At a club meeting, I asked a boy to retell our Bible lesson in his own words. He did a beautiful job. I complimented him, and without thinking, I reached out to ruffle his hair. Instead of jerking back, he leaned his head into my hand—the way my kids did when they meant, “Don’t quit; that feels good.”

If your Pioneer Clubs takes a break for the summer, you will want to stay connected this summer with these great ideas so you can start the new club year strong.

Pray for your club members.
One meaningful way to show interest in your club members is to pray for them and let them know it. Call them or their parents and ask for specific prayer requests. Then email or drop a note to say that you did pray.

Start a round-robin email or letter.
Let club members share what they're up to this summer. Encourage them to share prayer requests.

Take a hike!
Schedule a half-day hike. Walk along a lake or river, hike to an interesting place in your community such as a nature center or historical landmark, or trek through a wildlife area. Walk alongside different kids to find out how their summer is going.

Hold a gym time for current club members and “incoming” kids.
Consider inviting parents so they can get acquainted with you and one another. Keeping with the gym theme, use the devotional "Sneakers" from the Talks that Teach book.

Say it with a postcard. 
Check out the Pioneer Clubs ready-to-use postcards. Children of all ages love to get mail. Let your club members know you’re thinking about them and praying for them.

Give kids a Daily Watch book.
Give each club member a copy of one of two Daily Watch books—Exploring God's Word or Adventures with God. These fun daily devotional guides include puzzles and creative games to get kids involved in God's Word each day. Follow up during the summer by asking what the kids learned.

Listening walk.
Invite club members and their parents for a walk through a forest preserve, park, or the church grounds. Encourage children to identify sounds that they hear as they walk.

Attend an event.
Pick one of the dozens of community events scheduled each summer and attend as a group. Festivals, carnivals or sporting events are good choices. Invite incoming club members, and introduce them to current club members and leaders.