Candy Heart Bingo

Here is a game just in time for Valentine's Day!

Materials needed:
Candy Heart Bingo cards
(download and print on cardstock-26 different cards available)
1 bag Necco brand Sweethearts
bingo markers--1" squares of red or pink paper
(you will need roughly 20 per person)
one or more prizes
background music

At club give everyone a bingo sheet and some markers. Have a caller pull a heart from the bag and call it out. If it is on their sheet, they can mark it off. When they get a full row they call 'BINGO.' Or you can play a variety of games (an X, all the edges, or blackout).

For background music play cheesy love ballads.

Boo Boo Bunny Craft

Boo Boo Bunnies are a super-easy and super-cute craft!! All that is needed per craft is a washcloth, two googly eyes, two pom poms, one foot of 1/4" ribbon, one rubber band, craft glue, and if desired one plastic re-usable

About.com has a great set of detailed instructions with clear pictures...check them out here. Just in case that link disappears I will describe how to do it as well.

Step 1) Fold the wash cloth in half to make a triangle.
Step 2) Roll the wash cloth, starting at the point.
Step 3) Fold the roll in half.
Step 4) Fold in half again--taking the two points (these will be the bunny ears) and folding them back over the rest of the roll.
Step 5) Holding the roll tightly, wrap the rubber band around the last fold made. Make sure it is snug. The portion in front of the rubber band is the bunny face.
Step 6) Pull up and fluff the points (bunny ears).
Step 7) Embellish! Glue the eyes one and one pom pom for a nose and one for the tail. Wrap the ribbon to cover the rubber band and tie a bow.
Step 8) The re-usable ice cube can be tucked in the bunny's body. Place in the freezer for when needed! If not using the re-usable ice cube, just place an ice cube in the middle when needed.

Game Show Run On and Camp Sell

One Spring as a camp sell, we did game shows! One of our mentors dressed up as a goofy game show host every club and led a different game show. Prizes: scholarship money for camp!! (all prizes are non-transferable, non-negotiable).

We did old favorites like Price is Right and Wheel of Fortune as well as fad hits like Deal or No Deal and 1 vs. 100. Other ideas include (but are not limited to): Family Feud (play mentors against teen moms), Jeopardy, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?

Our game show host used a wacky suit jacket, bow tie and classy wig from Goodwill for her costume. For game show ideas check your local tv listings or do some research on youtube.com. Just type in the name of the game show you are looking for in the search window.

All the girls and mentors had a blast playing...and winning!

Folded Gift Boxes

Super Easy Craft!!

All you need are square sheets of paper (12 x 12 scrapbooking papers work great) and some scissors. You can choose different patterns of paper for different occasions. For example, use Christmas paper for Christmas boxes.

This craft is easy...however whoever is leading the craft needs to make sure they are proficient at the folding technique, in order to make sure she can teach everyone. For help use the Mini Gift Box Folding Instruction Sheet to learn or even print copies to have at club.

For additional help watch the Etsy Paper Folding Instructional Video learning the technique.

Baby Baby Mama Game

Okay...this is a super simple game that we played one time because some other game fell through at club. I did it half-heartedly, thinking it would just be okay. It turned out to be great fun! The girls all had a blast and were laughing and playing...like kids!!

Basically, it is 'Duck, Duck, Goose' with the words changed to 'Baby, Baby, Mama.' Everyone sits in a circle on the ground. One person is 'IT.' The person who is 'IT' walks around the outside of the circle. Each person she passes, she taps on the head and says, 'Baby.' Then she will tap someone's head saying 'Mama.' The person who is called 'Mama' has to get up and chase the 'IT' around the circle. The goal is for 'IT' to get back to the empty spot before the 'Mama' tags her. If she makes it back, the 'Mama' is now 'IT.' If the 'IT' gets tagged, then she takes another turn being 'IT."

The girls had a blast! I think it allowed them to be kids again for a few minutes. You do have to be careful with pregnant girls...just monitor to make sure they take it a little bit easy!

Praying in Color

A great prayer idea for a mentor meeting or retreat is Praying in Color. Basically the idea is to doodle your prayers!

The idea comes from a book, Praying in Color by Sybil MacBeth (cover art to the left). Basically coloring, doodling and drawing prayers brings a new depth and focus to your prayer life. The website for Praying in Color has many ideas on how to use the concept, examples of people's prayers, as well as links for finding the book.

This would be a great exercise to change things up at your next mentor meeting or retreat. Either take time and lead everyone in the same prayer...or allow them to do it independently. Here is a Color Your Prayers Instructions sheet with four ideas of prayers to color.

Prayer Art © Sybil MacBeth

Life Interrupted, Tricia Goyer

Tricia Goyer was a teen mom herself and wrote Life Interrupted to address the basic needs that teen moms have. The content of this book is relevant to both teen moms as well as adults working with teen moms. There is good blend of stories, resources, advice and application.

Young Life has a 45% discount on this book through Zondervan if you'd like to order a copy to check it out as a resource for your ministry. (see below for ordering)

Back Cover :

One day you’re a typical student. You’re working part-time at McDonald’s to pay for your clothes and car. The next day, you’re a mother-to-be. You’re confused and scared. Emotional and standoffish. You feel like a kid, but now with a huge responsibility.

How could your life change so fast? Your youth wasn’t supposed to be packed with worries and obligations, Lamaze classes and daycare choices—and you’ve still got work and school to deal with. Whatever happened to fun, friendships, and dating? You’d do anything for your baby—but what about you? What about your needs?

Sharing stories from her own experience as a teenage mom and from other young mothers, Tricia Goyer shows you what to do about meeting nine basic needs that all young moms have. Needs such as the need to be appreciated, the need to know your life is not at a dead end, and the need to be loved. In Life Interrupted, you’ll meet lots of young moms just like you. You’ll also meet God, who cares about you very much.

Zondervan
zondervan.com
(800) 727-1309
45 percent discount

To order, call the number above, press 2 to place your order. Then press 0 to speak with an operator. Give the salesperson account number 9082419000 and your mission unit number. Invoice will come to Creative Services for coding. Invoice amount will be charged to your area account. Attention International Staff: To order books online, you will need to set up an international trade account with Zondervan. Simply e-mail Carrie Colter to request an international trade account for your area.

Campaigners lesson for Christmas/Advent-5 weeks

Below is an explanation of the Season of Advent (I got it from my daughter's Preschool, so it is easy to comprehend and interact with).

It can be used for the basis of a 5 week Christmas Campaigners (or Advent) or all used in one lesson. You can even bring some candles to use that as a visual or a tradition that the girls might want to use at home to celebrate the arrival of our Lord!

Feel free to adapt it as needed!

Advent or arrival, especially of something extremely important~

In Christian life, it is a four-week time of preparation and anticipation. We celebrate Jesus’ first coming when he was born a human baby on Christmas Eve and later became our teacher and Savior. We also anticipate Jesus’ promised second coming when He will rule the world.

Making an Advent wreath is a great way to prepare the mind and hearts of your family members for Jesus’ birthday celebration!

First Sunday of Advent—purple “Candle of Hope” Sunday, November 29, 2009

We can have hope because God is faithful and will keep the promises he made to us. Our hope comes from God.

And the prophet Isaiah said, “The heir to David’s throne will come, and he will rule over the Gentiles. They will place their hopes on him.” So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:12-13)

Second Sunday of Advent—purple “Candle of Peace” Sunday, December 6, 2009

Preparation means to get ready and with preparation comes peace. “Help us to be ready to welcome YOU, O GOD!”

This messenger was John the Baptist. He lived in the wilderness and was preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had turned from their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. (Mark 1:4)

May grace and peace be yours, sent to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. (Ephesians 1:2)

Third Sunday of Advent—pink “Candle of Joy” Sunday, December 13, 2009

The angels sang a message of Joy!

Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return to Jerusalem, singing songs of everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be overcome with joy and gladness. (Isaiah 35:10)

Fourth Sunday of Advent—purple “Candle of Love” Sunday, December 20, 2009

God sent his only Son to earth to save us, because he loves us!

For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. (John 3:16-17)

Christmas Eve (after sunset)—white “Christ Candle” Thursday, December 24, 2009

The white candle reminds us that Jesus is the spotless Lamb of God, sent to wash away our sins! His birth was for his death; his death was for our birth! Jesus is the light of the world.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)