ has for us and the Love we have for one
another. You can also make this a night in which the kids
should wear a white, black, or red shirt to assist in
joint council time message.
Game Time - normal Awana games
Council Time Message - "What Color is My Heart?"
Scripture references: Isaiah 1:18; Acts 20:28; Ephesians
1:7; I Peter 1:9; Hebrews 9:22
(Make one large flannel or paper heart in black, red,
and white. Work on the message using these visual aids
to show how our heart is black with sin, the blood of
Jesus covers it and washes away sin to make our heart
pure white.)
Awards and Treats - Pencils which are red, white, or red
& white with hearts. Christian bookstores have scripture
verse pencils for more $ OR have ladies or leaders make
Rice Krispy treats or cookies with a cookie cutter in
a heart shape.
Clubbers and Leaders should
dress in as many layers of clothes as they can. when they
arrive they should be taken into one large ream and the
number of articles of clothing taken off and counted until
they get down to their normal uniform. Give shares accordingly.
Game Time - Make hundreds of snowballs out of plain white
tying paper. Store them in large trash bags. a) Have team
snowball fights. Team with the least snowballs in their
circle wins. Have teams make snowmen out of one in their
group or a leader. Bring several brooms, carrots, raisins,
hats, etc. Have two people from your church come and judge
the best snowmen. Council Time Message - "Am I hot
or Cold?" Scripture references: Revelation 3:15-16.
Awards and Treats - Winning teams get hot chocolate with
marshmallows or ice cream.
What a great self-esteem
builder this is and a great way to get parents and families
to come and see what AWANA is all about! This activity
takes a little more pre-planning than most, but it is
worth it all. 1) Have a sign up sheet for the Clubbers
and Leaders to put down what they want to do several weeks
ahead. Everything from singing, playing an instrument,
gymnastics, fly casting, decorating, etc. Clubbers who
don't feel they have a talent can be production or stage
assistants helping get things moved and ready for the
next act. 2) Important: Make sure someone in Leadership
approves all the music and talent acts before hand. Parents
or family members are invited to the evening and can be
in the act with their family members. This activity only
allows for 45 minutes of handbook time and the remainder
of the evening is for the Show.
Council Time Message - "How can I use my talents
for Christ?" Scripture references: Hebrews 13:5;
Philippians 4:13; II Timothy 2:15-16.
Awards and Treats - Serve a simple punch after the Show
so the actors and participants can mingle with friends
and family.
Several ideas can be used
for this special evening:
1) Each Clubber should bring a Thank You note for God,
an Awana Leader, Awana Helper, LIT, or Awana Listener
who has make an impact or difference in their life.
2) Have a ballot box for the Leaders and the one receiving
the most votes for favorite leader should be taken out
to dinner by the Commander of the Club one evening.
3) Each Leader should have small treats or prizes to be
given out every time a Clubber hears a leader say "Thank
you" or "I appreciate you" during the evening.
Clubbers must raise their hands when they hear those words.
Game Time - Regular Awana games but remember Games Leaders
should have treats to hand out for hearing thank yous.
Council Time Message - "How Should I Give Thanks
to God?" Perhaps sing the chorus "Give Thanks"
with someone playing the piano or guitar. Scripture references:
Philippians 4:4; I Thessalonians 5:16-18.
You can substitute toilet
paper tubes for batons, rolls of TP for bean bags during
game time. After handbook time, clubbers get to T.P. their
leader by wrapping them in toilet paper. Council time
message could be about Lazarus, or about how sin can "wrap
us up.".
