New Volunteer Procedure & New Curriculum

Hi, Adventure Camp Volunteers!

May is just around the corner and we are going to test drive a new, easier system for signing up for volunteer roles - it's a free online service called VolunteerSpot. You can still choose your dates, times and age groups but now you'll experience automatic reminders, easier tracking of your chosen "spots", easy-to-use Android/iPhone apps, and automated trading when you can't make a date. Check out the intro video below, then follow the link to sign up for your chosen "spots" by May 1st. May through September 2014 are open for sign ups.

Click here to volunteer using VolunteerSpot

Video - How to Use VolunteerSpot to sign up

Volunteer Commitment Challenge: We are asking each of our volunteers to take the "challenge" and sign up for at leastone consistent week each month. For example, Suzy might make the commitment to serve every 1st Sunday at 9:15am in the K-2nd room, while Joe might choose to serve every 3rd Sunday at 10:45am in the PreK room. They would both put their names in the appropriate roles on these weeks of the month for the next 5 months. If the occasion arose that they couldn't make their chosen, consistent week, then they'd use the automated trading feature in VolunteerSpot. 

NEW Curriculum:

We've got some exciting things going on in Adventure Camp & we've scheduled a Curriculum Meeting on Tuesday, April 29th from 6:30-8:30 pm designed to explain it all. If you need childcare, please RSVP by Sunday, April 27th. 

May - We're going to take the K-5th grade kids through "World of Chazown". The Adults have experienced it, now the kids get a chance & God’s got big dreams for their life—their Chazown! This May in Adventure Camp, Kids in K-5th will learn all about finding and living God’s plan for their lives!

Click for info on World of Chazown

Beginning in June - "Tru's Big God Story" is coming to Adventure Camp...and we are inviting you to join in the journey! We'll take the kids from Genesis to Revelation each year and give kids the chance to experience God in their own unique way!

http://tru.davidccook.com/

http://hub.truministry.com/h/

Let God MULTIPLY Your Gift of Time

With all this talk about "multiplication" I thought it'd be a great time to give our volunteers some options for multiplying their precious gift of time to ministry. What can God do with two of your hours on a Sunday morning? (Multiplication Message Series - Feb 16 - March 2, 2014)

Work One Worship One - consider giving your Sunday morning to God by worshiping one hour and serving the other!  It's a win-win.

Double Duty - Instead of serving for just one hour on the week you choose, consider serving both! Your experience during the 9:15 am hour easily transfers to the 10:45 am hour making serving a breeze! This Sunday, make sure you attend worship at 8 am OR listen to the sermon online at home. http://christchurchmequon.org/sunday/archive

Kids Can - If you have children consider the following options: Kids can attend one hour of worship with you & spend the other in Adventure Camp while you serve or study. OR Kids can attend two back-to-back hours of Adventure Camp. The first hour should be spent with their appropriate age group and the second hour can be spent in the older or younger room of their choice. This way they get the benefit of reviewing the topic but with different activities!  FINALLY Older Kids can serve a younger age group with their parents. 

For more details on these Kids Can options, see Melissa or Anne'.

Adventure Camp Volunteer Schedule

Summer Volunteers in Adventure Camp

June through August is Summer in Adventure Camp. Vacations are just around the corner...but we'll still have kids joining us at camp and so we need your help. Please consider signing up to volunteer this summer 2013. Attached is the summer schedule (which may look a little different from our school year schedule). Please make sure you click on the correct tab at the bottom of the page to view the age group or area you are interested in volunteering with.
Add your name to the 2013 Summer Schedule

K-5th Volunteers Please Read

Important for K-5th grade Small Group and Large Group volunteers of Kidz Camp:

1. Please watch the "Elevate Kids: Watch this video to learn how to use Elevate Kids" before volunteering for the first time this year.  http://www.elevateatchurch.com/
2. The theme for September 2nd through December 16th is "Allaso Ranch":
• There's something for everyone at Allaso Ranch! Whether you like hiking, swimming, paintball, riding down zip lines, or riding horses, this camp is where you want to be. Pack your suitcase, and don't forget your pillow, because at Allaso Ranch we're getting away and getting to know God.  
• Preview the lessons at: http://www.elevateatchurch.com/allaso-ranch-kids.html 
• Allaso Ranch Lesson Overview PDF
3. We have a new schedule for teaching/leading each two week lesson unit. Essentially, Week A is the "teaching week" which is largely spent inside the Large Group Room with time for only one very short Small Group Activity. Week B, is the "application week" with a short review time spent in Large Group and a longer time spent in Small Groups with multiple games & activities.
4. Small Group Training DVDs and Lesson Scripts will be available during week A of each Lesson Unit.
5. We are test driving this new system and may need to make adjustments along the way. Please be prepared to make adjustments to the schedule & the lessons based on your needs and the needs of the children you are leading.

Kidz Camp Week A:

·   10 min - Opening in Gathering Room (worship, prayer, announcements)
·   Jr. Kidz are dismissed to begin their lesson
·   35 min Large Group DVD
·   4^th & 5^th dismissed to Youth Room for Small Groups
·   10 min - short Small Group activity in rooms
·   5 min – clean up/pick up time in rooms

Kidz Camp Week B:
·   10 min - Opening in Gathering Room (worship, prayer, announcements)
·   Jr. Kidz are dismissed 15 min Lesson Review in Large Group
·   4^th & 5^th dismissed
·   30 min Small Group games & activities
·   5 min – clean up/pick up time in rooms

Volunteer Schedule Sept 2012 - Aug 2013

Volunteer Schedule Sept 2012 - Aug 2013

Link to online sign-up for volunteering

General Directions:

1. Please sign up for your chosen dates, units & weeks by the last Sunday in August (Aug 26th).
2. Please contact me directly if you need help filling in the online form. children@christchurchmequon.org
3. Please note all the changes in the rotation procedures for each volunteer area.
4. If you need to keep your rotation similar to your current schedule, please sign up before August 19 to ensure openings. If you are more flexible on your schedule, please wait until after August 19th to sign up.

Jr. Kidz & Kidz Camp Volunteer Schedule:  

1. Please sign up for at least 6 different 2 week slots (12 wks total) within the same age group or area. (Major holidays are single week slots).  

2. You may choose to serve for an entire thematic UNIT, for an entire quarter (3 mo.), for an entire calendar month or just by the 2 week lesson.  

3.  Use your first & last name and put a phone number under your first entry. 

4.  If you find can't serve on a Sunday you chose, please use this list to contact a sub, arrange a trade with another volunteer in your area or contact the "Camp Large Group Leader" for that week (in an emergency).

Two Week Units:

Date     Lessons       Notes  

9/2/2012   1A  ..........NEW UNIT

9/9/2012          1B            Kickoff Sun 

9/16/2012 2A

9/23/2012 2B             Family Retreat Weekend

9/30/2012 3A

10/7/2012 3B

10/14/2012 4A

10/21/2012 4B

10/28/2012 5A

11/4/2012 5B

11/11/2012 6A

11/18/2012 6B

11/25/2012 7A ......... Thanksgiving 

12/2/2012 7B

12/9/2012 8A

12/16/2012 8B

12/23/2012 Christmas    Christmas Eve

12/30/2012 New Years                       

1/6/2013         1A ...........NEW UNIT

1/13/2013 1B

1/20/2013 2A

1/27/2013 2B

2/3/2013         3A

2/10/2013 3B             Valentines

2/17/2013 4A

2/24/2013 4B

3/3/2013         5A

3/10/2013 5B

3/17/2013 6A

3/24/2013 Palm Sun Parade   Palm Sunday 

3/31/2013 Easter Sunday

4/7/2013   7A

4/14/2013 7B

4/21/2013 8A

4/28/2013 8B

5/5/2013         1A .............NEW UNIT

5/12/2013 1B              Mother's Day

5/19/2013 2A

5/26/2013 2B

6/2/2013        3A

6/9/2013         3B

6/16/2013 4A .............Father's Day

6/23/2013 5A

6/30/2013 6A

7/7/2013         7A ..............4th of July

7/14/2013 8A

7/21/2013 Family Week Party Family Week Sun 

7/28/2013 Summer 1

8/4/2013         Summer 2

8/11/2013 Summer 3

8/18/2013 Summer 4

8/25/2013 Summer 5.......Promotion Sun 

Registration Desk, E.A.G.L.E.S. Nursery & Adventure Heights Volunteers:

1. These three Adventure Camp volunteer areas now have a "week of the month" rotation system. 2. Please choose to serve on at least one week & worship time per month.
3. Write your first & last name and phone number under the time slot(s) of your choice. 4. If you find can't serve on a Sunday you chose, please use this list to contact a sub,  arrange a trade with another volunteer in your area or contact the Team Leader for your area of ministry (in an emergency).

Link to online sign-up for volunteering

Volunteering Opportunities Sept 2012 - Aug 2013

Volunteering:

What are the volunteer opportunities for Sundays in Adventure Camp?

1. Adventure Heights Volunteer – supervising children between the ages of 3 years to 5^th grade at our indoor playground, before Jr. Kidz & Kidz Camp begins. Serve at least one week per month for 35min.
2. Camp Registration Desk Greeter – welcoming new families, answering questions, entering information into the computer system and assisting other families with check-in. Serve at least one week per month for 1 hour 30 min.
3. E.A.G.L.E.S. Nursery Infant Room Assistant – care for, play with and hold babies ages birth to 1.5 yrs (solidly walking).  Serve at least one week per month for 1 hour 20 min.
4. E.A.G.L.E.S. Nursery Toddler Room Assistant – play with and comfort Toddlers ages 1.5 to 3 yrs, as well as assisting Staff with weekly Bible Story Time and activities. Serve at least one week per month for 1 hour 20 min.
5. Jr. Kidz Helper – assisting the Jr. Kidz Leader with activities and games for preschoolers ages 3 to 5 years. Serve for at least 6 two week sessions for 1 hour 20 min.
6. Jr. Kidz Leader – leading preschoolers, ages 3 through 5 years (potty trained), through games and activities. Serve for at least 6 two week sessions for 1 hour 20 min.
7. Kidz Camp Assistant for Large Group – serving in a variety of tasks including: welcoming kids as they enter, assisting with technology, helping with skits or games (when applicable), and guarding the door during pick-up and check-out time. Serve for at least 6 two week sessions for 1 hour 20 min.
8. Kidz Camp Large Group Leader – leading  the weekly Large Group time, introducing DVD driven lessons and themes and engaging kids in worship. Serve for at least 6 two week sessions for 1 hour 20 min.
9. Kidz Camp K/1^st Small Group Helper – assisting the K/1^st leader with small group time games and activities. Serve for at least 6 two week sessions for 1 hour 20 min.
10. Kidz Camp K/1^st Small Group Leader – greeting children, assisting K/1^st grade children during Large Group Time and leading games and activities for K/1^st during Small Group time. Serve for at least 6 two week sessions for 1 hour 20 min.
11. Kidz Camp 2^nd/3rd Small Group Leader – greeting children, assisting 2^nd/3^rd grade children during Large Group Time and leading games and activities for 2^nd/3rd during Small Group time. Serve for at least 6 two week sessions for 1 hour 20 min.
12. Kidz Camp 4^th/5^th Small Group Leader – greeting children, assisting 4^th/5th during Large Group Time and leading games and activities for 4^th/5^th grade children during Small Group time. Serve for at least 6 two week sessions for 1 hour 20 min.

How can I get involved?

1. Contact the Director of Children’s Ministries at children@ChristChurchMequon.org.
2. Sign up for a age level or ministry area within Adventure Camp and choose your rotation schedule before the last Sunday in August.
3. Sign a background check release form. We perform a background check on all volunteers over the age of 17 who work with children in ministry.
4. Make a commitment to complete at least 12 weeks of service during the ministry year – September through August.
5. Consider making a deeper commitment to the program by volunteering to serve:
1. For a committee within your age level or ministry team (TBA).
2. For more than 12 weeks total.
3. For both the 9:30am and 11:00am time slots on your scheduled Sunday(s).
4. As the Team Leader for your age level or ministry team.

What is expected of a volunteer?

1.      Make a commitment to attend worship regularly when not volunteering.

2.      Continue to grow in the areas of personal Bible Study and prayer.

3.      Prepare for each week by reading the Ministry Updates on Director’s Blog, praying for the children and families you will serve and by reading through the lesson materials & activity descriptions (when applicable).

4.       Arrive inside at least 10 min before each Worship Hour begins, ready to greet the children and their families. Be inside the room where your kids will gather or be dropped off.

5.      Stay in assigned area until all children are safely delivered to their parents or a relief volunteer arrives (usually 10 min after each service ends).

6.      When you need to miss a Sunday, please find your own sub or trade Sundays with another volunteer from our approved list.

7.      In an emergency, try to contact the Team Leader for your Ministry Area or for the Sunday you were assigned to serve.

8.      Communicate your concerns, needs, and questions to your Team Leader first.

9.      Understand, agree with and strive to further the mission and vision of Christ Church and the ministry area in which you serve.

Are there any behind the scenes or non-Sunday volunteer opportunities?

1. Yes!!!
2. We have needs for organizers, cleaners, weekly supply stagers, actors, artists, puppeteers, musicians, helping hands at our midweek events and more.
3. Contact the Director of Children’s Ministries at children@ChristChurchMequon.org, and let us know how you’d like to help.

Frequently Asked Questions about 2012 Changes

Volunteer Organization:

Why are we making changes to the volunteer organizational system?

1.      Our attendance and overall population at Christ Church continues to grow (we welcome at least one new family each week). Thus we are reevaluating and updating our procedures to meet the needs of our growing family and ministry.

2.      Many volunteers have expressed the difficulties inherent in serving for an entire month of Sundays. We are hoping the new flexible scheduling options will alleviate some of those issues, as well as keep the opportunity open for volunteers to choose to serve for a continuous “block of time”.

3.      By organizing into defined Ministry Teams, we will build solid foundations upon which future growth in our church and ministry will be supported. Our goal is to support each other and to more evenly distribute the “work load”.

Why are we adopting two-week long volunteer sessions in Jr. Kidz and Kidz Camp?

1. We’ve chosen to switch to the “Elevate” curriculum from CreativePastors.com.  By using it over this past summer we found it to be an engaging, effective and fun way to teach the kids. It also uses thematic, DVD driven lessons, so the preparation time is significantly less for Small Group Leaders.
2. Our new curriculum allows us to schedule two week lesson periods. Week A will be the Large Group Teaching Week and Week B will be the Lesson Application and Small Group Week. Serving for two weeks in a row will allow our volunteers to learn along side the children and then help the children apply what they’ve learned through Small Group games & activities.
3. Consistency is a value of our Adventure Camp Program.  Consistency and repetition of volunteers encourages relationship building, increases the comfort level of both children & parents and decreases behavioral issues.

Teams:

What is a Ministry Team?

1. A small group of volunteers (5-7 members) who work together for a common ministry goal.
2. Each team has a leader and each member has a specific purpose or role to perform.
3. Each role on the team is a “bite sized” portion of the work to be done to accomplish the goal.
4. When a team needs to grow larger than 7 members in order to accomplish the goal, then the team must break the goal into sub-goals, divide into two or more teams and recruit new members for each team.
5. Almost every team will be directly linked with another team or leader above them. Often a team will also have a team or teams below them as well.
6. Committees are formed out of the teams that have to form sub-goals and subdivide. The subdivisions are the committees and their team leaders are members of the team above them.
7. See example charts below

What does a Ministry Team Leader do?

1. Mentor new team members.
2. Communicate with the other leaders that they directly work with on the team.
3. Help to recruit new team members.
4. Help to devise defined roles for team members and create small committees focused on specific ministry needs.
5. Meet on a quarterly basis with team for the purpose of planning, training, communicating and visioning.
6. Uphold the mission and vision of Christ Church and Adventure Camp - applying it specifically to your ministry area.
7. See example charts below.