Awana has been going well so far – but you have a 2-3 week Christmas break coming up and you don’t want the club to lose momentum. You need some ideas for when club starts back up in January.
1. December Contest Night – Plan a contest for the December club nights. Make it fairly easy with everyone having the opportunity to be a winner. For instance the requirements might be to say three verses, or do two sections … a task doable for all your clubbers. Then announce that the promised celebration for the winners will be the first night back – and make it be something your kids enjoy: ice cream, tacos, whatever works. Emphasize needing to be at club the first night back in order to receive the prize.
2. A Favorite Speaker Night – Who is a favorite among those you ask to be guests speakers for Large Group lessons? Is it the church deacon who used to be a pro football player, the gospel illusionist or that lady who tells Bible events in such a way that all the kids are on the edge of their chairs? Let the kids know THAT person will be teaching the lesson on the first night back.
3. Snow Night/Beach Party – Where do you live? If you live in the south where you have little snow, plan a Snow Night. Use wadded-up newspaper for snowballs or snowman making. Serve hot chocolate and popcorn. Emphasize cold weather even if it’s 70 degrees outside.
If you live in a cold area of the country –plan a Beach Party. Play games with beach balls. Make sand castles in a child’s sand-filled wading pool. Serve lemonade or popsicles. If possible, you could turn the heat higher and have kids wear summer clothes. Large Group lesson could be one about the disciples fishing on the Sea of Galilee.
4. Treasure Night. Collect old keys until you have enough for each clubber to have one. One of the keys should open a chest or other container. Decorate the chest/container so it looks appealing to a child. The last night of club before break, give each child a key with the promise that one of the keys will open the chest. They’ll have an opportunity to see if it’s their key on the first night back. Remind the kids on your club Facebook page, blog, etc., to bring back their key.
Large Group Lesson: Matthew 6:21
5. Winter Fair. Churches have been having fairs ever since Awana began back in the 50s. We think of fairs in spring or fall, but why not have an inside fair the first night back in the New Year? (That actually might give you more time to set up.) Start promoting the fair now.
6. Coupon It. The last night of club in 2015, give all clubbers a coupon to be turned in for the first night of the 2016 year. The coupon could be for an ice cream cone or something out of the ordinary. Do you have a fire fighter in your church who could teach the Large Group lesson (The coupon could be “sitting in a fire truck.”) Do you have an illusionist that could teach the clubbers a trick? (The coupon could be “to learn one new trick.”) What would motivate your kids?
7. Clubbers Run It Night. Give the clubbers opportunity to lead the club. Assign a speaker, musicians, etc. Plan it all before break and plan “clubbers-run-it” for the first night back.
8. Suspenseful Story. Yes, it’s been done many times before … but it works! Stop a story at the most suspenseful part and promise an ending the first night.
