So you’ve been assigned to lead a Bible Exploration & Award in club. It’s exciting to help children dig into God’s Word and see what it has to say to them today! But where do you start?

An unchurched parent drops off their son and daughter for Pioneer Clubs each Wednesday night.

Now that club has started, you as a leader have a room full of excited and energetic club members. How can you love, support, guide and “be there” for your club members unless you know them? Here are some ideas to get you started.

When preparing for the club year—consider including a Pal program in your Pioneer Clubs ministry. Children benefit from positive, caring attention from adults.

Supplies
appropriate “This Is Your Pal” form for each guest, pencils, camera(s), small bow-shaped pretzels, pretzel-making ingredients (see below), cookie sheets, baking spray, spatulas, bowls, mixing spoons, measuring cups and spoons, brushes, oven mitts, wire racks, water or apple juice, cups, napkins; optional: picture-printing supplies, cheese dipping sauce.

One of the easiest ways to guarantee a positive and productive club year is to equip your leaders and committee members with training and support.

At this time of year, the search is on for leaders and others to volunteer.

Ideas for promoting club to your church and community

     Promoting your Pioneer Clubs program makes a difference! Plan to get the attention of your church and community this fall, draw in new club members and recruit club volunteers.

An official kickoff event is a great way to launch your Pioneer Clubs program this fall.

Keeping in touch with club members over the summer is one way to keep the fun of Pioneer Clubs and goes a long way towards encouraging them to come back in the fall. Here are seven ideas to consider.

How to recruit over the summer
 

Now that summer is here are you wondering how to completely fill your club leadership in the next few months? More importantly, is it even possible when vacations and summer schedules intrude? Recruiting during the summer may involve a little more creativity, but here are some ideas to get you started.

Your leaders have planned events for club members all year long. Now it’s their turn to have a special event planned for them! Your leaders will enjoy being the honored guests for a change. Also, this is a great way to show your leaders how much you appreciate their efforts, time and commitment to the kids in club.

Here’s a way to help club members learn be grateful. Give them the opportunity to help you recognize their club leaders at the end of the year.

Spring is a good time to step back and take a bigger-picture look at your children’s ministry. You’ll want to evaluate how well your club routine, events and policies have worked, to help you plan for next year. Receiving feedback from leaders, parents and others is a good place to start.

Once you get this feedback, a planning committee can help you process it and build a stronger Pioneer Clubs program for the coming year. Having a planning committee means you’re not alone in deciding how to implement changes in your club program—a welcome relief! During the year you may have found that there were areas of club you couldn’t devote time to due to a lack of resources or volunteers. A planning committee spreads out the work so that all areas get the attention they deserve.

Kids love special events. You can have a mini special event each time you hand out awards. Adding even one simple, special feature to the presentation can make it a winner in kids’ eyes.

Last week for the Let’s Pretend Activity Award, 7-year-old Tyler acted in a skit for the first time—and beamed when his club leader applauded him. During the Sewcraft award, 10-year-old Lisa learned that she could make her Pant-Leg Purse look the way she wanted it to--if she just kept trying.

José runs over to you as you’re trying to set out supplies for the next activity. “Look at my painting!” he exclaims, waving it at you. Do you:

1. Say without looking up, “Great; set it over there to dry”?
2. Pause to look it over and say, “I like the bright blues and greens”?

A recent TV commercial shows a dad building a treehouse with his little girl. The girl goes inside and makes a peanut butter sandwich for Dad to say thanks. We get to see his expression of surprise and delight.

Moms and dads and other caretakers are touched by simple expressions of their kids’ love for them. As a club leader, you can help your club members learn about showing love. Here are some ideas.

By now, most club leaders have settled into a routine with their coleader and have adjusted—more or less—to each other’s leadership style. But what makes a good leadership team? What components are key to a strong coleader working relationship?

In any kind of relationship, communication is always foundational for working well together. And there are several areas that coleaders should be clear on.

Both public and personal touches will help you show appreciation to your club leaders this winter. Leaders who feel appreciated are more likely to volunteer again next year.

It’s hard to believe, but before you know it, you’ll be hitting the midpoint of your club year. This is a great time for a club check-up, and a mid-year evaluation is a good way to do it.

By now, your club has gotten off to a good start and been up and running for several weeks. You and your leaders are getting to know your club members and each other better--but what about parents? Each week parents drop off club members. They smile, chat with the leaders and sometimes receive flyers and information about Pioneer Clubs--but how can you better connect them with your club? Well... here are some simple ideas to get you started.

A respectful style of discipline allows children to get involved. Let the kids, especially the older ones, be a part of the rule-making process.

Try these ideas from veteran club leaders to help your club meetings run more smoothly.

These take-home cards will:

Behind every successful Pioneer Clubs program are the volunteers and leaders who give their time and talents to make it possible. How do you find gifted and willing volunteers? Where do you start? Successful recruiting means starting with the right attitude. Remember—you’re helping people find a place in church where they can use their gifts to serve God. Here’s a few tips that will help you.

Your beginning leaders need to know how to run a successful Pioneer Clubs program. Assure them that you will not just hand them their leader plan books and throw them to the little “wolves.” Explain the training you have planned.

Here are five simple tips for including children with disabilities in your Pioneer Clubs ministry.

Keep volunteers in the loop. Make sure that those leading your club program are aware of the child’s situation. It can be very helpful for you and the child’s club leaders to sit down with the parents to find out what the child can and cannot do and how you can make things easier for the child. Most parents will appreciate that you are sensitive to their child’s unique needs.
Make introductions. If a special-needs child is coming to club for the first time, you will want to formally introduce him or her to the rest of the children. If the child’s disabilities are physical, the children in club may have a lot of questions. Let them know that it is okay to ask. Reinforce ways that the child is similar to other children by finding out what he or she is interested in (favorite books, movies, toys, etc.). If the differences are subtler (such as behavior or learning challenges), it may not be necessary to point them out.
Assign a buddy. Take advantage of children’s willingness to help. Assign the special-needs child a buddy each week. The buddy can help the new child with projects, reading or even just navigating around the church. Giving the child a new buddy each week will help him or her feel more like part of the group, and it will give all the children an opportunity to get to know a new friend.
Adapt activities and lessons. It may take some creativity, but adapting games and activities for the special-needs child is an important way to help him or her feel included. Allow the child to be a scorekeeper or play a special role in a game if he or she cannot participate. Prepare materials ahead of time or assign the task to the buddy if the child has problems with fine motor skills. Incorporate manipulatives or imagery in a lesson if verbal skills are a challenge.
Remember the Fruit of the Spirit. As our focus in Pioneer Clubs this year, Galatians 5:22-23 couldn’t be more appropriate when working with children who have special needs. The more we can show patience and gentleness, kindness and self-control, the more we will see them returned and modeled by the children in our club.

If you have other practical tips for ministering to children with special needs, please email us or add to a discussion on Facebook, CMConnect, Twitter or the Pioneer Clubs blog so we can share with other Pioneer Clubs leaders and coordinators!

Hebrews 13:8 (NIV) says that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Because of this we have confidence that verses our club members memorize today will be relevant when they are adults. 

Encouraging club members and recognizing their achievements are key objectives in Pioneer Clubs®. But don’t forget to recognize the hard work of your club leaders.

An ongoing recognition plan for children and volunteers creates a positive club atmosphere. Club members who feel affirmed will want to return and bring friends. And club leaders who feel appreciated will be motivated to volunteer again.