As
you are putting up each week’s flag, you might take
some time to review what was learned the past weeks
before singing “The Song of the Animals.” You can
do this simply by reminding kids of the Key Concepts
learned each week.
Part
of the flagpole portion of the program is to uncover
the animal of the week. This should be a surprise
as the “campers” attempt to guess the animal through
hints given by Ranger Dax.
Therefore, each week’s animal flag should be
hidden until the animal is discovered. Then, when
raising the flag, the animal’s name and picture should
be visible as a reminder of the content that week.
You can purchase a $20-$40 “flame”
to use as a Campfire
prop at novelty shops such as Spencer Gifts and Oriental Trading
Company.
A more expensive, deluxe model can be found at the
following website:
lemaitrefx.com
Consider
creating a night scene for your Campfire time:
Lower the lights and have glow-in-the-dark stars on
the wall and/or hanging from the ceiling.
Pay
attention to time each week. Come up with a plan beforehand
in case you run short on time. For example, you might
consider skipping the Camp Iwilligoway Drill or shortening
the Campfire time by playing one song instead of two.
If you are short every week, alternate cutting the
Drill or Campfire. If you have more time, consider
extending the Campfire by singing additional songs
and/or allowing the kids to come up with their own
situations on some of the Camp Iwilligoway Drills.
Pay
close attention to the response of your 4th
and 5th graders. If you find that they
think the Camp theme is cheesy and babyish, adjust
your approach. Speak to them with respect. Get feedback
from them and your volunteers about how to improve.
Be
sure to convey to volunteers who greet the children
or interact with them before Large Group that the
animal levels each week need to be kept a secret from
the kids. For example, discourage volunteers from
saying, “Welcome to Badger Week!”
Looking
for a Ranger Hat?
Try
www.woodlandgifts.com and www.eparks.com
Lesson 1:
Team
Time Leaders for Grades 3—5, for the activity in Lesson
1, you might use crumpled newspaper and/or recycled
paper in addition to or in place of the plain white
paper. Assign the newspaper as two points and the
recycled paper as three points.
Lesson 2:
Large
Group Teachers and Administrators, for Lesson 2, the
teaching method involves pulling props out of a backpack.
You can also use a different type of bag, box, or
other type of container if you’d like.
Lesson 3:
Team
Time Leaders, for Lesson 3, consider turning out the
lights for the activity to add a fun element.
Large
Group Teachers, if you have time at the end of the
Large Group Program in Lesson 4, you might have the
kids go back to Campfire for a worship and music time.
Lesson 5:
Team
Time Leaders, in Lesson 5 for the first Blue Popsicle
Challenge, you might have kids give a “high five”
to everyone on their team instead of only ten people.
Team
Time Leaders, for the activity in Lesson 5, groups
of about 15-20 kids work best for Grades 3—5. For
Grades K—2, groups of less than 15 kids work best.
Lesson 7:
Team
Time Leaders, for Lesson 7 Questions for Grades 3—5,
the questions “Why would it be hard to say what was
done wrong?” and “What would give you the courage
to say what was done wrong?” could be confusing or
hard for some kids to answer. If you find this to
be the case, you might ask, “Would it be hard to say
you are sorry (or to be honest)? What should you do
to make it right?”
Team
Time Leaders, for Lesson 7, if you have a large group
of children, you may want to number them off in groups
of ten. More kids will be able to play together and
everyone can get more than one chance to play. Instead
of numbering the kids, you could also just have someone
tap the kids on the shoulder who will go out for that
round.
Lesson 9:
Large
Group Teachers, for Lesson 9, if you predict that
you will be short on time, consider shortening the
Pre-Teach.
Large
Group Teachers, for Lesson 9, if you think you will
be very short on time and unable to play Capture the
Flag or Steal the Bacon, play a game where kids race
to put the story in order. Play the game after you
tell the story in Round-Up. Here is how to play: For
Grades 3—5, create two sets of picture cards (pages
4-9 of Lesson 9 Large Group). Place each set in random
order. Divide kids into two groups: Grades 3/4 and
Grades 5. Pick seven kids from Grades 3/4 and seven
kids from Grades 5. The object of the game is for
the age groups to race against each other to see who
can put the pictures in order first. To do this, have
six of the seven kids from each age group hold up
a picture card. Have the seventh child from each age
group put the picture cards in the right order. (He/she
will move the six kids around into the right order.)
For Grades K—2, call up six kids to hold the picture
cards and have the crowd yell out which picture goes
first, second, and so on. After the pictures are in
order, review the story briefly.
Team
Time Leaders and Administrators, for the activity
in Lesson 9, you might try using a dry-erase board.
You may find that the Splat sticks much better to
it than the paper.
Lesson 10:
Large
Group Teachers, for Lesson 10, you might have kids
bring the instruments they made in Activity Stations
in Lesson 1. They can make a joyful noise unto the
Lord!
