Equipping Kids with Lifelasting

Transcription

1 Equipping Kids with Lifelasting Faith in Christ Volunteer Guide

2 "Awana and the Awana logo are registered trademarks and service marks of Awana Clubs International. Used by permission." 2

3 Awana Schedule Pg 4 Leadership Team Contact List Pg 4 Welcome to Awana Pg 5 Pledges Pg 5 History of Awana Pg 5 Role of an Awana Leader Pg 6 How to Share the Gospel Pg 7 Club Specifics Pg 8 On Club Day Pg 10 Listening Guidelines Pg 10 Bible Verse Memorization Tips Pg 11 Sparks and T&T Earning Awana Bucks Pg 11 Bringing a Guest - alternatives Pg 12 The Awana Grand Prix Pg 12 Safeguarding and Discipline Pg 12 Emergency & Safety Guide Pg 14 Awana Frequently Asked Questions Pg 15 Cubbie Verse and Events Calendar Pg 19 Sparks and T&T Events Calendar Pg 20 "Awana and the Awana logo are registered trademarks and service marks of Awana Clubs International. Used by permission." 3

4 AWANA SCHEDULE TIME ACTIVITY 5:00-6:00pm Set- up 6:00pm Volunteer Prayer and AWANA Store Opens on Store Night 6:10-6:30pm Check-in & Gathering Activities in Narthex Rooms 2031/32 6:30-6:35pm Opening in Narthex Rooms 2031/32 SPARKS T & T 6:35-6:58pm Game Time in Narthex 6:35-6:58pm Handbook Time Lower Level; Transition to Room 1014 as verses completed 6:58-7:00pm Transition to Lower Level 6:58-7:18pm Council Time Room 1014 à K: Use middle stairs, Gr. 1-2: Use south stairs 7:00-7:25pm Handbook Time- Lower Level; Transition to Rom 7:18-7:20pm Transition to Game Time in Narthex - Use middle stairs 1014 as verses completed (not until 7:18pm) 7:25-7:45pm Council Time Room :20-7:45pm Game Time in Narthex 7:45pm Parent Pick-up from Room :45pm Parent Pick-up from Narthex 7:45-8:00pm Clean-up and AWANA Store is Open on Store Nights Leadership Team Role Name Phone Commander Dannene Schneider mom@schneiderkids.com Commander Bronwen Bash bbash@rcolimited.com Council Time Director Amy Adams gregandamyadams@sbcglobal.net Cubbies Director John Browning browning04@gmail.com Cubbies Director Jill Brankamp jrbrankamp@gmail.com Sparks Director T&T Director Games Director Kaleb Brankamp jrbrankamp@gmail.com "Awana and the Awana logo are registered trademarks and service marks of Awana Clubs International. Used by permission." 4

5 Thank you for volunteering your valuable time to work with children at AWANA at UALC. I hope AWANA will be as meaningful for you and your family as it has been for ours. Awana is comprised of three age groups. Cubbies Clubbers are Age 3 to Pre- K. Sparks Clubbers are Kindergarten to 2 nd Grade. Truth and Training Clubbers (or T&T) are 3 rd Grade through 6 th Grade. A typical night at Awana is made up of three parts: game time, handbook time, and council time. In the pages of this Guide, you ll find information that is applicable to all Clubs, as well as Club- specific details. Awana is a great environment to encourage children to grow in their faith by memorizing Scripture and learning basic knowledge and understanding of biblical principles and doctrine. It is also a place where they will compete in teams and learn great skills in fair play and good sportsmanship. Arriving timely each week is greatly appreciated. Our Club starts at 6:30pm and ends at 7:45pm. We request that volunteers arrive no later than 6:20pm to allow time to get settled prior to the opening ceremonies. If you know ahead of time you will need to be absent, please let us know as early as possible. If the unexpected happens, and you will be late or absent, please call or text Dannene at Be sure to check the Awana page on the church s website ( and/or reach out to us via (awana@ualc.org) to answer questions or reprint the Volunteer Guide or calendar information. Please let us know how else we can best equip you for your role with Awana. Sincerely, Dannene Schneider & Bronwen Bash Awana Co- Commanders Pledge of Allegiance I pledge allegiance to the flag Of the United States of America And to the Republic, for which it stands One Nation, under God, indivisible With liberty and justice for all. Awana Pledge I pledge allegiance to the Awana flag Which stands for the Awana Clubs Whose goal is to reach boys and girls With the Gospel of Christ And train them to serve Him. Statistics about Awana: The Awana curriculum has been around for over 50 years. Awana is presented in 30,000 churches over 100 denominations and in 104 countries, and growing 2 million kids are reached with the gospel each week around the world 100% of kids that come to Awana hear the gospel 92% of Awana alumni still attend church at least weekly Alumni are 3.6 times more likely to read their Bible several times per week 70% of alumni said they witness to friends at least once a month "Awana and the Awana logo are registered trademarks and service marks of Awana Clubs International. Used by permission." 5

6 42 colleges offer scholarships to Awana achievers AWANA comes from 2 Timothy 2:15 and stands for: Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 Awana is a fun and engaging way for children to learn Scripture. We strongly believe it will benefit not only the children you lead, but also you and your whole family as well. A leader is a Clubber s main Awana contact. Leaders may be responsible to lead Clubbers in Handbook Time, however, leaders may also be in leadership roles of other Club segments. All adults have the greatest opportunity and responsibility to affect lives of children for eternity. Roles and Responsibilities A leader has one main role to lead Clubbers. Specific responsibilities during each Club segment are included in this document. Check- in/opening ceremony Opening ceremony includes a flag ceremony and general announcements. Some ways a leader may help during this time include: * Help set up. * Assist with check- in. * Greet Clubbers by name. * Participate in pre- Club and opening ceremony activities. * Address Clubber behavior, as needed. Council Time Council Time should be just as fun as Game Time. This is time for leaders to help Clubbers worship the Lord with enthusiasm and hear the gospel in a large group setting. Leaders can help Clubbers in the following ways: * Participate in council time activities. * Address Clubber behavior, as needed. * Assist Council Time Director, as needed. Handbook Time During Handbook Time Clubbers have the opportunity to recite sections and receive credit for their efforts. This is also the best opportunity for leaders to develop relationships with Clubbers. This small group time can change a Clubber s life. During this time, leaders should: * Pray with the children. * Teach spiritual truths. * Enforce standards to pass sections, then sign off on them. * Address Clubber behavior, as needed. * Keep records. Game Time "Awana and the Awana logo are registered trademarks and service marks of Awana Clubs International. Used by permission." 6

7 Game Time draws kids to Awana because the kids want to have fun. Fast- paced, exciting, and fun are three words to describe Game Time. Leaders participate in the excitement in the following ways: * Assist Game Director in organizing teams and maintaining order. * Encourage Clubber participation. * Explain game rules. * Model & enforce good sportsmanship. Check- out Leaders wait with their Clubbers until they are picked up. Expectations for leaders for this time period include: * Greet parents and talk to them about their children. * Address Clubber behavior, as needed. * Assist the Director/Commander. Leading a Clubber to Christ The prayer of Awana is to see every child come to know, love, and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. To this end, the gospel should be presented regularly, resulting in Clubbers asking leaders questions and putting their trust in Jesus Christ. A leader must know and be able to clearly present the gospel to children. Responsibilities for every Club leader are: * Be prepared to share their testimony. * Be able to share the gospel in age- appropriate language. * Look for opportunities to explain the gospel and invite Clubbers to trust in Jesus. * Memorize the gospel wheel verses and recite to Director/Commander. Qualifications A leader needs to be qualified in the following ways: * Have trusted in Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior. * Be growing in relationship with Christ. * Be walking with the Lord. * Be in compliance with the requirements of leadership in his or her church. * Demonstrate an attitude that is attractive to kids. Foundational to Awana is reaching children with the good news of Jesus. Each child who registers for or visits Awana receives a presentation of the Gospel in the form of a Club- specific Entrance Booklet. What are the basics of the gospel that we want to present? The facts: We are sinful, and the punishment for our sin is death. But God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to die for us while we were still sinners. Jesus didn t just take our punishment he conquered death and rose again and that if we believe in Jesus we will be saved. Awana uses a Gospel wheel and several key verses to share this message: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 They replied Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your household. Acts 16:31 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised the third day according to the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 "Awana and the Awana logo are registered trademarks and service marks of Awana Clubs International. Used by permission." 7

8 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23. We ask that all Awana volunteers work to learn the key verses in this wheel. This wheel can be entered from any section in the outer circle. There are verses that talk about action (Jesus and ours) and verses that talk about character (ours and Gods). Be intentional, but do not force any situations. Often questions will come up as lessons are presented or as handbook work is reviewed. If an opportunity to share the gospel presents itself, make sure to ask the child if he/she has any questions, and ask if he/she has asked Jesus to live in his/her heart. If he/she has not but wants to ask Jesus into his/her heart, take time to pray with him or her. Make sure to let the Club Director or Commander know if a child does make a decision to choose Jesus as his/her savior. A child will accept Christ s love when he/she is ready. It is our job to share the gospel and the Holy Spirit s job to make the heart ready. Do not pressure any child, but be willing to answer questions. God John 3:16 Cross Romans 1 Corinthians 5:8 15:3-4 Trust Acts 16:31 Man Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23 Cubbies Curriculum & Overview Cubbies is the two- year Awana Club for preschoolers. The children will have a handbook each year, which they will work on at home. Cubbies is designed for parental involvement. There is a lesson plan for each night called a Celebration. The Celebration has suggested things to do for each segment of the evening. Each Celebration is designed to match the current lesson in the handbook. During each segment of the Club night we will emphasize one Scriptural truth. We will also repeat the verses for the evening often so that the Cubbies will learn them easier. Curriculum: Apple Acres Entrance Booklet (for 1 st year Cubbies) Honey Comb Handbook Each Cubbie starts out the first night with the Apple Acres Entrance Booklet. It contains helpful information for parents about Cubbies along with the first memory work to be completed. The group works through the handbook together, one lesson, also known as a Bear Hug, per week. The parents and Shepherds have a schedule of which verse is being studied each week. (See the Cubbie Verse Calendar at the back of this Guide.) Each Bear Hug contains a story, a verse to memorize, and advice to parents. There is also an optional extra credit activity called Under the Apple Tree. In addition, there is an additional extra credit review section. The Cubbies night will typically include: 1. Coming- In Time take attendance & play 2. Starting Time puppets, songs 3. Game Time non- competitive games and activities 4. Lesson Time review scripture & share stories 5. Small Group Time recite verse 6. Quiet & Going Home Time quiet activity & wait for parent pick- up "Awana and the Awana logo are registered trademarks and service marks of Awana Clubs International. Used by permission." 8

9 Cubbie standards: Each child will learn and recite the verses at home with parents. The Cubbie will then repeat the verses to a Shepherd. Cubbies may have multiple helps per verse. Learning the Bible reference is not required when doing the book for the first time, however, 4- year- olds should be encouraged to recite the reference as well as the verse. Note: A Cubbie will not fail to pass a section for not knowing the reference. Children do one section per week but if a child has missed a week, please see if he/she wants to make up the missed verse. Parents have been encouraged to leave a note if a child is doing a previous verse that was missed due to an absence. Sparks Curriculum New Clubbers, regardless of age, complete Flight 3:16 entrance booklet before starting the first handbook. They then work thru the following handbooks in order. HangGlider (Kindergarten) WingRunner (1 st Grade) SkyStormer (2 nd Grade) If Clubbers complete the book for their grade early, there are extra credit cards they can work on. For example, a Kindergartener who finishes HangGlider must wait until next year to start WingRunner, but a 2 nd Grader who finishes HangGlider may start on WingRunner immediately. Please refer them to the secretaries if they need the next book. For all Sparks, children should be prepared to give the reference as well as the verse. Note: You can use a little leeway with Kindergartners. We want the children to feel a sense of accomplishment early and be encouraged to continue. Always ask for the reference and point out the importance of knowing where to find a verse in Scripture. Also feel free to ask questions to make sure your Sparkies understand the verses they are learning. T&T Curriculum Similar to Sparks, all new Clubbers complete the entrance booklet based on their age group. 3 rd & 4 th Graders have the Ultimate Adventure series, and 5 th & 6 th Graders have the Ultimate Challenge series. 5 th Graders who were in Awana last year may choose to not finish the book they were working on and move to Ultimate Challenge Book 1. Please note: Clubbers who complete all 7 handbooks (3 in Sparks and 4 in T&T) can earn the Timothy Award. This may influence what path they take with handbooks. Ultimate Adventure Entrance Booklet Ultimate Adventure Book 1 (3 rd Grade) Ultimate Adventure Book 2 (4 th Grade) Ultimate Challenge Entrance Booklet Ultimate Challenge Book 1 (5 th Grade) Ultimate Challenge Book 2 (6 th Grade) The T&T books are set up with a question, answer and supporting verse format. The children are expected to know the answers to the questions as well as the verses. The answers do not have to be memorized word for word. Silver and Gold sections are optional. We usually suggest children skip them. T&T Clubbers must say the verse and reference. They must answer all questions in their handbooks, so ask them the questions. Many times, responses that are not scripture can be put in their own words. At the bottom of each discovery section is a list of what the child must do to successfully complete that section. The words that have definitions are to be reviewed so that the child understands them and thus we can help the child to learn the meaning of the verses. Additional optional activity: T&T Service Passport Each T&T Clubber may choose to participate in Service Activities. The Clubber will receive a service passport and can complete up to four activities per year. The Clubber chooses which service activities to do off a list of options. When the Clubber successfully completes an activity they can get a stamp in their passport from the secretary. For every two stamps the Clubber earns a "Awana and the Awana logo are registered trademarks and service marks of Awana Clubs International. Used by permission." 9

10 pin. Clubbers can earn two pins per year. (Clubbers who are in 4 th grade may earn up to 4 pins, 5 th grade may earn up to 6 pins and 6 th grade may earn up to 8 pins). The task of the Handbook Shepherd it to build relationships with their small group of children while reaching the children with the Gospel. Please follow these guidelines for all Clubs unless otherwise noted. Each evening you will pick up the red folder for your animal group. Sparks & T&T Shepherds will meet their children in the Room 2031/2 by the sign with their animal on it. Cubbie Shepherds will meet their children in their rooms on the lower level. You will shepherd them through Council and Game times and help and participate as needed. In Handbook time you will work with your small group of children who have come prepared to quote sections from their handbooks. o You will listen to children say their verses utilizing the standards below and complete the Attendance & Awana Buck Record for each child (Sparks and T&T only). o If a child earns an award, he/she should take his/her book to the secretaries to receive his/her award. Teen helpers can help with this. o If a child brings a guest have the teen helper take the Clubber and guest to the guest book and treasure chest. Each guest should receive a guest packet. o Please use extra time to encourage the children, share prayer requests, help the children study and get to know the children better and have fun. We also will have other resources (coloring pages, games, etc. that you can use if time permits.) Please return the folder to the secretary table at the end of handbook time. If you have a child who has missed 2 consecutive weeks of Club, please fill out an absentee postcard and address it. Drop it off at the secretary table, and we will take care of the postage. We want children to know that they have been missed and want to be able to help if the family is having a need. Stay with your group of children at closing until all of your children have been picked up by a parent or other authorized adult. Please see the Calendar of Events page (back cover) for weekly themes, special events, Store nights, and weeks when there will be NO AWANA! Club will not meet if Upper Arlington/Hilliard schools are closed or dismissed early due to weather. Clubbers may receive two helps per section. A section is made up of a long verse or several shorter verses usually one page. These are marked in the handbooks. A help is a large word or short phrase given when the child is not sure. Pronunciation is not a help and the first word of the verse is not a help. Cubbies do one verse per week; Sparks & T&T are self- paced. To finish a book in a year, Sparks & T&T Clubbers should do approximately 2 sections/week. There are special needs modifications available, if needed. Children of all ages are expected to know the reference as well as the verse. For older Clubbers, the verse reference is to be considered THREE helps. If a child needs 3 helps, the child is not prepared to recite the section. You may help them study and they can try again next week. The goal is long- term retention. Sign and date the handbook for those Clubbers who successfully recite a section with 2 or fewer helps. "Awana and the Awana logo are registered trademarks and service marks of Awana Clubs International. Used by permission." 10

11 All books need to be done in order, except for the bring a guest sections (Sparks/T&T) or Special Day Sections (Cubbies). If children struggle with the bring a guest section," there are alternatives in this Guide. As you get to know the children in your group, you will know who memorizes very quickly and doesn t need much help to complete a section that they have truly studied and you will know the children who struggle more with memorization. Encourage all the children, and you may modify the help needed in a section for the child who truly needs that accommodation. If a book is finished midyear, children in Sparks & T&T who have not yet done the book for their grade level may move ahead to the next book. Extra credit books are available for those who finish early and who are in the book for their grade. Please remember this is a grace- oriented program both towards yourselves as you figure out how to best perform your role as a shepherd and to the children in learning their verses. For Non- Readers and Readers: Start by saying the verse several times. Make sure the child understands every word. Make repetition fun. Repeat the verse here and there throughout the day. Put the words of the verse to music. Use pictures to help the child associate the word with an idea. Dramatically emphasize important words. Hand Motions Parents use hand motions (or sign language) to illustrate the words and thoughts of a passage. For example, For the Lord (point upwards) Himself shall descend (lower your hand) from heaven with a shout (hand beside mouth), with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump (position hand like you re playing a trumpet) of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise (raise your hand) first: then we (point to yourself) which are alive and remain shall be caught up (raise hand slowly) together with them in the clouds to meet (pretend to shake hands) the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For Readers: Definitions Define difficult words while practicing a verse for memorization. Personal identification Insert the child s name into a verse. For example, God so loved (Alex), that He gave. Personal Application Applying the message of a verse to a personal experience increases retention. Don t forget this important memorization tool! Write & Erase Write the Bible verse down on something that is easy to erase. Then as a word or phrase is erased the child remembers the missing words and recites the verse. Repeat the procedure until all the words are erased or the verse is memorized. Parent/Child Recitation Take turns with your child reciting the verse or alternate with your child saying parts of the verse. Using small pieces of paper, write one word from the verse on each piece of paper. Have the child arrange them in the proper order. This can work for memorizing Books of the Bible too. Children in Sparks & T&T Earn AWANA Bucks each night for the following reasons: "Awana and the Awana logo are registered trademarks and service marks of Awana Clubs International. Used by permission." 11

12 1) Wearing their Uniform ($1) 2) Completing a section in their handbooks ($1 per section.) 3) Bringing a friend to AWANA ($1) 4) Dressing for/participating in the Theme Night ($1) 5) If their team color wins that night, each child on the team receives $1 On your Attendance & Awana Buck Sheet total the bucks earned that evening and put them in the Clubber s envelope in his/her handbook. Awana Bucks can be spent at the Awana Store which will occur 3 times throughout this Awana Year. Bringing a friend to Club is very fun and exciting but it can also be challenging. Maybe you ve asked several friends but no one can come. Here are some options that can be done to fulfill the Bring a friend to Club requirement. If actually bringing a friend isn t working for you, why don t you give one of these a try? Invite 5 friends to Club. Ask the friend or your parents to sign a paper for your handbook shepherd that says you ve invited them to Club. Write a letter to a friend explaining what Awana is; give a simple salvation messages and an invitation to Club. Your handbook shepherd should read the letter and you should send it to your friend. Do an outreach program with church or your parents, such as visiting an elderly neighbor or nursing home, or send cards to the residents. Visit new or recently absent Clubbers two or three times with your parents. Visit (with a parent or leaders) children who attended Vacation Bible School but did not come to Awana. Memorize extra verses. (See the Commander for details.) Bring friends to a church service or Sunday School Class. Pass out Club promotional materials with other Clubbers and leaders. Wear your uniform to school and be prepared to give and explanation. Have your parent or teacher write a note saying you wore your uniform. Invite parents, grandparents or friends to special Easter or Christmas programs at your church. (This only works for parents or grandparents who do not attend your church.) The Awana Grand Prix is designed to be a fun activity for kids and parents to participate in together. We will be selling car kits and strongly encourage parents to help their kids design their cars for the event. Check the Events Calendar for date car design workshops held at UALC. Cost of cars is on the Pricing Guide. On event day, activities include judging for best design prize (one per Club), a gospel message, and of course racing the cars on a pinewood derby track to determine which ones are the fastest. UALC is continually working toward providing an environment that protects the safety of children and youth as well as volunteers and employees. As an Awana volunteer you need to be certified as a person who is safe with children and youth. If you are age 18 or older, you show that you have been certified by wearing your green, orange, or purple safeguarding children badge whenever you are volunteering with Awana or doing "Awana and the Awana logo are registered trademarks and service marks of Awana Clubs International. Used by permission." 12

13 other ministry with children. If you do not have one of these badges, please contact Dannene to begin the background and fingerprint check process. Besides wearing your safeguarding badge, there are a few important things to remember: 1. Always follow the two adult or two- child/youth rule. One adult should never be alone with one child or youth (unless it is your own child.) Children 2 nd grade or younger should be escorted to the restroom following the two adult or two child rule. Often with restroom breaks it s best to stand at the door to the restroom with the door open. 2. Touch children appropriately a gentle touch or shoulders, hands, arms or head. No touching where a bathing suit covers. 3. You are morally obligated to report any suspected child abuse to a pastor. 4. Finally keep your eyes open and be aware of what happens around you. Get to know your fellow volunteers and the adults who pick up children from Club. Note anything that is out of the usual pattern of a Wednesday night and report it to the Commander. Thank you for helping to make UALC a safe place for children & adults. Now let s talk a little about behavior at Awana and discipline. We love children at UALC and at Awana, but it is important that children understand the boundaries at Awana. It is helpful at the very beginning to make your expectations clear. You will need to do this each time you have a new child in your group. One of the best strategies is to learn each child by name and make personal contact with each one (eye contact, smiles, warm welcomes, remembering personal details like how did your ball game go?, are great. ) Let each child know that you are glad that he/she has come and that he/she is important to the group and that he/she is needed to participate in all of the activities. Some expectations to share: 1. Be kind and respectful to others this includes speech and physical contact: i.e. no put downs, keeping hands to yourself and not using other s belongings. It also includes respect for the church facility and equipment not purposefully breaking supplies, or damaging things. This is a good time to let the children in your group know what you would like to be called. If you are an adult, please have them use your title (Miss, Ms., Mrs. or Mr.) even if you choose to let them use your first name. 2. Make sure your child knows to stay with your group both with the larger Club groups (Cubbies, Sparks, T&T) but also with his/her Handbook Shepherd group or Cubbies color group. This can be more of an issue for the older T&T children who know the routines and are very comfortable in the building. Reinforce the importance of everyone staying together for safety. 3. Let the kids know that all of the adults wearing the Safeguarding Children badges are safe adults to be with. 4. We are at Awana to have fun and learn about Jesus. Be generous with your praise when the children are listening, following directions or participating in activities. If you are a handbook shepherd, encourage the children who are working through the handbooks. If they are struggling, offer memorization tips and help each child set a goal for the next week. Remember that children come to Awana from all walks of life and life situations. Sometimes you ll have a child who is challenging. Make a special point to get to know this child. (Does he have a pet? Favorite things to do? Favorite subject, etc.) Try to make a connection with a common interest. If you are a handbook shepherd, you can help during game time by picking a color team and cheering that team on. Help organize the kids on that team so they are ready when it is their turn. During Council time "Awana and the Awana logo are registered trademarks and service marks of Awana Clubs International. Used by permission." 13

14 please sit with or near your group. Help our council time leaders, by ensuring that the children in your group are being respectful and attentive. You can model participation for them. If a child is acting out try and redirect the child with a gentle touch on the shoulder including eye contact and I m counting on you to. It s a good time to remind the child of our expectations. If this does not work to calm and redirect a child, please contact the Commander. When a child is disrupting the whole group and keeping others from participating in the activities, it is time to ask for help. This is intended to be a quick and easy reference for resolution of major incidents that require a rapid or immediate response. It is the responsibility of Upper Arlington Lutheran Church (UALC) staff, associated workers and volunteers to be familiar with the material in this publication. A copy should always be readily available. This manual cannot anticipate all emergency situations and incidents. Therefore, always use good judgment and common sense in promoting safety and acting to avoid risk or danger to others. All of our leadership team members carry walkie- talkies to assist in communication during an emergency. BAD WEATHER Awana will not take place when Hilliard or Upper Arlington school district is closed due to bad weather. EMERGENCY EVACUATION In case of an emergency or natural disaster that may require evacuation of an area at UALC. Become familiar with the exit route Have a designated place to meet away from the building o North side of the building à Go to the driveway north of the playground area. o South side of the building à Meet next to the Community Garden. o Take attendance and report to a runner any missing person. TORNADO Exit classrooms and be seated along the wall of hallways in the lower level away from any windows. FIRE Immediately notify the nearest Awana leadership member, so that he/she can contact the Awana Commander immediately. Evacuate the immediate vicinity and notify people quietly to prevent widespread panic. FIRE SAFETY No smoking in the building Never lock exit doors Know the location of fire extinguishers and learn to use them properly Reports any possible fire hazard to the Awana Commander FIRST AID & EMERGENCY PROCEDURES (allergic reactions, asthma, bee stings, bites, bleeding, etc.) Immediately contact your Club Director and/or the Awana Commander. A basic first aid kit is located in the office on the main floor. The secretaries also have adhesive bandages. Ice is available in the kitchen. AED devices are located on the main level. The child/volunteers emergency contact should be notified. UNAUTHORIZED PICKUP Awana Clubbers need to be picked up by a parent or guardian. SIBLINGS ARE NOT A PARENT OR GUARDIAN. "Awana and the Awana logo are registered trademarks and service marks of Awana Clubs International. Used by permission." 14

15 Awana Clubbers may be picked up by another adult if we have received a note in advance from the parent/guarding authorizing that adult. If a non- custodial parent wishes to pick up his/her child, we need permission from the custodial parent. Should an unauthorized person attempt to pick up a child, do not release child. Do notify your Club Director/Commander. LOST OR MISSING STUDENT Immediately notify your Club Director. They will contact the Awana Commander. Report the location where the child was last seen Provide a description of child (clothing, hair color, height, etc.) DEATH OF STUDENT OR VOLUNTEER Contact Awana Commander Remove students from the area SAFETY HAZARDS Promptly notify Awana Commander of any situations, conditions or practices that constitute or appear to indicate a safety hazard. Be conscious at all times of your safety and the safety of others OTHER INCIDENTS Any incidents relating to gas, electric or water should be reported immediately to the Awana Commander VIOLENCE OR THREATS Do not discuss the situation with the person in a public area. Make cordial attempts to convince him/her to go into an office or an area away from the public to discuss the problem. If at all possible, have another staff member present. Do not attempt to detain the person against his/her will. If physical violence appears imminent try to calm the individual. Do not threaten to use physical force. If the situation cannot resolved, refer the person to the Awana Commander. SUSPECTED WEAPON Notify Awana Commander. Do Not Approach or Confront someone who is in possession of a weapon. Do not put yourself or others in danger. Remain calm. HOSTAGE SITUATION Stay calm Assess the situation Be prepared to provide detailed information: description of perpetrator (sex, race, clothing, where last seen, etc) THREATENING PERSON(S) Keep students in the room; students in hall or restroom need to go to the nearest room. Turn off all lights Students should sit together on the floor away from the door and away from visual contact from the window in the door. Cover the door window. INFORMATION REQUESTS: All inquiries of a sensitive nature should be referred to the Awana Commander. "Awana and the Awana logo are registered trademarks and service marks of Awana Clubs International. Used by permission." 15

16 When & Where does AWANA meet? We meet at Mill Run on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-7:45 p.m. from September April/May. Check in begins at 6:10 p.m. How do I register my child for AWANA? You can register online at Note: Awana can be joined at any time during the Club year (September- April/May). What does the name AWANA mean? AWANA stands for Approved Workmen are Not Ashamed and come from the Bible Verse 2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. What age children can go to AWANA? AWANA is for children ages 3-6 th grade. You do not have to attend or be a member of UALC to join AWANA. Please note that all Cubbies (preschoolers) must be completely potty trained, have turned 3 by September 30, and Cubbie parents must be on site either as an AWANA volunteer or attending an adult class. Our Cubbie Class is limited to the first 40 children who register. A waiting list will be created for those registrations which exceed that number. Sixth graders are welcome at Awana or they can also go to Impact Middle School Youth Group which also meets on Wednesday evenings at Mill Run. If you are an AWANA volunteer or attending the adult classes there is a nursery available for children younger than 3 years old. What are Cubbies, Sparks, and Truth & Training? These are the names of the different AWANA Clubs. Cubbies is for preschoolers 3 years (by September 30, 2011) to Pre- K. Sparks is for Kindergarten through second grade. Truth & Training or T&T is for third through sixth grades. This is broken down further into Ultimate Adventure for third and fourth grades and Ultimate Challenge for fifth and sixth grades. Cubbies is only available to the children of AWANA volunteers or those attending an adult class. Cubbie parents must be on site. All children K- 6 may participate in Sparks or Truth & Training. What happens in an AWANA meeting? There are three main parts to AWANA meetings: Game Time, Council time (singing and large group Bible teaching) and Handbook Time (children recite the Bible verses they have learned and receive awards for workbook sections completed.) Each night children can participate in a theme such as Crazy Hat Night, Western Night, Bring a Friend Night. Who will be working with my children in AWANA? Adult and teen volunteers from our congregation who have a heart for working with children will be leading children through their large group teaching, games and handbook time. All volunteers 18 and older have been background checked and safeguarded. How much does AWANA cost? After completing an initial entrance booklet your child will earn the right to wear a uniform (cost $15) and handbook (provided by UALC). One uniform is worn for up to 3 years depending upon which Club your child is in and the age at which he/she enters it. Cubbies and Sparks wear a vest and Truth & Training kids wear a T- shirt or Jersey. Most children complete just one handbook at year although a few children may complete their handbook and move on to either the next handbook or a review workbook. Dues are $25 for the whole year. The dues cover not only the awards and prizes that your child earns throughout the year but also other program costs. Dues may be prorated if starting Awana mid- year. What if I can t afford the fees? Are there scholarships or family discounts? If you feel the costs are prohibitive, please send an to awana@ualc.org for information on scholarships. How can I sponsor a child in AWANA? A $40 donation will cover the cost of one child for the year. This pays for their annual dues and a uniform. If you wish to sponsor a child, please make a check payable to UALC and place AWANA scholarship in the memo line. I m not a member or attendee of UALC, can my child still come to AWANA? Absolutely, all children are welcome at AWANA. "Awana and the Awana logo are registered trademarks and service marks of Awana Clubs International. Used by permission." 16

17 Can my child bring a guest? Yes, in fact, we encourage guests and bringing guest to our AWANA Club is one of the activities in the handbooks. What if we are having trouble bringing a guest? We have a list of alternatives, please see your child s handbook shepherd or the secretaries for a copy of this list. What should my child wear to Awana? Your child should wear closed toed shoes preferably tennis shoes and pants/shorts are better than dresses as they get very active in game time. When your child earns his/her uniform that should also be worn to each Club. Sometimes our theme dictates what your child may want to wear. What happens while the children are gathering after check - in? Cubbie children will gather in their room and have supervised activities. Sparks and T&T children will gather in the Narthex and participate in group activities like a game or mad libs. What should my child bring to Awana? Your child should bring in a tote bag/backpack filled with his/her starting brochure or handbook, Bible, $1 dues if they have not been prepaid. Please do not send your child with items that would be missed if they were lost or items that are distracting or disruptive to others. When does my child get his/her book and uniform? Children initially receive a starting brochure that will take at least 2 weeks to complete. When the starting brochure is complete, the child will have earned the right to a uniform and handbook. After completing his/her starting brochure, your child is eligible for his/her uniform. The uniform will be given out when we receive the $15 payment. If your child is in his/her 2 nd or 3 rd year of a Club and has finished the starting brochure and his/her previous handbook last Club year, then he/she will receive his handbook the first night of Club. How much work is involved in the handbooks? This varies by child but most children spend around 10 minutes per day working on their handbooks. Some activities involve memorizing verses or books of the Bible and other activities involve praying for people, writing a missionary, obeying your parents, learning about flag rules or going on a nature walk. The silver and gold sections in the T&T books are optional. How many sections per week in the handbook should my child do? Cubbie children complete one section per week. The Club stays together on the same section. If your child has missed one or more weeks in Cubbies he/she is welcome to make those up. Sparks & T&T children move through the program at his/her own pace. The books are designed to be done one/year however some children will do more than that a year and some less. There are very nice awards given at the end of the year for completing each handbook. If completing the handbook is your child s goal, generally he/she should expect to complete 2 sections/week in the handbook. Note that the bring a guest section in Sparks & T&T handbooks can be completed at any time but otherwise the books should be completed in order. What if my child is not good at memorizing? Every child can be successful at AWANA. Children work through the handbooks at their own paces and receive encouragement from a caring adult while reciting their verses. The verses vary in length as the children get older and are geared to the age of the child. We offer songs to help the children learn and other memorization tools. If your child has special needs, there are adaptations to the handbook that we can use. What if my child finished his handbook before the end of the year? Please see your handbook shepherd or Club secretary. If your child is in a grade older than his/her book, your child will just move on to the next handbook. If your child is in the grade for his/her handbook, we have extra credit cards/activities that he/she can complete for additional awards. There is a $10 fee for each new handbook or extra credit workbook. How is AWANA involved in mission? We will have several mission projects throughout the year in which the children participate. We try to have kids helping kids. Also T&T Clubbers can participate in the optional Service Passports. Through the service passports T&T Clubbers complete 2 service projects to earn a pin for "Awana and the Awana logo are registered trademarks and service marks of Awana Clubs International. Used by permission." 17

18 their uniform and can earn up to two pins a year. The secretaries have a list of possible service projects. If you have an idea for one that is not on the list let us know. Who do we contact for the missionary sections in the handbooks? Please see the secretaries for a list of missionaries from UALC. If you know other missionaries, you are welcome to contact them as well. What is the AWANA store? Children in Sparks & T&T earn AWANA Bucks in our program through wearing their uniform to Club, dressing for the theme, completing sections in their handbooks, bringing a friend and if their team wins in game time. Children may then use these AWANA Bucks to purchase items from the AWANA store. This store will be open four times this year and will feature items of a variety of values and interests that will be fun for the children to work to earn. What if we miss a week? It is okay if you miss and we don t hold meetings around the Holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Ash Wednesday.) However children do earn stickers, jewels and points for attendance and it s easier for children to complete their handbooks in AWANA if they have regular attendance. If your child is in Cubbies and he/she wishes to make up the verse for a week that he/she missed, please attach a note to your child s book indicating that. If we have a waiting list for Cubbies, any Cubbie who misses 3 consecutive weeks of Club, will give up his/her space in the class to the next child on the waiting list. What are the awards? Sparks Clubbers earn red and green jewels for handbook work and blue jewels for attendance. They can then put these on a pin on their uniform. Additional review after completing the handbook will earn an extra patch and pin. Truth & Training Clubbers earn seals, bone pins or patches for completing sections of their handbooks. If they complete an entire book they get a patch. At the end of the year we have an AWARDS night in which children will receive participation certificates and if they finish their books will receive various ribbons and trophies. We encourage all parents and Clubbers to attend this evening. What if my child loses his jewel or seal or patch or book? A replacement can be purchased for a nominal fee. I m not good at sewing do I have any other options for the patches? If you do not want to sew your child s patches onto the uniform, you may purchase a badge adhesive sticker sheet from us. These are machine washable and shaped to fit the patches and will attach your child s patch to his/her uniform. Please see your Club secretary if you wish to purchase one of these. What is the Jamboree? The Jamboree is a party held on the last week of AWANA (May 9, 2012) to celebrate our year. We have lots of fun games, prizes and a light supper. We ask the parents of younger children to stay and help their children go to all of the game stations. How can I get involved? AWANA is run by volunteers just like you. Just download our adult or teen volunteer form and return it to the AWANA ministry table or the Youth Box at UALC. You can also contact us at awana@ualc.org. We have volunteer opportunities to lead activities in handbook rooms, to listen to children say their verses, to help with songs and drama in council time, to help with set up and clean up, to be a substitute, to pray for our ministry and to help with special events. All volunteers 18 and older are required to have a background check and photo ID badge issued through our safeguarding children program. What if the weather is bad? How will I know if AWANA is cancelled? If either Hilliard City Schools or Upper Arlington Schools close early or cancel their school day entirely due to inclement weather we will not have AWANA. You can also check the church calendar on the web site at ualc.org. Do parents or other family members have to stay while their children participate during AWANA? Cubbie parents must stay on site either volunteering for Awana or attending another church program/class. Sparks and T&T parents do not have to stay on site, but they are invited to take part in other UALC programming which is available during the same time frame that AWANA meets: impact for middle schoolers & several adult classes. What if I have another question? Please contact us at awana@ualc.org. "Awana and the Awana logo are registered trademarks and service marks of Awana Clubs International. Used by permission." 18

19 "Awana and the Awana logo are registered trademarks and service marks of Awana Clubs International. Used by permission." 19

20 Check-in begins at 6:10pm. Meetings run Wednesdays 6:30 7:45pm unless otherwise stated. Club will not meet if Upper Arlington/Hilliard schools are closed or dismissed early due to weather. 9/3/2014 Apple Acres Entrance Booklet Bear Hug A " God loved us and sent His Son..." (1 John 4:10) 9/10/2014 Apple Acres Entrance Booklet Bear Hug B "Jesus loves me" 9/17/2014 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 1 " All have sinned " (Romans 3:23) 9/24/2014 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 2 " While we were sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) 10/1/2014 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 3 "You are worthy, our Lord and God For you created all things " (Revelation 4:11) 10/8/2014 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 4 "I praise You because I am fearfully And wonderfully made " (Psalm 139:14) 10/15/2014 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 5 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." (Ephesians 6:1) 10/22/2014 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 6 "You are worthy, our Lord and God For You created all things " (Revelation 4:11) 10/29/2014 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 7 "Worship the Lord your God, And serve Him only." (Matthew 4:10) 11/5/2014 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 8 " The Lord is the true God; He is the living God, The eternal King " (Jeremiah 10:10) 11/12/2014 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 9 "But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, You are my God." (Psalm 31:14) 11/19/2014 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 10 "Worship the Lord your God, And serve Him only." (Matthew 4:10) 11/26/2014 NO AWANA Thanksgiving Eve Service 12/3/2014 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 11 "My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, And they follow Me." (John 10:27) 12/10/2014 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 12 "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way " (Isaiah 53:6) 12/17/2014 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 13 " I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4) 12/24/2014 NO AWANA Christmas Eve Service 12/31/2014 NO AWANA New Year's Eve 1/7/2015 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 14 "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, And they follow Me." (John 10:27) 1/14/2015 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 15 " Give Him the name Jesus, Because He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21) 1/21/2015 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 16 " God has given us eternal life, And this life is in His Son." (1 John 5:11) 1/28/2015 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 17 "Give us today our daily bread." (Matthew 6:11) 2/4/2015 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 18 " Give Him the name Jesus, Because He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21) 2/11/2015 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 19 " The Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world." (1 John 4:14) 2/18/2015 NO AWANA Ash Wednesday Service 2/25/2015 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 20 " Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners " (1 Timothy 1:15) 3/4/2015 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 21 " Christ died for our sins He was buried He was raised on the third day " (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) 3/8/2015 AWANA Grand Prix (tentative) - on Sunday afternoon 3/11/2015 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 22 " The Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world." (1 John 4:14) 3/18/2015 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 23 "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." (Mark 16:15) 3/25/2015 NO AWANA Spring Break 4/1/2015 *Special Day 4 pg. 116 in Handbook "He is not here; He has risen, just as he said..." (Matthew 28:6) 4/8/2015 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 24 " How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Romans 10:15) 4/15/2015 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 25 " Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved " (Acts 16:31) 4/22/2015 Honeycomb Handbook Bear Hug 26 " Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." (Mark 16:15) *CUBBIES AWARDS NIGHT* 4/29/2015 Sparks/T&T Awards & All Clubbers Jamboree Night. Parents should attend with their Cubbies. "Awana and the Awana logo are registered trademarks and service marks of Awana Clubs International. Used by permission." 20