Living in the Spirit

Power UP ! Living in the Spirit Day Camp The Need Grows The need for day camp is growing, especially as parents look for quality experiences for their children during school vacations. Some school systems have gone to year-round school with a shorter summer break and two weeks off in the fall and spring, as well as at Christmas. Working parents want the assurance that their children are safe, well cared for, and having a great time! The ministry of day camp can fill that need. Some residential camps are expanding their programming to accommodate both types of camping simultaneously in their location. Churches, although not equipped for residential camping, often have facilities that can host a day camp to fill the need in their community. Some churches, however, do not feel equipped to take on such a program. Consequently, a growing number of residential camps are partnering with churches to provide the expertise and staffing to fulfill the desire to reach and serve more children and families. A typical partnership begins with one week of day camp and grows into more weeks in subsequent years. The combined efforts of hosts and partners—plus a good program resource—can fill the need. The Options Are Ready Whether you are already providing day camp at your camp or at a satellite location or you are considering the opportunity, having a good program resource is key. Here are ready-to-go options for creating up to six full weeks of fun—and life-changing—experiences for day-campers of all ages. Each week has a different look at Living in the Spirit (Celebrate, Imitate, Fruit of the Spirit, Community, Courage, and Peace). The theme-related games, arts and crafts, nature activities, music, Bible exploration, quiet time, and devotions work together to help your eager and energetic day-campers grow in their awareness of the power they have through the Holy Spirit for living as followers of Jesus. You can also easily adapt the activities and modules or add other favorite traditions to make your day camp a great experience for all.

Help your eager and energetic day-campers power up for living in the Spirit!

If you are doing only one week of day camp, consider Week 3: “Power Up with the Fruit of the Spirit,” especially if your group tends on the younger side. If your group is mostly older, consider also Week 5: “Power Up with Courage” or Week 6: “Power Up with Peace Wherever You Go.” DAY CAMP: Week 1 Power up and Celebrate the Spirit Plan Your Week

Camp Schedule Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Getting to Know You• I ’ m G o i n g t o a • L i m a Y L e m ó n P a r t y . . .

Energizers • G o t I t ! • M o n k e y - C r a b R o p e S t a r T e a m • E l b o w T a g R e l a y B u i l d e r Bible Time • S t o r y o f • S e n s e o f • T h e S t o r y I s A l i v e ! • E y e w i t n e s s • T h e F i r e T h a t P e n t e c o s t P e n t e c o s t A c c o u n t C a n ’ t B e E x t i n g u i s h e d • L a n g u a g e o f L o v e Morning Activity • S t o r y S y m b o l • S o n g F e s t • P r a y e r H a n d s • S e a r c h O u t t h e • F e a s t i n g Options S p i r i t ! T o g e t h e r • P e n t e c o s t • W i n d W a l k • P e n t e c o s t C a n d l e W i n d s o c k • C h i c k e n • T h e H o l y S p i r i t I s • P a p e r P l a t e • N a t u r a l A r t N o i s e m a k e r s w i t h M e ! D o v e Quiet Time • R e s t & R e a d • T a b l e T a l k • R e s t & R e a d • T a b l e T a l k • R e s t & R e a d • J o u r n a l • J o u r n a l • J o u r n a l • J o u r n a l • J o u r n a l Afternoon Activity • S o n g F e s t • S p i r i t P i n w h e e l s • S k i t : E y e w i t n e s s • P l a n t h e B i r t h d a y • H a p p y B i r t h d a y , Options R e a c t i o n C e l e b r a t i o n C h u r c h ! • F l y K i t e s • N a m e T h a t S p i r i t ! • W i n d C h i m e s • P r a y e r F l a g s • S h o w Y o u r H o l y • B u b b l e W a n d s S p i r i t ! Devotions • C e l e b r a t e ! • C e l e b r a t i o n • W e A r e O n e • L i s t e n f o r t h e S p i r i t • T a k e t h e F i r e P r a y e r s W i t h Y o u ! Week 1 Overview

Scripture: Acts 2:1-18, 22-24, 33 (CEB) Focus: The Holy Spirit filled the disciples and empowered them to share the good news in many languages. Through the Holy Spirit today people are empowered to come together and to understand. Connection to Campers: The campers’ excitement and energy are a perfect backdrop, as this week focuses on celebrating the Spirit. The theme reminds campers of the power of community and the joy of the Spirit—tangible gifts the campers can also experience. Leader Notes: To prepare, read through the “Biblical and Theological Overview” for Day 2. The Common English Bible (CEB) translation is recommended for today’s lesson because the language is somewhat easier to follow with this longer passage. Read as much or as little of the scripture as is appropriate for the ages you have. Consider letting the story “grow,” reading the basic verses the first day and adding more as the week progresses. Be thoughtful about the words you use when discussing the Holy Spirit with the campers; try to keep from using the pronoun “it.” For many, the concept of the “Holy Ghost” or “Holy Spirit” is tough to understand and may feel supernatural. Using words such as “Teacher,” “Advocate,” “Counselor,” and “Comforter” will feel more tangible and better fit their developmental understanding. Symbol for the Week: Candle with a Flame Campers will quickly make the connection to the joy of countless birthday celebrations—and now to the celebration of Jesus’ promise fulfilled. With the coming of the Holy Spirit, it’s time to celebrate the birthday of the church. Throughout the week, as part of the various activities, look for ways to refer to the flame. Most of these activities come from specific age levels in the residential camp daily plans. However, they can readily be adjusted for younger or older or mixed-age groups in day camp. Feel free to adapt them to fit your camp and campers.

Getting-to-Know-You Games I’m Going to a Party To learn the names of the campers, have them form a circle. Model the pattern: “My name is______. I’m going to a party and I’ll be (taking/doing/enjoying...) ______.” The next person needs to repeat either all the patterns of the previous campers (or the previous five) before adding his or her own. After one round, have everyone shift places and challenge the campers to recall the names of the others. Remind everyone that this week’s theme is about celebration! Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: N o n e Lima Y Limón (Lime and Lemon) Here’s a fun game for getting to know names on a day that celebrates the Holy Spirit bringing diverse people together in understanding despite their language differences. Have the group stand or sit in a circle with the “Fruit Picker” at the center. When he or she points to someone and says, “Lima,” that person must say the name of the person on the left before the Fruit Picker counts to ten in English or Spanish (or Korean for those who do Tae Kwon Do or any other language of their choice). If the Fruit Picker says, “Limón,” the person indicated must name the one sitting to the right before the count of ten. If the person indicated fails, then he or she becomes the Fruit Picker. For added challenge, shorten the count to five after several rounds of ten. Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: N o n e

Energizers Elbow Tag This version of tag is mostly just fun, but it is also a game in which players are “safe” when they aren’t alone. Head outside to a large, flat, open area. Explain to campers that they will be playing a special game of tag. Invite them to pair up, with each pair joined together by linking arms at the elbows. (Each person should still have a free arm.) Select one pair and split them up, naming one person “runner” and the other “It.” Instruct the linked pairs to spread out across the open area. The person who is “runner” must run up to a pair and link arms with one member of the pair before being tagged by the person who is “It.” When this linking happens, the other member of the pair must leave the grouping. That person becomes the “runner” and must link with a different pair before being tagged by “It.” If the person who is “It” succeeds in tagging the runner before he or she links with a pair, the runner becomes “It,” and the former “It” becomes the runner. When you are finished, take some breathing time and remind campers that with the Holy Spirit they are never alone and, when trouble chases after them—when they are sad, hurt, scared, or disappointed—they can “link up” with the Spirit through prayer. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: N o n e

Monkey-Crab Relay Create two or more teams of at least four players. Set a start line and a finish line. On “Go!” the first player in each team moves forward, like a monkey, on all fours racing to the finish line. When they cross the line, the second players then race toward the finish on all fours, only backwards, like a crab. Players alternate until the first team has all members across the line. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: N o n e

Got It! This game of tag has a twist. “It” is required to hold one hand on the place where he or she was tagged and still run after the others to tag a new “It,” who then has to hold a hand to his or her tagged spot and so on. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: N o n e

Rope Star Team Builder This is a fun way to energize campers and get them problem solving and moving together. Tie a long rope into a circle. Have campers grab onto the outside of the rope, with them evenly distributed all the way around. The first part of the challenge is for the group to form a five-pointed star (the way they learned to draw a star back in elementary school using one continuous line) without letting go of the rope. After campers have created the star, have them reverse the procedure to get back into a circle. Afterward, discuss: • What was easiest? Most difficult? • What worked well as a team? What needs to improve as a team? • How does the Holy Spirit guide us to follow God’s will? • What skills from this team builder are similar to powering up with the Holy Spirit? (listening, willingness to be led) Variations: Have all but one of the campers wear blindfolds; the one camper with sight doesn’t hold the rope, but rather leads with voice to help guide blindfolded campers to move. Or, only allow one camper to talk; the rest must stay silent—a challenge for listening skills. Choose other shapes to create—figure 8, trapezoid, and so on. Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: A l o n g l e n g t h o f r o p e i n a n o p e n s p a c e , ( o p t i o n a l : b l i n d f o l d s f o r v a r i a t i o n ) Bible Time: Acts 2:1-18, 22-24, 33 (CEB) Story of Pentecost Give the campers a little background before reading the Bible story. This story follows the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. So the disciples are together waiting as Jesus instructed them to do. A crowd of people from many different areas and languages is also in Jerusalem. Most are Jewish, and some are Gentiles or non-Jews with other beliefs. Now together read the Bible story in Acts 2:1-6. Day Camp Adaptation: If your campers are older, go ahead and read the rest of the scripture passage. Or build anticipation by telling the group that they will hear the rest of the story in the next few days. Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: B i b l e

Sense of Pentecost Have campers practice some sound effects to add to the telling of the story. Show the campers how to make the wind sound. Have them practice rubbing hands together back and forth or blowing with hands tented near the mouth, opening and closing their hands to change the windlike sounds. Give each camper red and orange pieces of crepe paper to be “flames.” Hand out pieces of paper with “God is with us” written in different foreign languages; give campers a minute to practice saying their version. Give English to younger campers who are pre- readers, and pair early readers with a youth or an adult to read in a language. Read Acts 2:1-6 slowly, allowing the campers to add the sound effects and actions throughout the story… • “Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind…” = rubbing hands together then stronger and stronger blowing with mouth and hands, “…filled the entire house…” • “individual flames of fire” = waving crepe-paper flames above heads • “began to speak in other languages” = speaking “God is with you” in multiple languages Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: B i b l e , i n d e x c a r d s w i t h “ G o d i s w i t h u s ” i n o t h e r l a n g u a g e s ( S p a n i s h = Dios esta con nosotros, D u t c h = God is met ons, F r e n c h = Dieu est avec nous, C z e c h = Buh je s nami, F i l i p i n o = Ang Diyos ay sa amin, G e r m a n = Gott ist mit uns, N o r w e g i a n = Gud er med oss, P o l i s h = Bog jest z nami), r e d a n d o r a n g e c r e p e p a p e r s t r i p s f o r “ f l a m e s ”

Language of Love Leader Note: Are there any campers in your group who are bilingual? This is an activity in which they can shine. Ask campers: “How do you feel when you can’t understand what other people are saying to you?” Share stories in the group about times when people couldn’t understand each other—perhaps they heard something incorrectly and that caused problems, or perhaps they simply spoke different languages and didn’t know what each other was trying to say. Tell the group that today’s story is about a time when people didn’t understand about Jesus. They came from many different places and spoke different languages. Through God’s gift of the Holy Spirit the disciples were suddenly able to tell about Jesus in those many different languages, and everyone there understood that God loved them! Help campers experience this story through learning how to say, “God loves you,” in languages other than English. If you have any bilingual campers or counselors, allow them to teach the group how to say, “God loves you” in their language. Here are a few examples: In Spanish, it is: “Dios tea ma.” In French it is, “Dieu vous aime.” (Leader Note: You can find many other languages by doing an online search.) Allow campers to each choose a translation to practice. Once campers have memorized their various phrases, try to re-enact Pentecost as a group. Assemble everyone in a circle and at the count of three have each person shout “God loves you” in any language three times in a row. Remind campers that God loves all people—no matter what language they speak! Multiple Intelligences: I n t r a p e r s o n a l , L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: “ G o d l o v e s y o u ” w r i t t e n i n d i f f e r e n t l a n g u a g e s w i t h p r o n u n c i a t i o n t o s h o w c a m p e r s , t a p e t o h o l d u p t h e p a p e r i f n e e d e d

The Story Is Alive Read the story again, this time having the campers act out the narrative together. This passage lends itself to great props to make the story come alive. Provide some fun costumes, red or orange crepe paper or scarves, and maybe even an electric fan to simulate the wind. Allow the campers to choose which parts they’d like to play: a disciple, the Spirit, Jewish believers who were visiting Jerusalem. Read the story with appropriate pauses for the campers to act it out. Ask: What new thoughts or insights do you have from playing a role in the story? Day Camp Adaptation: If you have not yet used the entire passage, do so in today’s reading. Spend some time with the group recalling the life, death, resurrection of Jesus and why that is so important not only to the people hearing Peter’s message that day but also to us today. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: B i b l e a n d p r o p s ( c r e p e p a p e r , s c a r v e s , c o s t u m e s ) , ( o p t i o n a l : e l e c t r i c f a n a n d p o w e r s o u r c e )

Eyewitness Account Read Acts 2:1-18. Assign one or more campers to be reporters. Assign others parts from the scripture (Peter, disciples, crowd, and skeptics). Give some time for the actors to think about how their characters would feel and react. Encourage the actors to improvise their responses based on the scripture verses. Have Bibles available for them to consult as they think about their roles. The actors should feel free to be creative but not to change the meaning or the story. Set the scene with any costumes or props that might be appropriate. Ask the reporters to pretend they just arrived on the scene from the scripture, and their job is to find out what is going on. They should interview each of those present. Encourage them to ask probing questions to try to find out the real story. Suggest questions such as: “What do you think this all means?” “What do you think will come next for the disciples?” “What did the tongues of fire feel like?” “What made you think the disciples might have been drinking?” Remind the other actors to “ham it up” for the reporters. Afterward discuss the activity: • What do you think was the significance of the different languages being spoken and understood? (Help campers see the very dramatic shift in focus for the disciples—from the movement being local to now becoming much larger.) • How do you think this change in focus made the disciples feel? • What do you think that means for us today? • Why do you think Pentecost is referred to as the “birthday” of the church? • What are some words used in this scripture passage that you think should be used to define our churches today? • How can churches make sure they are “speaking the language” so that everyone can understand? • How are our churches reaching out to everyone? • Who might be being left out? How can we remedy that? • How can you reach out and invite someone to learn about Jesus? What would you do? What would you say? Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , L i n g u i s t i c , I n t r a p e r s o n a l Supplies: B i b l e s , a v a i l a b l e p r o p s a n d c o s t u m e s t o a d d t o t h e s c e n e , p r o p m i c r o p h o n e ( s ) f o r r e p o r t e r ( s ) , ( o p t i o n a l : v i d e o r e c o r d e r )

A Fire That Can’t Be Extinguished Another option for a second reading of the passage needs a “trick candle,” the type that can’t easily be extinguished. Tell the campers you are going to read the story again, but this time you are going to say “Whoosh” at appropriate spots to replicate the wind of the Holy Spirit. When they hear the “Whoosh,” allow one of the campers to attempt to blow out the “trick candle.” Continue telling the story as your candle relights, asking a different camper to try to blow it out, or have the campers pass the candle around the circle. You could read Acts 1:4-8 and then Acts 2:1-18, 22-24, 33 plus 37-38, 41. Insert the “Whoosh” after Acts 1:4, 5, 8; Acts 2:2, 4, 18, 24a, 33, 38, and 41. When the campers realize that the candle won’t go out, explain that this is similar to the Holy Spirit’s fire in each of us. Day Camp Adaptation: If you use this activity the last day, be sure to emphasize the Holy Spirit’s presence continuing in campers’ lives. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , L o g i c a l / M a t h e m a t i c a l , L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: B i b l e , t r i c k c a n d l e , m a t c h o r l i g h t e r

Morning & Afternoon Activity Options Story Symbol = Candle with Flame Show the campers today’s symbol, the candle with flame, and ask why they think a lit candle is today’s symbol. (Tongues of flames descended on the heads of the disciples at Pentecost; we use candles for celebrations—birthdays, holidays.) Bring the discussion around to the fact that Christians celebrate Pentecost (the fiftieth day after Easter) as the birthday of the church. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: R e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f c a n d l e w i t h f l a m e

Happy Birthday, Church! Pentecost is the celebration of the church’s beginning, or the “birthday” of the Christian church. Pentecost was a gathering in one place of people who didn’t know one another well where the power of the Holy Spirit brought them together as one to help them know and praise God. Tell the campers that we are going to host a birthday party for the church. Begin by having them decorate cupcakes or muffins with red frosting and (optional) sprinkles. (Leader Note: Check with the kitchen staff for their recommendations and to verify that no camper has a food allergy.) Add a birthday candle to each, light the candles if safe to do so, and sing “Happy Birthday” to the church. Ask: “Does the lit candle remind you of anything?” (today’s symbol, also the flames above the disciples’ heads). Play some birthday games, adapting traditional games for today’s celebration. The campers too are just getting to know one another and forming a community. As you play each game, take time to remind campers to speak their name before taking their turn. Pin the Tail on the Donkey becomes Pin the Doors on the Church by drawing a simple church building and a rectangle space for the doors, but the doors are cut out of red paper with a piece of tape on the back for sticking on the church. Adapt Musical Chairs to Holy Spirit Chairs—instead of music, use a recording of wind or storm sounds, moving until the sounds stop. Play Blow the Flame by wadding up small pieces of red and orange paper (use the crepe paper pieces from the “Sense of Pentecost” activity in Explore), and using masking tape to make two lines across the short ends of a table, a few feet apart. Two campers play at a time, each with a “flame” (wad of paper)—one with a red “flame” and one with an orange one. Each player places his or her “flame” on his or her side of the line closest to that player, one at either end of the table. At “Go,” each blows on his or her “flame” until it crosses the opponent’s tape line. Players must stay on their respective sides of the table while blowing. Remind campers that they are celebrating the birthday of the church—that, before Pentecost, church in a building with a congregation like we have today with everyone praising God didn’t exist. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , M u s i c a l Supplies: C u p c a k e s o r m u f f i n s , f r o s t i n g , u t e n s i l s f o r s p r e a d i n g f r o s t i n g , ( o p t i o n a l : s p r i n k l e s ) , c a n d l e s , m a t c h e s o r li g h t e r , r e d c h u r c h d o o r s o f p a p e r p i c t u r e o f c h u r c h , p u s h p i n s , m a s k i n g t a p e , s c r a p r e d a n d o r a n g e p a p e r t o w a d u p , c h a i r s ( o n e f e w e r t h a n t h e t o t a l n u m b e r o f c a m p e r s ) , C D p l a y e r , w i n d o r s t o r m C D

Pentecost Windsock Invite campers to work together in their family groups to make a windsock for their family to remind them of the Holy Spirit’s presence every time they see the ribbons moving in the wind. Each family group will need a ring and at least six ribbons in a variety of colors and lengths. They are to tie the six ribbons onto the ring at the top of the ribbons so they hang down to catch the wind. Then they take a long piece of orange or red ribbon and cover the rest of the ring by wrapping it around and around the ring to cover it completely, tying the ribbon’s ends to the ring. Finally, they are to tie a string to the top of the ring to hang their windsock. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , L o g i c a l / M a t h e m a t i c a l Supplies: R i n g f o u r t o s i x i n c h e s i n d i a m e t e r ( w o o d , m e t a l , o r w i r e ) , r e d a n d o r a n g e r i b b o n s o r f a b r i c s t r i p s o f v a r i o u s l e n g t h s ( 1 2 i n c h e s t h e s h o r t e s t t o 2 4 i n c h e s t h e l o n g e s t ) a n d v a r i o u s w i d t h s — o n e r i n g a n d s i x r i b b o n s f o r e a c h w i n d s o c k ; l o n g p i e c e o f f a b r i c o r r i b b o n t o w r a p t h e r i n g ; s t r i n g , o r y a r n f o r h a n g e r

Prayer Hands Give red and orange construction paper to each camper, and have campers trace their hands several times in both colors to represent flames and then cut them out. Have older campers help younger campers who might have difficulty. Invite campers to write prayers on each of the handprint flames—one prayer for themselves and other prayers for other people or places. Encourage prayers for camp as well as prayers for those back home, in addition to prayers for the world. Younger campers may need help writing or drawing their prayers on the flames. Once campers have written as many prayers as they wish on the hands, have them share some of the prayers within their family groups or with the whole group. Especially in the larger group, it may be helpful to have campers give their names as they begin their prayers. Collect all the handprint flames to use in Evening Worship. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , I n t r a p e r s o n a l Supplies: R e d a n d o r a n g e c o n s t r u c t i o n p a p e r ( e n o u g h f o r t w o o r t h r e e h a n d p r i n t s o f e a c h c o l o r p e r c a m p e r ) , s c i s s o r s , p e n c i l s , m a r k e r s o r c r a y o n s

Wind Walk Plan a short walk around camp that is near or among trees, particularily trees with leaves. Invite campers to walk slowly and watch for the wind blowing in the trees, blowing the leaves or the branches. Walk quietly so campers can use their senses to feel the wind and see its effects. Challenge them to keep count on their hands with their fingers of times they “see” the wind. After a few minutes of walking, stop and ask campers where they saw or felt the wind? Invite them all to express where they saw the wind. Ask: “How did you ‘see’ the wind?” (movement of the leaves and branches). Say: “We can’t really ‘see’ the wind because air is invisible, but we do ‘see’ the movement caused by the wind. The Holy Spirit is like the wind—we can’t touch or see the Holy Spirit, but we know God’s power is at work in our lives. In the Bible the Holy Spirit is revealed to people sometimes as the breath of the wind and other times as flames of fire.” As you continue to walk, encourage campers to look for more signs of the wind. This time when you stop, ask: • How do we know the wind is blowing since we can’t see it? • How do we know the Holy Spirit is present when we can’t see the Spirit? (The actions of God, answer to prayer, good things happening in our lives, power for people to do good things are the Holy spirit at work.) • How does the wind remind of us of the Holy Spirit? (We know the wind is there because we feel it or see it moving the leaves; we know the Holy Spirit is a power in our lives through God using us to care for others.) Finish by saying, “God is always with us through the Holy Spirit moving around us and within us! That is the power of the Holy Spirit.” Multiple Intelligences: N a t u r a l i s t , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: T r e e s w i t h l e a v e s Pentecost Candle Leader Notes: At some camps, candlemaking is a craft activity. If that is a tradition at your camp, incorporate it into this activity. Campers may work on this project as a family group, with each child or youth making a candle with adult help, or each camper making one—leader’s choice. For each candle, campers will need a small glass jar, cut-up colored tissue paper, and diluted liquid glue. Have campers “paint” the glue on the outside of the jar and then stick tissue paper on it. Tissue paper may overlap to create a collage look. Once the jar is covered, campers can “paint” the tissue with the glue mixture and set the jar on wax paper to dry. Add a votive candle—either real or battery operated. Invite campers to bring their candles to Cabin Devotions tonight. Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l , S p a t i a l Supplies: E m p t y a n d c l e a n b a b y f o o d j a r s o r s m a l l g l a s s j a r s — o n e p e r c a m p e r o r f a m i l y , r e d , o r a n g e , a n d y e l l o w t i s s u e p a p e r i n s m a l l p i e c e s ( a p p r o x i m a t e l y o n e - i n c h s q u a r e ) , d i l u t e d l i q u i d g l u e ( d i l u t e d w i t h w a t e r s o i t c a n b e “ p a i n t e d ” ) , s m a l l p a i n t b r u s h e s , v o t i v e c a n d l e s — o n e p e r j a r ( b a t t e r y o r w a x ) , w a x p a p e r s q u a r e f o r d r y i n g , c l e a n - u p s u p p l i e s

Prayer Flags How do you pray? In the country of Tibet, people often use prayer flags to help them talk to God. Prayer flags are colorful strips of cloth with a prayer written on them. As a group, discuss what your hopes and prayers are for camp this week. Ask, “What can we pray for together?” Make a list and have each camper decorate a simple prayer flag. Use cut-up triangles of bed sheets to fashion prayer flags. After the flags are created, have a prayer parade through the camp with everyone flying the flags. Designate a place that is frequently visible around camp to display the flags. Remind the group of the scripture and that wind is one way to think about the coming of the Holy Spirit. Tell the group that, as the wind blows through the flags, they can think of God’s Holy Spirit receiving their prayers. At the end of the week, take down the flags and talk together about answers to prayer. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: W h i t e b e d s h e e t s c u t a h e a d o f t i m e i n t o p e n n a n t - s h a p e d t r i a n g l e s , m a r k e r s o r p a i n t s a n d b r u s h e s t o d e c o r a t e a n d a d d p r a y e r s t o t h e f l a g s

Spirit Pinwheels The scripture today says the Spirit came to the disciples in the wind. Celebrate the Spirit of Pentecost by making pinwheels that spin in the wind. Assist the campers with these steps. (Leader Note: Mark the squares in advance, or assist the campers to do so before they cut.) 1. Cut a 4-inch x 4-inch square out of a piece of red paper. 2. Draw two diagonal lines from corner to opposite corner. Where the two cross is the center of the paper square. Mark it with a small dot, and surround it with a circle the size of the end of your thumb. 3. Cut along each diagonal line toward the center circle. Do not cut into the circle. After the cuts, there will be eight points on the outer edges of the paper. 4. Use a hole punch or pin to punch a hole through every other point (for safety, do this for them)—a total of four points. Gently fold —no creases—the holes on the outer edge of the pinwheel to line up with the dot in the center. Those points with the holes will overlap each other and the center dot. 5. Push a pin (again, counselors should do this step for safety) through them to hold everything together (do this for them). 6. Push the pin into the side of a pencil eraser or straw (do this for them). 7. Decorate the handle of the pinwheel with red and orange ribbons. Celebrate the joy of Pentecost by bringing pinwheels to use during music at worship. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: R e d p a p e r , r u l e r s , p e n c i l s , s a f e t y s c i s s o r s , r e d o r o r a n g e p u s h p i n s , p e n c i l s o r s t r a w s f o r p i n w h e e l h a n d l e s , r e d a n d o r a n g e r i b b o n s

“The Holy Spirit Is with Me! Share the Good News!” Ask the campers to stand and spread out around the space. Hold up a roll of red (or yellow or orange) crepe paper (or ball of red yarn) and announce that this represents the Holy Spirit (like “tongues of fire”). Say, “The Holy Spirit is with me!” Hold on to one end and toss the roll (or ball of yarn) to someone else in the group; and say, “Share the good news!” When campers receive the crepe paper, they will say, “The Holy Spirit is with me.” Next, they will continue to toss the crepe paper from camper to camper, with the “tosser” making sure to hang on to an end of the paper. Campers should say, “Share the good news!” as they toss the paper to the other campers. Make sure the paper stays loose or it will rip. However, even if it does, the activity can still continue. Point out that the crepe paper is like the Holy Spirit helping them spread the good news to others. Remind campers that their actions tell others about God. Encourage campers to toss the crepe paper to campers farther and farther away from them, preferably across the group, so that the good news trail gets all crisscrossed. Continue tossing until everyone has a chance to toss, or keep tossing until the crepe paper runs out. As a closing reminder, at the end of the activity, campers can tear off pieces of the streamer and tuck them in their pockets or sleeves. These can be physical reminders of the power of the Holy Spirit that is with them and also calls them to share the good news. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: R e d ( o r y e l l o w o r o r a n g e ) c r e p e p a p e r ( o r b a l l o f y a r n )

Fly Kites Supply kites for each smaller group of two or three campers. Have the campers in each small group work together to fly that kite. Afterward, ask: • Why do you think the Holy Spirit is sometimes compared to wind? • If you can’t see wind, how do you know its power? • If you can’t see the Holy Spirit, how do you know the Spirit’s power? Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , N a t u r a l i s t Supplies: K i t e s a n d m a t e r i a l s f o r t a i l s ( e i t h e r p u r c h a s e d o r t h e s u p p l i e s t o m a k e t h e m ; p a t t e r n s a r e o n l i n e ) , w i n d y d a y , o p e n p l a c e t o f l y k i t e s

Plan the Birthday Celebration Celebrate the birthday of the church! (Leader Note: This could also be an all-camp project in which each smaller camper group plans a part of the celebration and the whole camp comes together for one big party). Tell campers you are going to plan a birthday party for the church. Divide into teams, each planning one aspect of the celebration. They need to create a plan from start to finish. Remind them to think about how to include everyone, the set-up, supplies needed, and what the clean-up process will be. Encourage campers to find ways to create a celebratory, festive environment! Team 1 should plan some games that are church-related (for example: Layperson, Layperson, Clergy rather than Duck, Duck, Goose, or Follow the Pastor rather than Follow the Leader, or Pin the Bible on the Altar rather than Pin the Tail on the Donkey). This team needs to plan all aspects of the games, supplies, prizes, rules, and when they will be played. Team 2 can plan the food. Food can also be theme-related: whipped-up windy cupcakes, flaming fruit punch, flame-grilled fruit kabobs, for example. (Leader Note: Be sure to work with your kitchen staff in advance. You may also want the team to include someone from the kitchen staff as a consultant. Also, be open to having the food be something the campers and staff can prepare, given the supplies, rather than asking the kitchen staff to do the preparation.) Team 3 can work on decorations. Encourage them to find ways to represent the flames, wind, and the different languages spoken. Team 4 should come up with gifts the church would like. Encourage them to think beyond material things. For example, gifts could include: “The church would like us to pray for others for its birthday,” or, “The church would like us to do a service project for camp for its birthday.” Challenge the team to identify specific ways for campers to follow through either as a group or individually when each returns home. That extra step moves the gifts from simply being nice ideas to campers taking action. Enjoy the party! Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: T h e s e w i l l d e p e n d o n t h e p l a n s e a c h t e a m m a k e s ; a b i r t h d a y c a n d l e f o r e a c h c a m p e r w i l l b e a g o o d t a k e - h o m e r e m i n d e r o f t h e c e l e b r a t i o n a n d o f t h e P e n t e c o s t s t o r y ; a f a n w i l l h e l p r e p r e s e n t t h e w i n d

Show Your “Holy Spirit”! Have campers create a cheer, song, chant, dance, or rap to show their “Holy Spirit.” The expression should focus on what the Holy Spirit can do in and for us and should include movements. Encourage campers to use some of the descriptive words from the text: mighty wind, noise from heaven, fiery tongues, and so on. Plan to use the result in worship or at campfire. Multiple Intelligences: M u s i c a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: N o n e

Name That Spirit! This version of charades is both silly and good practice for expressing and discerning emotions. Tell campers that you will be playing charades. Instead of dividing into teams, encourage the entire group to guess together. Invite campers to take turns acting out the following spirits: a spirit of joy a spirit of anger a spirit of self-control a spirit of creativity a spirit of love school spirit the Holy Spirit a spirit of truth the Christmas spirit a generous spirit Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: N o n e

Search Out the Spirit This nature activity will get campers outdoors with eyes wide open, searching out signs of the Spirit around your camp. Head outdoors. Invite campers to be fully present—to carefully listen, watch, and experience—as they walk through your camp. Ask: • Where do you see the Spirit at work? (perhaps in people working together, perhaps in people fired up about injustice…) • Where do you hear the Spirit? (perhaps in shared laughter, or within your own heart…) • In what other ways do you experience the Spirit? (through smell? taste? touch?) Encourage youth to share what they experience or notice. Talk as you walk together. Multiple Intelligences: N a t u r a l i s t , I n t r a p e r s o n a l Supplies: N o n e

Bubble Wands Using wire cutters, cut wire into 16-inch pieces (one piece per camper). Help campers twist one end of the wire into a circle (the larger the circle, the bigger the bubbles!). Use pliers to fasten the circle together. Invite campers to select 10–15 beads that they want to have on their bubble-wand handle. Have campers thread beads onto the wire handle in whatever order they prefer. Help campers to fasten off the end of the handle using pliers, and remove any excess wire with wire cutters. Pour bubble soap solution into a few plastic bowls, and let campers try out their wands! Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: W i r e , w i r e c u t t e r s / p l i e r s , m e d i u m - t o - l a r g e p l a s t i c a n d / o r g l a s s b e a d s , b u b b l e s o a p s o l u t i o n , p l a s t i c b o w l s

Paper Plate Dove Cut paper plate into three long strips (the two outside pieces will become the wings, and the middle will be the body of the dove). After cutting the wings free, on the back of the paper plate, draw the dove’s head, body, and tail as one piece from the remaining middle section. After you cut the head/body/tail section out, when you flip it over, the marker lines won’t show. Tape the wings like a bird in flight so that they spread out from the back of the head/body/tail combo piece. Use markers to color eyes, a beak, and legs on the head/body/tail piece of the dove. The finished dove should resemble the bird found in this picture (http://catholicicing.com/holy-spirit-craft-make-a-dove-from-a-paper-plate). Older campers may add on to this craft. For them, provide these additional directions: Use yellow construction paper to cut out flame-shaped pieces. On each flame, write a fruit of the Spirit. Then, using yarn and a single- hole punch, attach each flame from the bottom of the dove’s wings so that they dangle below the dove. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: P l a i n w h i t e p a p e r p l a t e s , s c i s s o r s , t a p e , m a r k e r s , ( o p t i o n a l : y e l l o w c o n s t r u c t i o n p a p e r , s i n g l e - h o l e p u n c h , y a r n )

Wind Chimes Wind chimes are another great object that can be used to demonstrate the movement of wind and the movement of the Holy Spirit. Prior to working on your wind chimes, take campers on a nature walk and encourage them to gather from the ground twigs, stones, shells, and other objects from nature that they want to use on their chimes. After the nature walk, have each camper gather his or her found objects into a pile on the work surface. Provide every camper with a wire hanger and explain that the hanger is the base for a set of wind chimes. Using string and yarn, string beads and found objects onto several separate strands. Attach each strand of items to a different spot on the hanger. When campers are done creating (and cleaning up the work area), head outside. Hang wind chimes on a tree branch or other outdoor spot and wait for the wind to begin making unique music! Multiple Intelligences: N a t u r a l i s t , M u s i c a l Supplies: Y a r n o r s t r i n g , s c i s s o r s , w i r e c l o t h e s h a n g e r s , a v a r i e t y o f c o l o r f u l g l a s s b e a d s , f o u n d o b j e c t s f r o m n a t u r e

Natural Art Ahead of time, collect a variety of colors of paint chip cards from a store that carries paint—various greens, browns, tans, and some pinks, oranges, and yellows. Each camper needs a collection of several colors of paint chips. Take the campers on a short hike and ask them to match objects in nature with the selections of color that they have. Invite campers to collect a few items that match their colors if they are items lying on the ground and not living plants, trees, or animals. Remind campers not to pick flowers or leaves, but instead remember the matches they found to the color chips. Talk about the variety of colors in God’s creation and how just by looking around us we realize so much art—God’s art—surrounds us every day. Multiple Intelligences: N a t u r a l i s t Supplies: S e v e r a l p a i n t c h i p c a r d s o f v a r i o u s c o l o r s — b r o w n s , g r e e n s , t a n s , s o m e p i n k s , y e l l o w , a n d o r a n g e s — p e r c a m p e r o r p a i r o f c a m p e r s

Chicken Noisemakers What to do: Leader Notes: Counselors should use a nail to carefully punch a hole in the center of the bottom of the cups ahead of time. Do not let campers take these to worship or other quiet activities. 1. Cut a piece of yarn about 20 inches long. 2. Tie one end of the yarn to the middle of a paper clip. 3. Push the other end of the yarn through the hole in the cup and pull it through so the paper clip is on the bottom of the cup, keeping the yarn from going all the way though the cup. 4. Cut a piece of paper towel about the size of a dollar bill, then fold it once and get it damp in the water. 5. Hold the cup firmly in one hand, upside down, the string hanging down. Wrap the damp paper towel around the string near the mouth of the cup. While you squeeze the string with the paper towel, pull down in short jerks so that the paper towel tightly slides along the string. It may take a few tries, but if all goes well— you hear a chicken! Connection to theme: Use noisemakers on the day of celebration (Day 2) to help create a “joyful” noise for God! To make this activity an experiment, challenge campers to try different things in order to answer these questions: • What types of string or yarn make the loudest sound? Which ones make the quietest? • Does the size of the cup affect the volume of the sound? • Try materials other than a paper towel to see if that affects the volume of the sound. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: F o r e a c h c a m p e r — a p l a s t i c d r i n k i n g c u p , y a r n o r c o t t o n s t r i n g ( n y l o n s t r i n g w i l l n o t w o r k w e l l ) , o n e p a p e r c l i p , p a p e r t o w e l , a n d s c i s s o r s ; a n a i l ( c o u n s e l o r - u s e o n l y ) ; b o w l o f w a t e r Skit: Eyewitness Reaction Have one or more groups create a skit from the following instructions and their own ideas, perhaps in the style of on-camera TV reporters for different channels. Present the skits at the end of the allotted time or for devotions. A group of eyewitnesses react to the Pentecost story in a variety of ways. One is overwhelmed and can’t believe what he or she saw. One tries to find “logical” explanations for all that happened. One wants to run out and tell everyone he or she knows about God’s love. One wants to hush up the whole thing for fear of seeming crazy. The resolution is that, no matter what the reaction to the Holy Spirit, people are changed. We face the questions of how we will react and what difference our reactions will make in our lives. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: C o p y o f i n s t r u c t i o n s

Feasting Together Have a small-group gratitude party to celebrate the campers’ time at camp. Invite campers to bring whatever they have to share. Decorate with things they can find around camp: leaves, rocks, etc. (but only things found already on the ground—no picking of living things, such as flowers). Invite campers to share their best camp experiences. Ask them each to tell something he or she appreciates about each person in the group. Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l , N a t u r a l i s t Supplies: I t e m s c o l l e c t e d

Song Fest These song suggestions come from the various age-level lists. However, feel free to draw from all of them to select ones that fit your campers. Consider making Song Fest one of your activities over several days. During that time teach the songs, add motions, do interpretive dance, or just dance! Prepare for worship. Enjoy! Recommended Theme Song: “Sing When the Spirit Says Sing” is a versatile African American Spiritual. Invite campers to make up new verses such as “I’m gonna celebrate,” “I’m gonna serve…,” “I’m gonna walk…,” and so on). They can also create motions for the verses. Intergenerational “Spirit of the Living God,” Hymn “Every Time I Feel the Spirit,” African American Spiritual “Every Move I Make,” Point of Grace “Light the Fire,” Bill Maxwell “We Are the Church,” Avery and Marsh “Sing When the Spirit Says Sing,” African American Spiritual Younger Children “The Spirit of the Sovereign God,” Vineyard Music “This Little Light of Mine,” Traditional “Spirit of the Living God,” Hymn “Our God Is an Awesome God,” Rich Mullins “Kum Ba Ya,” Traditional “Sing When the Spirit Says Sing,” African American Spiritual Older Children “Come, Now Is the Time to Worship,” Brian Doerksen “Spirit of the Living God,” Hymn “Every Time I Feel the Spirit,” African American Spiritual “Sing When the Spirit Says Sing” (make up new verses such as “I’m gonna serve…,” “I’m gonna walk…,” and so on), African American Spiritual “Breathe on Me, Breath of God,” Hymn “Our God Is an Awesome God,” Rich Mullins “We Are the Church,” Avery and Marsh (Sing hymns in different languages, such as in Spanish; many are available in hymnals or songbooks.) Younger Youth “Celebrate Jesus, Celebrate,” Gary Oliver “I Will Celebrate,” Linda Duvall “Let Faith Arise,” Chris Tomlin “Our God,” Chris Tomlin “Spirit of the Living God,” Hymn, Daniel Iverson “Spirit Song,” Hymn, John Wimber “Holy, Holy,” Jimmy Owens “Sing When the Spirit Says Sing,” African American Spiritual “We Are the Church,” Avery and Marsh Older Youth “Light the Fire,” Bill Maxwell “We Are Marching,” South African song (multiple languages) “Spirit of the Living God,” Hymn “Every Time I Feel the Spirit,” African American Spiritual “We Are the Church,” Avery and Marsh “Breathe on Me, Breath of God,” Hymn, Edwin Hatch “Father, We Adore You,” Terrye Coelho “Sing When the Spirit Says Sing,” African American Spiritual Multiple Intelligences: M u s i c a l Supplies: S o n g l e a d e r , w o r d s , m u s i c s o u r c e Quiet Time Table Talk or Conversation Station Use these questions to invite campers into conversation about the theme. Use them over one or more of the meals or create a conversation station during one of the activity rotations. Consider using this for one or more of the days in the week. Younger Campers: • What are some special birthday traditions you do every year on your birthday? • Do you know how you got your name? • Or what your name means? Older Campers: • As we talk about Pentecost, known as the birthday of the church, what was a memorable birthday for you? • What did you do to celebrate? • Who was there? • Why was it special? • When you think about the Holy Spirit, what comes to your mind? • Where would you like to see the Holy Spirit bring change in the world today? Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: C o p y f o r e a c h t a b l e o f t h e c h o s e n t o p i c

Rest and Read Here are storybooks to read aloud for quiet time, perhaps after lunch. Or use them during worship time: Is God Always with Me? By Crystal Bowman Let There Be Peace: Prayers from Around the World, by Jeremy Brooks Say Hello, by Rachel Isadora We Are One, by Ysaye M. Barnwell Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: C o p y o f t h e c h o s e n b o o k

Daily Journal Have campers use half sheets of paper, fold them over onto themselves, and staple the middle to create books (or simply provide composition books). Have each camper decorate the outside of his or her journal with the words “Grateful Journal.” Here are suggested topics for each day’s writing (or drawing) time: • How do you imagine the Holy Spirit? • What do you like about church? About the people who are part of the church? About what the church does to help people all around the world? • What are some things you are grateful for in your life? At camp? • How have you experienced the help of the Holy Spirit in your life—perhaps, overcoming differences or misunderstandings that that separated you from someone? How was God’s Spirit of love helping you? • How does the phrase “Living in the Spirit” mean to you? How might it guide you when you are no longer at camp? Multiple Intelligences: I n t r a p e r s o n a l Supplies: P a p e r , s t a p l e r , w r i t i n g i n s t r u m e n t s , m a r k e r s f o r d e c o r a t i n g

Devotions Celebrate! Sing several songs that speak to life in the Spirit. Keep the mood one of celebration. Invite campers to bring their pinwheels to express themselves through movement. Read Acts 2:1-6. Bring out today’s symbol: the candle. Say, “Today we celebrate the birthday of the church. When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, the disciples received power from God, power to make the world a better place. God’s Spirit gives us that power too. Let’s power up and celebrate!” Use the phrase, “I’ve got the power!” as a response in the liturgy below. Leader: “The Holy Spirit comes in the wind, telling God’s people…” (response) Leader: “The Holy Spirit comes in the fire, warming hearts to believe…” Leader: “The Holy Spirit comes to God’s children, reminding them no matter what…” Then say, “Tonight we have the power to celebrate God’s gift from heaven. Let’s have a party for God’s Holy Spirit and the birthday of the church.” Bring out cupcakes for the campers. Pass them out and sing together “Happy Birthday” to the church before departing for the evening. Day Camp Adaptation: Arrange for cupcakes to be ready to take home. Consider cupcake making as an activity option, keeping in mind any campers’ allergies. Or find a substitute for cupcakes, such as balloons or colorful bead-strands, for example. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: B i b l e , e n o u g h c u p c a k e s f o r a l l t h e c a m p e r s , p i n w h e e l s i f m a d e e a r l i e r

Celebration Prayers Sing some Spirit-songs and hang celebration prayers. Ask each camper to write on a colored piece of paper something good he or she wants to celebrate. Punch a hole in the top of each paper and tie a loop of yarn to each so the papers can be hung from the trees. Point out the wind moving the papers as a symbolic reminder of the Holy Spirit at work. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: C o l o r e d p a p e r , p e n s o r m a r k e r s , h o l e p u n c h , y a r n

We Are One We Are One, by Ysaye M. Barnwell, is a short picture book to read and savor. Each beautifully illustrated page features a short phrase that recalls Joel’s prophecy (Acts 2:17-21) and the realities of Pentecost. Read the book aloud and ask the campers to identify images of scenes that remind them of the lessons of this week. Close in prayer together. Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: We Are One, b y Y s a y e M . B a r n w e l l

Listen for the Spirit Gather in a quiet place, outside or in a place where you can watch or hear the wind blowing. Invite campers to get comfortable. Together spend a few minutes watching or listening for the wind or breeze. (This will work on a still day as well as a windy one.) Explain that while it is easy to notice when the Holy Spirit comes like a rushing wind, the Spirit also works in quieter ways—ways that require us to listen carefully. Close with prayer asking for help in listening and being aware of the Spirit’s presence each day. Multiple Intelligences: N a t u r a l i s t Supplies: N o n e

Take the Fire with You! Sing some favorite Spirit-songs. Take some time to ask campers what else from the week would be on their list of favorites. Bring out one of the trick candles. Light it and let campers take turns trying to blow it out. Remind them that the Holy Spirit goes with them wherever they are. That fire cannot be extinguished. Close with a prayer of celebration. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: T r i c k c a n d l e , m a t c h e s

DAY CAMP: Week 2 Power Up to Imitate Christ Plan Your Week

Energizers • C o n t a g i o u s • S p i r i t S a y s • D o T h i s . . . a n d • B o u n c e a n d C h a t T h i s . . . a n d T h i s . . .

Bible Time • M i r r o r , M i r r o r • M i r r o r i n g J e s u s • I n T h e s s a l o n i c a • T h e B a c k s t o r y • W r i t e Y o u r O w n L e t t e r

Morning Activity • S t o r y S y m b o l • W a l l o f • C o p y C a t • W a l k T h i s W a y • R e f l e c t i o n Options E n c o u r a g e m e n t • M i r r o r I m a g e • S u n P r i n t s • M i r r o r I m a g e • J u s t L i k e J e s u s P a i n t i n g • E n c o u r a g e Y o u r • C o l o r f u l B u b b l e C a m p S n a k e s Quiet Time • R e s t & R e a d • T a b l e T a l k • R e s t & R e a d • T a b l e T a l k • R e s t & R e a d • J o u r n a l • J o u r n a l • J o u r n a l • J o u r n a l • J o u r n a l Afternoon Activity • S o n g F e s t • A c t s o f S e r v i c e • S k i t s ( W W J D • P o w e r G r i d • S i m o n S a y s Options a n d / o r M o d e r n D a y • N a t u r e S t a m p s • T r e e I m a g e r y • S i t D o w n C i r c l e • W i p e A w a y t h e M i r a c l e s ) B a r s • M i r r o r S n a c k Devotions • W h e r e D i d Y o u • R e f l e c t i o n • A L e t t e r f o r Y o u • R e s p o n d i n g • R e m i n d e r C a r d s S e e . . . P r a y e r s Week 2 Overview

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:4-7 Focus: Campers look to the example of Jesus and other Christians to learn how to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. Connection to Campers: Campers will experience what it means to imitate Christ because the power of the Holy Spirit is working in and through us. We are also to imitate others who are faithful, encourage one another, and serve as examples to others of what it looks like to believe and follow Christ. Leader Notes: Prepare for the day’s lesson by reading the “Biblical and Theological Overview” for Day 3. Sometimes following Jesus is hard, especially for new believers and for those struggling through the bumps and bruises of life. Part of growing in faith is realizing that God is with us—no matter what. The Christians in this passage were being persecuted, but the Spirit led them into deeper discipleship as they followed in Christ’s footsteps. Role models are important, and Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of faith. Symbol for the Week: Mirror The symbol for today is a mirror—representing “mirroring” Christ, reflecting and imitating Jesus’ character and heart. “When others look at me, will they see Christ reflected in my life?” That is the question campers will face as they encounter Paul’s encouragement to the Thessalonians to imitate Jesus and the examples of other Christians. Most of these activities come from specific age levels in the residential camp daily plans. However, they can readily be adjusted for younger or older or mixed-age groups in day camp. Feel free to adapt them to fit your camp and campers.

Getting-to-Know-You Games Let the Spirit Move You! This icebreaker facilitates “getting-to-know-you” in an active way. Include the leaders! Have campers stand in a circle, facing inward. A volunteer comes to the center of the circle to be “It.” Ask campers to find out the names of those on either side of them. The person in the center calls, “The Spirit moves everyone who…”—completing the sentence with a statement that is true for him- or herself. (For example, “The Spirit moves everyone who can speak another language!”) All who share this characteristic leave their places to quickly find new ones at least two spaces away. The central person must also find a place. The last one not in the circle is “It.” When people reach a new spot, again have them find out the names of those to either side and quickly elaborate on the characteristic that moved them (“I speak Spanish!”). The person who has not found a place begins a new round. Encourage a variety of questions to elicit facts, history, preferences, and other aspects of identity. Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: I f p l a y i n g i n s i d e , u s e c h a i r s f o r e a c h c a m p e r — m i n u s o n e

Names in Rhythm Have campers sit in a circle. Start a beat by having everyone slap their thighs (once), clap their hands (once), and snap their fingers (one, two). Once the four-beat rhythm is going, go around the circle with each person saying his or her name on the snaps. Depending upon the number of syllables in the name, the player can say the name fast (AnnaLisa), draw it out (Will-ill), or fit it to the beat (Ev- an), for example. To vary the challenge, speed up the rhythm, or have one person in the center point to different campers, and the group must say the name in rhythm. Multiple Intelligences: M u s i c a l Supplies: N o n e

Energizers Spirit Says Game Spirit Says is a variation of the popular children’s game Simon Says. In this game one player takes the role of “Spirit” and gives instructions (physical tasks such as “wave your right hand”) to the other players, which they should only follow if prefaced with the phrase “Spirit says.” For example, “Spirit says, jump in the air.” Players are eliminated from the game by either following instructions that are not immediately preceded by the trigger phrase or by failing to follow an instruction that does include the phrase “Spirit says.” Point out that it is the ability to listen to instruction and imitate the Spirit’s lead that will determine the winner of the game. The object for the player acting as the Spirit is to get all the other players out as quickly as possible. The winner of the game is usually the last player who has successfully followed all of the directions. Occasionally, the last players may all be eliminated by following a command without “Spirit Says,” which means the Spirit wins the game. Leader Note: Pay attention to your group. Watch for any campers who get “out” and become upset. Try to keep the emotional tenor of the game balanced so that everyone “gets out” but truly “stays in” and has fun. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: J u s t h a p p y c a m p e r s !

Bounce and Chat This activity is great one to keep around throughout the rest of the week—when campers need a transitional activity, need to settle down after a crazy game, or need some help participating, you can pull out the beach ball and get a conversation rolling! Prior to your time together, inflate a beach ball and, using a permanent marker, write a variety of questions and prompts all over the surface of the ball—the more questions, the better. Mix in fun questions and more reflective ones. When appropriate, follow up answers with the question, “Why?” Questions and prompts might include: favorite television show? favorite musician? best gift you’ve ever received? what you want to do after high school? favorite teacher? favorite Bible verse or story? any pets? favorite book? favorite church/camp song? Sit or stand in a circle together. Explain to campers that whenever the beach ball comes out, they will take turns tossing it to various people in the circle. Tell them, “When the ball is thrown to you, catch it and answer the question that is closest to where your left thumb touches the ball. After you have answered the question, toss the ball to someone else. If you catch the ball and your thumb lands on a question you’ve already answered, pick one of the other questions that is near your left hand.” Play as long as you like, but make sure everyone gets a chance to answer a question. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , I n t e r p e r s o n a l , L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: B e a c h b a l l w i t h q u e s t i o n s a n d p r o m p t s w r i t t e n o n i t

Contagious Have campers sit in a circle. One player says “Ha”; the next, “Ha, Ha,” and so on around the circle with each person adding a “Ha.” The catch is no one must laugh. If they do, the group starts over. Point out that laughter is contagious and choosing to be among positive, Spirit-filled friends and role models makes life more joyful. Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: N o n e

Do This...and This...and This... Have campers sit or stand in a circle. Designate a leader who starts an action, such as waving a hand, which everyone then imitates. Then the next person in the circle adds another action, continuing the first as well. Again everyone must do both. Continue around the circle until everyone has added an action or the whole group collapses in laughter! For large groups, divide into smaller circles. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: N o n e

Bible Time: 1 Thessalonians 1:4-7 In Thessalonica Before reading 1 Thessalonians 1:4-7 to the group, paint a picture for your campers of what is going on in this story. Paul—one of Jesus’ followers after Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension—is busy visiting churches and starting new ones. In the letter to the new church in the Roman Empire’s city of Thessalonica, Paul is teaching that the Holy Spirit is present in the lives of Christ’s followers to help them live in a way that pleases God. Paul is encouraging the people to imitate Christ and his followers in what they do. Invite a volunteer to read the scripture out loud. Ask: “What do we do? How do we act in a way that imitates Jesus Christ and his followers?” Write down where everyone can see some of the ways we imitate Jesus and his followers (treat others with kindness, love one another, care for others, encourage others, and so on). An option is to also write key words on index cards and fashion them into a mobile with sticks and yarn and then hang it in a common area so campers can see it all week. Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: B i b l e , l a r g e s h e e t o f p a p e r o r w h i t e b o a r d t o w r i t e d o w n w a y s t o i m i t a t e J e s u s , m a r k e r s , ( o p t i o n a l : i n d e x c a r d s , s t i c k s , y a r n , h o l e p u n c h )

Mirror, Mirror Read aloud 1 Thessalonians 1:4-7. Return to the word “imitators,” inviting the campers to describe or explain what it might mean. Point out that a mirror, today’s symbol, is a reflection, an imitation of what the eyes see, and that Paul was writing to the people in the Thessalonian church to remind them that they were to be imitators of the Lord, who is Jesus Christ, and also to look to other Christians to see the good that was worthy to imitate. Introduce the group to the game Mirror, Mirror. Pair off campers into partners facing each other. Tell each to imitate the partner just as if looking in a mirror. Allow some time for them to be silly together. When they have completed the task, bring the group back to a circle and ask: • How was your partner a good imitator? • How were you a good imitator? • What makes a good imitator? • What does it mean to imitate the Lord, Jesus Christ? • How does the Holy Spirit help us to imitate Christ? (If campers have a hard time with this question, remind them that the Holy Spirit is our Advocate, not only standing up for us but also helping us stand up for and do what Jesus would have us do.) Keep your eye out today for how different campers are imitating Jesus, even in small ways. Point out such actions and remind others to look for ways to mirror Jesus. Assure them that the Holy Spirit will help them. Multiple Intelligences: Bodily/Kinesthetic, Spatial Supplies: Bible

Mirroring Jesus Read the scripture, stopping after the first part of verse 6 to ask: • Paul was praising the people in the Thessalonian church because they had become imitators of whom? (the Lord and “us,” referring to Paul and other Christians) • What does that scripture say to us today? (We also are to imitate Jesus and to look to other Christians for what we should do.) Reread verse 6a and finish the passage. Point out that because the Thessalonians, with the help of the Holy Spirit, were faithful even in difficult times of persecution, they became examples that other people imitated, along with Jesus. Give out the pieces of a puzzle. (Leader Note: Choose a puzzle that has the appropriate number of pieces, or select a distinct image from a larger puzzle. Giving out one puzzle piece per person is best, but one or two extras per person can work also.) Ask campers to look only at their own piece—can they tell what the picture on the puzzle is? Have them put the puzzle together. Then ask: • If people wanted to know what the big picture was, would it be easier to tell from just your one piece or from everyone’s together? • How clear would the picture be if several of the pieces were missing? Point out that God has chosen them to be imitators of Jesus and other Christians so that they become examples to others. Their “pieces of the puzzle,” the way they live in the Spirit, help other people see Jesus more clearly. Assure the campers that just as one piece is not a complete picture of the whole puzzle, they do not have to be “perfect” imitators of Jesus—that would be impossible because Jesus is so much greater than any human being! But God has given us other Christians, in the church, to help fill in the image of Christ for others to see and follow. Remind campers that Jesus also gave his followers—including them—the Holy Spirit to help them live joyfully as examples, as imitators of the Lord! Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: B i b l e , b a g w i t h p u z z l e t h a t h a s o n e p u z z l e p i e c e f o r e a c h c a m p e r a n d c o u n s e l o r , o r s l i g h t l y m o r e (Leader Note: Do not bring the puzzle box with the picture on it.)

The Backstory Today’s scripture lesson, 1 Thessalonians 1:4-7, is a portion of Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians. Paul couldn’t be face-to-face with the believers, but he wanted to write a letter to encourage them in their faith journey and to remind them that their friendship was important to him and that God was calling them to keep following Christ, with the help of the Holy Spirit. To help the campers understand the narrative behind this letter, go back to Acts 17:1-9. In this passage, Paul and Silas had come to Thessalonica, where they spent three Sabbath days teaching nonbelievers about the Messiah. Paul talked about why Jesus had to suffer. Many people became believers. However, some Jews who disagreed with Paul became jealous and, along with some ruffians, created an uproar. Basically, they were angry that Paul and Silas were “turning the world upside down”! Jason, a man who had housed Paul and Silas, was even brought before the authorities and questioned. The focus on “imitating Christ” is a perfect chance to act out this significant event found in Acts 17. Have campers choose roles: Paul, Silas, Jews in the synagogue, Jason, believers, the authorities. As you read Acts 17:1-9, the campers should take on their respective roles and act out the situation as you (or another person) narrate. (Leader Note: This passage depicts “an uproar.” Remind campers to be not only in character but also behaviorally appropriate as they reenact the events with Paul and Silas.) Day Camp Adaptation: After acting out the backstory, read again 1 Thessalonians 1:4-7 and then invite campers to talk about how knowing the full story has changed or deepened the meaning of the passage for them. Ask if or how they have experienced persecution for choosing to follow the example of Jesus. Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: B i b l e a n d p r o p s ( c o s t u m e s )

Write Your Own Letter Ask campers to think about people in their lives whom they want to encourage and help to find their way. Pair campers up and ask them tell the other about such a person and what that person has meant in that camper’s life. Once campers have had a chance to talk with their partners, invite them to each write a letter to their special person, using Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians as the template or model. Have Bibles or the printed copies of the scripture from “Mail Call!” on hand for campers to refer to as they consider what they will write. Remind campers that what they write may or may not be letters that they actually send, but they are to write them just the same. Encourage campers to pray over their letter and ask God to direct them about whether or not to send it. When campers have finished writing, ask: • How did it feel to be encouraging? • How do you think this letter will make a difference? • Tell us about a time someone encouraged you. • Why do you think encouraging words can be so powerful? • Do you encourage others often? Why or why not? Multiple Intelligences: I n t r a p e r s o n a l , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: B i b l e s ( o r p r i n t e d c o p i e s o f t h e s c r i p t u r e ) , p a p e r , p e n s o r p e n c i l s , e n v e l o p e s

Morning & Afternoon Activity Options Story Symbol = Mirror Show campers today’s symbol, the mirror, and ask why they think a mirror is today’s symbol. (When we look in a mirror, we see our image; the reflection is an imitation of us—not really us but looks like us. Our story challenges us to imitate Jesus, reflecting his love to others.) Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: M i r r o r

Tree Imagery Campers will need room to move around for this activity. Outside works best, but a large space inside is fine too. Tell campers that together they will be imagining themselves as trees and use their whole body to move in small and big ways to create images of what the trees look like under different circumstances. Here is a practice example: Have campers show by moving their bodies how a gentle breeze would affect a tree, then move to a stronger wind, and on to a windstorm. Encourage campers to make small and large movements to move as the trees might react to: Gentle rain, to steady rain, to downpour with lightning and thunder Snowstorm with light flakes, moving to a blizzard Squirrel running up their trunks and in their branches Birds nesting in their branches Someone picking their fruit or their leaves falling Forest fire Ask: • What was easy about imagining what the tree “felt” like? Why? • What was hard about imagining what the tree “felt” like? Why? Say: “Sometimes it is hard to act in the same way, to imitate something or someone, but sometimes it is easy. God wants us to imitate the positive, the good things, with help from the Holy Spirit; God gives us the Holy Spirit so we will find imitating God’s love all the time is easy.” Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , N a t u r a l i s t Supplies: L a r g e a r e a t o m o v e a r o u n d i n , i n s i d e o r o u t

Reflection Campers will each make a mirror (either real mirror, mirror board, or foil) with a frame around it made from natural things collected from the ground outside. Begin by having campers glue the mirror or foil shape to the center of a piece of cardboard, leaving at least one inch around mirror as a frame. Next they are to decorate the frame by gluing the natural items they found around the edge of the mirror. They may need to let the projects dry before moving them much, especially if they used liquid glue. Ask campers: • What do you see when you look in your mirror? (their reflections) • Do you see a person in the mirror who is chosen by God? (Yes!) • Do you see a beloved child of God? (Yes!) Say: “Our reflection in the mirror is always a chosen, beloved child of God no matter what! We feel God’s Spirit in our hearts, and we imitate Jesus Christ in what we do because of the Holy Spirit’s power. Power Up!” Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , N a t u r a l i s t Supplies: C a r d b o a r d p i e c e s o f v a r i o u s s i z e s a n d s h a p e s ( m i n i m u m 6 i n c h s q u a r e t o m a x i m u m 1 2 i n c h s q u a r e ) , s m a l l m i r r o r s ( 3 – 6 i n c h s h a p e s ) o r f o i l a n d g l u e s t i c k s , n a t u r a l t h i n g s c o l l e c t e d f r o m t h e g r o u n d ( s t i c k s , s m a l l p i n e c o n e s , p i n e n e e d l e s , l e a v e s ) , li q u i d g l u e o r h o t g l u e g u n w i t h a d u l t s u p e r v i s i o n

Nature Stamps Using different items collected from God’s creation, each camper is to create imitations of them on a large piece of paper by dipping the objects in paint and pressing them on the paper to make prints. Then the question for the campers is, “When people look at you, how do your actions imitate Jesus? Could people tell by what you do that you love God?” Once the paint on their prints is drying, they are each to carefully write near the images a way that he or she can act that would show someone God’s love. Take time to share the ways people came up with. Say: “Each print we made from something in nature is an image of the real thing. When we imitate Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit every day, we are also a reflection of the real thing, Jesus Christ!” Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , N a t u r a l i s t Supplies: S h e e t s o f l a r g e w a t e r c o l o r p a p e r ( 1 2 i n c h e s b y 1 6 i n c h e s ) a n d m a r k e r s ; s e v e r a l n a t u r a l i t e m s t o m a k e p a i n t p r i n t s , s u c h a s p i n e c o n e s , s e v e r a l k i n d s o f l e a v e s , p i e c e s o f t r e e b a r k , p i n e b r a n c h e s , r o c k s ; t e m p e r a p a i n t ( v a r i o u s c o l o r s ) o n p a p e r p l a t e s t o a l l o w f o r d i p p i n g a n d p r i n t i n g Leader Note: Keep natural items in plastic, reclosable bags in between activities so other campers can reuse them; but when finished, rinse the items and return them to nature.

Mirror Snack If no camper has food allergies, have them create a “framed mirror” using a Graham cracker square with a pretzel stick frame stuck on with peanut butter, cream cheese, or other spread. Share a blessing before eating, thanking God that through the Holy Spirit we learn to imitate all the good things Jesus teaches us. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: F o r e a c h c a m p e r : a G r a h a m c r a c k e r s q u a r e o r t w o ; f o u r p r e t z e l s t i c k s f o r e a c h c r a c k e r s q u a r e ; a t a b l e s p o o n o f p e a n u t b u t t e r , c r e a m c h e e s e , o r a n y o t h e r s p r e a d p e r c r a c k e r ; a s m a l l p a p e r p l a t e

Sit Down Circle Leader Notes: This fun team builder is a good illustration of “mirroring” behavior. If good group dynamics and trust are present, this activity is great. Be aware, however, of the possibility of having a camper or two for whom being this close to others is uncomfortable or even threatening. In that case choose an alternative activity. Make a circle big enough to include all campers, standing front to back. Tell campers to get as close together as possible while still maintaining the circle. At the count of three, each camper will slowly sit down on the lap of the camper behind them. The result should be a circle of body chairs. If group members don’t listen and follow directions, it won’t work. Should this happen, take the opportunity to teach about following the example you are given, just like today’s theme. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: C o o p e r a t i v e c a m p e r s

Sun Prints Collect all types and sizes of nature items, such as rocks and fallen leaves (only those items found already on the ground) for this solar-powered art activity. Place dark-colored construction paper on a flat surface in full sunlight. Arrange your collected items on top of the paper so that they create interesting shapes. Allow the sunlight to fade the construction paper for at least an hour. Remove the collected items later in the day to reveal your sun print. Multiple Intelligences: N a t u r a l i s t , S p a t i a l Supplies: D a r k - c o l o r e d c o n s t r u c t i o n p a p e r , n a t u r a l o b j e c t s s u c h a s r o c k s , l e a v e s

Mirror Image Today’s theme, “Power Up to Imitate Christ,” explores the topic of “mirroring” or imitating Christ’s example. This activity is a tangible way to examine this idea. Ask partners to sit facing each other. One of the pair becomes the initiator of a movement, and the other becomes his or her mirror image. Direct the partners to move slowly, as if in slow motion, as if miming. The initiator should try to keep the actions flowing to create a pattern of slow movement that the two can enjoy together. Have partners take turns as initiator and follower. If pairs want to, they can stand and mimic each other’s whole bodies. Make connections to the theme. Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: N o n e

Simon Says Play the classic “Simon Says.” Choose a camper to be Simon and call out ways of moving: “Simon says skip,” or, “Simon says walk with your hands on your head,” for example. If the leader gives a command but doesn’t start the command with, “Simon says,” any campers who mistakenly obey are out. Trade out leaders, giving different campers the opportunity. As an extension with a great opportunity for discussion, have one camper leave the group with a staff person prior to the start of the game. (The staff person will need to make up a legitimate-sounding excuse.) Inform all of the other participants that they will play the game the usual way until the absent camper has a turn as leader—then they should do the opposite of anything “Simon says.” Begin playing the classic way, giving the absent camper time to return and play a couple of rounds before being the leader. After this opposite version, spend some time getting the campers’ feedback on the experience. Allowing the leader to express his or her emotions is especially meaningful. Encourage campers to compare and contrast this situation to their own decisions to listen to and follow God. Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: N o n e

Mirror Image Painting For this art activity, be sure to protect the tables with newspaper or an old sheet. Cover the campers with aprons or smocks to protect their clothing. Fill squeeze bottles with red, yellow, and blue paints (feel free to use other colors if you have them) for the campers to share. Each camper will fold a piece of paper in half lengthwise. After unfolding it, it should be laid flat on the covered table. Each camper should drop splotches of paint on one half of the paper. Making sure that at least one drop of paint is right on the crease is helpful to show the connection between both sides. Finally, the campers should place the blank side of their paper over the painted side by refolding, making a mirror image on the other side. Pressing the paper firmly and then slowly pulling it apart should allow for the most accurate mirrored image. Point out that, even though the campers’ artwork results are not exact images, they leave an impression (a mirror image). Paul calls the Thessalonians—and us—to mirror Christ’s example. Multiple Intelligences: I n t r a p e r s o n a l , S p a t i a l Supplies: P a p e r , p a i n t ( r e d , y e l l o w , b l u e ) , s q u e e z e b o t t l e s , t a b l e , n e w s p a p e r o r o l d s h e e t s , a p r o n s o r s m o c k s

Wipe Away the Bars Sing rounds and call-and-response songs such as “Seek Ye First,” having campers imitate the worship leaders to build on today’s theme. Don’t forget to include the rhythm eggs campers made earlier! Campers should participate in worship, not sit back and watch others. Bring out the story symbol for today, a mirror. Display it prominently. Read 1 Thessalonians 1:4-7. Turn off all lights except campfire and flashlights. Allow campers to point their flashlights at the mirror while singing, “Shine, Jesus, Shine.” Remind campers that each and every one of them is loved and chosen by God. Pass the peace among the group with this greeting, “[Name of Camper], you are loved and chosen by God.” Remind campers that being chosen also means that God has a plan, a mission for each of us. That mission is to imitate Christ, reflecting his love to the world. We don’t go it alone. God’s Spirit is with us helping us complete the work. End worship with “He Who Began a Good Work in You.” Supplies: B i b l e , m i r r o r

Encourage Your Camp In verse 5 of today’s scripture, Paul talks about the “gospel” that came to the people in Thessalonica. Though they will be familiar with the word from the four gospels, explain that, at its essence, gospel is a word that translates as “good news.” Ask campers what they think that “good news” was. Brainstorm some good news that your camp needs to hear today (for example: God chose you, God loves you, you are a special child of God). Make several “good news” posters to hang up around your camp. Find unexpected places to post them (bathroom mirror, kitchen door, parking lot). Be sure to take care to hang posters in ways that will not do damage. Multiple Intelligences: M a t h e m a t i c a l / L o g i c a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: B i b l e , p o s t e r b o a r d o r l a r g e s h e e t s o f p a p e r , m a r k e r s , c r a y o n s , t a p e o r o t h e r s a f e w a y t o h a n g p o s t e r s

Copy Cat Put your campers into pairs (preferably with someone they don’t know very well). Give one a slip of paper with an action scripture written on it. This person is to act out the scripture while the other mirrors his or her partner’s actions. Encourage the one acting to use exaggerated motions and act out the idea of the scripture rather than each literal word. After a few minutes of “mirroring,” let the “mirror partner” guess what the actions were. Give different scriptures to the “mirror partners” and have them lead. Afterward, ask: • How did it feel to try to mirror your partner when you had no idea what that person was doing? • How did it feel to try to act out some of the scriptures? • How is this exercise like trying to mirror Jesus’ actions? • How can we better mirror the actions of Jesus? Suggested Action Scriptures (feel free to choose others): Jeremiah 18:1-4 (potter and clay) Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (a time to…) Ephesians 3:14-15 (prayer) Psalm 100:1-4 (celebration) Matthew 14:15-21 (Jesus feeds five thousand) Matthew 9:1-7 (Jesus heals paralyzed man) Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , S p a t i a l Supplies: A c t i o n B i b l e v e r s e s w r i t t e n o n p i e c e s o f p a p e r

Just Like Jesus Read today’s scripture again, focusing closely on verse 6. Remind campers of the past two days’ lessons, in which Jesus promises the Holy Spirit would come and then that promise is fulfilled in a dramatic way. Ask: • Now that the Holy Spirit has come into our lives, what do we do? • What does verse 6 tell us? • What does it mean to be “imitators of…the Lord”? Look up some stories of Jesus and talk about what he was doing in each. Suggested stories: Mark 11:15-17 (Jesus goes against accepted tradition to stand up for what is right) Matthew 8:1-4 (Jesus heals) Luke 19:1-10 (Jesus reaches out to an outcast and changes his life) Mark 2:5 (Jesus forgives) Matthew 7:24-29 (Jesus taught using parables) John 13:12-17 (Jesus serves with humility) Divide into small groups of three or four and assign one passage to each group. Each group should create a skit that shows how we can imitate in today’s world what Jesus did in his time. Remind them that they do not have to do exactly what Jesus did, but they should find creative ways to be imitators. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , M a t h e m a t i c a l / L o g i c a l Supplies: B i b l e s

Walk This Way Take a hike and be playful with a purpose. As campers are enjoying nature, from time to time, yell out “Walk this way!” The camper in the lead then creates a fun way of walking the trail (hopping, giant steps, walking and turning, and so on), which everyone else must imitate. Lead campers switch after their turn. A counselor will need to monitor the trail to both start and stop the time of walking this way. As the hike nears the end, take time to talk about the importance of choosing carefully the ones we will imitate in our lives. Point campers to Jesus as the one we can follow in complete trust, no matter how challenging the journey. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , S p a t i a l Supplies: H i k i n g t r a i l

Power Grid (The Path/Maze/Gridlock Low Challenge) Campers will experience both solving a problem and being “in” the problem as they deal with trial-and-error problem solving and stepping into the unknown. Leader Notes: Lay out a grid on the ground, inside or outside [if outside, use a flat area]. The size of the grid can vary with the size of your group, but should be at least eight squares by eight squares. The larger the grid, the more challenging the activity. Create a secret “safe” path through the grid and record it on a piece of paper. Graph paper works well. Keep the paper with the solution to yourself. Have the path begin on one edge of the grid and finish on the opposite end, moving, square-to-square, right or left or forward—no diagonals. You’ll need to pay close attention to every move and keep track of the moves on the “solution paper” you made before the activity. Tell campers that God through the Holy Spirit has chosen a path for us, the right way to go, but we don’t always know what is right; sometimes we need the Spirit to guide us and get us on the right path. Say that on the grid before them is a one-way path through the grid. Only one person at a time is allowed on the grid, but all the campers will need to cross it. When a camper is on the grid, that camper may continue as long as he or she stays on the “right” path (your secret path). If a camper steps off the path in a wrong direction, then he or she must leave the grid, and the next person can begin trying to discover the right path. (It’s fun to sound a buzzer or bicycle horn whenever a person steps off the path.) Everyone in the group must attempt the grid before anyone can try it a second time. The activity ends when the complete path is discovered and everyone in the group has gone through the grid. Afterward, discuss: • What was the easiest part of this challenge? • What was the most difficult part? • Did you develop a system? • How did you decide which directions to try? • How did campers outside the grid help the camper inside the grid? • Was advice listened to? If not, why? • The Holy Spirit is God’s guidance system (God’s “GPS”), helping us find our way, following the right path, which is God’s will. How did this challenge reflect letting the power of the Holy Spirit guide us on a daily basis in our paths of life? Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: T a p e o r c h a l k , d r a w n s q u a r e s , s h e e t s o f b l a c k p a p e r , o r w o o d t i l e s u s e d t o c r e a t e a t l e a s t a n e i g h t s q u a r e b y e i g h t s q u a r e g r i d ; g r a p h p a p e r , p e n c i l

Colorful Bubble Snakes Have the campers follow these directions: 1. Cut the bottom of a water bottle off. (Leader Note: Do this step, and step 2 in advance unless you are working with older youth and have impressed upon them the need for safety.) 2. Next, cut apart a sock, using pieces of it to cover the bottom of the bottle. 3. Use duct tape to secure the sock around bottle. Leave no holes for air to escape. 4. Pour some dish soap into a shallow container; dilute with a little bit of water and gently mix. 5. Dip the sock-covered end of the bubble blower into the solution; remove from the solution and gently blow through the mouth of the bottle. 6. Place a few drops of the food coloring onto the sock-covered end. Gently blow again. (Leader Note: This activity will be messy! Warn campers that food coloring may stain clothes. Remind them also to blow out and not suck in so they don’t get a mouthful of soap.) Connection to the theme: Point out to the campers that their breath created the bubble snakes. Ask campers where God’s breath (the Holy Spirit) has created something new. Multiple Intelligences: N a t u r a l i s t Supplies: A p r e - c u t p l a s t i c w a t e r b o t t l e a n d a p i e c e o f a s o c k f o r e a c h c a m p e r , d u c t t a p e , d i s h s o a p ( D a w n o r J o y b r a n d s w o r k b e s t ) , w a t e r , f o o d c o l o r i n g , p i e t i n o r o t h e r s h a l l o w d i s h f o r s o a p a n d w a t e r s o l u t i o n

Acts of Service Ask the camp director if there are ways the campers can be of service. Are there areas that need to be cleaned? Thank-you notes that need to be written to churches that provide scholarships? Bulletin boards that could use a new look? Be sure to talk about how service is one way we live out our faith. Additionally, it is a way of sharing our gifts and building community. Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: D e p e n d e n t u p o n t h e a r e a o f s e r v i c e c h o s e n

Wall of Encouragement Create an environment of encouragement by adding a wall of encouragement to a main camping area. Campers and counselors are then invited to write kind and uplifting words about others all week long. There are lots of creative ways to do this. One way is to choose an outside wall or large piece of wood to paint with chalkboard paint and add chalk for campers to use. A more affordable option would be to find an indoor space to hang large sheets or a roll of paper and use markers. To have the most impact, make sure this is displayed somewhere that campers will see it multiple times each day. Multiple Intelligences: I n t r a p e r s o n a l Supplies: L a r g e s h e e t s o r a r o l l o f p a p e r , m a r k e r s , a n d t a p e ; o r c h a l k b o a r d ( o r a w a l l p a i n t e d w i t h c h a l k b o a r d p a i n t ) a n d s i d e w a l k c h a l k

Skit: “WWJD?” Character 1 encounters someone crying. Character 1 views the scene for a moment as an offstage voice reads Matthew 5:4. Character 1 then moves to the upset person and offers comfort. Character 2 encounters a person anxious and stressing about life’s problems, worried about how things will turn out. Character 2 views the scene for a moment as an offstage voice reads John 14:27. Character 2 then moves in and helps bring peace to the situation. Character 3 encounters a group making fun of and judging someone for what she is wearing or how she is acting. Character 3 views the scene for a moment as an offstage voice reads John 8:7-11. Character 3 then moves in to stop the verbal abusers. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: C o p y o f s k i t o u t l i n e f o r c a m p e r s k i t t e a m

Modern Day Miracles If you have already presented the scripture as “an official letter” (in morning worship), reread the passage again. If not, this is a great time to incorporate that activity. Paul’s letter encourages the Thessalonians to imitate Christ. What does that look like? What did Jesus do in the everyday moments, as well as in the grander times of miracles? (Jesus was kind, he listened, he accepted people who were outcasts and even ate with them; he also fed people, healed people, walked on water, and so on.) Split into a few smaller groups, giving each a story highlighting some of Jesus’ actions, such as: • The Feeding of the 4,000 (Mark 8:1-13) • Jesus Healing Blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52) • Jesus Listens on the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:17-20) • The Samaritan Woman at the Well (John 4) Have each group dramatize Jesus’ response and actions in each passage and then create a second skit, modernizing the passage to reflect a current situation. One skit could focus on bullying. Another could address the issue of what to say to a friend after someone important dies. One group could dramatize caring for a homeless person they encounter. After each dramatization, have the observers talk about what they noticed. Also ask: • How did that make you feel? • How was the person a good friend in the modern-day skit? • How can we imitate those who are faithful, even in the midst of persecution? • How do we imitate Christ? • What kind of example are we holding up for others? As you close the activity, remind the campers that they are chosen and loved by God and given power to imitate Christ. As scary and as hard as that may seem, they are also given the Holy Spirit to walk alongside them. Additionally, the gift of the Christian community, which surrounds them, encourages them to serve, listen, and love even when doing so seems impossibly hard. Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c , I n t e r p e r s o n a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: B i b l e s , s c r i p t u r e r e f e r e n c e s p r i n t e d o n p a p e r f o r g r o u p s t o u s e a s t h e y p l a n t h e i r s k i t s

Quiet Time Table Talk or Conversation Station Use these questions to invite campers into conversation about the theme. Use them over one or more of the meals or create a conversation station during one of the activity rotations. Consider using this for one or more of the days later in the week. Younger Campers: • Tell us about someone you look up to as a model for how to live. Why do you think of him or her as special? • What about that person would you like to imitate or mirror? Older Campers: • Who is a role model in your life? Why? • If you could meet any fictional character, whom would you choose? Why? • Similarly, do you have a hero, living or dead, you would like to meet? • Who is the person and what would you want to talk about with your hero? Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: C o p y o f s e l e c t e d q u e s t i o n s f o r e a c h t a b l e Rest and Read Point out that the story reminds us that we feel God’s Spirit in our hearts and we imitate Jesus Christ in our actions because of the Holy Spirit’s power within us. Challenge campers to look for people encouraging others around camp this week. As an alternative to Quiet Time reading, consider using the books during devotions. Stellaluna, by Janelle Cannon Bad Apple: A Tale of Friendship, by Edward Hemingway You Are Special, by Max Lucado The Recess Queen, by Alexis O’Neill Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: S e l e c t e d b o o k

Daily Journal Have campers use half sheets of paper, fold them over onto themselves, and staple the middle to create books (or simply provide composition books). Have each camper decorate the outside of his or her journal with the words “Grateful Journal.” Here are suggested topics for each day’s writing (or drawing) time: • What are some things you are grateful for in your life? At camp? • What are you learning about the Holy Spirit this week? • Have you ever given your trust to someone who turned out not to be a good person to mirror or to be a role model? What do you keep in mind to help you look to Jesus and to other Christians? • Are you participating in Sunday school, worship, youth group, vacation Bible school or another Bible study? How are those places helping you learn more about living in the Spirit? • How are you an example to others? How do you talk about Jesus? How do you show Jesus’ love? Do you use both words and actions? Multiple Intelligences: I n t r a p e r s o n a l Supplies: P a p e r , s t a p l e r , w r i t i n g i n s t r u m e n t s , m a r k e r s f o r d e c o r a t i n g

Devotions Where Did You See the Holy Spirit Today? Introduce this practice of becoming attuned to the presence of the Holy Spirit. Use this prompt at other times during the week as you choose. The first time not all the campers will be ready to speak, but continue the practice throughout the week and watch them blossom. Encourage everyone to listen closely. Sing some songs and close with prayer. Multiple Intelligences: I n t r a p e r s o n a l Supplies: N o n e

Reflection Prayers Read or line out for the campers to repeat Psalm 143:10. Ask: “What are things God wants us to do that create ‘level ground’ (good things) for ourselves and others?” Have the symbol displayed. Ask: “What does the mirror mean to you now?” Tonight campers will participate in a reflection prayer either inside or outside. They need to stand around one another and the mirrors lying on the floor or ground. Each camper needs to be able to look down into a mirror; several can look into the same mirror. Ask: “What do you see?” Invite campers to share all the things they see reflected in the mirrors (sky or ceiling, lights, tree tops or beams, other campers, etc.). Pray, giving thanks for all of the amazing things around them. Have campers change their positions until they can see themselves reflected in the mirrors. In silence, have them meditate on what they see. Ask: “What do you think God sees?” Invite them to lift up a silent prayer of thanks for who they are as well as anything they want to share with God. Then pray aloud that they will each always see a beloved child of God and that the Holy Spirit will continue to move within them and through them to reflect the goodness of Jesus Christ. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , I n t r a p e r s o n a l Supplies: B i b l e , s y m b o l f o r t h e w e e k , m i r r o r s o f v a r i o u s s h a p e s a n d s i z e s ( a t l e a s t o n e m i r r o r f o r e v e r y t h r e e c a m p e r s ) s p r e a d o u t o n t h e g r o u n d o u t s i d e o r o n t h e f l o o r i n s i d e w i t h r o o m f o r c a m p e r s t o b e a b l e t o s t a n d o v e r a n d l o o k i n t o o n e o f t h e m i r r o r s

A Letter for You Sing “They Will Know We Are Christians.” Give each camper today’s scripture printed out on paper and sealed in an envelope. Tell the campers they are receiving a letter that was originally written by Paul to the believers in Thessalonica. Invite volunteers each to read a sentence or two aloud. Say, “Paul couldn’t be with the believers, so he wrote to them to encourage them to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul reminded them that they were chosen by God and deeply loved by God.” In the front of the worship space, have a large piece of paper mounted that says, “Chosen by God. Loved by God.” While singing “I Will Change Your Name,” have campers come up front and write their own names on the mural. Close with prayer, reminding the campers that they indeed received the word with joy! Long-lasting joy is ours to give to others as we encourage one another to follow Christ’s example. Supplies: E n v e l o p e s w i t h “ l e t t e r ” ( w i t h t o d a y ’ s s c r i p t u r e p a s s a g e p r i n t e d ) f o r e a c h c a m p e r , B i b l e , b i g p i e c e o f p a p e r w i t h “ C h o s e n b y G o d . L o v e d b y G o d ” w r i t t e n i n t h e m i d d l e , m a r k e r s

Responding Invite campers to the tables of mirrors; have them stand around and look into the mirrors. Ask campers to silently consider these questions: • What do you see in these mirrors? • What does God see? • What does the world see? • How can you be a reflection of God? Invite each camper to pick up a mirror and with the fine-line markers write: “[His or her own name] is a reflection of God.” Campers should take their mirrors home with them and keep them where they will see them often so that they will remember to be that reflection everywhere they go. Close with a song and prayer. Multiple Intelligences: I n t r a p e r s o n a l , S p a t i a l Supplies: T a b l e s , f i n e - l i n e m a r k e r s o r p a i n t p e n s , a m i r r o r f o r e a c h c a m p e r ( S m a l l c r a f t m i r r o r s w i l l w o r k . )

Reminder Cards How have they seen their cabinmates be Jesus’ example? How have they been encouraged by one another? Invite campers to give specific examples of when people have been supportive to them during this week and then to go around the circle to say words of encouragement to one another. Finally, give each camper a card to fill in for the person to the right, writing that camper’s name on the first line, and if time allows, decorating it too. As a closing prayer, beginning with the leader, one at a time each camper turns to the person to the right and reads the card to him or her. Day Camp Adaptation: Another option is to give each camper a bookmark to take home. (Extra Resources, Bookmarks) Supplies: C a m p e r c a r d s , m a r k e r s

______, Beloved by God, God has chosen you. (1 Thessalonians 1:4)

DAY CAMP: Week 3 Power Up with the Fruit of the Spirit Plan Your Week

Energizers • C a t c h t h e S p i r i t • F r u i t ( o f - t h e - S p i r i t ) • F r u i t o f t h e S p i r i t • L e a f H u n t R e l a y B a s k e t U p s e t S c a v e n g e r H u n t Bible Time • F r u i t o f t h e S p i r i t • T a s t e a n d S e e • T a s t e a n d S e e • T h e F r u i t M o d e l e d • E x t r e m e B e l i e v e r T h a t t h e L o r d I s f o r U s M a k e o v e r G o o d Morning Activity • S t o r y S y m b o l • S o n g F e s t • T o u c h y F e e l y • G r o w i n g t h e F r u i t • F o l l o w i n g t h e Options B o x e s o f t h e S p i r i t i n M e S p i r i t o r S e l f i s h • B i r d F e e d e r s • F r u i t R o c k s D e s i r e s • F o l d i n g F r u i t o f • G o o d F r u i t v e r s u s • P l a n t G o o d • Y o u r F r u i t I s t h e S p i r i t B a d F r u i t • F r u i t S t a t i o n s S e e d s S h o w i n g • T h e G i v i n g T r e e Quiet Time • R e s t & R e a d • T a b l e T a l k • R e s t & R e a d • T a b l e T a l k • R e s t & R e a d • J o u r n a l • J o u r n a l • J o u r n a l • J o u r n a l • J o u r n a l

Afternoon Activity • B a s k e t s o f F r u i t • O r i g a m i F r u i t • F r u i t y C o m m e r c i a l • F r u i t o f t h e S p i r i t • C o m m u n i t y T r e e Options S w i n g C h a l l e n g e • S o n g F e s t • R a n d o m A c t s o f • S t u c k i n M y • P r a y i n g i n C o l o r F r u i t i n e s s H e a d . . . • P r a y e r B e a d s • F r u i t K a b o b S n a c k • G o a n d P i c k • K o o l D o u g h

Devotions • F r u i t C h e c k • P r a y i n g t h e F r u i t • P l a n t i n g S e e d s • D i s p l a y i n g t h e • P r a y e r o f S t . T r e e F r u i t F r a n c i s

Week 3 Overview

Scripture: Galatians 5:16-26 (CEB) Focus: Living by the Spirit produces good fruit in our lives. Good fruit affects the whole community positively. Connection to Campers: So often the Christian life is understood by what believers are not allowed to do. That emphasis leads to legalism and judgment. Help campers move beyond these misconceptions by focusing on the things all Christians can do to make the world a better place. The beauty of this passage is that it explores the wonderful characteristics of vibrant faith. This theme is an opportunity to celebrate the life-giving gifts of the Holy Spirit. Leader Notes: Review the “Biblical and Theological Overview” for Day 4. If possible, use the translation from the Common English Bible (CEB). Especially if your group is predominantly younger children, you may want to treat “the actions that are produced by selfish motives” as a whole rather than focusing on specifics or just concentrate on good behaviors that come from choosing to live in the Spirit (verses 22-26). Be aware of the “goodness”/”generosity” issue. (See Fruit Alert on page 6.) The fruit of living in God’s Spirit is manifested in many ways! Help campers understand that there are more “fruit” that will produce good than just the nine listed in the scripture. Throughout the remainder of the week, be attentive to naming for campers actions they do that show the fruit of the Spirit. Your noticing and affirming will go a long way toward helping them be more aware of how people live in the Spirit. Remind campers that the Spirit gives them the power to choose the fruit of the Spirit versus “selfish desires.” Help the campers be excited to live out the call, not just to look at Christ’s example. Symbol for the Week: Various Fruit What does “living in the Spirit” produce? The fruit of those cumulative, daily decisions is life-giving, wholesome, beautiful. Choosing to live without the Spirit bears fruit that tears apart communities and lives. Most of these activities come from specific age levels in the residential camp daily plans. However, they can readily be adjusted for younger or older or mixed-age groups in day camp. Feel free to adapt them to fit your camp and campers.

Getting-to-Know-You Games Pick a Pack Invite the group to sit in a circle. Place an empty basket in the center of the circle. Tell the campers that they will be talking about the fruit of the Spirit. Explain that as they go around the circle, each person will tell his or her first name and also a fruit—something that grows on a tree, bush, plant, or in the ground and can be picked and eaten. (Nuts, flowers, and vegetables may also count, if you wish, because they are technically fruit of the plant.) Challenge the campers to pick something that also starts with the first letter of their name. (My name is Quentin and I pick quince.) Give that person a big “Woo hoo,” but recognize that not everyone will be familiar with a fruit that goes with his or her initial. Perhaps the group can help think of one. Do another round and challenge campers to identify two (or more) other campers by name and tell what fruit they picked. After persons have been picked, the next camper must name different people in the circle—until everyone has been identified at least once. Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: B a s k e t

Lime and Lemon Have the group stand or sit in a circle with the “Fruit Picker” at the center. When he or she points to someone and says “Lime,” that person must say the name of the person on the left before the Fruit Picker counts to ten in English or Spanish (or Korean for those who do Tae Kwon Do or any other language of their choice). If the Fruit Picker says, “Lemon,” the person indicated must name the one sitting to the right before the count of ten. If the person indicated fails, then he or she becomes the Fruit Picker. For added challenge, shorten the count to five after several rounds of ten. Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: N o n e

Energizers Catch the Spirit Leader Note: Ahead of time, blow up a beach ball and write the nine names of the fruit of the Spirit on the colored sections, or draw your own sections with permanent marker. (You can repeat fruit names to fill in sections.) Campers stand in a circle inside or outside and toss the beach ball around the circle. When a camper catches the ball, the camper looks at where his or her right thumb is resting, says the name of the fruit, and gives an example of what that fruit represents (gentleness = helping a young child cross the street safely). Younger children may need assistance in reading and naming an example. Continue to toss the ball around the circle until everyone has had a turn and all nine fruits have been named. If you want to speed up the activity, one option is, when a fruit is touched a second time, ask the catcher to choose another fruit that is next to it on the ball that hasn’t been mentioned yet. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: B e a c h b a l l , m a r k e r

Fruit (of-the-Spirit) Basket Upset Make a circle of chairs with enough seats for all but one of the group members. Tell campers that you are going to play Fruit (of-the- Spirit) Basket Upset. In this game they will be using the names of some of the good fruit that Jesus wants them to grow in their lives! Assign each camper one of the fruits from Galatians (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self- control). Instead of trying to assign all of the fruit of the Spirit, make sure that there are at least two of each fruit used (two loves, two joys, and so on), even if some fruit is left out. If you have an odd-numbered group, you may have three of one fruit. Ask campers to practice saying their fruit out loud a few times so that they can remember what theirs is. Invite campers to sit in the chairs. The group member left without a chair will start off in the middle of the circle. Whoever is in the middle wants to get a chair, so he or she should say the name of one of the fruit of the Spirit. The campers who have been assigned that fruit must get up and move around the outside of the circle, trying to find another chair, as the person from the middle tries to get to one of the vacated seats ahead of them. Whoever is left without a seat is then in the middle and should say the name of another fruit. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: C h a i r s

Fruit of the Spirit Scavenger Hunt Leader Notes: Prior to the activity, choose and hide nine “fruit” to represent the nine fruit of the Spirit. (If possible, use fruit representations so as to not waste food.) Also prior to the activity, write the various fruit of the Spirit on individual slips of paper and place them in a brown lunch sack. Consider having your campers search for the fruit on their way to your meeting place so that when they arrive they are ready for the next step in the activity. Give your group a time limit and radius for the scavenger hunt, and then send them out in search of the fruit. Once they have found all nine, have them gather together. Tell them that, as in the scavenger hunt, today they are going to be on the lookout for the nine fruit of the Spirit—in one another. Point out that sometimes in everyday life, we need to hunt for joy, for peace, for kindness. Campers will “blindly” reach into the bag and choose a fruit of the Spirit. Without telling anyone else, they will be on the lookout for this fruit all day. Later in the day, campers will have a chance to share what they found. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: N i n e f r u i t s t o h i d e ( p l a s t i c o r p a p e r r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s ) , b a s k e t f o r c o l l e c t i n g , b r o w n b a g w i t h t h e v a r i o u s f r u i t o f t h e S p i r i t w r i t t e n o n s l i p s o f p a p e r i n s i d e t h e b a g ( e n o u g h f o r o n e p e r c a m p e r — f r u i t n a m e s c a n b e r e p e a t e d )

Leaf Hunt Relay Divide campers into several teams (at least two). First, ask campers to collect leaves from each of a number of different kinds of trees and plants, which they need to name for everyone on the team. They also need to report the names of their sources (the trees and plants) to the leader of the game. Teams need to bring back leaves that have already fallen to the ground, not stripping them off of living plants. They may compare the leaves on the ground with those that are on the tree or plant to see if they are the same. An alternative is to make crayon rubbings or to write the tree name on paper. The groups need to collect as many leaves fallen from each tree and plant as there are teams. (If four teams, collect four leaves from each different tree.) (Leader Note: Know your poisonous plants and do not collect even fallen leaves of poison ivy, poison oak, and so forth.) Once the leaves have been collected, for each team make a leaf pile containing one leaf from the various trees or plants and place these piles each at a set distance in front of the respective lined-up team. The leader calls the name of a tree or plant (or holds up a leaf) and then says, “Go.” At the signal, the first camper in each line runs to the designated pile of leaves, finds the leaf from the tree named (or leaf shown) and holds it up. A point is awarded for each leaf correctly identified. The player or leader returns the leaves to the piles and shuffles the piles carefully so as to not break apart the dry leaves. Then the next player from each team can have a turn. Adaptations: Make the activity a speed relay. Or, instead of collecting leaves, prepare slips of paper with the name of the plant or trees, or make crayon rubbings of leaves to replace the actual leaves. Multiple Intelligences: N a t u r a l i s t Supplies: L e a v e s c o l l e c t e d f r o m t h e g r o u n d f r o m v a r i o u s p l a n t s a n d t r e e s , p a p e r a n d p e n c i l s i f w r i t i n g d o w n t h e k i n d o f p l a n t a n d t r e e i n s t e a d , o r c r a y o n s a n d p a p e r f o r r u b b i n g s

Bible Time: Galatians 5:16-26 (CEB) Fruit of the Spirit Review the nine fruit of the Spirit from Galations 5:22-23a. Tell the campers that you have a basket of fruit that will help them remember the fruit of the Spirit. As you show them a fruit, invite conversation about which of the fruit of the Spirit it might represent and why. (For example, “strawberries are red and red makes me think of love” or “the words ‘grapes’ and ‘goodness’ both start with the same sound.” Silliness is OK. It might even help them remember better!) When the campers come to a consensus on which fruit of the Spirit the real fruit will represent, write that in marker on the fruit or on paper, place it in the basket, and move on to the next fruit. Also, invite campers of all ages to give some examples of how, on a daily basis, we live out each fruit with the power of the Spirit. The conversation might also include some examples of behaviors that are not from living in the Spirit. Challenge the group to recall the fruit of the Spirit they assigned to each fruit. Keep the pace lively and fun. The goal is to remember the nine; the specific fruits are just reminders. Tell the group that throughout the day and week they will have several opportunities to practice both knowing the names of the fruit of the Spirit and living with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Leader Notes: If you have multiple weeks of camp, use fake fruits and place a piece of clear tape on each so you can write the name of the assigned fruit of the Spirit and in subsequent weeks pull the tape off to start fresh, reusing the fruit all summer. An alternative is to cut out shapes of various fruits and to have additional pieces of paper in case campers think of a fruit that is not already in the basket. If you plan to use real fruit, please do not waste it and check to make sure campers have no food allergies. Day Camp Adaptation: Start by reading the scripture and talking through each of the fruit of the Spirit, discussing what each means and giving some examples from the campers’ experiences. Then pick up this activity. Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c , S p a t i a l Supplies: R e p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f a t l e a s t n i n e d i f f e r e n t f r u i t s , a b a s k e t o r b o w l f o r t h e f r u i t , p e r m a n e n t m a r k e r , ( o p t i o n a l : p a p e r s l i p s , t a p e )

Taste and See Discuss with campers: “What is your favorite fruit? Why do you like it?” God’s word teaches that following Jesus is like growing good fruit in our lives. People will “taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalm 34:8) because of the way we live. Read aloud Galatians 5:22-23a, 25-26. Bring some grapes in a bag for a snack to continue the discussion. Don’t allow campers to see what you have inside. Say: “I have a snack to share with you inside my bag. We will eat it after you figure out what kind of fruit it is.” Tell campers they have to use their senses to find the answer. Allow them to smell, touch, and even listen to the closed bag. If campers still can’t figure it out, have them close or cover their eyes with a blindfold and taste the fruit. Say: “This is a grape because it feels, smells, tastes, sounds, and looks like a grape. No other fruit is exactly like a grape. In the same way, Christians should be as easy to identify because of how they live. They should imitate Jesus so that others will see him too. We can do so with the help of the Holy Spirit.” Enjoy the snack. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , S p a t i a l Supplies: B i b l e , b a g ( o n e t h a t c a n n o t b e s e e n t h r o u g h ) w i t h a b u n c h o f g r a p e s i n s i d e , ( o p t i o n a l : b l i n d f o l d ) Taste and See That the Lord Is Good Leader Note: Prior to meeting with your campers, prepare a basket of fruit that can be observed and eventually enjoyed. Feel free to share the fruit with the campers as you move through the lesson. Discuss with the campers: • What do you know about fruit? (juicy; grows on trees, vines, or bushes; good to eat; and so on) • What is your favorite fruit? Why? Say: “In the scripture we will read today, we learn that following Jesus is like growing good fruit in our lives.” Read Galatians 5:16-26 and discuss: • Just like fruit grows from a seed, God plants seeds of these fruits in us. What are some of the “fruit” that were mentioned? (love, joy, peace...) • Why do you think we call these characteristics the “fruit of the Spirit”? • We are called to grow these seeds into mature fruit. How do we keep these fruit of the Spirit healthy and growing? • What do you think it means to “live by the Spirit”? At this point, give each camper the camper page on page 104 to color and keep. Another option could be creating a huge paper tree to hang in a public space, maybe the dining hall or eating area. Groups of campers can create visual fruits for each of the nine fruit of the Spirit. Additional blank pieces of paper cut in fruit shapes can be available with writing utensils nearby. As campers see others displaying the fruit of the Spirit, they can write examples of what they saw and add them to the tree. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: B i b l e , b o w l o f f r u i t , n a p k i n s o r p a p e r t o w e l s , ( o p t i o n a l : c u t t i n g b o a r d , k n i f e , p i c n i c b l a n k e t ) , F r u i t o f t h e S p i r i t c a m p e r p a g e f o r e a c h p e r s o n , m a r k e r s o r c r a y o n s , ( o p t i o n a l : l a r g e t r e e c u t o u t o r m u r a l , t a p e , b l a n k p a p e r , s c i s s o r s )

The Fruit Modeled for Us Leader Notes: One of the best ways for campers to grasp what the fruit of the Spirit looks like in day-to-day lives is to see examples of the characteristics being lived out. In this activity, campers will work together to tie each fruit of the Spirit to another passage in scripture. In advance, if possible, have counselors read through the passages listed below for an assigned fruit, so they can better facilitate the small groups’ work within the amount of time available. After reading and discussing the Galatians 5 passage together, divide the campers into up to nine smaller groups. (Or, if your group is smaller, break into the appropriate number of groups. It is not necessary to cover every fruit.) Each group will be “secretly” assigned a fruit of the Spirit. As a team, they will work to create a skit from a story in scripture (suggestions below or add others) that illustrates that fruit of the Spirit: • Love: The loving friendship experienced by David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:1-42), or friends carrying the paralytic (Mark 2:1- 12) • Joy: David dancing for joy (2 Samuel 6:12-22), Mary’s Song (Luke 1:46-55) • Peace: Jesus calming the storm (Mark 4:35-41), Jesus healing the Gerasene demoniac (Mark 5:1-20) • Patience: Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 12:1-6 and 21:1-7), Hannah (1 Samuel), • Kindness: The kindness of Boaz (Ruth 2), Jonathan prays for David (1 Samuel 19) • Goodness: The boy who shared his lunch (John 6:1-14), the goodness of the Lord (Genesis 1) • Faithfulness: Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1), Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 22), Daniel faithful in prayer (Daniel 6:1-23) • Gentleness: Pharaoh’s daughter taking care of Moses (Exodus 2), the lost sheep (Luke 15), Joseph and his brothers (Genesis 45:1-15) • Self-Control: Manna in the desert (Exodus 16:4-30), David not killing Saul (1 Samuel 24) After each group has prepared their skit, they will act out the narrative and the other campers will have a chance to guess which fruit of the Spirit is being represented. (Leader Note: Oftentimes, more than one fruit of the Spirit will clearly tie to the story the team has chosen to illustrate. That is fine! Just have them identify the various fruit they see.) Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: B i b l e s , ( o p t i o n a l : f r u i t o f t h e S p i r i t a n d t h e i r s u g g e s t e d s c r i p t u r e s o n s l i p s o f p a p e r )

Extreme Believer Makeover Ask a volunteer(s) to read Galatians 5:16-26 out loud. Point out that this is a passage of comparisons and contrasts. • What is Paul comparing and contrasting? (living by the Spirit versus living by selfish desires) On a poster board make two columns. Label one “Spirit” and the other “Selfish Desires.” Ask campers to review the scripture lists for both and identify the kinds of results that happen when people live by selfish desires (temporary “fun” with a high cost, others get hurt, bodies don’t work well, disease, jail, can’t keep a job, can’t keep relationships strong, can’t make friends, families suffer). Next, list the results living by the Spirit produces (happiness, stronger relationships, closeness with God, reliability, making a positive difference). Ask: • What kind of life do you want to live? • Which column do you think will help you to get there? • How do the choices you make now affect your life long-term? If you have enough campers, divide into groups of five to seven (if not, make do with smaller groups). Ask each group to create two skits—one that shows a person living by selfish desires and one in which the participants’ lives get an extreme makeover and they then live by the Spirit. Encourage the groups to model their skits after a favorite makeover show. Have them perform for each other. The skits could also be part of worship or campfire. Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: B i b l e , p o s t e r b o a r d , m a r k e r s

Morning & Afternoon Activity Options Story Symbol = Various Fruits Show the symbol. Ask campers why it is a good reminder of what the Bible teaches. Talk about fruit as what the plant produces when it is connected to a source of water and food. Compare that to the campers being able to produce the fruit of the Spirit because they are connected to the Source of what they need—the Holy Spirit. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: R e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f v a r i o u s f r u i t

Folding Fruit of the Spirit Have campers work together to create their folding sticks. (Leader Note: For younger children, provide craft sticks already taped together and just have them decorate the sticks.) Then have them work separately or in family groups to write and decorate. Have each camper follow these directions: 1. Cut masking tape into nine 4-inch pieces. 2. Place two sticks together side by side, flat sides down, and tape them together with one of the pieces of tape, longways down the middle, connecting both the sticks with the tape. 3. Turn the two sticks over so you don’t see the tape, place another stick next to the other two sticks taped together, and use another piece of tape to tape the new stick to the first two. 4. Turn all three sticks over, place another stick next to the third stick, and tape it onto the third stick. 5. Continue to flip the row of sticks over, attaching a new stick to the previously taped stick each time. This repetition creates a line of ten sticks that will fold like an accordion. 6. Don’t worry about tape being on a “writing side” of a stick, it is actually easier to write on the tape than the stick. Plus, the tape is a similar color to the stick and blends in. Now, in smaller groups the campers are to write “Fruit of the Spirit“ on the top stick of the folded stack, then write each of the nine fruit on the next nine sticks. Have them make sure the writing will be all on the same side of the sticks when unfolded. They may decorate as they wish. Show campers how to fold up their sticks accordion style and tie them together with the ribbon. These are a great tool for learning the fruit since campers can test themselves by revealing one fruit at a time. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: P e r c a m p e r : 1 0 j u m b o c r a f t s t i c k s ( t o n g u e d e p r e s s o r s ) , s c i s s o r s , m a s k i n g t a p e u s e d i n 4 - i n c h p i e c e s , 6 - i n c h p i e c e o f r i b b o n , p e r m a n e n t m a r k e r s o r c o l o r e d p e n c i l s ( W a s h a b l e m a r k e r s s m e a r . )

Bird Feeders Using various fruits, campers will create bird feeders to hang around camp, or for campers to take home. Campers may make all three types if supplies and time are available: • Orange halves simply need to be cleaned out (saving the fruit or eating it). After poking three holes at least half an inch down from the edge and equidistant from each other around the circumference, thread pieces of yarn through each hole, tie each off with a large knot on the inside of the orange rind, and tie all three pieces of yarn together at the top, with a loop to hang on a tree branch. Fill with birdseed or with the orange pulp for the birds to eat. • Apple cross-sections are hung by running a piece of yarn through the center where the seeds are or by poking a hole in the center. Loop the yarn through and tie at the top to hang on a tree branch. • Cranberries are strung on a thread by needle (younger campers may need a partner to help) to make about a six-to-eight-inch icicle. Tie off the thread with a big knot at the bottom and loop the thread at the top so it can be hung in a tree. Longer garlands can be made that will lie on the branches, but the needle work tends to stretch the fruit of patience in many campers. Point out that God wants us to live out the fruit of the Spirit on a daily basis. Ask: “How can caring for God’s critters and creation represent any of the fruit of the Spirit?” (gentleness of their habitat, patience when sharing space, self-control in respecting their homes, and so on). Leader Note: Campers can make one feeder to stay at camp, one to have at home, and one to give away to a friend. If you choose this option, provide plastic lunch bags for the ones going home and keep them cool or cold until campers can take them home. Multiple Intelligences: N a t u r a l i s t Supplies: O r a n g e r i n d h a l v e s w i t h f r u i t s c o o p e d o u t ( g r e a t f o r b r e a k f a s t o r i n a f r u i t s a l a d ) ; a p p l e s s l i c e d h o r i z o n t a l l y i n a c r o s s - s e c t i o n a h a l f - i n c h t h i c k ( s o y o u h a v e a “ c i r c l e ” w i t h t h e a p p l e s e e d s i n t h e c e n t e r ) ; c r a n b e r r i e s t o s t r i n g ; y a r n f o r h a n g e r s ( b i o d e g r a d a b l e ) , b i r d s e e d , n e e d l e w i t h l a r g e e y e f o r s t r i n g i n g c r a n b e r r i e s , t h i c k c o t t o n t h r e a d

Baskets of Fruit Campers will create paper bag “baskets” and then add nine “fruits” that are painted stones or homemade play dough in fruit shapes. Campers create one basket of fruit per family group. (Leader Note: You can view the basket and the steps at http://www.elli.com/blog/diy-upcycled-fruit-basket/.) Making the baskets is easiest with all campers following each step together: 1. Cut down the center of one of the biggest sides of the grocery bag. Trim off the bottom (and handles, if there) and open bag out flat. 2. Measure and mark with a pencil 18 strips (one to two inches wide) down the length of the bag; cut them apart. Cut two of the strips in half and set them aside. 3. Fold each of the other 16 strips lengthwise into thirds. (This step helps strengthen the basket and hide any printing on the bag; the weaving keeps the strips together.) 4. Weave the bottom of the basket using six strips lying next to one another and weaving six strips across (like weaving a paper placemat), weaving over one strip under the next, over, under, over, and under. The woven part should be in the center; the “leftover” parts of the woven strips, which will form the sides, will stick out in four directions. Once the weave is aligned and tight, secure the ends of the bottom with hot glue. 5. Fold the side strips up on all four sides of the basket bottom to show the square shape of your basket. 6. Glue three of the half strips (from Step 2) onto three full-length strips (These three extra long strips will weave with the side strips from Step 5 to complete the basket sides.) 7. Now, using the three longer strips (from Step 6), weave them into the side pieces (from Step 5) to make the basket sides. Glue the side strips at the beginning point. Go over, under, and so on to create the box shape. Then glue again at the end point. Weave all three longer strips around until the basket is three-strips-high on the sides. 8. Trim any extra on the strips sticking out on the top of the basket sides to one inch, and then tuck the extra into the weave or simply fold it down and glue it on the inside of basket to make a smooth, finished top edge to the basket. Now, working within family groups, campers can make the nine fruits that go in their baskets. Choose ahead of time whether the fruits are to be painted rocks collected ahead of time or shaped out of homemade play dough. Once rocks are painted and dry, or play dough is somewhat dry, write on each in marker the fruit of the Spirit it represents. After fruits are dry, add them to the paper-bag basket. Gather for discussion; asking: “Which of the fruits of the Spirit did you use today doing this activity—gentleness? patience? kindness? joy? self-control?” Invite campers to give specific examples. Say: “We don’t always remember to use the fruit of the Spirit in everything that we do, but God gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us use them to Power Up! Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , L o g i c a l / M a t h e m a t i c Supplies: P a p e r g r o c e r y s a c k s — o n e p e r f a m i l y g r o u p , h o t g l u e , s c i s s o r s , r u l e r s , p e n c i l s , s t o n e s c o l l e c t e d f r o m a r o u n d c a m p , p e r m a n e n t m a r k e r s , ( o p t i o n a l : p a i n t s a n d b r u s h e s o r i t e m s t o m a k e h o m e m a d e p l a y d o u g h [ s e e r e c i p e b e l o w ] ) Homemade Play Dough Recipe Materials needed: 1 cup salt, 1 cup flour, 1 cup water, bowl, drops of food coloring, utensil for mixing, plastic resealable bag Process: Mix salt and flour in bowl, add food coloring to the water, add colored water to dry ingredients and mix. Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic (not sticky). Seal in plastic resealable bag until ready to use. (Campers can make various colors as part of the activity.) Fruit Kabob Snack Remind campers that the fruit of the Spirit are gifts from God to us to help us lead good lives, to do good things, and to stay away from treating others and ourselves badly. With the power of the Holy Spirit, we have help always to do good things and to stay away from doing mean or bad things. The bad and mean things do not come from the Holy Spirit, but what’s the good and what’s the bad are not always clear. That is why we need the power of God’s Spirit to help us live in the Spirit. Keeping in mind campers’ food allergies, prepare several types of chopped fruits in advance and place them in nine separate containers. (If you don’t have nine different fruits, just spread what you do have into nine bowls). Use foil as lids and write with marker a fruit of the Spirit on the foil lids. Provide kabob sticks or bowls and forks for a fruit salad. Challenge the campers to name the fruit of the Spirit again. Have them create a fruit kabob or fruit salad with the fruits from each of the bowls or the fruits that they want to eat. Encourage the campers to think about each fruit and its new meaning as they choose and eat it. Multiple Intelligences: L o g i c a l / M a t h e m a t i c a l , N a t u r a l i s t Supplies: S e v e r a l t y p e s o f c h o p p e d f r u i t , n i n e b o w l s , f o i l , m a r k e r , k a b o b s t i c k s ( o p t i o n a l : f o r k s a n d d i s p o s a b l e b o w l s )

Go and Pick Leader Note: If your camp has a garden, wild berries or a berry patch, or fruit trees, this activity is for you (but only if you have permission from the proper camp authorities). Much of the Bible references farm life to lead to spiritual insight. Use the natural environment to bring the fruit of the Spirit to life by taking your group to pick berries (or any fruit or vegetable that is in season during camp). Afterward, gather to read Galatians 55:22- 23a. Ask: • Why do you think God’s Word calls these characteristics “fruit”? • How do you know when fruit is ripe? • How does a spiritual fruit become ripe? • How does fruit grow? What helps it grow? • How does a Christian grow? What helps a Christian grow? • If you had to choose an actual fruit to represent each gift, which would you choose? Why? (For example, love could be a raspberry because it is red like a heart.) As the discussion comes to a close, remind campers that God loves seeing the fruit of the Spirit in all Christians, no matter their age. Even young children can grow good fruit in their lives. Ask individuals to choose one particular fruit from the scripture that they want to grow in this week. Leader Note: From time to time throughout the week, ask campers individually what fruit they have chosen and encourage them as they grow their fruit with the help of the Holy Spirit. Watch what God will do. Multiple Intelligences: N a t u r a l i s t , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: B e r r y - p i c k i n g p a t c h , c a m p g a r d e n , o r t r e e s t o p i c k f r u i t

Fruit Rocks Invite campers to collect rocks of all shapes and sizes for an art project. Find a table or spread a tarp on the ground to do some painting. Provide lots of “fruity” colors to inspire creativity. Challenge campers to use paint to create the most lifelike fruits. Allow the paint to dry. Bring the rocks to evening worship where they will be used in a tree planting ceremony. Multiple Intelligences: N a t u r a l i s t , S p a t i a l Supplies: R o c k s , p a i n t s , p a i n t b r u s h e s , t a b l e o r t a r p , c l e a n u p s u p p l i e s

Your Fruit Is Showing Help campers identify and encourage one another to pursue good fruit in their lives by playing an on-going spy game. (Leader Note: Ahead of time, make the cutouts—your choice of fruit.) Ask each camper to decorate a paper cutout of a fruit. Using a hole punch, make a small hole in each fruit and have each camper loop enough yarn through his or her fruit to make a necklace. The campers will then be on the lookout for others who are demonstrating a fruit of the Spirit. If they catch another camper or leader showing good fruit, they will give their necklace to that person. All day the focus will be on good attitudes and behavior. Remember, what you focus on, you get more of! An option is to give campers some stickers (or small clip clothespins as counters) to give away instead. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: E n o u g h p a p e r c u t o u t s o f a f r u i t s h a p e f o r o n e p e r c a m p e r , y a r n , m a r k e r s , ( o p t i o n a l : s t i c k e r s o r s m a l l c l i p c l o t h e s p i n s )

Community Tree Discuss with campers where various fruits grow. Point out that buds, seed pods such as acorns, and even leaves are the “fruit” of trees —just as much as is an apple or a peach, for example. Take a short walk together to collect fallen seedpods and leaves from off the ground. Bring the group together to make a community tree using the items gathered. A community tree is like a family tree, except that it includes people who are connected but who may not be related by blood. This element is important to emphasize because of the diversity of today’s families and the varied life experiences of campers. On a large piece of paper, outline a tree, and invite campers to glue on the leaves and seedpods. Campers can then tell stories of special people in their lives and add their names to the community tree. Then switch the focus to the campers, saying: “The Holy Spirit uses special people in our lives to help us know and grow good fruit, and we are also part of the tree.” Prompt the campers to add their names. Point out that when they are loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, gentle, faithful, generous (or good), and self-controlled, the whole community grows stronger, the tree gets bigger, and they grow closer to God. Multiple Intelligences: N a t u r a l i s t , S p a t i a l Supplies: L e a v e s , a c o r n s a n d o t h e r s e e d p o d s , l a r g e s h e e t o f p a p e r , m a r k e r s , g l u e Plant Good Seeds Turn your campers into junior farmers in this planting activity. Gather all supplies and bring the group to a table or tarp to begin planting. Fill cups with soil, place seeds just below the surface, and cover with topsoil. Water the seeds and then place them in a sunny spot, such as a window sill in the cabin. Check back all week to water and note any growth. You can even measure and record growth if you have science-oriented campers who would enjoy charting the changes. As the group plants and as they check on the development, talk informally about the fruit of the Spirit they are nurturing and growing in themselves this week at camp. Multiple Intelligences: N a t u r a l i s t , L o g i c a l / M a t h e m a t i c a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: P a p e r c u p s , s o i l , b e a n o r g r a s s s e e d , p o t t i n g s o i l , a c c e s s t o w a t e r , t a b l e o r t a r p ( Leader Note: If using bean seeds, soak them first to encourage faster sprouting.)

Growing the Fruit of the Spirit in Me Using a big piece of paper, trace one camper. Have one of the campers cut it out. Meanwhile, engage the group in a coming up with a list of their favorite edible fruits and how each might represent a fruit of the Spirit. Here are some ideas: • cherries for love (red and they often may be in pairs!) • bananas for joy • peaches for peace • kiwis for patience (tough and “hairy” on the outside, but once inside, worth the effort) • oranges for kindness (a fruit easy to share) • grapes for generosity/goodness • lemon for faithfulness (If you were eating it, it would require willpower and “faithfulness” to keep eating until the end!) • blueberries for gentleness (gentle or else berries are bruised or become mushy) • watermelon for self-control (Don’t spit the seeds at anyone!) If you have more than nine campers, have some work with a partner for the next steps. Give campers paper and have them draw their fruit as an outline. (Leader Note: You may want to have a sample of a simple drawing such as from a children’s coloring book to show them.) Campers can now paint or color their fruit and cut it out. (Leader Note: A fun, thematic idea for painting is to use fruit-flavored drink mixes of different colors in water. They act like watercolor paints and add the smell factor too!) After all nine fruits are cut out and colored, campers will attach them to the inside of the cut-out of the camper. Place the mural in a central location so it is clearly visible. Remind the campers that the Holy Spirit wants to grow these fruits in their lives—for them to be inside their hearts and minds, but also visible to everyone they meet. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: L a r g e p i e c e o f p a p e r ( t h i c k e r p a p e r li k e b u t c h e r p a p e r w o r k s b e s t ) , p e n c i l , t a p e a n d / o r g l u e , s c i s s o r s , m a r k e r s , w a t e r c o l o r p a i n t s ( o r p a i n t s m a d e f r o m w a t e r a n d p o w d e r e d j u i c e m i x ) , w a t e r f o r p a i n t i n g , p a i n t b r u s h e s , c l e a n - u p s u p p l i e s

Good Fruit versus Bad Fruit Leader Notes: Prior to the activity time, cut at least 18 pieces of various fruit out of construction paper. The fruit papers can be all the same or a variety. On nine of the fruit papers, write one of the following words: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness (or generosity), faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. On the others, write nine bad “fruit”—jealousy, anger, envy, arguing, meanness, lying, and so on. Roll them up and put each inside its own balloon. Blow up the balloons. Invite the group to create a mural to represent the fruit of the Spirit versus bad fruit. Their first step is to draw two trees on one or two large sheets of paper. One tree should look full and healthy, and the other, withering and dying. Campers will each pop a balloon, figure out which of the two trees their fruit belongs to, and tape it to the appropriate tree. Especially with the bad fruit, engage campers in telling why that behavior or “fruit” is bad: • How does it hurt the individual? • How does it hurt others around the person who lives that way? Ask also if campers can think of other types of bad fruit that people sometimes display. Campers could also write the verses of Galatians 5:22-23 on the mural and then hang the finished product in a public place. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: 1 8 f r u i t s h a p e s ( s u c h a s a n a p p l e , o r a n g e , o r p e a c h ) c u t o u t o f c o n s t r u c t i o n p a p e r ( c r e a t e m o r e i f y o u r g r o u p i s l a r g e r ) , b a l l o o n s , l a r g e p i e c e s o f p a p e r f o r t h e m u r a l d e p i c t i n g t w o t r e e s , m a r k e r s o r c r a y o n s , t a p e

The Giving Tree In the story The Giving Tree, the tree shows love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in a memorable storyline. After reading it, assign small teams a fruit of the Spirit and have them choose a scene from the book that shows how the tree displayed their fruit of the Spirit. Suggest that they depict their scene using a “freeze frame” technique, basically creating a still picture with their bodies (without movement or words). Remind the campers that God, through the Holy Spirit, longs to show us each of these same fruits in our lives, giving us power to live them out. Day Camp Adaptation: Read the book and do the freeze frame activity for a Morning or Afternoon Option, or go to Older Children, Cabin Devotions, Day 4 (page 103), for an alternative approach. Or simply read the book as part of Quiet Time, Rest and Read. Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c , S p a t i a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: The Giving Tree b y S h e l S i l v e r s t e i n

Following the Spirit or Selfish Desires Before the group begins, write “Fruit-filled Life” on a poster board, and “Selfish Life” on another. Divide campers into groups of three (Leader Note: If groups are uneven, have one or more counselors fill in to complete the groups.) Tell the campers that one person in each small group will be blindfolded and led by the other two. The goal is to get to the “fruit-filled life.” The catch is that one of the leaders will be trying to lead that person to the fruit-filled life, and the other to the selfish life—but the blindfolded person won’t know which is which. Blindfold one camper from each group, and then silently identify which of his or her partners will be leading toward the fruit-filled life and which will be leading toward the selfish life. Move the signs around in your space so the blindfolded person won’t be able to guess just by direction. Remind leaders not to let their blindfolded person get hurt. Tell them to begin talking to their blindfolded person. (Leader Note: Counselors should monitor closely so no one gets hurt.) Once all the ones who were blindfolded have made it to a final destination, allow them to take off their blindfolds and see where they ended up. Ask: • How did you feel as you were figuring out whom to follow? • How did you choose which way to go? Why? • How did you try to convince your blindfolded person to follow you? • How is this like real life? (We have to make choices; sometimes it’s hard to know whom to listen to; sometimes we feel lost or confused…) • Reread Galatians 5:16-26. What does the scripture tell us to do? • How do you know you are making good choices in your life? What things help us know we are being led by the Spirit and not our selfish desires? • Have you ever made a wrong choice in your life? What were the consequences? How did you deal with them? • Who are some trusted people from whom you can get advice when you are faced with a difficult choice? Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , I n t e r p e r s o n a l , L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: T w o p i e c e s o f p o s t e r b o a r d , m a r k e r s , b l i n d f o l d s ( o n e f o r e v e r y t h r e e p e o p l e ) , B i b l e s Fruity Commercial Tell the campers you are going to create a “Spiritual Fruit Public Service Announcement (PSA).” Divide the group in half, assign one half Galatians 5:19-21 and the other Galatians 5:22-26. The Galatians 5:19-21 group will create a commercial warning against the selfish desires. The Galatians 5:22-26 group should come up with a commercial promoting the fruit of the Spirit. Remind each group to include any risks that come from following the Holy Spirit or our selfish desires. After the groups have time to prepare and rehearse, they are to perform for one another. Consider inserting the PSA’s into worship or campfire time.) • Why do you think it might be hard to always follow the Holy Spirit? • How do you think doing so could be made easier? (good friend choices, prayer, Bible study, participating in a Christian community such as church and youth group) • What are some other risks involved with following the Holy Spirit? (losing friends, reputation changes, being made fun of or bullied) • What are the rewards of following the Holy Spirit? • Is that choice easy or hard for you to make? Why? Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , L o g i c a l / M a t h e m a t i c a l Supplies: B i b l e s

Random Acts of Fruitiness Divide into groups of four to six (preferably with an adult leader with each group). Tell them each group is going to plan and carry out a secret “random act of fruitiness” (random act of kindness with a “fruit of the Spirit” twist). Reread Galatians 5:22-23 so the campers remember all the fruit listed in the scripture; remind them also that there are other fruit not listed. Set a time limit for each group to plan and carry out their random act, and remind them to be sneaky so the act remains anonymous. (Examples could be clean the bathroom of another cabin, put love notes on the cars of the staff, make an appreciation poster for kitchen staff, send affirmation notes to a camper who is homesick or feeling left out…) Encourage campers to be creative and find ways to make a difference with their fruit. This activity could even be expanded to continue all day or throughout camp. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: B i b l e , a n y s u p p l i e s n e e d e d f o r a c t s t h a t t h e g r o u p s c o m e u p w i t h Stuck in My Head—and in My Heart! Have you ever had the lyrics to a song stuck in your head? Have fun with memorizing the fruit of the Spirit through music. Singing the simple “children’s song” called “The Fruit of the Spirit (Is Not a Coconut)” is one possibility. Another is to invite the budding songwriters to work in teams to come up with a new song to teach to the whole group to help them remember the fruit. Remind the teams that the nine fruit listed in the Bible are not exclusive but representative. If they need to add to or modify the list for the sake of the lyrics, they can do so as long as the group agrees that the new one would fit the criteria shown in the ones in the scripture. Sing the song(s) several times. The goal is to get the fruit stuck in the minds—and hearts—of the campers. Multiple Intelligences: M u s i c a l , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: O p t i o n a l : A r e c o r d i n g ( a v a i l a b l e o n Y o u T u b e ) o r l i v e m u s i c o f “ T h e F r u i t o f t h e S p i r i t ( I s N o t a C o c o n u t ) ” ; p a p e r , w r i t i n g i n s t r u m e n t s , m u s i c a l i n s t r u m e n t s

Fruit of the Spirit Prayer Beads Campers can create special strands of prayer beads to remind them of the fruit of the Spirit. These beads can be worn as bracelets, attached to backpacks, used as bookmarks, or made into keychains. Regardless of format, the beads can be used during worship at camp and are a great way to take home one of the lessons from the week! Explain that you are making prayer beads that represent each of the nine fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23. Each color bead represents a different fruit: red = love yellow = joy blue = peace purple = patience green = kindness orange = goodness gold = faithfulness white = gentleness silver = self-control Invite campers to choose the kind of bead set they would like to make: bracelet, backpack tag, bookmark, or keychain. Help them to cut a piece of leather cord or plastic lanyard that is an appropriate length for their selection. Campers can simply slide beads onto the cord and knot both ends, or place knots between each bead for a fancier look. When campers are finished creating their bead sets, encourage them to use the beads when they pray, asking God to help them develop each of these spiritual fruits in their own lives. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , S p a t i a l Supplies: P l a s t i c p o n y b e a d s i n n i n e d i f f e r e n t c o l o r s , l e a t h e r c o r d o r p l a s t i c l a n y a r d , ( o p t i o n a l : m e t a l k e y c h a i n l o o p s o r c l i p s t o a t t a c h t o b a c k p a c k s )

Origami Fruit (Instructions for Origami Fruit, see All-in-One-PowerUp PDF file on page 339) This craft activity involves folding brightly colored paper into a variety of fruit shapes. Using the origami patterns included on page 339, or other patterns found for free online at websites such as http://en.origami- club.com/fruit/index.html, helps campers learn how to turn paper into fruit. Make these shapes just for fun, or campers can write camp notes/“warm fuzzies” and put them in key places for others to find. They may also give them to other campers as an affirmation for showing a fruit of the Spirit in some way. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: C o p i e s o f o r i g a m i p a t t e r n s , c o l o r e d p a p e r , p e n s o r m a r k e r s , s c i s s o r s a n d r u l e r s f o r c u t t i n g t h e p a p e r i n t o s q u a r e s ( i f n e e d b e )

Touchy Feely Boxes Invite campers to take turns reaching into four prepared boxes and touching the three items in each box. Remind them to leave the items in each box and to keep quiet about what they discover so the next camper enjoys the mystery. Once everyone has touched the items in all four boxes, discuss: • Was it easy to learn what the item really was? If no, why? • Was it easy or hard to learn by only feeling by your hands? Tell the group that now they are to try to find the place where the items from each box came from. Begin your walk or hike according to where your campers suggest they might find the places. Encourage them to stay on trails but don’t direct them. Let them lead one another as they learn where the trees with the three different kinds of leaves are and where the trees that the fruit, seeds, or sticks come from; where the evergreens are; where the rocks and objects might have come from. Only give hints if needed. The match doesn’t need to be the exact spot or tree to count. At each stop where they think the items came from, open the box and compare to see if they are correct. If they are, leave the item there, back in its “place.” Discuss: How easy was it to discover the places that the items came from naturally? Say: “God gives us an amazing variety of plants and trees as part of creation. The Holy Spirit guides us in taking care of all the parts of God’s creation. Power up!” Leader Note: Be sure to remind campers before collecting anything natural that we do not harm God’s creation by picking, breaking, or tearing anything alive; and we return our items back to nature once we are finished with them. Multiple Intelligences: N a t u r a l i s t Supplies: F o u r s h o e b o x e s w i t h a h o l e b i g e n o u g h f o r a h a n d c u t o u t o f e a c h l i d , o r f o u r r e c t a n g u l a r t i s s u e b o x e s ; n a t u r a l o b j e c t s t o t o u c h f r o m a r o u n d c a m p f o r t h e b o x e s : B o x 1 : t h r e e d i f f e r e n t l e a v e s ( j a g g e d / s m o o t h e d g e s , s m a l l / l a r g e ) , B o x 2 : t h r e e d i f f e r e n t r o c k s ( s m o o t h / j a g g e d , s m a l l / l a r g e , r i v e r r o c k ) , B o x 3 : t h r e e d i f f e r e n t o b j e c t s ( n u t o r f r u i t , s t i c k , s e e d p o d ) , B o x 4 : t h r e e e v e r g r e e n p a r t s ( p i n e c o n e , e v e r g r e e n b r a n c h , p i n e n e e d l e s , t r e e b a r k )

Fruit of the Spirit Swing Challenge (Nitro Swing/Nitro Crossing Low-Challenge) This activity uses the Nitro Swing/Nitro Crossing element found at many low-challenge course facilities. Gather the campers at the swing site. They must find a way to get all the campers across the “swamp” (or “river”), along with each of the fruit of the Spirit without dropping the fruit. Fruit may be held in pockets or tucked in clothing—only one piece of fruit per camper unless there are fewer than nine campers, in which case two may be carried at a time. Start with the rope hanging in the middle. Make the campers figure out how to get the rope. Or, swing the rope to the first camper who will be crossing, but remind the group they do not get any other “free swings.” Once a camper swings across the “swamp,” he or she must land on a wood tile or hula hoop. After campers have landed, they may move to another tile or hoop around the “landing” pad. They must, however, keep both feet within a tile or hoop, which can be shared. Otherwise campers “fall” into the “swamp.” Each camper takes a turn swinging across, swinging the rope back across to the next camper, until all the campers have crossed the “swamp” and are standing within a tile or hoop. They must also continue to hold their fruit. The fruit cannot be exchanged with another person; it must stay with the camper who carried it over the swamp. If someone touches the “swamp,” or a fruit is dropped, the whole group has to start over. Encourage campers to name the fruit of the Spirit before crossing, and have all the campers suggest examples of that fruit. Afterward, discuss: • What was easiest in this challenge? What was hardest? • Who stepped up to be a leader? • How were any of the fruit of the Spirit actually applied as you worked this challenge? Leader Note: Do not tie a loop in the rope or allow campers to wrap the rope around their hands, fingers, or wrists. Never allow feet to get higher than a person’s waist. Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: N i t r o S w i n g / N i t r o C r o s s i n g e l e m e n t ( p r o f e s s i o n a l l y c o n s t r u c t e d ) , f a k e f r u i t s f o r e a c h o f t h e f r u i t o f t h e S p i r i t , “ l a n d i n g p a d s i n t h e s w a m p ” — s e v e r a l h u l a h o o p s o r w o o d e n t i l e s ( e n o u g h t o s a f e l y t h e h o l d t o t a l n u m b e r o f c a m p e r s b u t n o t t o o m a n y )

Kool Dough What to do: 1. Mix first four ingredients in the “Supplies” (flour, salt, powdered drink mix, cream of tartar) in large bowl. 2. Carefully add boiling water and oil. (Leader Note: Only counselors should do this step.) 3. Stir with fork until cooled, then mix with hands until well combined. 4. Place on wax paper; knead until no longer sticky, adding additional flour one teaspoon at a time until desired consistency is achieved. (Leader Notes: Store in refrigerator in an airtight container. Cover surfaces when using to prevent staining. This recipe will create enough for four to five campers to have a fist-sized ball.) Connection to theme: Ask campers to sculpt the fruit of the Spirit with their dough. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , S p a t i a l Supplies: 1 ¼ c u p s f l o u r , ¼ c u p s a l t , o n e p a c k e t p o w d e r e d u n s w e e t e n e d d r i n k m i x , o n e t a b l e s p o o n o f c r e a m o f t a r t a r , o n e c u p b o i l i n g w a t e r , 1 ½ t a b l e s p o o n s o i l , w a x o r p a r c h m e n t p a p e r , t e a s p o o n , a d d i t i o n a l f l o u r ( a s n e e d e d ) , a i r t i g h t c o n t a i n e r s Praying in Color Give campers these instructions: Read the passage for Day 4, Galatians 5:16-26. Draw a shape and write one of the fruit of the Spirit in the shape or near it. Do this for as many of the fruit as you like. Add details if you like. Add color. As you look at what you’ve drawn, let the images lead you to a time of reflection. Which fruit do you find the most difficult to “grow” in your life? Which one would you like to focus on today or this week at camp? Are there people you know who exhibit the fruit you’ve drawn? If so, give thanks for them and for their example. Post your drawing somewhere where you will be able to see it throughout the week. Add to it as you feel moved to do so. (Adapted from Sybil MacBeth’s book, Praying in Color Kids’ Edition) Multiple Intelligences: I n t r a p e r s o n a l Supplies: B i b l e s , p a p e r , c o l o r e d m a r k e r s o r p e n c i l s Fruit Stations Set up “Fruit Stations” beforehand. For each station completed, the camper earns two or three colored beads. At the end of worship, each camper will add the nine beads collected to a length of leather cord to create a bracelet, a reminder of the nine fruit of the Spirit, to take home. Assign staff to run each station and help campers as they progress. Younger campers will need more help. Staff should give clues and make sure all are successful. Station 1: Have the campers decode the words. Either give them a printed handout of just the puzzles or display them on a poster board. Campers can work in groups or individually. Supply a Bible. Give out two beads at this station. If your group is using “generosity” rather than “goodness” as a fruit, be sure to adjust the puzzle. Puzzle Answer and Solution O L E V L o v e : O p p o s i t e l e t t e r o f t h e a l p h a b e t ( A = Z , B = Y … ) K P Z J o y : n e x t l e t t e r i n a l p h a b e t E C A E P P e a c e : s p e l l e d b a c k w a r d s 1 6 , 1 , 2 0 , 9 , 5 , P a t i e n c e : n u m b e r r e f l e c t s l e t t e r ( A = 1 , B = 2 … ) 1 4 , 3 , 5 J H M C M D R R K i n d n e s s : p r e v i o u s l e t t e r i n a l p h a b e t M a k e a m i r r o r G o o d n e s s : m i r r o r i m a g e i m a g e o f G o o d n e s s

Station 2: Ask each camper to think of someone in his or her life that camper has seen display all nine fruit of the Spirit. If a camper cannot think of someone he or she knows, ask that camper to name someone famous who has displayed all nine fruit (Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, for example). Talk about what living the fruit of the Spirit looks like, and ask campers how they think their chosen persons can be so “fruitful.” Use a fine-line permanent marker to write the first initial of the camper’s person on one of the colored beads for this station so that will serve as a reminder. Give out two beads. Station 3: Ask campers to name familiar Bible stories and then to identify the various fruit displayed in those stories. Ask if any can come up with real-life stories in which they saw one or more fruit displayed. Give out two beads. Station 4: Ask campers to think about which three of the fruit they have the most trouble living in their own lives. Talk about ways they can strengthen those fruit every day. Remind them that the Holy Spirit is their helper and guide. Give out three beads. Use a fine- line marker or paint pen to mark each of these three beads with a large dot to remind campers to keep working on these fruit. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l ; I n t r a p e r s o n a l Supplies: P u z z l e s , c o l o r e d b e a d s , f i n e - li n e p e r m a n e n t m a r k e r s o r p a i n t p e n s , l e n g t h s o f l e a t h e r o r v i n y l f o r b r a c e l e t s

Song Fest These song suggestions come from the various age-level lists. However, feel free to draw from all of them to select ones that fit your campers. Consider making Song Fest one of your activities over several days. During that time teach the songs, add motions, do interpretive dance, or just dance! Prepare for worship. Enjoy! Recommended Theme Song: “The Fruit of the Spirit (Is Not a Coconut)” is a fun song to help campers remember the nine fruit of the Spirit—even older campers enjoy it! Have campers sing it, create art for it, act it out (with or without props), or make up new verses. Long after camp is over, the song will be an easy, “stuck in my head” reminder of what living in the Spirit looks like. If you are not familiar with this song, look it up on YouTube. Intergenerational “Sanctuary,” Randy Scruggs and John Thompson “Spirit, Fill Me,” Tom and Carole Parmeter Dyer “Holy Spirit, Come Now,” Jesse Manibusan “Down in My Heart,” Traditional (add other fruit of the Spirit after “joy,” “peace,” and “love,” which are among the traditional verses) “The Fruit of the Spirit (Is Not a Coconut),” Traditional Younger Children “The Fruit of the Spirit (Is Not a Coconut),” Traditional “I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N,” Traditional “I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy, Down in My Heart,” Traditional “Every Time I Feel the Spirit,” African American Spiritual “The River Is Here” (chorus), Vineyard Music “The Trees of the Field,” Steffi Geiser Rubin and Stuart Dauermann Older Children “They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love,” Hymn, Peter Scholtes “I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart” (make up new verses like, “I’ve got patience, kindness, gentleness...”), Traditional “I’ve Got Peace Like a River,” Traditional “The Fruit of the Spirit (Is Not a Coconut),” Traditional “The Fruit of the Spirit,” Carolyn Winfrey Gillette “For Freedom, Christ Has Set Us Free,” Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (especially verse 3) “Breathe on Me, Breath of God,” Hymn, Edwin Hatch Younger Youth “The Papaya Song (I Like Bananas),” Traditional “I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart,” Traditional “I Love You, Lord,” Laurie Klein “Try a Little Kindness,” Curt Sapaugh and Bobby Austin “Hymn to Joy (Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee),” Beethoven and Henry van Dyke “The Fruit of the Spirit (Is Not a Coconut),” Traditional Older Youth “One Spirit of Love,” Paul Svenson “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever,” Martin Smith “More Precious Than Silver,” Lynn De Shazo “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace,” Sebastian Temple “Rivers of Mercy,” Matt Brouwer “Take My Life,” Scott Underwood “To Love You,” Andra Moran “The Fruit of the Spirit (Is Not a Coconut),” Traditional Multiple Intelligences: M u s i c a l Supplies: S o n g l e a d e r , w o r d s , m u s i c s o u r c e Quiet Time Table Talk or Conversation Station Use these questions to invite campers into conversation about the theme. Use them over one or more of the meals or create a conversation station during one of the activity rotations. Consider using this for one or more of the days later in the week. Younger Campers: • How does fruit grow? • What helps it grow? • What are some things you want to “grow” in your life? • Who can help you work on getting better and growing in these areas? Older Campers: • When you think of the fruit of the Spirit, which one(s) come most naturally to you? • Which fruit is most challenging for you? • What might you do to “grow” the fruit in your life? • Who might help you? Multiple Intelligences: I n t r a p e r s o n a l , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: C o p y o f t h e s e l e c t e d q u e s t i o n s f o r e a c h t a b l e o r s t a t i o n

Rest and Read Here are storybooks to read aloud for quiet time, perhaps after lunch. Or use them during devotions: Amazing Peace, by Maya Angelou Katie Loves the Kitten, by John Himmelman The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein Spirit, by Heidi Bratton Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: C o p y o f t h e s e l e c t e d b o o k

Daily Journal Have campers use half sheets of paper, fold them over onto themselves, and staple the middle to create books (or simply provide composition books). Have each camper decorate the outside of his or her journal with the words “Grateful Journal.” Here are suggested topics for each day’s writing (or drawing) time: • What fruit of the Spirit is already strong in your life? How do you show it? • What are you learning about living in the Spirit this week? • Write about a time you showed a fruit of the Spirit even though doing so was hard. What helped you? • What fruit of the Spirit do you want to continue working on? Why? What might you do to “grow” it? Who might help you? • What are some things you are grateful for in your life? At camp? Multiple Intelligences: I n t r a p e r s o n a l Supplies: P a p e r , s t a p l e r , w r i t i n g i n s t r u m e n t s , m a r k e r s f o r d e c o r a t i n g

Devotions Fruit Check Where did you see the fruit of the Spirit in your fellow campers today? Introduce this practice of becoming more mindful of how we are living in the Spirit. Use this prompt at other times during the week as you choose. The first time not all the campers will be ready to speak, but continue the practice throughout the week and watch them blossom. Encourage everyone to honor the Holy Spirit at work in one another. Sing some songs and close with prayer. Multiple Intelligences: I n t r a p e r s o n a l , M u s i c a l Supplies: S e l e c t e d s o n g s

Praying the Fruit Tree Read or line out Psalm 104:30. Ask: “How do the fruit of the Spirit help us to renew others in the world?” Display the symbol. Ask: “What does the symbol of fruit mean to you tonight?” Praying the Fruit Tree. Invite campers to reflect silently on the fruit of the Spirit. After a moment or two, ask them first to pray about one or two of the fruit they desire the Spirit help them with. After a few moments, invite them to pray for the Spirit’s help for the particular fruit their friends might need. Finally, invite them to pray for a particular fruit the world needs. With music in the background, invite campers to come forward, as they are ready, to add those prayers to the Prayer Tree. Using colored ink pads, they will each leave a thumbprint somewhere on the tree, and add a stem or seed with a marker, or add more thumbprints (like a bunch of grapes) to represent the fruit that camper is lifting up in prayer. Encourage each camper to leave at least three fingerprints for each of the silent prayers: self, friend, and world. Each camper may also write the word that the fruit represents or a word prayer next to the “fruit print.” Afterward, call attention to the tree and all the “fruitful prayers” covering its branches. Pray as a community for all the individual prayers on the tree, giving thanks for the Holy Spirit’s presence and power. Multiple Intelligences: I n t r a p e r s o n a l , S p a t i a l Supplies: B i b l e , s y m b o l s f r o m t h e f i r s t f o u r d a y s , l a r g e “ p r a y e r t r e e ” ( m a d e a h e a d f r o m a s e c t i o n o f a l a r g e r o l l o f p a p e r ) , t a p e , v a r i o u s c o l o r s o f i n k p a d s , w i p e s t o c l e a n t h u m b s , t h i n - l i n e m a r k e r s

Planting Seeds Leader Notes: Prior to worship, have a large pot or planter in the front of the worship space, filled with soil. Additionally, be sure to have a small shovel, seeds, and a watering can ready to go as well. Represent today’s symbol with a bowl of grapes—already separated. If time is limited, have staff do the planting as a demonstration while campers speak. Sing “They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love.” Then pray this interactive prayer. Have the campers say, “Spirit, grow the fruit of [named fruit] in us,” after the leader speaks. Leader: “Thank you, God, for your gift of love.” Campers: “Spirit, grow the fruit of love in us.” Leader: “Thank you, God, for your gift of joy.” (Continue through all nine fruit of the Spirit.) Leader: “God, we thank you.” Campers: “Amen.” Read Psalm 1:2-3. Tell the campers that today’s focus is on growing good things in our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. Just as the trees in the psalm gave good fruit, we too are called to do the same. Invite them to close their eyes and imagine what good things, what fruit God wants to grow in them. After a quiet moment, invite the campers to come individually to the front to plant a seed in the pot. As they plant their seed, they can, if they are willing, share one of the good fruit they believe God wants to grow in their lives. As the leader, go first. Afterward, invite campers to take a grape to eat, a symbol of the fruit that is to come! After everyone has planted a seed, add water and remind campers that it is the Holy Spirit that waters and nurtures us as we seek to grow the fruit of the Spirit. Sing “The Fruit of the Spirit (Is Not a Coconut).” Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , I n t r a p e r s o n a l Supplies: B i b l e , p o t , s o i l , s m a l l s h o v e l o r s p a d e , s e e d s f o r e a c h c a m p e r , g r a p e s i n a b o w l , ( o p t i o n a l : p i c n i c b l a n k e t ) , w a t e r i n g c a n Displaying the Fruit In advance, cut out nine large pieces of fruit from poster board or construction paper. Label each with one of the nine fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness/generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.) Tell campers that today’s symbol represented by the nine large pieces of fruit comes from the scripture, which refers to these nine specifically as “fruit of the Spirit.” Invite campers to write on the papers one way they are displaying that fruit. Give plenty of time for them to move around and each write on at least two fruit. Once everyone has had time to write, lift up each fruit in prayer and ask God for the courage and strength to follow the Spirit’s lead and live that fruit each day. Hang the “fruit” in your worship space, if possible. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , I n t r a p e r s o n a l Supplies: C o n s t r u c t i o n p a p e r o r p o s t e r b o a r d s , s c i s s o r s , p e n s o r p e n c i l s , t a p e o r p u s h - p i n s Prayer of St. Francis Begin worship by singing a few favorite camp songs. Explain that prayer is a way to ask God for help in the area of personal growth. Hand out copies of the Prayer of St. Francis (see next page) and have campers read this prayer aloud together. Invite campers to compare the prayer and the fruit of the Spirit. Ask: • How might living such a life based on the fruit of the Spirit or this prayer change the world? Your world? Invite campers to lift up the particular fruit of the Spirit that they need the most help developing in their lives. Sing “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace.” Day Camp Adaptation: An option is also to give campers a bookmark to take home (Extra Resources, Bookmarks) Supplies: B i b l e , c o p i e s o f t h e P r a y e r o f S t . F r a n c i s o n n e x t p a g e . Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is error, truth; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek To be consoled as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

DAY CAMP: Week 4 Power Up as One Community Plan Your Week Use the grid below as an example to help you create a visual plan for your week. (You will want to list your own schedule and write in your choices.) Select activities from the various listings below; feel free to add others of your own creation, as well. Camp Schedule Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Getting to Know You• T o s s U p ! • L i n e U p !

Energizers • S p a g h e t t i • U n i t y C i r c l e s • B a c k B a l l • T a r p F l i p C o n f e t t i

Bible Time • J o i n t h e C l u b • O n e i n t h e S p i r i t • T h e M o s t • P u t I t i n t o M o t i o n • P u t I t i n t o A c t i o n I m p o r t a n t T h i n g s

Morning Activity • S t o r y S y m b o l • S o n g F e s t • V a l u e L i n e • W e b o f L i f e • C o m m u n i t y Options M o s a i c • S c a v e n g e r H u n t • C o m m u n i t y • H u m a n F o o s b a l l • W e ’ r e O n e C h a l l e n g e • Y u r t C i r c l e • Begin S i m p l e H o s p i t a l i t y Quiet Time • R e s t & R e a d • T a b l e T a l k • R e s t & R e a d • T a b l e T a l k • R e s t & R e a d • J o u r n a l • J o u r n a l • J o u r n a l • J o u r n a l • J o u r n a l Afternoon Activity • S o n g F e s t • H a n d C o l l a g e • P a p e r B a g D r a m a • W e ’ r e A l l o n t h e • R i v e r C r o s s i n g Options S a m e S i d e • B a n d a n a T i e • P u t - I t - T o g e t h e r • L i f t M e U p • P i e c e U s D y e S n a c k • F i n d a M o t t o T o g e t h e r • B i n o c u l a r H u n t • F o o d P a n t r y • S i g n s o f U n i t y • T h e S n e e t c h e s C h a l l e n g e

Devotions • W e A r e t h e • T h e P o w e r o f • T a l k i n g S t i c k • P r a y e r s f o r O u r • F r o m H e r e t o F a m i l y o f G o d C o m m u n i t y C o m m u n i t i e s T h e r e

Week 4 Overview

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6 Focus: Living in the way of the Spirit brings unity to groups, creating community. Connection to Campers: Campers know what it means to be part of a group. They are involved in clubs, sports teams, and classrooms. They may not yet understand that community means more than just showing up. It means contributing toward a goal, working together, compromise, listening, respecting others, and more. Help them to understand that Spirit-filled individuals contribute to the well-being of the whole group. What better place to learn than through the safe and supportive Christian community found at camp. Leader Notes: Review the “Biblical and Theological Overview” for Day 5. We live in a diverse world where individuality is celebrated. Remember that unity is not uniformity, requiring everyone to act and think the same. Unity can mean finding your place within the group, finding your gifts within the body of Christ, or finding your seat at God’s banquet table. Encourage campers to think about the church as God’s family. As such, we are all unique, but we share the same family name—Christian. Symbol for the Week: Numeral 1 in a Circle The cry, “We’re #1,” comes from a spirit of “winners” over “losers,” of power over others. In contrast, “We are one,” comes from power up, from the Spirit that unites diversity into commUNITY—because of the seven “ones” in this week’s scripture. Most of these activities come from specific age levels in the residential camp daily plans. However, they can readily be adjusted for younger or older or mixed-age groups in day camp. Feel free to adapt them to fit your camp and campers. Getting-to-Know-You Games Toss Up! In a circle have campers toss a ball to different people. Each time the thrower must state his or her name. After everyone has had a turn, change the rules. This time the thrower must state the name of the person intended as the receiver. Then yell “Toss up!” and everyone must switch places and play again. If the group is large, work in multiple circles. At the “Toss up!” have the circles intermingle, with some people staying and some moving to form the new circle. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: O n e o r m o r e b a l l s ( s o c c e r , v o l l e y b a l l , o r s i m i l a r s i z e )

Line Up! This simple game is a fun way to get acquainted and find points of commonality! Challenge the group to line up in birth-date order. Once they are in line, have them create groups of three from the persons next to them and introduce themselves, telling their name and at least one other thing about themselves, which can be related to the particular challenge. Repeat the pattern with two or three more challenges, such as lining up by grade, favorite color, number of pets, number of siblings, number of years coming to camp. In a circle have each person say his or her name, and ask for two volunteers to tell one thing they learned about that person. Multiple Intelligences: L o g i c a l / M a t h e m a t i c a l , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: N o n e Energizers Unity Circles Grab a Hula Hoop for this fun teambuilding game. Place the Hula Hoop on the ground. Explain to campers that they must work together to figure out a way that everyone in the group can fit inside the circle. There can be no feet outside the boundaries of the hoop. Allow brainstorming and experimenting, but don’t give pointers. Remind the group that learning to work together and solve problems is a part of being united in Christ through the Holy Spirit. After the group has mastered this task, make things more challenging. Arrange campers in a circle holding hands. The group has now made a chain with their bodies that the Hula Hoop must travel around. Campers can move up and down to help one another move the hoop, but they must not let go of hands. The activity is over when the hoop travels all the way around the circle to the starting point. Affirm them for the ways they worked together. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , S p a t i a l Supplies: H u l a H o o p

Back Ball Try this game to encourage your campers to communicate and work together. Use masking tape to create start and finish lines that are at least 40 feet apart. Split the group into teams of two. Give each pair a ball. The ball is placed between the backs of each pair of players. No hands may be used. Players must run or walk to the finish line without dropping their ball. If their ball is dropped, that team must return to the beginning and start over. Congratulate the winning team with a high five. Afterward, debrief: • What made the challenge hard? • What did the winning team do well? • How does this game teach us to work together? • How does it connect with today’s scripture? (one goal) Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: E n o u g h b a l l s f o r a o n e - b a l l - t o - t w o - c a m p e r r a t i o , o p e n s p a c e o f m o r e t h a n 4 0 f e e t , m a s k i n g t a p e

Tarp Flip This activity is great for a confined space, either outside or inside. First, get all of the campers onto a tarp. Their only goal is to flip the tarp over without stepping off of the tarp. Once they accomplish this challenge, you can keep folding the tarp in half to make the activity more difficult. Afterward, take time to debrief the challenge with the group. Here are some questions to help: • What was hard about this challenge? • How did each person contribute to us being one? • What conflicts arose? • How does this experience teach us about learning to work together? • At camp, as in other areas of life, we have many different people coming together. How does the Holy Spirit help us be unified as a community when we come with so many differences? Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: T a r p

Spaghetti Confetti Have campers stand in a close circle and take the hand of two other campers across the circle—not the person next to them. Then challenge the group to work together to untangle their spaghetti mess. No one is to let go of anyone’s hand until the circle is reformed and the group is one again. Then have everyone throw up their arms and wiggle their fingers like falling confetti until their hands are all down. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: N o n e

Bible Time: Ephesians 4:1-6 One in the Spirit Remind campers that Paul’s letter tells us that we are chosen by God and called by the one God, meaning that we are connected to one another no matter what. There is one body, the body of Jesus Christ, the church. Therefore we are one together in community. Write out the word community, and show how it can be divided into comm (come) and unity. Point out that community means to come together in unity (community = come together in unity). Reread Paul’s letter in Ephesians 4:1-6, listening for the examples of coming together in unity. Next, have your campers form a circle, with you in the middle, spreading younger children between youth and adults. Go around the circle and assign each of four characteristics (humble, gentle, patient, loving of one another) to each camper in order, repeating all around the circle. Say: “We need all four—to be humble, gentle, patient, and loving of one another—in order to be one in the Spirit, as Paul teaches.” Remembering their assigned words, campers are to all turn to their right and face the back of the people in front of them, placing their hands on the shoulders of the campers in front of them. Tighten up the circle if need be. Have those who are humble to shout, then all those who are gentle to shout, then those assigned patient to shout, and all the loving of one another campers to shout. Now tell campers that you are going to count to three, and at three the campers are to sit down on the lap of the camper behind them. They will support one another in a lap-sit all around the circle—regardless of whether they are a child, youth, or adult. Hold the lap-sit for a minute or so; then have everyone stand at the count of three. You may want to repeat a couple of times. After you are done with the lap-sit, have the campers turn to face you in the center of the circle, taking a step or two back. Say: “We had to work together to do this activity. If we didn’t have humbleness, gentleness, patience, and love for one another around our unity circle, we never would have been able to be one. Our lap-sit represented our coming together in unity to be one.” While still standing in a circle, conclude with the hymn, “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love.” You may sing the hymn or just read the words, adding the motions below. Practice the motions once before you sing or read the hymn. Verse 1 – “One” = index finger pointed in the air as a numeral 1. Chorus – “Love” = hands curved in “C”s together to form a heart with fingers and thumbs. Verse 2 – “Walk” = walk around the circle, “Hand in hand” = hold hands and walk. Verse 3 – “Work” = shake hands, “Stand side by side” = arm around shoulders of those on each side. Verse 4 – “Praise” = arms in the air. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e i c , M u s i c a l Supplies: B i b l e , w o r d s t o “ T h e y ’ l l K n o w W e A r e C h r i s t i a n s b y O u r L o v e ”

Join the Club Many campers will belong to clubs like Scouts or Awana back home, which have mottos, uniforms, flags, and badges that are symbols of belonging. Help campers understand the church’s symbols of belonging found in churches or among Christians (crosses, cross pendants, bumper stickers on cars with the name of a church or a fish symbol, pictures of doves or dove pins, for example). Find out from them what clubs or organizations they belong to or know about. Then ask: • How do you know if someone else belongs to your club? • Are there special things that you do with these groups that don’t happen anywhere else? • Is there a motto for your club? • How is the church like a club? • How is it different? Read today’s scripture, Ephesians 4:1-6. Stop briefly after verse 3 and point out the similarity between the characteristics Paul encourages the Ephesians to have and the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26, Day Camp Week 3). Then turn to verses 4-6. Ask what word they heard repeated (“one”). Review the list of “ones” and point out that these are the things that bring us together as the church. Using this scripture as a guide, ask campers to come up with a Christian motto. Write it out on a large sheet of paper and display it for all to see. Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l , L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: B i b l e , l a r g e s h e e t o f p a p e r , m a r k e r s , t a p e t o h a n g t h e m o t t o The Most Important Things Make a sharing circle with your campers. Ask: “What are the most important things in your life?” Allow each person time to think and to answer. Some answers will be silly; some will be insightful. Say: “Today’s scripture from Ephesians tells us what the most important things are to the church.” Read Ephesians 4:1-6 aloud. Afterward, ask campers to choose what the most important things are from this reading. If they seem lost, read the text again and tell them to focus on the word “one.” These are the things that bring Christians around the world together, making us all one family. Today we will focus on what brings us together, not what sets us apart. Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: B i b l e

Put It into Motion Ask campers to look up Ephesians 4:1-6 and have volunteers read it aloud. Talk about the rhythm of the verse. How does the list of words in verses 2 and 3 flow? How do the words in verses 4, 5, and 6 remind us about unity? Next, split into two or three smaller groups. Each will be responsible for coming up with motions to visually show the meaning of the passage. A narrator from each team will be reading the verse while the remaining campers will do the motions to create a picture of the verses. Doing a cheer and creating a song are other options. Multiple Intelligences: M u s i c a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: B i b l e s , ( o p t i o n a l : p r i n t e d s c r i p t u r e f r o m “ D i g g i n g D e e p e r ” )

Put It into Action Leader Note: In advance, have staff read and be familiar with the story lines so they can assist campers more readily. To see the application of today’s passage in other stories in the Bible, assign each group a narrative in the Bible: • The feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 15:32-39) • The Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36) • The story of the Israelites in the desert (Exodus 16) Similarly to “Put It into Motion,” each group will have a narrator and the other campers will act out the story. Either perform these dramatizations now or have campers present them during Evening Worship. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: B i b l e s

Morning & Afternoon Activity Options Story Symbol = Numeral 1 in a Circle Show the campers today’s symbol, and ask why they think it is a good image to represent this week’s scripture and theme. Throughout the week find additional ways to include or refer to the image as you do other activities. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: R e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e s y m b o l

Hand Collage Providing magazines and scissors, invite campers to cut out words or pictures that represent prayers for themselves, friends, family, and the world. Encourage them to cut smaller images if they can, and have each camper cut out as many as there are campers in the group. Have campers talk about some of the images they are cutting out and the prayers they represent. Now have each camper trace his or her hand onto a piece of plain white paper and then go over the traced line with a black marker so that the outline of the handprint is visible through the paper when the camper turns it over. Have each camper retrace that outline on the back of the paper so that the same handprint is on both sides of the paper. Have each camper write his or her name on the front side of the paper. Next have campers sit in a circle with glue sticks, their cutouts, and handprints. Each camper passes his or her handprint to the person to the left, and that camper glues one of his or her pictures onto the front of that handprint, then passes it again to the left. Together, the campers are creating a collage on each handprint as they pass the papers all around the circle, gluing one of their images to each of the other campers’ handprints. Once campers have received their handprints back, they may glue any leftover images anywhere on their handprints. Then they are to cut out their handprints, using the marker guides on the back side of the papers. Each camper will then glue his or her handprint to a piece of construction paper, and write his or her name on the construction paper. Once everyone is finished, have each camper place a hand on his or her handprint and together lift up all the prayers from the community now within their hands to give to God through the power of the Holy Spirit. Collect the handprints for cabin devotions tonight. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: M a g a z i n e s o r p i c t u r e s t o c u t f r o m , s c i s s o r s , g l u e s t i c k s , p l a i n w h i t e p a p e r a n d c o n s t r u c t i o n p a p e r ( o n e p i e c e o f e a c h k i n d o f p a p e r p e r c a m p e r )

Web of Life Leader Notes: Ahead of time, prepare index cards for this activity by writing down the name of a different animal on each card, except for a couple, upon which you will write down the name of a plant, such as grass. Prepare enough cards so each camper will have one. If you would like, you could punch holes in the cards and run loops of yarn through them, so campers can wear them like necklaces. Form a circle inside or outside and distribute a card to each camper. Have campers place their cards around their necks (if yarn loops are provided), or simply have campers remember their assignments. Tell campers who have animal cards to think about what the animal needs to survive. Tell campers who have plant card to think about what animals might need them for food. Ask: “What are things that all living creatures need to survive?” (water, food, shelter, space, air). Suggest that the water and shelter are represented inside the circle, and the space and air are all around us. So that leaves food, which the campers should have in mind. Begin the activity by handing the end of the ball of string (or yarn) to a person with a plant or grass card. Have him or her hold on to the string and not let go. He or she needs to hold the ball of yarn, as well. Ask the “plant” what animal might eat his or her plant to survive? (for example, rabbit or squirrel). Then, still holding on to the end of the string, have the “plant” pass the ball of string to the camper that is the animal that would eat it. That camper then thinks about what animal might need his or her animal as food to survive and passes the ball of string to the new animal, while still holding onto the string. Continue until each animal and plant are connected by food supply, adding in any plants or smaller animals that might get skipped. Some plants or smaller animals may need to be used more than once. When everyone has a section of string to hold onto, ask: “What have we created? (A giant web—everyone is connected.) Say: “This web is our community, where each of our living things can survive and live well.” Ask: What would happen if I let go of my string, a sign that animal is lost to the community? (There would be a missing part of the connection or community and that would affect the living things on both ends of the drooping string.) What would happen if I pull tight on my string, a sign that there is a shortage of food by drought or fire? (Each living thing on either side is affected by the impact of less food supply; eventually the loss affects all of the animals in the web.) Say: “Every living thing in our web is connected to whatever animal holds the string on either side. We are connected to all the animals and plants in the circle, a community of living things. Whatever happens to one of us affects at least one other, and, in most cases, several other living things—if not everyone. Since we are connected in one community, what happens to one affects everyone in the community. We need to work together to survive—we all have to do our part as one in the community of living things. Multiple Intelligences: N a t u r a l i s t , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: B a l l o f s t r i n g o r y a r n ( t h i c k e r i s b e t t e r f o r p r e v e n t i n g t a n g l e s ) , p r e p a r e d i n d e x c a r d s ( s e e L e a d e r N o t e s ) — o n e p e r c a m p e r , ( o p t i o n a l : h o l e p u n c h , p i e c e s o f y a r n f o r l o o p i n g t h r o u g h c a r d s )

Scavenger Hunt Tell the campers they are going on a scavenger hunt. Hand out a list of ten categories to each family group. (See the suggested list below.) In family groups, campers will explore camp and collect items from the list and then return to show their finds to the whole group. Remind campers to care for God’s creation by not disturbing something living. They may always draw a picture of what they found instead of picking it or moving it. Encourage campers to collect as many of the ten on the list as they are able in the timeframe you set. When campers return, go through the list and see what the family groups found to fit each category. Call attention to the fact that they found a variety of things to represent one list that was the same for everyone. Point out that God calls us to work together as one with many different things to create one CommUNITY through the power of the Spirit—Power Up! An optional plan is to bring everything collected in the scavenger hunt to the worship space and create a cross shape on the floor or on a table. Leader Note: Don’t forget to have campers return all the natural items outside and throw the trash away or recycle it. Multiple Intelligences: N a t u r a l i s t , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: F o r e a c h f a m i l y g r o u p — c o p y o f t h e S c a v e n g e r H u n t li s t , p a p e r o r p l a s t i c b a g t o c o l l e c t i t e m s i n , p e n c i l , p a p e r

Put-it-Together Snack Each camper needs a bag of one snack item. Have campers come forward and add their snack to the big bowl until all the food is in the bowl, then mix it together. Next, fill each camper’s empty bag with some of the new snack created by everyone working together to add their pieces to the community snack. Leader Note: Be aware of food allergies, especially nuts. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: V a r i e t y o f s n a c k i t e m s i n s e p a r a t e b a g g i e s o r c o n t a i n e r s ( r a i s i n s , f i s h c r a c k e r s , p o p c o r n , d r i e d c a n b e r r i e s , s m a l l c r a c k e r s , c h o c o l a t e c h i p s , a n d s o f o r t h ) , o n e b a g o f o n e s n a c k i t e m p e r c a m p e r , b i g b o w l , l a r g e s p o o n t o m i x

Lift Me Up Being united in Christ means that we carry one another through difficult times. We lift each other up with prayer and encouragement. This activity will have campers literally lifting each other up as a visual reminder of the power of unity. Ask for a volunteer to lie flat on the ground while being encircled by the remaining campers. Tell the campers they are creating a prayer circle, a picture of what happens when Christians help one another. Have each camper bend down and slide both hands under the person in the center of the circle, grasping the hands of the person opposite. For safety, check that all have a firm grip. Tell them they will lift together at your count of three. Ask the volunteer in the middle to relax, close his or her eyes, and pray for any needs in his or her life. Lead the team in a prayer also for the person’s needs. Then signal them to lift the camper up off the ground, literally lifting up the person as they continue in silent prayer. Once they reach shoulder level, the team will cheer: “We lift your prayers to God.” Continue this with every camper who is willing. Leader Notes: If your camp has a trust-fall platform, this would be an appropriate time to use it to further enhance this lesson. Make safety a priority, and consult with camp staff before using any onsite facilities. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: ( o p t i o n a l : t r u s t - f a l l p l a t f o r m )

Bandana Tie Dye Teach your campers about unity and diversity with this classic camp craft. Acquire white bandanas and multiple colors of dye. Prepare the dye as indicated by the directions on the box. Make sure there are several colors from which to choose. Have campers use the rubber bands in various places to bunch up the fabric before dipping their bandana. Provide plastic gloves, and perhaps even cheap plastic aprons, to keep the mess to a minimum. Encourage each camper to create a unique creation. With a marker, put each camper’s initials in a corner of his or her bandana. Hang the bandanas to dry for the day. Wear them the rest of the week to remember that, even though we are all different, our differences can come together to create beautiful things. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: W h i t e b a n d a n a s , f a b r i c d y e , r u b b e r b a n d s , b u c k e t s , m a r k e r s , p l a s t i c g l o v e s ( o p t i o n a l : p l a s t i c a p r o n s )

Value Line Leader Note: Beforehand, put tape down the center of the floor, or use a rope to create a line dividing your space in half. As an option, simply designate distinct sides of your area. Tell the campers they are going to create a Value Line. They are to stand on the side that best represents their response to a particular choice. Let them know it is OK to use some “think time” before moving. However, they must choose one side or the other. Use these contrasts (or create some of your own): (one assigned to each side) Cats are best or dogs are best Chocolate or vanilla Shorts or pants Play before you work or finish your work so you can play Football or baseball Day or night Have a few close friends or enjoy being with a big group of people Hamburgers or hot dogs Country music or pop Afterward, have the group sit in a circle and respond to these questions: • What made this activity hard? • What was helpful about having choices? What was hard? • What surprised you about the choices? • Why do you think we like different things? • How can the fact that we like different things make life hard? • What can we do to work through differences? • How is it possible to like different things and still be a community? • There is a phrase that says, “Unity doesn’t equal uniformity.” What do you think that means? Is it true? Why or why not? (Leader Note: Be prepared to help campers unpack the meanings of the two words—perhaps using something as simple as “all together” versus “all exactly alike.”) • What are some ways people separate themselves from others or that groups split up? • What are some ways we bond together or unify? (Leader Note: This idea is especially great to explore at camp, as unity is often shaped by camp songs, mottos, and traditions! Remind campers of their ritual and take this opportunity to close the activity with it.) Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: T a p e o r r o p e

Binocular Hunt As we look at the world around us, it is clear that God loves variety. In nature and in people, God reminds us of the importance of depending on one another in spite of our differences. Invite the campers to make “binoculars” with their hands (or, if time permits, you could actually create binocular representations from toilet paper tubes and decorate them). Ask the campers to look around the area where they are sitting (preferably outside!) without talking. Then ask: • What signs of variety do you see? • How many different forms of life? (trees, plants, animals, insects, people) • How many colors? Textures? Point out that despite all the variety they have observed, there is harmony. Next, have the campers imagine turning the binoculars around, looking at themselves and the group. Ask: • What variety do you see in yourself? • What differences do you see (and have you experienced) in and with one another? • How do your group members react differently? Say, “Clearly, we can see God’s love of variety in God’s design in each of us. No matter our differences, though, God invites us through the power of the Spirit to be one.” Ask: • What are some fruit of the Spirit that we can focus on to help this task? • How does living in the Spirit day-to-day help us? If campers made “binoculars,” have them write some of the fruit of the Spirit on them as a reminder that we are called to observe and look with an eye of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and so on. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , N a t u r a l i s t Supplies: ( O p t i o n a l : t o i l e t - p a p e r r o l l s , s t a p l e r o r g l u e , m a r k e r s f o r d e c o r a t i n g , a n d s t r i n g t o m a k e a n e c k s t r a p )

The Sneetches The Sneetches, by Dr. Seuss, ties into today’s lesson: the importance of unity. The Sneetches, like us, don’t have to be exactly the same or make themselves better than one another. The important lesson is not to be uniform, but be unified. The Sneetches are a group of yellow creatures, some of whom have a green star on their bellies. The ones with stars discriminate against those without. Sylvester McMonkey McBean comes with his Star-On machine and offers the Sneetches without stars the chance to have them put on, for three dollars. The treatment is popular with the starless Sneetches, but it upsets the original star-bellied ones, who no longer have special status. McBean then tells them about his Star-Off machine, costing ten dollars. Those Sneetches happily pay to have their stars removed in order to remain special. However, McBean allows the newly starred Sneetches through this machine as well. Ultimately the Sneetches are running from one machine to the next, “until neither the Plain nor the Star-Bellies knew whether this one was that one...or that one was this one… or which one was what one...or what one was who.” Ultimately, the Sneetches are all penniless and McBean departs a rich man, amused by their folly and convinced “you can’t teach a Sneetch.” However, the Sneetches learn from this experience and are finally able to get along. After reading the story to the campers, debrief the lesson to be learned: • Dr. Seuss uses stars to create a divide between two groups of Sneetches. What are some modern causes of conflict? • The two groups of Sneetches really weren’t too different from one another. It was just the stars that separated them. What does Sylvester McMonkey McBean show the Sneetches by the end when they have lost track of their groups? Why does he continue the conflict between them? • What are some ways people divide up? (Invite campers to think about their own schools and youth groups.) Are people put, or do they put themselves, in various categories? If so, what are they? Why do they do this? • How should we work toward peaceful unity when we are surrounded by Sylvester McMonkey McBeans? How can the Holy Spirit help us? Leader Note: One option is to give out stars to half the group before reading the story. Then in the discussion talk about how it felt to be a person with a star or one without a star. Day Camp Adaptation: Either read the book and talk about it as a Morning or Afternoon Option, or read it for Quiet Time, Rest and Read. Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: The Sneetches b y D r . S e u s s , ( o p t i o n a l : s t a r s , c o u l d b e s t i c k e r s )

Find a Motto Your campers may be part of various groups that shape their identities: Boy or Girl Scouts, 4-H, sports teams, schools, and so on. Elicit from the campers examples of groups they are part of. Ask: • How are these groups you are a part of like our camp community or your church community back home? • How are these groups different from camp? • Does your group have a motto or “law”? (for example, Boy Scouts: “Be Prepared”) Divide campers into groups of three or four. Remind them that according to our scripture, we are all called and chosen by God—we are all part of God’s “chosen ones.” In their groups, they are to come up with a motto and/or law for the family of God. Their motto should be short and based on the ideas found in Ephesians. Often mottos start with the verb “be” or other action verbs (examples: Be Loving. Build one another up. Take care of one another. Ask what you can do to help and then do it!). After coming up with the mottos, have each group share theirs with the larger group. In a manner that promotes unity, have the campers decide on one motto for the whole group. Have them write it on a big piece of paper that can be displayed in a public spot such as the dining hall. On the last day, the banner could be moved to the entrance to camp for the campers (and their parents) to see as they leave. Consider also making copies and giving them to campers on the last day to take home. Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: B i b l e s , p a p e r , m a r k e r s , l a r g e s h e e t o f p a p e r

We’re One Have campers each draw or cut and paste a large numeral 1 in a circle (the symbol for today’s lesson) on a half-sheet of poster board (or cardstock). Have the campers use crayons or markers or clippings from magazines to decorate their posters with things that they like or that describe them. Be sure each camper’s name is clearly visible on his or her poster. Use tape on the back of the completed posters to put them all together to create one large poster that represents your entire group. The center poster board might be the group name. Talk about how each person is unique, but still a valued member of the community. Unity is part of community, not uniformity. Consider using this larger poster as part of Evening Worship. Multiple Intelligences: I n t r a p e r s o n a l , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: H a l f - s i z e p o s t e r b o a r d f o r e a c h c a m p e r ( o r c a r d s t o c k ) , s c i s s o r s , m a g a z i n e s , g l u e , m a r k e r s o r c r a y o n s , p e n c i l s o r p e n s , t a p e o r p u s h p i n s We Are All on the Same Side Start with all the campers on one side of a volleyball net (or other divided area). The object of the game is to get the entire team as quickly as possible from one side to the other and back as fast as they can. Time the group. One player starts by hitting a balloon over the net. Only when the balloon is in the air can one player at a time go under the net to the other side. Play continues until all players are on one side; then they reverse the process. When the balloon touches ground, the player going under the net at that time must come back to the side he or she started on; the balloon must be batted into the air again before the activity can resume. Have the group play again to try to beat their first time. This time, however, one of the leaders should intentionally be slow and mess up the game. • What did it feel like when [name of leader who messed up the game] did not do his or her part? • How did you encourage him (or her) to keep up? (Did the group try to help, or did they just get frustrated?) • Today’s scripture talks about living as one community. What happens when persons do not do their part? • What is “the part” we are to be doing in Christian community? (Refer them to verse 2.) • How can we help the community work together? • How are things better when we all work together? Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: A b a l l o o n , v o l l e y b a l l n e t

Community Mosaic This activity helps campers see the way that diverse people, ideas, and backgrounds help make Christian community more beautiful and deep. Invite each camper to select two or three sheets of construction paper in whichever color or colors he or she likes. Explain that for this activity, they each need to cut out ten shapes, which can be different in size and shape and should vary from person to person. After the campers each have their ten shapes, invite each to create a design using only his or her ten pieces of paper. When campers are finished, use a phone or other digital camera to take a picture of each creation. Next, invite campers to join forces in pairs (or create one group of three if you have an odd number of campers). Instruct each duo to combine their shapes and work together to make a design out of 20 pieces of paper. Take pictures of these creations as well. Finally, invite all the campers to work together to create a single design, using all of the paper shapes. Take a picture of the final design and a picture of the whole group with their creation. Ask: • How did the process of creation change as you added people to your group? • How did the designs change? • Was anything difficult about working together in larger groups? How did you adjust to that difficulty? Read Ephesians 4:1-6. Ask: • What qualities from Paul’s list helped you create together? How were the fruit of the Spirit a part of your working style? What other qualities did your group show? • How is this camp community or your church community similar to this group activity? • How might the church as a whole grow and change if more voices are included? As you discuss, pass around the camera/phone so campers can look at their creations. (Leader Note: If your camp has an end-of-the- week “slide show,” be sure to include these photos.) Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: B i b l e , c o n s t r u c t i o n p a p e r i n a v a r i e t y o f c o l o r s , s c i s s o r s f o r e a c h c a m p e r , c a m e r a o r c a m e r a p h o n e

Piece Us Together Leader Note: Prior to this activity, take a piece of cardboard, poster board, or heavy card stock and cut it into as many puzzle pieces as you have group members (including yourself). This activity becomes an experience of community as campers work together to prepare for worship. Give each camper a puzzle piece. Instruct campers to decorate their puzzle pieces in ways that represent their own gifts and personalities. Encourage them to take their time and really create pieces that show who they are. When campers are finished decorating their pieces, invite them to take turns showing off and explaining their creations. Then work together as a group to put the pieces together into a completed puzzle. Point out the ways that unique pieces can come together to create a beautiful whole that is greater than any one piece. Collect the puzzle pieces and use them in Devotions (“From Here to There”). Send the pieces home with the campers as a reminder. Multiple Intelligences: I n t r a p e r s o n a l , I n t e r p e r s o n a l , S p a t i a l Supplies: C a r d b o a r d o r p o s t e r b o a r d , s c i s s o r s , m a r k e r s a n d p e n s

River Crossing This activity will help campers work together and depend upon one another while solving a problem. It is best to do this outside, but it can work inside if there is inclement weather. (Leader Note: Alternative challenge activities are in the “Extra Resources” Team Builders section.) Use two lengths of rope or yarn and lay them down parallel to one another (at least six feet apart). Explain to campers that these ropes represent the banks of a river that their group needs to cross. Give the team six carpet squares or pieces of cardboard (of about one square foot in size) and explain that these are their rafts. They may use the rafts to get their group across, but each raft can only support one hand and two feet at any time. More hands or feet than this will cause the raft to “sink” and be taken away for the rest of the activity. Similarly, if a raft does not have a hand or foot on it, it will “float away” and be removed from the activity. Campers must figure out a way to get their entire group across the river without any individual touching the “water.” If a camper touches the “water” with any part of the body, the entire group must start over. After your group successfully competes the task, process the activity together. Ask: • What was it like to solve a problem together as a team? • Who acted as a leader? Who acted as a follower? • What sorts of skills are needed in order for a group to work well together? • What kinds of problems do people in Christian community, including churches and youth groups, need to work together on in order for solutions to be created or found? Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , L o g i c a l / M a t h e m a t i c a l , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: T w o r o p e s o r l e n g t h s o f y a r n , s i x c a r p e t s q u a r e s o r p i e c e s o f c a r d b o a r d o f a b o u t o n e s q u a r e f o o t i n s i z e

Signs of Unity This outdoor art activity gives campers an opportunity to express their understanding of unity and community in a more public forum. Give campers a container of sidewalk chalk and head outside. Ask volunteers to define or give examples of “unity,” “community,” and “uniformity.” Talk also about today’s symbol, the numeral 1 in a circle. After the discussion, tell the group that their task for the next 30 minutes is to cover the area near their meeting space with symbols and messages of unity and community. This can involve writing out messages or scripture, drawing, and so on. If campers are unsure of what to do, invite them to create messages or artwork that would show a visiting guest what camp community is all about. Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c , S p a t i a l Supplies: S i d e w a l k c h a l k , p a v e d o r c o n c r e t e o u t s i d e a r e a

Paper Bag Drama Divide into smaller groups of three to five persons. Give each group a bag of six unrelated objects. Each team is to work together to create one story or skit that uses all the items. As they present their “drama,” they need to have each person on the team involved in some way. Give the teams about 15 minutes to prepare. Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l , L i n g u i s t i c , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: P a p e r b a g s ( o n e f o r e a c h t e a m ) f i l l e d w i t h o d d s a n d e n d s o f it e m s — n a t u r a l o r m a n u f a c t u r e d

Yurt Circle A yurt is a tent used by Mongolian nomads. It is held in place by the equilibrium of the roof and walls pushing against each other. Have campers form a circle and count off “In” or “Out.” The group has to have an even number, so a leader can participate or not, depending upon the need. Everyone stands shoulder-to-shoulder facing the center and grabs a hand of the person on either side. On the count of three the “Ins” lean toward the center and the “Outs” lean back, all the while keeping their feet in the starting place and simply supporting one another with their held hands. For a second level challenge, on the count of three, switch to “Outs” leaning inward and “Ins” leaning outward. The third level is to switch in rhythm. The community is one! Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: N o n e

Human Foosball A fun and wacky game based on the popular table game, Human Foosball can be played in a large open field or indoor gym space. It is played by an even number of campers—the more the better. Campers are in two teams, each protecting their soccer goal and trying to score in their opponent’s goal. The two teams each divide into “lines” of four players, representing Foosball paddles. A length of rope will connect each line of four player/paddles, who hold on to the rope with both hands and face the same direction the game is played. At no time during play are hands to come off the rope. Only feet may be used to move the soccer ball around the field. Depending on the number of players, each team can have up to four lines/rope sections (three in the field and one in the goal). Campers holding the rope may only move together in a lateral direction, right to left or left to right, while trying the kick the ball into the goal. The game begins when the referee blows a whistle and rolls the soccer ball onto the field. When a goal is scored, the referee restarts action by rolling the ball back into play. The game ends after one team scores ten goals (or whatever number you set). Bonus fun: Make the game come to life by dressing each team in opposing colors! Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: O p e n s p a c e , t w o s o c c e r g o a l s , s o c c e r b a l l , e i g h t 1 5 - f o o t - l o n g d u r a b l e r o p e s e c t i o n s

Community Challenge (Mountain Tops/Unfinished Bridge Low Challenge) At first campers may think this task is impossible. With a little thought and cooperation, they can figure out a solution. (see graphic All-in-One PowerUP PDF file on page 353) Campers will be presented with three platforms, representing three “mountain peaks” of different sizes spaced out on the ground, and two boards, which serve as their “bridges.” Using only the two boards/bridges given, all the campers must move from the first platform/mountain to the last without either the boards or themselves touching the ground because that means they will have fallen into the imaginary “abyss.” Neither board by itself can reach the other platforms, and one board is significantly shorter than the other. (Leader Note: The solution involves the boards being supported by campers sitting on at least one-third of the board lying flat on the platform [see the illustration], and the campers individually crossing by walking from one supported board to the other.) Afterward, discuss: • What made this challenge easy? What made it difficult? • What was key to solving this challenge? (working together in community, listening to one another, being one team in community) Leader Note: Be sure the campers are careful as they pass boards back and forth. Do not allow jumping from platform to platform, or using planks as diving boards. Stop unsafe behavior before anyone tries it. Spotters are needed while campers are crossing on boards. Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: T h r e e p l a t f o r m s — 2 f e e t b y 2 f e e t , 3 f e e t b y 3 f e e t , a n d 5 f e e t b y 5 f e e t — e a c h t h r e e t o f i v e i n c h e s o f f t h e g r o u n d ; t w o 2 - i n c h b y 6 - i n c h p l a n k s — o n e 8 - f e e t l o n g , o n e 5 - f e e t l o n g

Simple Hospitality Have one camp group welcome the rest of camp to the dining hall. If possible, have one group serve another group their meal and then clear the table for them afterward. Take turns, having different groups serve one another over the course of the week. Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: N o n e

Food Pantry Challenge Support a local food pantry by encouraging campers to bring along a canned food donation to be dropped off during camp registration. Send out a welcome-to-camp letter with instructions to bring donations. If the food pantry has any brochures or even statistics you can incorporate into the letter, send those along too. Have a team of campers stack the cans in a creative way that stresses the difference a community can make by contributing to a common goal. Keep the display up and let campers know that if they forgot to bring canned goods at registration, they can ask their parents to bring something with them to add at pick-up at the end of camp. Your local pantry will be grateful, and your campers will learn a valuable lesson about giving. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: L e t t e r s t o c a m p e r s b e f o r e c a m p t o b r i n g c a n n e d g o o d s , d o n a t i o n b o x a t r e g i s t r a t i o n t o c o l l e c t d o n a t i o n s

Quiet Time Table Talk or Conversation Station Use these questions to invite campers into conversation about the theme. Use them over one or more of the meals or create a conversation station during one of the activity rotations. Consider using this for one or more of the days later in the week. Younger Campers: • What are some groups that you belong to? • Why do you like being part of that group? (Your classroom? Girl/Boy Scouts? Church group? Neighborhood friends?) • Tell about a time when you felt like you belonged. Where were you? Who was there? Who or what helped you feel like you were part of the community, part of the group? Older Campers: • Tell about a time you experienced being part of a community and felt a sense of belonging. • How did that community change your daily life? Were you more daring? Bold? Fearless? Or did you hang back and let others lead? Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l , I n t r a p e r s o n a l Supplies: C o p y o f t h e s e l e c t e d q u e s t i o n s f o r e a c h t a b l e o r s t a t i o n

Rest and Read Here are storybooks to read aloud for quiet time, perhaps after lunch. Or use them during devotions: The Sneetches, by Dr. Seuss Listen to the Wind, by Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth We Are One, by Jennifer Black Whoever You Are, by Mem Fox Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: S e l e c t e d b o o k

Daily Journal Have campers use half sheets of paper, fold them over onto themselves, and staple the middle to create books (or simply provide composition books). Have each camper decorate the outside of his or her journal with the words “Grateful Journal.” Here are suggested topics for each day’s writing (or drawing) time: • What are some things you are grateful for in your life? At camp? • What are you learning about the Holy Spirit this week? • What and who have made you feel a part of the community this week? • What are some challenges of living in a community and working with others? How does living in the Spirit help overcome those challenges? • When you are no longer at camp, where will look for or help create community? Who can help you? Multiple Intelligences: I n t r a p e r s o n a l Supplies: P a p e r , s t a p l e r , w r i t i n g i n s t r u m e n t s , m a r k e r s f o r d e c o r a t i n g

Devotions Prayers for Our Communities Read or line out Psalm 51:11. Ask: “How do we seek God every day through the power of the Holy Spirit?” (prayer, listening, reflection, devotion). Say: “Together in community the presence of the Spirit is never missing—we each help share God in many ways with one another.” Display the symbol of the day. Ask: “What does the numeral one in a circle mean to you tonight?” Tie a clothesline between trees, posts, or furniture in your worship space. Lay out strips of fabric and invite each camper to choose three. One represents the camp community, the second the community back home, and the third the world community. Have campers tie the three strips together by a knot at one end of them. With music in the background, invite campers to come forward with their three strips and place the knot on top of the line so the strips hang on both sides of the clothesline. They are then to braid the three strips together, while offering silent prayers for their three communities. Adults may need to assist younger campers in braiding before braiding their own strips of prayer. Encourage everyone to take note of all the braided prayers hanging together on the line. Close with a prayer lifting up all of them. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , I n t r a p e r s o n a l Supplies: B i b l e , t h i s w e e k ’ s s y m b o l , c o l o r f u l s t r i p s o f c l o t h ( a t 1 2 t o 1 6 i n c h e s l o n g — t h r e e s t r i p s p e r c a m p e r ) , c l o t h e s l i n e , C D p l a y e r , C D o f r e f l e c t i v e m u s i c , ( o p t i o n a l : li v e m u s i c i a n s )

We Are the Family of God Leader Note: In advance, write on an old bed sheet, “We Are Chosen and Called by God!” Drape it on the altar. Sing “We Are the Family of God” or “Look All Around You.” Read today’s scripture and introduce the symbol (the numeral 1 in a circle). Introduce Psalm 133:1: “How very good and pleasant it is / when kindred live together in unity!” Ask the campers to give examples of times and ways they have seen the community at camp show this unity. Allow time for the campers to encourage and build one another up! Finally, ask one small group or cabin at a time to come to the altar; have each camper trace a hand onto the sheet and then write his or her name inside the handprint. Make sure everyone is included. Use this sheet as your altar covering for the rest of the week; display it to welcome parents. Close in prayer and sing “Build Your Kingdom Here.” Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: B i b l e , t o d a y ’ s s y m b o l , o l d b e d s h e e t , m a r k e r s , t a b l e

The Power of Community Have a leader or volunteer camper prepared to tell about a time when he or she asked for and received the support of a Christian community (camp, church, youth group, other supportive group). The story should emphasize the power of having a Christian community. Open and close with songs such as “Make Us One.” Multiple Intelligences: Logical/Mathematical Supplies: None

Talking Stick Sing a song or two. Choose an item (perhaps the “binoculars” if you used that activity earlier, or your symbol for the week of the numeral 1 in a circle). Tell campers that this item is the “talking stick,” and when they hold it, they are to say something about what they have learned, observed, or experienced this week about unity and community—about being one in the Spirit. Pass the “stick” around and listen. Sing “Make Us One” to close. Multiple Intelligences: Linguistic Supplies: “Talking stick” item

From Here to There Gather in a circle. Place your group’s puzzle in the center. Read Ephesians 4:1-6, and invite youth to perform the movements that they created earlier in the day. Explain to campers that it is their job to take what they have learned about community and share it with people in their homes, schools, and churches. Invite them to take their pieces of the puzzle and keep them as reminders of that calling, as well as reminders of the relationships they have made in this place. Close by singing a song such as “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love.” Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: B i b l e , g r o u p ’ s p u z z l e f r o m “ P i e c e U s T o g e t h e r ” a c t i v i t y DAY CAMP: Week 5 POWER UP with Courage Plan Your Week

Energizers • S t a n d U p • S c r i p t u r e • S p i r i t P u l s e • G u a r d i n g t h e S c a v e n g e r H u n t T r e a s u r e Bible Time • C o u r a g e t o . . . • T h e B i g T h r e e • T i m o t h y ’ s • S p i r i t o f C o u r a g e • G e t t h e G i f t S t r e n g t h

Morning Activity • S t o r y S y m b o l • S o n g F e s t • S h i e l d o f C o u r a g e • B i b l e S t o r i e s o f • W h a t I W a n t Y o u Options C o u r a g e t o R e m e m b e r • F i l l O u r B u c k e t • F o u r - C h o r d • S t a n d U p ! B r a c e l e t • S p i r i t P o r t r a i t s • S a l t P a i n t i n g • F u n e r a l f o r F e a r • C h a l k I t U p ! • C o m f o r t Z o n e s Quiet Time • R e s t & R e a d • T a b l e T a l k • R e s t & R e a d • T a b l e T a l k • R e s t & R e a d • J o u r n a l • J o u r n a l • J o u r n a l • J o u r n a l • L e t t e r H o m e Afternoon Activity • S o n g F e s t • I n v i s i b l e • B e a r P o w e r • C o u r a g e C r o s s i n g • P o w e r G r i d Options O b s t a c l e C o u r s e • N a t u r e T r e a s u r e • C o u r a g e • C o u r a g e S o n g s • C a m p P r a y e r H u n t • F l y i n g C a r p e t M a c h i n e s W a l k • S k i t • A c t i n g • H o v e r C r a f t C o u r a g e o u s l y Devotions • D o n ’ t W o r r y • T r y i n g • L i n k e d • L i g h t i n g U p t h e • F a n n i n g t h e S t o n e s S o m e t h i n g N e w W o r l d F l a m e Week 5 Overview

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:6-7, 13-14 Focus: Through the Spirit, we have a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline, not of cowardice or timidity. The Holy Spirit empowers us to be brave, to stand up, and to make a difference. Connection with Campers: Campers face many situations in life that require both ordinary and extraordinary courage. This week’s theme can help them realize that powered by the Holy Spirit, they have that courage within them. They can be brave enough to stand up and make a difference. Leader Notes: Read through the “Biblical and Theological Overview” for Day 6. Often, when people think of courage, they think of action heroes from the movies, who are larger than life and equipped with extraordinary skills. This week, help your campers see that real courage is already within them because it has been given to them as a gift—and a tool. Resist the temptation to teach that having fear is bad. Everyone has fears. Instead, focus on overcoming fear with the power, love, and self-discipline that come from the Holy Spirit. Living a courageous life does not mean living without fear, but rather living beyond it. The scripture is about Paul’s encouragement to his successor, Timothy. Paul knew that Timothy was going to face hard times ahead, and he encouraged him to remember that God’s gift was already within him. He reminded Timothy and the early church that the power of the Holy Spirit gives strength to love and be brave. As you work with campers this week, encourage them in the same way. Symbol for the Week: Strong Arms Linked With the strong clasp of the Spirit, campers will be able to power up to stand up and speak up on behalf of others, to act with courage and love. Most of these activities come from specific age levels in the residential camp daily plans. However, they can readily be adjusted for younger or older or mixed-age groups in day camp. Feel free to adapt them to fit your camp and campers. Getting-to-Know-You Games I Have Never Have the group sit in a circle with one chair fewer than there are players. Ask the group to introduce themselves to their neighbors, giving their name to the person on their right and to the one on the left. The one in the middle has to give his or her name and also a true statement that begins, “I have never....” For example, “I’m Lucy and I have never been horseback riding.” Everyone in the circle who also has never done that simply stay seated. But any campers who have ridden a horse have to get up and run for an empty seat, trying to beat out the one in the middle. Have everyone make introductions again to their new neighbors. The one without a chair starts another round, stating his or her name and giving another “I have never...” statement. Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: N o n e

Sing Your Name Form a circle. Tell the group they will introduce themselves by singing, rapping, or chanting their names. Acknowledge that being creative can be a bit scary when “performing” in front of people, but assure everyone that no one will be making fun or putting anyone down. There may be some laughter, but it’s not “laughing at...” but “laughing with...”—having fun together. As the leader, be primed to go first. Then encourage volunteers. Have everyone cheer the effort by repeating the name—either singing the same tune or just chanting the name. If someone is still reticent, ask another camper who has already sung to make up a song for the reluctant one. Song tunes can just be names or can include a short rhyme. Multiple Intelligences: M u s i c a l Supplies: N o n e

Energizers Stand Up Leader Note: This relatively quick physical activity is a good one to precede some of the other Experience options that have more discussion and thinking. Create pairs of campers and have them stand back-to-back and lock elbows. They should sit down together and stand back up by supporting each other. If the partners aren’t working together, they won’t be able to stand! Have the campers try the challenge again, this time without locking elbows. Afterward, ask, “Was this easier or harder than the first challenge?” Without the support of their partner, it should have been more difficult. Point out that, similarly, as the campers seek to be brave and make a difference, proper support from friends is helpful for moving forward with courage. The Spirit is also the power that makes that possible! You may wish also to make the connection to nature, which mimics this same dependence. Challenge the campers to give examples of similar situations of support in ecosystems (such as bees and flowers). Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , N a t u r a l i s t Supplies: N o n e

Scripture Scavenger Hunt Leader Note: Before the group meets, create a list of clues to five key locations around your camp. At each location, hide a piece of paper with one of these scriptures written out on it: Genesis 15:1 Deuteronomy 3:22 1 Chronicles 22:13 Isaiah 40:9 Matthew 1:20 Give the campers the clues, one at a time, to a location until they figure out the location and discover that scripture. Repeat for each location, seeing if the group can work together to get better at unraveling the locations in fewer clues. Once campers have located all the verses, find a place to talk about them. • Why do you think the Bible tells us over and over again not to be afraid? • What are you afraid of? How will knowing the Holy Spirit is with you help? • How can you use that bold Spirit to make a difference? Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: S c r i p t u r e v e r s e s p r i n t e d o n p a p e r a n d h i d d e n i n c a m p , c l u e s t o l e a d c a m p e r s t o e a c h l o c a t i o n

Guarding the Treasure A ball is the “treasure.” One player is designated as “Timothy.” Everyone else is trying to take the treasure away without being tagged by Timothy, who can stand over or circle around the treasure to keep watch and prevent it being kicked away. If a player succeeds in kicking the treasure away, the crowd follows, doing their best to keep Timothy from recapturing the treasure. If Timothy tags the one who has the treasure, then the tagged player becomes the new Timothy and the game starts again. No one is to touch the treasure with hands. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: A b a l l ( s o c c e r , f o o t b a l l , v o l l e y b a l l )

Spirit Pulse A fun table game, Spirit Pulse can be played on the floor as well. This is an excellent activity to entertain campers while waiting for meals and so forth. Begin with a circle of players seated, each with one hand flat on a tabletop. The game leader begins the pulse by pointing out the direction the pulse will travel (to the right or to the left) and then raising the hand (while the wrist stays connected to the table) and slapping the table once. The Spirit Pulse moves in the direction indicated, and the next person continues by slapping the table once, as the pulse continues to travel around the table. At any point, a player can slap the table once or twice. If a camper slaps once, the pulse continues in the same direction. If a camper slaps twice, the pulse reverses direction and goes the other way around. If any campers around the table lift even a single finger when it is not their turn, they will lose use of that hand for the rest of the round. Play continues until approximately half of the group has been eliminated, and then players move up to the next higher level of challenge. Round One: Campers place just one hand on the table. Round Two: Campers use both hands, side-by-side. Round Three: Campers use both hands, but cross them (to form an X) so that all right hands are on the left, and all left hands are on the right. Round Four: Campers use both hands, but reach outward so that their right hand crosses over the left hand of the person on their right, and their left hand crosses over the right hand of the person on their left, forming an “X” with the partner on each side. Round Five: Campers revert to the starting positions in Round Two (two hands, side-by-side), but an additional technique is allowed. If a player slaps the table with a fist, the pulse jumps over the next hand in that direction. If he or she makes a fist and double-slaps the table, the pulse reverses direction and skips a hand in the new direction. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: ( O p t i o n a l : t a b l e a n d c h a i r s ) Bible Time: 2 Timothy 1:6-7, 13-14 Timothy’s Strength Say: “This Bible reading is as if the apostle Paul were sharing his final words to Timothy, who will take over for him in leading people to follow Jesus. Listen for the advice, for the things the teacher wants his pupil to learn.” Invite one of the older campers to read the scripture, playing the role of someone giving advice to those who are younger. Ask: “What advice did Paul give to Timothy?” Write the advice on a sheet of paper for everyone to see: Rekindle God’s gift, which is a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. • Discuss what having the spirit of power, love, and self-discipline means: The power of the Holy Spirit will help campers follow God’s rules and show their faith by how they love others. Hold on to the sound teaching from Paul in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. • Also talk about how not everything we are taught is sound teaching; sometimes we are mislead or distracted from what we really need to learn or from what is true or life-giving. Protect this good treasure with the help of the Holy Spirit living inside each of us. • Remind campers that the source of the power to help us do good things is through the Holy Spirit. Say: “Paul, Timothy, and every single one of us has been given the spirit of power and love and self-discipline that comes from the Holy Spirit, which is within all of us. Power Up!” Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: B i b l e , l a r g e s h e e t o f p a p e r , m a r k e r

Courage to… The theme today is courage. Dig into what courage means. Ask: • What does courage mean to you? • What would the opposite of it be? (cowardly, timid, fearful, unable to act) • Can you give an example of someone who is courageous? • How have you been courageous at home? At school? At camp? Read aloud the scripture (2 Timothy 1:6-7, 13-14). Return to verse 7 to emphasize it. Point out that the Spirit, which God gives, is the opposite of being cowardly; it is courage, which is made up of power, love, and self-discipline. Tell the group that today they will celebrate Random Acts of Courage (RAC). Explain to campers that, when they see someone trying something for the first time or working hard at something that is difficult, they are to say to that person, “Take Courage.” Let’s see how the Holy Spirit teaches campers how to be courageous today! Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l , L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: B i b l e

The Big Three Read aloud today’s key verse, 2 Timothy 1:7. Ask campers to listen for “The Big Three” as you read. “The Big Three” means the three most important things that the Holy Spirit gives us to help us stand up to fear. Give campers a pencil and three pieces of paper on which they are to write, each on a separate sheet, “Love,” “Power,” and, “Self-discipline.” Ask them to illustrate each word. (Leader Note: You may need to make sure younger campers understand what self-discipline means; the CEB uses the term “self-control,” which may help give campers a fuller understanding of the word.) After the illustrations are finished, brainstorm some real-life situations in which campers may need the Holy Spirit to help them with “The Big Three.” For example, a boy needs a good grade on a test to be able to play on his baseball team. Which one of “The Big Three” can he ask the Holy Spirit to help him with? Ask campers to hold up the signs they created earlier to vote for the answer (self- discipline to study for the test). Work through several examples until campers understand better how love, power, and self-discipline can help them live a life of faith. Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l , L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: B i b l e , t h r e e s h e e t s o f p a p e r f o r e a c h c a m p e r , p e n c i l s

Get the Gift Leader Notes: Before this lesson, prepare the gifts. You will need a small box for each camper. The boxes don’t all have to be the same. Put a copy of today’s scripture inside each and wrap the box. The wrapping does not all have to be the same. You could use left-over scraps, self-decorated craft paper, or newspaper. Add tags that say “To: [camper’s name] From: God.” An optional way to personalize the “gift” even more would be to have counselors write notes of one or two spiritual gifts or fruit of the Spirit that they have seen in that camper though the week. If you choose to do this, be sure you write something positive for every camper. Give each camper the gift with his or her name on it. Ask: • What is the best gift you have ever gotten? • What is your favorite gift-giving occasion? • What do you think is inside this gift? Ask campers to open their gifts and invite someone to read the scripture out loud. Ask: • What do you think about this gift? • What are some of the other gifts God has given you? (Help them think beyond material things. If counselors have written gifts they have seen in each camper, talk about those. Encourage the campers to write some more of these on the back of their scripture gift.) • Why do you think it is important for Paul to remind us that the spirit in each of us is not one of cowardice, but, rather, powerful and self-disciplined? Why is the reminder that it is also a spirit of love important? (Power and even self-discipline can be used wrongly, but not if coupled with love.) • What does it mean to “hold to the standard of sound teaching”? • How can you tell if something is “sound teaching”? (common sense, test against scripture, seek advice from those you trust) • What is the “good treasure” we are supposed to protect? How can you do that? Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l , L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: O n e g i f t b o x p e r c a m p e r , w r a p p i n g p a p e r , g i f t t a g s , p r i n t e d s c r i p t u r e v e r s e f o r e a c h c a m p e r , p e n c i l s

Spirit of Courage This Bible activity helps campers recognize the people, attitudes, emotions, and situations that hold them back; it also helps campers claim the courage that God has given them through the Holy Spirit! Give each camper a medium-sized rock and a permanent marker. Invite each camper to write a word or two on his or her rock—words that represent emotions, people, attitudes, situations—things that hold the campers back and keep them from being the persons God has created them to be. Read 2 Timothy 1:6-7, 13-14 aloud. Explain that with the spirit of courage (power), love, and self-discipline that God gives us, we can face any obstacle and resist any temptation. All we need to do is, in times of need, claim that courageous spirit and live out of it. Head outside and have campers take their rocks with them. Find a place that could use a few more rocks (an unused field, a pond or lake, a stream, for example) and gather at the edge of that place. Invite each camper, one at a time, to say the following before throwing his or her rock down: “I have a spirit of courage, and you can’t hold me back!” After campers have cast away their rocks, ask: • What did it feel like to claim your courage so publicly? • Can you really cast away the things that hold you back? If yes, how? • How does it feel to know that courage, love, and self-discipline come from God and are part of living in the Spirit? Multiple Intelligences: I n t r a p e r s o n a l , S p a t i a l Supplies: P e r m a n e n t m a r k e r s , m e d i u m - s i z e d r o c k s

Morning & Afternoon Activity Options Story Symbol = Strong Arms Linked Show the campers this week’s symbol, and ask why they think it is a good image to represent this week’s scripture and theme. (The linking represents the strength and courage available to all through the power of the Holy Spirit.) Throughout the week find additional ways to include or refer to the image as you do other activities. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: S y m b o l s f o r t h e p r e v i o u s f i v e d a y s , r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t w o s t r o n g a r m s l i n k e d t o g e t h e r

Shield of Courage Say: “In our Bible story today Paul is preparing Timothy for Paul’s passing on of his responsibilities to him.” Reread the scripture if needed to refresh everyone’s memories. Ask: • What have been some transitions in your life when someone has passed on instructions or helped you prepare? (first day of school, moving to a new place, starting middle school or high school, playing on a sports team, starting a new job, moving to a new location) • How did your parents, teachers, coaches, or colleagues prepare you for those transitions or next things in your life? (told how to act or what to expect, new clothes) • What new responsibilities came with that transition? (being part of a class or team, practices, studying, learning the new job or new location, making new friends) • Were some of those things scary or changes that you weren’t sure about? Say: “God gives us help and guidance to walk through those ‘next things’ or transitions. Just as Paul reminded Timothy, the Holy Spirit gives each of us the power, love, and self-discipline to move into new and next things—courage for the journey. Next, we are going to think about the courage needed for those transitions and create Shields of Courage.” Each camper will create a shield, with adults helping children with their projects. The intent is that there will be conversation between the younger ones and the adults as they cut and paste pictures or words on the shields. Have campers find pictures of things of strength or power and of people doing good things. They will cut out and glue them onto their cardboard “shield.” They can also cut out and glue letters to spell words of courage. Campers are to make a collage of overlapping pictures, covering the shields with signs and words of courage. When the campers have covered the shields, have them write with black marker the following quotation in the center of the shields, on top of the pictures. (Leader Note: Consider writing the quotation out somewhere visible so that everyone can refer to it easily.) HOPE is wishing something will happen. FAITH is believing something will happen. COURAGE is making something happen. Then, have the adults add handles to the backs of the shields by attaching ribbons or strips of fabric using a hot glue gun. Finally, say: “Shields serve as protection both physically and symbolically. Our shields of courage are reminders that, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we are very courageous. Power up through courage!” Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: B i b l e ; f o r e a c h c h i l d a n d y o u t h c a m p e r — l a r g e p i e c e o f c a r d b o a r d ( a t l e a s t 1 2 i n c h e s b y 1 2 i n c h e s ) a n d s t r i p o f r i b b o n o r f a b r i c f o r h a n d l e ( t o b e h o t - g l u e d t o b a c k o f s h i e l d ) , m a g a z i n e s t o c u t f r o m s t i c k e r s , p e r m a n e n t b l a c k m a r k e r s , s c i s s o r s , g l u e s t i c k s , h o t g l u e g u n

Fill Our Bucket Option: You may choose to read the storybook, How Full Is Your Bucket? before this activity. Write “Bucket Filler” on a large sheet of paper and “Bucket Dipper” on a second sheet. Say: “We are going to imagine that every day we each have a bucket that we carry around. Every time we help someone or are nice to people or creation, our bucket fills up. Bucket Fillers are actions that make us or other people feel loved and that care for God’s creation. But every time we say or do something hurtful or mean, our buckets are emptied. God wants us not only to have a full bucket at the end of the day, but God wants us to be filling the buckets of others all day long.” Have campers name together actions that are Bucket Fillers, actions that make us feel good, that are good deeds that God smiles upon (give a hug, say nice things, help someone, smile, share, say “I love you,” take care of the environment, and so on). Then also name some Bucket Dippers, those actions that hurt someone or make someone feel empty or lost or that harm the environment or other living creatures (hitting, saying mean words, stealing, lying, pushing and shoving, not playing fair, not showing respect or appreciation, not giving others credit, littering). Write the words on the appropriate sheet of paper. Now have each family group work together to create their own bucket to fill up throughout the day. Say: “Think about the Bucket Fillers that we listed and add others that you want to fill your family bucket. Write each of those Bucket Fillers on a craft stick so it can easily be added to your bucket by anyone in the family. When someone dips into the bucket, that Bucket Filler is taken out until a new good deed puts it back into the bucket.” Have campers in family groups work together to decorate their buckets and to write actions on several craft sticks. Invite them to take some blank sticks to write additional actions on later at camp or at home. Encourage families to check-in at the end of the day to see how many Bucket Fillers everyone experienced that day, and challenge them to work together to completely fill their buckets up each day. You may also choose to use the buckets in this evening’s Cabin Devotions. Day Camp Adaptation: You may choose to read the storybook, How Full Is Your Bucket? before this activity or read it during Quiet Time “Rest and Read.” Then carry out the activity throughout the week or for one full day. Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l , L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: O n e b u c k e t ( p l a s t i c o r m e t a l — e v e n a l a r g e p a p e r c u p c o v e r e d w i t h f o i l o r p a i n t e d ) p e r f a m i l y g r o u p , p e r m a n e n t m a r k e r s , l a r g e c r a f t s t i c k s , s t i c k e r s a n d r i b b o n s c r a p s t o d e c o r a t e w i t h , g l u e , t w o l a r g e s h e e t s o f p a p e r , ( o p t i o n a l : How Full Is Your Bucket? b y T o m R a t h a n d M a r y R e c k m e y e r )

Stand Up! Have campers sit down in a row or rows facing you in a space where they have room to sit down and stand up regularly on the ground or chairs. Say: “Today our Bible story tells us that with the Spirit of power, love, and self-discipline we can take action to make a difference. We are going to play a game in which we each decide how we would stand up with courage with the aid of the power of the Holy Spirit. I am going to read a situation and, as soon as you know how you would ‘stand up’ or act in that situation, stand up. Let’s begin with everyone sitting down.” Read a situation and once everyone has stood up, check in and see how campers would have acted in the situation. Here are some suggestions; feel free to create your own: 1. Someone trips and falls down outside and seems hurt or shaken up. 2. You see someone throw a piece of trash on the ground and walk off. 3. You know that a friend cheated on a test or that your coworkers are “sliding by” and consequently cheating the people they are supposed to serve. 4. You know that one friend has lied to another friend. 5. You hear someone speak about a group of people, spreading lies and hatred about them. 6. You see someone break something that belongs to someone else and then just leave it lying there broken. 7. You see someone steal a small thing from another person’s backpack or bag or a store. After campers share how they would respond, have them sit down. When everyone is sitting down, read another situation. Use as many scenarios as time allows. Then say: “We have the power to make good choices and to stand up for others because the Holy Spirit will help us and give us the courage to make a difference and stand up!” Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: S i t u a t i o n s t o r e a d , ( o p t i o n a l : c h a i r s f o r c a m p e r s )

Bear Power Leader Note: See preparations for this activity found below, at the end. In a fairly large open area, scatter pieces of poster board. Do not tell campers what the colors, initials, and numbers on the pieces actually represent. Tell them that they are various kinds of “bear food.” Since bears are omnivores—they like a wide assortment of food—campers should gather different colored squares to represent a variety of food. Have campers each write his or her name on an envelope, which will represent each camper’s “den site” and will be left on the ground (anchored by a rock if windy) at the starting line on the edge of the area. Younger campers may want to be paired up with youth or adults in teams with one den site. Have everyone line up on a starting line, leaving the envelopes on the ground. Say: “You are now ‘black bears.’ All bears are not alike, just as you and I are not alike. As bears, you will walk into the ‘forest’ since you gather your food—bears do not chase down their food. When you find a colored square, pick it up (one at a time) and return to your ‘den’ (envelope). After you have put the card in your ‘den,’ you may gather another piece of food.” Start all the bears walking into the “forest” at the same time. When all the colored squares have been picked up, have the bears check their dens to see how much food they have gathered. Explain the colors and what kind of food each represents. Tell campers that the number on the paper represents pounds; have them count up the number of pounds they gathered and write the total on the envelope. Say: “Each bear needs 80 pounds of food to have the power to survive.” Ask: • Which bears survived? • Is there enough to feed all the bears? (Now add up all the pounds of food collected by all the bears and divide by 80, the pounds needed by one bear in order to survive in a 10-day period.) • How many bears can our “forest” support? • How is that different from the number of bears that survived earlier? Why? (didn’t share the food equally) • How many more pounds of food would we need for all of our bears to survive? Say: “Bears have the power to choose a variety of foods that nurish and strengthen them in different ways. Working together we can help protect areas where bears live so that they have the best chance of finding all the food they need. We have the power to make a difference for God’s bears!” Multiple Intelligences: N a t u r a l i s t , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: F i v e c o l o r s o f p o s t e r b o a r d c u t i n t o 3 - i n c h b y 3 - i n c h “ c a r d s ” ( r e d , y e l l o w , g r e e n , b l u e , a n d o r a n g e ) , e n v e l o p e s ( o n e p e r c a m p e r ) , p e n c i l s , b l a c k m a r k e r s Ahead of time create a set of cards using the chart below to determine how many cards of each color to make and what to write on each one. The color of the card tells what type of food it represents, and the number written on the card represents the pounds of food. Write only the information in the Label column on the cards.

Invisible Obstacle Course The invisible obstacle course game is an opportunity to learn to overcome fears, even ones that can’t be seen. Select a volunteer to begin the activity. Ultimately, each person in the group will create an imaginary element in an obstacle course, with group members crawling, jumping, running, and helping one another through the obstacles they encounter. After each person’s element is enacted, leadership changes and another member of the group describes his or her obstacle and helps the members of the group navigate over, under, or around it. (Leader Note: If you see a camper having trouble coming up with an idea for an element or struggling with a challenge, remind him or her to “take courage.”) In the game, the group will encounter a variety of obstacles (for example, jumping on an invisible trampoline or climbing over an invisible stone wall, or kayaking in an invisible lake full of icebergs). They will experience creativity and leadership, and, most importantly, the campers will increase their readiness to face their fears with confidence! Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: N o n e NUMBER OF CAMPERS

PAPER COLOR LABEL REPRESENTS 10-15 16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 35-40

Orange N-20 Nuts 20 lbs 2 3 3 4 5 6 Orange N-10 Nuts 10 lbs 8 13 17 21 25 29

Blue B-20 Berries 20 lbs 2 3 3 4 5 6

Blue B-10 Berries 10 lbs 8 13 17 21 25 29

Yellow I-12 Insects 12 lbs 2 3 3 4 5 6

Yellow I-6 Insects 6 lbs 8 13 17 21 25 29

Red M-8 Meat 8 lbs 2 3 3 4 5 6

Red M-4 Meat 4 lbs 8 13 17 21 25 29

Green P-20 Plants 20 lbs 2 3 3 4 5 6

Green P-10 Plants 10 lbs 8 13 17 21 25 29

Four-Cord Bracelet Leader Note: If you are not familiar with the square-knot pattern, be sure to practice doing it in advance. Remind the campers that the Holy Spirit gives us power, love, and self-discipline to help us overcome fear. This four-cord bracelet will help them remember to have courage in scary situations. Visual instructions are available at http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Square-Knotted-Friendship-Bracelet. Ahead of time, cut enough pieces of twine or colored yarn into 72-inch pieces so that each camper will have two. 1. Show campers how to put the four ends together and tie them in a knot. Their pieces will form one circle. 2. Holding the knot in one hand, campers are to pull their circle to form a line; then they can cut the end opposite the knot. Now they now have four pieces tied together at the knot. (Leader Note: Having two different colors of yarn makes the remaining steps easier.) 3. Have each camper bring the right cord under the two center cords and over the right cord and pull as if starting to tie a shoe. 4. The next step is to make the second knot. The left cord (which was the right cord in Step 2) goes over the center cords and under the left cord. 5. The right cord (which was the left cord in Step 3) goes under the center cords and over the left cord. Pull again as if you were tying your shoe. Repeat steps three and four to the desired length. Help the campers tie their bracelets on as their reminders. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , S p a t i a l Supplies: T w i n e o r v a r i o u s c o l o r s o f y a r n , s c i s s o r s

What I Want You to Remember Leader Note: Some of your campers may need help with writing. Give direction and remember they can always draw pictures to complete this task. The scripture for today is a letter Paul wrote to Timothy, who lived far away. This letter can be considered part of the apostle Paul’s “faith legacy” to Timothy. Paul was in jail facing the death penalty. He wanted to tell Timothy what he had found important about following Jesus Christ, about living in the Spirit. Help campers each to think about what they would want to tell someone they love, who lives far away, about what is important to them about living in the Spirit. Ask: “What words would you like to send to those you love who are far away? What thoughts and feelings would you want those you love the most to remember from you?” Have campers spread out to work silently on their letters for a few minutes. Come back together and invite campers to share their work with the group. Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c , L o g i c a l / M a t h e m a t i c a l Supplies: P a p e r a n d p e n s / p e n c i l s

Nature Treasure Hunt The Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:14 to “Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.” One of the most precious treasures that God has given humanity is the natural world. In this activity, campers will be hands-on with nature, exploring its wonderful treasures. Give small groups a list such as these suggestions, which come from natureconservancy.com: • Find something round. • Jump like a frog, growl like a bear, and flap your wings like a bird. • Find something really smooth. • Discover evidence that an animal has been here. • Find something that smells good—or bad! • Listen for a bird. What else can you hear? • Find a place where an animal would be happy. • Count how many different colors you see. • Find something that moves. • Dig into the ground with your hands or flip over a rock or log. What can you find? Remind campers that all of these things are treasures that God would have us protect. Talk about ways each of us can protect God’s world. Think of ways your camp protects God’s world. Leader Note: Remind campers to put natural things back where they find them. That is one way to care for the treasure of the natural world, which God has given us. Multiple Intelligences: N a t u r a l i s t , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: A c o p y o f t h e li s t f o r e a c h s m a l l g r o u p , n a t u r e t r a i l i f a v a i l a b l e

Bible Stories of Courage Leader Note: In advance, select the stories for your groups and make sure staff are familiar with the scriptures so they can retell the stories if need be to make the most of the time available. Divide into groups of two to three. Give each group a biblical story that focuses on believers who showed courage (such as Miriam, Moses, Rahab, Joshua, David, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ruth, Mary, Stephen, Paul, the unclean woman who touched Jesus’ cloak). Before campers begin working with the stories, reread 2 Timothy 1:6-7, 13-14. Ask volunteers to put into their own words what they think Paul’s message is to Timothy, the early church, and to them. Next, have each group look up their passage. If it is relatively short, have one person read the passage to the group. If it is longer, have a staff person retell the story (with some dramatic flair), perhaps with campers reading portions of the scripture. As they listen to the story, campers should be considering how the characters acted with courage or bravery, how they made a difference, and what helped them act with love even when they were fearful. Invite campers to think about what their characters might have been feeling and thinking, as well as doing. Each group should create a diary entry from the perspective of their assigned characters. It should include what they experienced and what they thought and felt about it. After 15–20 minutes, gather together and ask volunteers to read or summarize their biblical story and then share the diary entry their group composed. Another variation could be creating skits of the biblical stories, including one camper as the narrator, who could relay the main character’s thoughts, prayers, or reflections during the skit. Multiple Intelligences: L o g i c a l / M a t h e m a t i c a l Supplies: B i b l e s , ( o p t i o n a l : p r o p s ) , p a p e r a n d p e n c i l s (The idea for this activity also comes from Making Worship Real, by Aimee Wallis Buchanan, Bill Buchanan, and Jodi B. Martin.) Funeral for Fear Writer Note: This activity is loosely based on an activity from the original Chicken Soup for the Soul book called “Rest in Peace: The ‘I Can’t’ Funeral,” written by teacher Chick Moorman. It is a great and memorable activity for the campers and one I use the first week of school every year. My former students in their mid-20s still talk about it. Hand out paper to the campers and tell them to write down all the things they “can’t” do because they are afraid. They can list school or friend or family struggles, but also encourage them to think about barriers they feel in their faith journeys too. The leader should sit down and also write during this time (five to eight minutes). Suggest that campers fold their “I Can’t” papers in half. Then collect them in a large zip-sealed bag. Next, bring a large pot to the center of the circle, along with a bag of soil and a small shovel. Explain that you will be having a funeral for all the things that they fear, challenges to which they often respond “I can’t.” Place the sealed bag of fears in the bottom of the pot. One-by-one volunteers will have the chance to be brave and share one of their fears with the group, after which they can place a scoop of dirt in the pot. Do this until everyone who is willing has spoken. Planting seeds or an actual blooming flower in the pot can be meaningful at the end. During the funeral ceremony itself, say: Please join hands and bow your heads. Friends, we gather today to honor the memory of “I Can’t.” While he was with us on Earth, he touched the lives of everyone, some more than others. His name, unfortunately, has been spoken in every public building from schools to homes, churches to city halls, state capitals and, yes, even by us. We have provided “I Can’t” a final resting place. He is survived by his brothers and sister, “I Can,” “I Will,” and, “I’m Going to Do It Right Away.” They are not as well-known as their famous relative and are certainly not as strong and powerful yet. Perhaps someday, with your help, they will make an even bigger mark on the world. May “I Can’t” rest in peace and may everyone present move forward with a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline in his absence, living into the gifts God has given us. May we, with the power of the Holy Spirit, be courageous, standing up for God and working to make a difference. Amen. Leader Notes: Ahead of time, draw a tombstone with the date when the “I Can’ts” are buried. Be sure to leave the pot and tombstone in a public place to remind campers of their pledge and charge. You can even have a “wake” after the service to celebrate the new life and commitment, sharing the day’s snack together. Consider taking a picture of the burial scene later, after seeds have sprouted or the plant has grown, and sending a copy to your campers as a reminder. Multiple Intelligences: I n t r a p e r s o n a l , S p a t i a l Supplies: P a p e r a n d p e n c i l f o r e a c h c a m p e r , l a r g e z i p p e r - s e a l e d b a g , p o t , s o i l , s h o v e l , t o m b s t o n e , s c r i p t f o r f u n e r a l , ( o p t i o n a l : s e e d s o r a p l a n t , s n a c k f o r t h e “ w a k e ” )

Flying Carpet Leader Note: This group initiative activity is a great one for demonstrating the importance of facing fears, building trust, and relying on the “laying on of hands” in verse 6. People don’t “lay hands” on themselves, rather the community commissions and supports one another as they step out in faith. First, one person will lie on the ground stiffly, eyes closed and arms across his or her chest. The rest of the campers will each get down on one knee around the volunteer, with one at the feet, one at the head, and at least three or four people on each side. Putting their hands under the lying camper, the group will say check-in phrases (for example, “Lifters ready?” “Ready!”) before beginning and before each count. The group counts, “one, two, three, UP!” and lifts the volunteer to their knee height. They repeat the count and, standing, lift to their waist, then to the shoulder height, and, if the camper is willing, overhead. The group then counts again and returns the person slowly and safely to the ground in the reverse order. Be sure to debrief the experience: • For the volunteer who was the flying carpet: “How did you show courage? What were you afraid of? How did your team members help you face your fears?” • For the lifters: “How did you offer courage and love? How did you encourage the friend being lifted? Were you nervous about doing your part? Why or why not?” • For everyone: “What are you afraid of when it comes to sharing your faith and making a difference? When is it hard to do what God calls us to do? Who do you rely on to lift you up in prayer? Who is the source of the power you have inside to be brave?” Similar to the call and response check-in phrases prior to the initiative, you can conclude the time with a simple, similar phrase found in Isaiah 6:8: Leader: God calls us to be courageous. Campers: Here am I! Send me! Leader: The Holy Spirit sends us out into the world to continue the work we started here. Campers: Here am I! Send me!” Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: N o n e

Chalk It Up! For this simple activity, divide into groups of two or three, and give each group a copy of 2 Timothy 1:7 and a few pieces of sidewalk chalk. Campers are to find a spot around camp that is prominent and write the scripture boldly to be seen by others. One example is on the risers (not the treads) of a set of steps so that people walking up will see the words. They could also use a dry erase marker to write the scripture on mirrors, window markers to place it on windows, or make posters of paper (or sticky notes). (Leader Note: Be sure to know your camp’s rules about posting items, such as putting posters up with painter’s tape; make those guidelines clear to campers.) Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: S i d e w a l k c h a l k , p a p e r o r s t i c k y n o t e s , m a r k e r s , d r y e r a s e m a r k e r s , w i n d o w m a r k e r s , p a i n t e r ’ s t a p e , c o p i e s o f 2 T i m o t h y 1 : 7 p r i n t e d o u t

Courage Crossing Leader Notes: This game requires group planning and some trial and error. In advance, using paper plates (or other markers campers can stand on), create an hourglass pattern with two triangles of plates touching at the point. Triangles should be 5 plates across at the base, with one fewer plate in each row (row two is 4 plates, row three is 3 plates…). There will be 15 plates in each triangle. The goal is to get all campers across from one side of the hourglass pattern to the other. Only one camper at a time may stand on a plate. Campers must move from plate to plate without jumping or leaping, and they cannot skip a row. Once a plate has been stepped on it, it will disappear unless another camper is on it. Leaders need to watch closely and remove plates once they have been stepped on and left unoccupied. For an additional challenge for a small group (large groups will simply lose too many plates the first time through), have the team go across again with the gaps left from first crossing. Debrief: • What was challenging about this game? • How does this exercise demonstrate the need for community and working together? • How could this experience represent going out into life with the Holy Spirit? (We don’t go alone; we can help and support each other.) • Did it take courage to step up and be the leader for the group? Did it take courage to listen to other leaders and trust their plan? • How do you find the courage to step out and trust God in your life when the rest of the world wants us all to conform and not make waves? Multiple Intelligences: L o g i c a l / M a t h e m a t i c a l , S p a t i a l , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: 3 0 p a p e r p l a t e s , o p e n s p a c e t o p l a y

Salt Painting Give each camper a piece of black construction paper. Using white school glue, ask campers to write a word or phrase on their paper that will remind them to be courageous (Take heart, God is with you, Be brave, You were made to be courageous…). One at a time, help each cover the glue generously with salt, using a box lid or tray to catch the overflow of salt so it can be reused for the next picture. Then campers are to touch the end of a paintbrush dipped in colored water to the salt and watch it spread across the crystals. Campers can continue adding drops of colored water until all the salt is colored. Invite volunteers to talk about their creations, especially how they relate to today’s scripture and being courageous through the Holy Spirit. Display the artwork. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: B l a c k c o n s t r u c t i o n p a p e r , g l u e i n b o t t l e s , s a l t , b o x l i d o r t r a y , f o o d - c o l o r i n g w a t e r , s m a l l p a i n t b r u s h e s

Courage Machines If you have enough people, divide into groups of four to six. (Otherwise, you can simply make one machine.) Instruct each group to come up with a moving machine that helps give people courage. They must include all members of their small group. Encourage campers to be creative with movement, sounds, and any other props they choose. Once every group has finished planning and rehearsing, have each demonstrate how their machine works. Then debrief: • If there were a machine that gave courage, what would you use it for? • Who do you think needs a courage machine? • Who do you suspect had a courage machine? • How is the Holy Spirit like a courage machine? Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , S p a t i a l Supplies: N o n e ( c a m p e r s c a n m a k e u s e o f t h i n g s a r o u n d t h e m f o r p r o p s )

Comfort Zones Arrange 12 smaller circles of rope into a larger circle, as if they were the numbers on a clock. Each rope circle should be large enough for about half the group to stand in. Invite campers to group themselves by birthday month, with the circle at the “12 o’clock” position representing January and going around clockwise. Tell campers these circles are their “comfort zones.” Once campers are arranged, have them tell any others in that circle something that makes them feel comfortable. Give groups time to share. Next, the leader says: “If you are afraid of spiders, you must leave your comfort zone and move three circles forward clockwise.” Campers who are afraid of spiders should move. Have new groups share something else that makes them feel comfortable. Play continues, with the leader calling new fears and number of circles to move each time. Sample fear suggestions: the dark, public speaking, math tests, one of your teachers, the ropes course, swimming in the lake, eating camp food, clowns, roller coasters, being around a certain person… Then debrief the experience: • Why do we like our comfort zones? • How do you think a comfort zone can be like a rut? • Why does it take courage to leave your comfort zone? • Why do you think we all have fears? • What scared you about coming to camp this week? • If you were afraid to come to camp, what has changed for you? • What scares you about living a “fruit-filled,” “powered-up” life with the Holy Spirit? • How can we help one another to live the lives we have been learning about all week at camp? Ask campers to complete these sentences: • If I had more courage, I’d like to… • One person who I think has a great deal of courage is… • One of the bravest things I’ve ever done is… • If I had more courage, in my relationship with a friend I would… Multiple Intelligences: I n t r a p e r s o n a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: R o p e s o r a n o t h e r w a y t o c r e a t e c i r c l e s f o r g r o u p t o s t a n d i n

Spirit Portraits With this craft, campers have the opportunity to paint a portrait of the Holy Spirit, based upon what they have learned throughout the week. Give each camper a canvas or piece of paper, and fill a table or central space with a variety of art supplies. Invite campers to recall briefly for the group things they have learned about the Holy Spirit during the past few days. When they have finished remembering these things together, encourage them to use what they have learned as inspiration as they each create a portrait of the Holy Spirit. When campers are finished with their portraits, gather in a circle and invite them to show their creations and explain why they chose to depict the Holy Spirit in the ways they did. Ask: How does what you have shown today compare with what you did on Day 1 (in “Spirit Sketch”)? How has your understanding of and relationship with the Holy Spirit grown this week? Multiple Intelligences: I n t r a p e r s o n a l , S p a t i a l Supplies: E n o u g h p a p e r o r c a n v a s e s f o r e a c h c a m p e r , a v a r i e t y o f a r t s u p p l i e s ( p a i n t s , p a i n t b r u s h e s , c h a l k , p e n s , m a r k e r s , c o l o r e d p e n c i l s ) , c l e a n - u p s u p p l i e s

Courage Songs This fun song activity will help campers think of songs they know that inspire them to be courageous. Divide into at least three “bands.” Explain that this game is actually a contest. You will turn to one band after another, asking each to sing part of a song that is about courage or bravery or inspires them to be brave. (Secular songs count as well as church songs, and newly created songs are fine too.) The band may need to explain a song’s connection, but if a band gets stuck and cannot sing a song that fits the theme, it’s “out.” The “last band standing” is the winner. Play a couple of rounds. Multiple Intelligences: M u s i c a l , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: N o n e

Acting Courageously This role-playing activity helps campers practice small acts of courage and identify opportunities for courageous action that take place in their daily lives. Explain to campers that while movies, books, and television depict bravery as only taking place during momentous events, we all have opportunities to act with courage in our everyday lives. It is easier to see those moments and follow through courageously if we take time now to think about the possibilities and practice ways to act with a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. Present several scenarios that require everyday courage. Have campers take turns acting them out. Give each pair or group of actors an opportunity to act out their scenario on their own. After they have done so, invite the other youth to share alternative solutions that are also courageous. Encourage discussion and exploration of options. Scenarios might include the following, but invite group members to come up with additional or alternative scenarios, as well: • One day the crowd starts making fun of your friend or a person at school you don’t know. • Your friends start excluding someone from your group. • While in a store, you notice your friend shoplifting. When you are done role playing, reflect on this experience. Ask: • What did it feel like to “practice” courage? • How can this kind of practicing help you when you need to or want to act courageously? • How is the real thing different from this kind of practice? • How often do you have the opportunity to act courageously? • When you choose not to act with courage, what contributes to that decision? • How does having a relationship with the Holy Spirit help? Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: N o n e

Hover Craft What to do: 1. Cover the center hole of a CD with tape and poke about six holes in the tape with a pushpin. This step will slow down the flow of air and allow the hovercraft to hover longer. 2. Use the hot glue gun to glue the cap to the center of the CD or DVD disc. Create a good seal to keep air from escaping. (Leader Note: Consider doing this part ahead of time, or have a counselor do it.) 3. Blow up the balloon all the way and pinch the neck of it to hold in the air. Don’t tie it. 4. Make sure the pull top on the cap is closed and fit the neck of the balloon over the pop-up portion of the cap. This step is easier with two people helping each other. 5. When ready, simply put the craft on a smooth surface and pull the balloon-covered top open. Connection to theme: The power of the air from the balloon lifts the disk so it can float. Ask: “How can the power of the Holy Spirit lift us up so we can be different?” To make this activity an experiment, ask campers to try different things in order to answer these questions: • Does the size of the balloon affect the CD’s ability to hover? • Does a different surface work better for hovering? (wooden table, plastic table, the dirt…) • Do larger or smaller discs make better hovercrafts? Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: F o r e a c h c a m p e r — a n o l d C D o r D V D d i s c , t a p e ( e i t h e r s c o t c h o r m a s k i n g ) , p u s h p i n , n i n e - i n c h b a l l o o n , a n d a “ p u l l t o o p e n ” t y p e c a p f r o m a li q u i d s o a p b o t t l e o r w a t e r b o t t l e ; h o t g l u e a n d g l u e g u n

Camp Prayer Walk Plan a route around camp that will take campers to places of significance to their week. Explain to the group that this experience is a spiritual discipline that they can practice in their own areas where they find meaning or need. As you travel, alternate between singing a meditative song and observing silence—both of which are also spiritual practices. At the stopping place invite campers to talk about what they learned or experienced at that place that had meaning for them. Then offer a prayer before moving on to the next location. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , I n t r a p e r s o n a l , M u s i c a l Supplies: P l a n n e d r o u t e

Skit: “The Holy Spirit Gives Us What We Need” Campers stand on stage in a line; each states a concern (examples below). After each speaks, the “Holy Spirit” character brings that person what he or she needs to make a difference. Here are some examples; feel free to come up with other ideas: Character 1: “I know kids who feel lonely and left out.” The Holy Spirit character brings a sign that says: “Courage to be a friend to the friendless.” Character 2: “I know kids who are struggling with difficult life choices.” The Holy Spirit character brings a sign that says: “Courage to be a listening ear.” Character 3: “I know kids who are hungry.” The Holy Spirit character brings a sign that says: “Courage to organize a food drive.” Character 4: “I know there are those who don’t know God’s love.” The Holy Spirit character brings a sign that says: “Courage to share my faith.” Day Camp Adaptation: Use what is written as a starter, and ask campers to come up with other situations that fit the “I know...” and “Courage to...” pattern. Multiple Intelligences: L o g i c a l / M a t h e m a t i c a l Supplies: C o p y o f t h e s k i t o u t l i n e f o r t h e s k i t t e a m

Song Fest These song suggestions are specifically for a particular day. However, feel free to draw from previous lists to select ones that fit your campers. Consider making Song Fest one of your activities over several days. During that time teach the songs, add motions, do interpretive dance, or just dance! Prepare for worship. Enjoy! Recommended Theme Song: “Lean on Me,” by Bill Withers, can be a reminder to campers that when they are not strong, the Holy Spirit is there for them to lean on. It can also be a call for how they are to live in community (leaning on one another) and as individuals who have been powered up through the Spirit with courage to help others. Intergenerational “I Sing the Mighty Power of God,” Hymn “We Covenant with Hand and Heart,” Hymn “Great Is the Lord,” Michael W. Smith “He Has Made Me Glad,” Leona Von Brethorst “Lean on Me” (chorus especially), Bill Withers Younger Children “Lean on Me” (chorus especially), Bill Withers “He Has Made Me Glad,” Leona Von Brethorst “Shine, Jesus, Shine,” Graham Kendrick “I Love You, Lord,” Laurie Klein “Father, I Adore You,” Terrye Coelho “Pass It On,” Kurt Kaiser Older Children “They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love,” Hymn, Peter Scholtes “I’m Gonna Sing When the Spirit Says Sing,” Traditional African “Every Time I Feel the Spirit,” African American Spiritual “Breathe on Me, Breath of God,” Edwin Hatch “Come, Holy Spirit,” Jonny Baker and Jon Birch “Spirit, Draw Near,” Adrian Riley “Shelter,” Bill Bastone and Andy Crouch “What Does the Lord Require of You?” Jim Strathdee “Lean on Me” (chorus especially), Bill Withers Younger Youth “Beloved (1 John 4:7-8),” Dennis Ryder “He Calls Us Each by Name,” Ron Griffen “Courageous,” Casting Crowns “Brave,” Sara Bareilles “Bind Us Together,” Bob Gilliam “Blest Be the Tie That Binds,” Hymn, John Fawcett “That’s How You Change the World,” Newsboys “Lean on Me” (chorus especially), Bill Withers Older Youth “I Can See Clearly Now,” Johnny Nash “You Raise Me Up,” Westlife “Courageous,” Mark Hall and Matthew West “Brave,” Nichole Nordeman “My Life Is in You, Lord,” Daniel Gardner “More Love, More Power,” Jude Del Hierro “You Are My All in All,” Dennis Jernigan “He Has Made Me Glad,” Traditional “Lean on Me” (chorus especially), Bill Withers Multiple Intelligences: M u s i c a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: S o n g l e a d e r , w o r d s , s o u r c e o f m u s i c

Rest and Read Here are storybooks to read aloud for quiet time, perhaps after lunch. Giraffes Can’t Dance, by Giles Andreae Miss Tizzy, by Libba Moore Gray Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Seuss How Full Is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: S e l e c t e d b o o k

Journal Have campers use half sheets of paper, fold them over onto themselves, and staple the middle to create books (or simply provide composition books). Have each camper decorate the outside of his or her journal with the words “Grateful Journal.” Here are suggested topics for each day’s writing (or drawing) time: • What are some thi ngs you are grateful for in your life? At camp? • What are you learning about the Holy Spirit this week? What have you learned about being courageous? • What is an area in your day-to-day life in which you experience fear or uncertainty? Where do you want the Holy Spirit to give you courage? • How does reading the Bible, participating in worship or Sunday school or youth group, and doing acts of service help you increase your spirit of love, power, and self-discipline? • Where is God calling you to show courage? Multiple Intelligences: I n t r a p e r s o n a l Supplies: P a p e r , s t a p l e r , w r i t i n g i n s t r u m e n t s , m a r k e r s f o r d e c o r a t i n g Letter Home On the last day, provide campers with stationery and envelopes. Have them put their name and address on their envelopes. If they don’t know their address, as long as you have their name, you can get the address. You will collect the letters sealed in their envelopes and then mail them to the campers at Thanksgiving time (or another time you designate). Challenge the campers to write a letter to themselves, dealing with any or all of these questions: • How will you be different because of what you learned during your week at camp? What will others notice is different about you? • How will knowing the Holy Spirit better help you make a difference in the world around you? What things are you committing to doing because of Jesus? Multiple Intelligences: I n t r a p e r s o n a l Supplies: S t a t i o n e r y , e n v e l o p e s , p e n s Devotions Don’t Worry Stones Read or line out Psalm 139:7. Say: “The power of the Spirit gives us courage to not fear, to not go away from or flee from God’s presence and the Spirit.” Focus on the symbol of the day. Ask: “What do the strong arms linked mean to you now?” Have campers make “Don’t Worry Stones”: 1. Pull off a marble-size amount of two or three colors of clay. 2. Push the clay together to form a ball. 3. Roll and twist the clay in your hand to make a “snake.” 4. Take your “snake” and smoosh it together or coil it up into a “plate.” 5. Roll it into a ball. 6. With the ball in one hand, press your thumb into the ball until you have an indentation that you can rub your thumb in. Say: “After tonight, our Don’t Worry Stones will dry hard in their shape, but they will still work for us tonight. With your stone in your hand, in the silence, think about all the things you worried about today. In our prayer time give those worries to God by rubbing your stone gently and saying silently or out loud each of your worries.” Close the prayer time by saying, “Timothy experienced the spirit of power, love, and self-discipline with the help of the Holy Spirit— we can too. Our Don’t Worry Stones remind us to let our worries go, to give them to God. Thank you, God, for carrying our worries for us and setting us free for a new day. Amen!” Day Camp Adaptation: Sing the theme song, “Lean on Me,” reminding campers that the Holy Spirit is always there for us to lean on. Show the symbol for the week and point out the fact that both the song and the symbol can refer to either or both our Christian community of friends and the Holy Spirit. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , I n t r a p e r s o n a l Supplies: B i b l e , s y m b o l f o r t h e w e e k , a i r - d r y c l a y i n a t l e a s t t h r e e d i f f e r e n t c o l o r s ( e n o u g h t o m a k e a l a r g e m a r b l e - s i z e d b a l l f o r e a c h c a m p e r )

Trying Something New Either read Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Seuss, or refer to the story. Have campers identify all the new things they have already tried at camp. Remind them that even something as “small” as trying something for the first time takes courage. Refer to Paul’s encouragement to Timothy and point out that the Holy Spirit is always with them when they face new things—both “small” and even huge. Close with prayer of thanks for the presence of the Holy Spirit, helping campers be courageous. Multiple Intelligences: L o g i c a l / M a t h e m a t i c a l , L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: S t o r y b o o k ( o p t i o n a l )

Linked Sing some songs. Ask campers to pair up with one camper sitting and the other standing. Have them clasp hands and try to pull the other person up. Some will be able to do it and some will not. Now have the pairs try again—this time linking arms as shown in the symbol for the week. Everyone should be able to succeed easily. Point out that choosing to be linked to the Holy Spirit gives us the power, as well as the courage, to do what we are called to do to make a difference in the world. Give each camper the bookmark for “Power Up with Courage.” Close with prayer and the theme song. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , S p a t i a l Supplies: B o o k m a r k f r o m E x t r a R e s o u r c e s Lighting Up the World

Preparation: Either prepare ahead or invite campers to paint words of courage on large cardboard boxes. Display them all around your space. (Suggestions include: stand fast, stand up, speak up, brave, spunk, resolution, guts, heart, boldness, fearless, backbone, fortitude, etc.) Opening Prayer: “Lord, as we begin to think about what comes after camp, help us to find the courage to take what we have learned and make a difference in our world. We know the world can sometimes be a dark place; help us to be the light that makes a difference wherever we go. Amen.” Message: Take this opportunity to invite campers to commit to or deepen their commitment to following Jesus, knowing that the Holy Spirit will be with them in their journey as Christians. Camper Response: Have campers write down where they see needs in their world and how they can do something to make it better. Remind campers these can be big plans or just small and simple things. Collect papers in an offering basket and bring them to the altar. Have a leader say a prayer over them and ask God to give the campers the courage to follow through. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , I n t r a p e r s o n a l Supplies: L a r g e b o x e s ( o r s h e e t s o f p a p e r ) , p a i n t i n g s u p p l i e s ( o r m a r k e r s a n d t a p e ) , p a p e r a n d p e n s o r p e n c i l s f o r e a c h c a m p e r , o f f e r i n g b a s k e t

Fanning the Flame Instruct campers to take turns standing in the center of the cluster while the others each put a hand on the center camper and pray out loud or silently that the Spirit will be “fanned into flame” in that person’s life. Close by having everyone stand shoulder to shoulder in a big circle and literally lay hands on one another (across shoulders) while the leader gives a blessing to the whole group. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: N o n e DAY CAMP: Week 6 Power Up for Peace Wherever You Go Plan Your Week

Use the grid below as an example to help you create a visual plan for your week. (You will want to list your own schedule and write in your choices.) Select activities from the various listings below; feel free to add others of your own creation, as well. Camp Schedule Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Getting to Know You• P a s s t h e P i e c e • P e a c e M o v e s O R • P e a c e T r a i n Energizers • P r a i s e T a g • P o w e r P u l s e • P o w e r f u l B r e a t h • F e e l i n g s o n M y S l e e v e Bible Time • P e a c e B e W i t h • S t o r y P u p p e t s • B r e a t h o f t h e S p i r i t • H i d i n g O u t • W h o m S h o u l d W e Y o u F o r g i v e ? Morning Activity • S y m b o l s • F r e a k , F i g h t , o r • P e a c e O u t o f • N a t u r e P e a c e • B u l l y G o n e Options F l i g h t C h a o s S i g n s • R a i n b o w P e a c e • S p i r i t o f P e a c e S i g n • P e a c e T a l k s • S o n g F e s t a n d • P e a c e A c t i v a t o r s W i n d C h i m e s P e a c e J a m • S o n g F e s t • P e a c e P l e d g e • S o n g F e s t

Quiet Time • H i g h s - L o w s • H i g h s - L o w s • H i g h s - L o w s • H i g h s - L o w s • H i g h s - L o w s • R e s t & R e a d • J o u r n a l • R e s t & R e a d • J o u r n a l • J o u r n a l

Afternoon Activity • P e a c e Z o n e • P e a c e P o l e • A B C s o f • C o n f l i c t S t o r m • H e a r i n g G o d Options B a n n e r R e s o l v i n g C o n f l i c t s • A L i t t l e P i e c e o f • S k i t s a n d / o r • T h e S e n d i n g • T h e C l o s e r Y o u G o d ’ s C r e a t i o n • G o - i n - P e a c e R o l e p l a y s • Y o u D o n ’ t G o L o o k S u n c a t c h e r s • S o n g F e s t • G o - i n - P e a c e A l o n e • P e a c e - S i g n S n a c k S n a c k Devotions • P a s s t h e P e a c e • P e a c e • Y o u A r e F o r g i v e n • P e a c e M a k e r s • P a s s I t O n R e m i n d e r s

Week 6 Overview

Scripture: John 20:19-23 Focus: Receiving the Holy Spirit overcomes fears and empowers us for living the way of peace and forgiveness. Connection with Campers: Campers will recognize that Jesus is commissioning them to continue his work of bringing peace through grace and forgiveness. They will also understand that they are not alone in that task—the power of the Holy Spirit will empower them to take peace wherever they go! Leader Notes: Read through the “Biblical and Theological Overview” for Day 7. Be inspired by these words as you enable campers to experience living them out this week: “Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.”—Anonymous Symbol for the Week: Go-in-Peace Sign As Jesus commissioned the disciples, so he commissions the campers, calling them to continue his ministry of grace and forgiveness and equipping them with his peace and the Holy Spirit. They are not alone, and their reminder is just two fingers away! Additionally, some activities refer to the Peace Sign as a symbol. Most of these activities come from specific age levels in the residential camp daily plans. However, they can readily be adjusted for younger or older or mixed-age groups in day camp. Feel free to adapt them to fit your camp and campers. Getting-to-Know-You Games Peace Moves Have the group get in a circle. The one who starts will say, “Hi! My name is _____ (Jill), and here’s my peace move.” The person will then illustrate a “move” (choosing perhaps to cup her fingers into a heart over her heart, or blow a kiss, do some funky dance step, and so forth). The group will respond by calling the person’s name back three times “Jill, Jill, Jill—she’s got peace moves” while they do the move three times. Then the next person has a turn. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: N o n e Peace Train One person is the locomotive and does his or her best imitation of an engine (chugging, piston-turning arms, steam whistle, and so on) around the group in a circle. The engine stops in front of someone and introduces himself or herself and invites that person to join the peace train. That person must respond with his or her name and attach to the locomotive, which chugs off again, this time repeating the name of the new person in chugging-style (“Mary! Mary! Mary! Mary!...) until the train stops at a new person and the pattern repeats. Vary the game by having the engine become the caboose and the next person in the peace train be the engine. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: N o n e Pass the Piece Give a wrapped piece of candy or a piece of paper (a word play on “peace”) to a camper, who then says his or her name and finishing the sentence: I feel at peace when I get to . . . (sing, read, be quiet, dance...). When done, he or she should pass the “piece” to the next camper. Go around the circle until each person has had a turn. Multiple Intelligences: L o g i c a l / M a t h e m a t i c a l Supplies: P i e c e o f c a n d y o r p a p e r

Energizers Praise Tag In this variation of freeze tag, choose one camper to be “it” while the rest get chased and tagged. Persons who get tagged must immediately sit down. They can only be allowed back in the game if the following happens: another player touches them and the person seated “praises” or give a compliment to the person helping him or her back in the game. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: N o n e

Power Pulse Have the group sit in a circle and hold hands. Tell them that one person will send a pulse through the group by squeezing the hand of the person next to him or her. When they receive the squeeze, they send it on by squeezing the hand of the next person. Ask campers to close their eyes. Tap someone on the shoulder to start the pulse. After the first round, ask the group how it felt to wait for something knowing it was coming? Were they excited? Anxious? Calm? Play again with a new leader. Mix it up—send the power in two directions. Ask afterwards, what was different this time? Point out that Jesus gave the disciples power to do his work. It’s something we can count on. We may not always be able to see it— just like we couldn’t see the pulse going around the circle—but we can know it, believe in it, and trust we have it because the Holy Spirit is with us. Play as many times as desired—eyes open or closed. If open, send someone out of the room or out of sight and hearing, designate a pulse power leader, have the volunteer return and step into the middle of the circle and look around to try to catch where the pulse is. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: N o n e

Powerful Breath Play the Blow-the-Cup Relay game. Divide into three teams. Each team should line up behind the short side of a long table. Team members take a turn blowing a paper cup down and back the length of the table with a straw. If the cup falls off the long edge of the table, the team member must start over. The first team to have all members successfully blow its cup down and back wins the relay. Then ask: • In what ways is wind good? In what ways can it be destructive? • How do images of wind and breath relate to the Holy Spirit? • How do you think the Holy Spirit works in us to make things different? • What will you do with the breath of God that is in you? How will you make things different? Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: C u p s f o r e a c h t e a m , s t r a w s f o r e a c h c a m p e r , r e c t a n g u l a r t a b l e s o f t h e s a m e l e n g t h f o r e a c h t e a m

Feelings On My Sleeve Label cards with one feeling per card and tape to the backs of campers: (angry, rude, sad, disappointed, happy, smiley, sleepy, scary, mean...). Tell campers: “Pretend you’re at free time at camp. Mingle around, interact like normal, except treat the people according to the label taped to their backs without telling them who/what they are.” Watch and note the interactions. Circle up after five or so minutes and ask campers to guess what their label was. Debrief: • How did it feel to be treated the way you were? • Did any of you wish you didn’t have the particular label you had? • What do you think this activity is about? • How would it be if people weren’t treated by a label but were treated kindly? With forgiveness? How would that feel? • What, if anything, can we take away from this activity to apply towards others? Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: C a r d s o r p a p e r s e a c h w i t h a d i f f e r e n t f e e l i n g , t a p e

Bible Time: John 20:19-23 Peace Be with You Before reading the Bible story for today, invite campers to imagine they are all disciples hiding out, huddled in fear, locked in a room, thinking that they might be next to be captured and put on trial, just like their leader and teacher, Jesus. Now read the scripture as campers imagine themselves in that place, encountering these events. Read John 20:19-23. Ask: • When Jesus first says “Peace be with you,” how do you think the disciples felt? (maybe more at peace or just in shock or surprise at seeing Jesus’ again and wondering how he got inside a locked room) • After Jesus shows the wounds in his hands and side, why do the disciples rejoice? (Seeing them proved that he was really Jesus risen from the dead.) • Once Jesus says, “Peace be with you,” a second time, how do you think the disciples felt? (Perhaps they hear it differently now, since they’re not so afraid, and are able to accept the peace.) • Jesus breathes on them and tells them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” How did that change things for the disciples? (The Holy Spirit will help them, empowering them to be at peace and to forgive the sins of anyone and everyone.) Say: “The Holy Spirit gives each of us the power to live in peace in our families, with our friends, in our communities, and in the world. The Holy Spirit empowers us to carry on Jesus’ work.” Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: B i b l e

Story Puppets Begin by creating a set of hand puppets for each camper. Each camper needs a glove with five puppet faces glued to the five fingers. Add tiny eyes, draw a mouth and nose and add fabric scraps to “dress” their puppets. Their puppets will be Jesus and then four disciples, so they do not need to represent a specific person, just a general person from Bible times. Invite small groups of three or four to find the Bible story in John 20:19-23, and while they read it out loud, have them use the hand puppet to tell the story. Then ask: • Did any part of the story jump out to you in this telling? Remind the group that the Holy Spirit is always within us, giving us the power to follow all of Jesus’ teachings. Power Up! Leader Note: Encourage campers to take the puppets home and use them to tell the Bible stories from camp to their family. Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c , S p a t i a l Supplies: P u p p e t s — o n e g l o v e ( k n i t t e d , w o r k , o r d i s h w a s h i n g ) p e r p e r s o n , f i v e s m a l l ( o n e - i n c h ) w o o d e n d i s k s p e r p e r s o n f o r f a c e s , f a b r i c s c r a p s , f a b r i c g l u e o r h o t g l u e g u n ( a d u l t u s e ) , t i n y g o o g l e e y e s , p e r m a n e n t m a r k e r s Breath of the Spirit Read John 20:21-23a. Tell the campers Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit on the disciples, but they can’t see the Spirit—not with their eyes anyway. Ask: • How do we know that the Spirit is there? • What other ways can you think of to know God is always with us besides using our eyes? (sense of peace, being able to forgive others) After the discussion, offer each camper a balloon. Instruct campers to blow air into their balloons until about half full, and then to hold the balloons closed. Don’t have them tie the balloons! Ask campers to gently release some air from the balloons. Ask the following questions: • What happens when the air is let out? Can you see the air? • Remind campers of the five senses. Which senses could experience the air? • How is this like the breath of the Holy Spirit? Point out that some things we just can’t see, but we know they’re there anyway—like the air in the balloon. Conclude the discussion by saying, “God’s Spirit is like the air inside the balloon. It fills us up and, even though we can’t see it, we can know the Advocate is working in our hearts and lives. When we are full of the Spirit, we can be peacemakers in the world.” Day Camp Adaptation: Rather than conclude as suggested, invite campers to form groups of three and practice being peacemakers. Give an instruction such as “Say out loud something you could say to someone who is sad.” After they practice in their group, they are to blow into their own balloon and pinch it shut so no air escapes. Continue with other examples of how to bring grace, peace, and forgiveness, such as what they could say or do in a situation where someone has been treated unjustly. Conclude by noting that just as their breath filled the balloons, their words and actions of love and kindness—even if the results aren’t seen—fill another person’s spirit, just like God’s Spirit. Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l , S p a t i a l Supplies: O n e b a l l o o n f o r e a c h c a m p e r

Hiding Out For today’s scripture lesson, set the scene: Just as Jesus promised the disciples, he has risen. Death couldn’t contain him. In today’s story, the risen Jesus visits his closest friends. It is Sunday evening and the disciples are together behind locked doors. Imagine how afraid they must be. Their leader, their friend, has been publically killed. They are without his presence, care, and guidance. They are afraid the ones who killed Jesus will now come after them. As a group, ask your campers to follow you to a “hide out,” which you have predetermined. Once everyone is settled, invite a volunteer to read today’s passage aloud. Next, have the campers choose parts (narrator, Jesus, the disciples) and have them act out the story as the narrator reads it again. Then ask: • What time of day was it when Jesus appeared to the disciples? • Why do you think Jesus appeared to them in darkness? (Jesus meets the disciples where they are, but doesn’t leave them there. Jesus brings light and power even in the darkest and most difficult places.) • What were the disciples doing? Why? • How did they react when Jesus appeared? (Many doubted it was really him. In fact, Jesus needed to say, “Peace be with you,” two times and show his wounds to prove his identity.) • How did the disciples’ emotions and feelings change? What did Jesus do to bring about that change? • How did the disciples’ lives change that night? (Be sure to focus on the gift that Christ gave to the disciples. He breathed on them and gave them the Holy Spirit. Jesus was sending them out, but he gave them the Spirit to go with them.) • What does Christ tell the disciples to do after he leaves? (Jesus commands them to forgive, to continue the ministry Jesus began.) Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: B i b l e s , p r e d e t e r m i n e d s a f e a n d h i d d e n l o c a t i o n Whom Should We Forgive? This activity will help campers think about how far they are willing to go when it comes to forgiveness. Be prepared for lively discussion, as campers now trust one another more and are likely to disagree on this topic! Read John 20:19-23. Point out that Jesus is commissioning his disciples—and us—to continue his work of grace and forgiveness. On a white board or large sheet of paper, write “Whom should we forgive?” Ask campers to think about the world they live in now, including their schools and the things they see on the news. Invite them to begin listing the people they think need forgiveness. (Leader Note: Stress the importance of respect and disagreeing in loving ways during this exercise!) After campers have finished brainstorming around this question, ask: • Whom do you have a difficult time forgiving? Why? • How does it feel to hear in scripture that those you forgive will be forgiven and those you don’t forgive will not be forgiven? • Why do you think forgiveness is such a difficult thing? • How does giving forgiveness affect the forgiver? • What does the Holy Spirit have to do with forgiveness? Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: B i b l e , w h i t e b o a r d a n d d r y e r a s e m a r k e r s , o r l a r g e s h e e t o f p a p e r a n d m a r k e r s

Morning & Afternoon Activity Options Symbols = The Go-in-Peace Sign and the Peace Sign Introduce the go-in-peace sign. Have everyone greet one another with the two-finger sign, saying, “Peace be with you today.” Also tell the story of the other peace sign with the aid of four “flags” and two campers: This symbol, which in our times has come to represent peace, grew from both despair and hope. Rather than give in to despair, thinking about the possibility of a nuclear war and what that would mean for the world, a British citizen, Gerald Holtom, called attention to the issue by creating the design from the navy’s signal flags for “N” and “D” to stand for “nuclear disarmament.” In the signaling system, the letter “N” is formed by a person holding two flags in an inverted “V,” and the letter “D” is formed by holding one flag pointed straight up and the other pointed straight down. Putting these two signals together within the circle formed the shape of the peace sign. The design caught on. The world changed. Now the peace sign is a reminder wherever there is war or conflict that living together in peace is what is needed and it is possible with the help of the Holy Spirit. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: F o u r “ f l a g s ” ( t r i a n g u l a r p a p e r g l u e d o r s t a p l e d t o d o w e l s ) , r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f b o t h t h e g o - i n - p e a c e s i g n a n d t h e p e a c e s i g n

Peace Zone Banner Invite the campers to decorate—using paint, markers, or crayons—a large banner that reads, “Peace Zone.” Have them include words (shalom, paz de Cristo, and so on) and symbols of peace (the peace sign and the go-in-peace sign, and so on) as part of the decoration. Hang the banner in a prominent place. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: L a r g e s h e e t o r r o l l o f p a p e r w i t h “ P e a c e Z o n e ” w r i t t e n o n i t , m a r k e r s o r c r a y o n s ( o r p a i n t s , b r u s h e s , a n d c l e a n u p s u p p l i e s ) , t a p e o r s t r i n g f o r h a n g i n g t h e b a n n e r

Rainbow Peace Sign Each camper needs a paper plate turned upside down and lying on a flat surface. Have each camper place masking tape on the back of the plate, pressing the tape down well, to form the peace sign (line dividing the plate in half vertically, then the two “legs” making pie shapes on the bottom third). Invite the campers to cover the plates entirely with a rainbow of colors, either using finger paints of several colors or crayon shavings. If using crayon shavings, have a camper spread shavings out on the plate, place a piece of wax paper covering the entire plate, and call a leader when ready. The leader will gently press a warm iron to the wax paper, melting the shavings. The wax paper can then be peeled off and the plate left to cool. (Leader Note: A hot iron can cause serious burns. Be very careful using one around children. Give children the rule that only adults may touch the iron. Have one adult use the iron on one table, while other adults work with the children at another table.) Once the plate is cool or paint or glue is dry, the masking tape can be peeled off to reveal the peace sign. (No color should have made its way beneath the tape.) A hole can be punched in the top of the plate, and yarn added as a hanger. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: P l a i n w h i t e p a p e r p l a t e s ( n o t s t y r o f o a m , p a p e r o n l y ) — o n e p e r c a m p e r , m a s k i n g t a p e ( o n e i n c h w i d e ) , f i n g e r p a i n t s a n d c l e a n - u p s u p p l i e s , y a r n , h o l e p u n c h ( o p t i o n a l : c r a y o n s h a v i n g s — v a r i e t y o f c o l o r s s h a v e d o f f o f c r a y o n s w i t h a p a r i n g o r c r a f t k n i f e a h e a d o f t i m e , w a x p a p e r , i r o n , a n d s o u r c e o f e l e c t r i c a l p o w e r )

Peace Sign Snack If no camper has a food allergy, give campers a pineapple ring with banana slices or strips of fruit leather snacks to make peace-sign lines within the circle. Campers can create their own peace-sign snacks and then enjoy eating them. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: C a n n e d o r s l i c e d p i n e a p p l e i n r i n g s ( o n e o r t w o p e r c a m p e r ) , h a l f o f a b a n a n a s l i c e d i n l o n g n a r r o w p i e c e s o r f r u i t l e a t h e r c u t i n t o s t r i p s , s m a l l p a p e r p l a t e s t o b u i l d s n a c k o n

Peace Talks Form two circles with the inner one facing outward and the outer ring facing inward so that each camper has a partner. If there is an odd number, a counselor should participate. Give a question for the partners to discuss for one minute. Then the inner circle is to stay still, while the outer circle rotates one person to the right, giving everyone a new partner for the next question. Possible Questions: • Pretend an alien is visiting our planet. He asks you how he will know “peace” when he sees it. Describe “peace” to the alien. • When you think of conflict, what words come to mind? • If peace were a color, what color would it be and why? • If conflict were a color, what color would it be and why? • When it comes to conflict, are you more like a turtle (wanting to hide in your shell) or more like a lion (roaring back in the conflict)? Why? • What does peace feel like in your body? Your heart? Your mind? • What does conflict feel like in your body? Your heart? Your mind? • How do you try to create peace? • What kinds of conflict do you see in the world today? What do you think is needed to resolve them? • The world has a group that tries to promote peace. What would you suggest they try in order to bring about peace on earth? Multiple Intelligences: I n t r a p e r s o n a l , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: L i s t o f q u e s t i o n s f o r l e a d e r

Peace Pledge Ask campers to create a pledge—words they can use—to remind them to be peaceful with one another, working out any problems. Use something simple, such as “I pledge to…” Write out the peace pledge on a large sheet of paper and post it. Have the group recite their pledge. Later, if arguments occur, reference the peace pledge; encourage and help campers to resolve any conflict peacefully Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: L a r g e s h e e t o f p a p e r , m a r k e r s Go-in-Peace-Sign Snack Let campers create their snack, and then enjoy eating it. Direct the campers to construct this snack in this way: “Place half of apple with the cut portion face down on a plate. Use one carrot and one celery stick to form the two fingers of the peace sign in a “V” with the apple representing the palm of the hand.” Campers may use peanut butter or cream cheese if you choose to stick the two veggie fingers to the apple, providing a dip for both, but beware of food allergies. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: F o r e a c h c a m p e r — P l a t e , c a r r o t s t i c k , c e l e r y s t i c k , h a l f a n a p p l e , ( o p t i o n a l : c r e a m c h e e s e o r p e a n u t b u t t e r )

The Closer You Look Have each camper, or younger camper paired with an adult, make a charcoal or pencil drawing of a tree from memory, without using a model, and without going outside. It doesn’t need to be perfect. Just have each camper draw what a tree looks like by memory. Then take your group outside and let them explore various trees. Suggest that they… Look to see what colors they can find; See how many different shapes of leaves they can find; Listen to hear what sounds leaves make; Sniff to find out what trees smell like; Look to see if the trees seem to have fruit or flowers (If a tree has buds, what do they look like?); Look to see if any animals (insects, birds, mammals) or plants (lichen, moss) live on the tree; Touch the bark and leaves to see how they feel; Notice if the branches mostly point up, down, or straight out. After campers have thoroughly explored the trees, using several of their senses, return inside and ask each camper, or pair of adult and younger camper, to make a second sketch. This time have them use the colored pencils as they sketch a tree after exploring the real thing outside. Take a moment or two to have campers compare their two sketches and also to look at the pairs of drawings of other campers. Have them look for patterns repeated in both drawings. Ask: “How did your drawings change once you had explored outside? Which of the two represents the better picture of a tree?” Say: “This week we have been discovering many things about the power of the Holy Spirit. Think back to what you thought about the Holy Spirit when we first began our exploration this week.” Ask: “What meaning did the Holy Spirit have for you—do you remember?” Say: “Now that we have used a variety of ways to explore God’s stories about the Holy Spirit, we have a different picture of the power of the Holy Spirit.” Ask: “What does the power of the Holy Spirit look like to you now?” Encourage all the campers to share this new image of the Holy Spirit, transformed by their discoveries this week. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , N a t u r a l i s t Supplies: L a r g e p i e c e s o f d r a w i n g p a p e r ( t w o s h e e t s p e r c a m p e r ) , c h a r c o a l o r b l a c k p e n c i l s , c o l o r e d p e n c i l s

Go-in-Peace Suncatchers Campers will each make a suncatcher to remind them of Jesus’ words to all disciples. Give these instructions: 1. On the outside or good side of the plastic lid write “Peace Be with You” in permanent marker within the circle of the lid. 2. Pour a generous amount of glue into the lid side with the lip and swish it around to cover the entire inner surface. 3. Put one or two drops of each color of food coloring around the glue in the lid. 4. Using a toothpick, swirl the colors around in the glue. Stop swirling before the colors get too combined, or the result will be muddy and brown. 5. Let dry. As the colors settle they will continue to expand and create a dyed, “psychedelic” effect. 6. Once the suncatcher is dry, which may take half a day or more depending on how thick the glue is, peel the glue circle off the lid, and rewrite “Peace Be with You” on the suncatcher on either side. 7. Using a hole punch, make a hole and add a string to hang it in your favorite window at home. Say: “Now you have a reminder of the words Jesus gave to all his disciples—including us—“Peace Be with You”—and the reassurance that the power of the Holy Spirit will always be with us and within us! Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: P l a s t i c li d s ( f o u r - i n c h d i a m e t e r o r l a r g e r ) — o n e p e r c a m p e r , w h i t e g l u e ( c l e a r d r y i n g ) , li q u i d f o o d c o l o r i n g , t o o t h p i c k s , b l a c k p e r m a n e n t m a r k e r , h o l e p u n c h , s t r i n g f o r h a n g e r

Peace Pole Leader Notes: Have you seen peace poles in public parks or at churches? They are part of an international movement called “The Peace Pole Project” to visualize and pray for world peace. Each pole is inscribed with the words “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in multiple languages. They can be found in over a 180 countries around the world. If your camp has a peace pole, take your campers for a walk to see it. Otherwise, browse the Internet for images to print and show to campers. Campers will take a stand for peace by creating painted peace poles and planting them in the ground. Acquire pine stakes from your local lumberyard—one for each camper, if possible. (Or each stake can be shared between two campers. Stand up the stake and invite two campers to work on opposite sides, peacefully, to decorate their peace pole.) Offer a variety of paint supplies and let creativity flow. Direct campers to include today’s symbol, the peace sign, in what they paint. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: P a i n t s , p a i n t b r u s h e s , c l e a n u p s u p p l i e s , 1 i n c h x 2 i n c h e s x 2 f e e t u n t r e a t e d s t a n d a r d p i n e s t a k e s

Spirit of Peace Wind Chimes What is more peaceful than the sound of wind chimes on the breeze? Help campers make their own nature-inspired chimes using a few simple items found outdoors. Have campers gather fallen sticks that are about 6–12 inches long and some of their favorite rocks or shells from around camp. Feel free also to include items that can be recycled, such as jar lids or small cans. Using recyclable materials creates an opportunity to talk about this important way to care for God’s creation. Find a table where campers can assemble their items into wind chimes, using yarn and glue. (Leader Notes: If using small cans, be safety conscious so no one gets cut on a sharp edge. Also, for safety reasons, it would be wise to punch holes in cans or jar lids in advance.) Help campers by providing the following directions: 1. Attach yarn to the center of the stick from which to hang the stick horizontally. 2. Tie several smaller pieces of yarn to the stick that hang from it. 3. Choose the rocks, shells, cans, etc., that will become the chimes. 4. Next, wrap the yarn around these pieces and tie or secure with glue. 5. Allow the glue to dry for a few hours before hanging the chimes. The chimes can accompany campers to evening worship for use during songs. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / k i n e s t h e t i c , N a t u r a l i s t , M u s i c a l Supplies: S t i c k s , r o c k s , s h e l l s , r e c y c l a b l e i t e m s s u c h a s j a r l i d s o r s m a l l c a n s , y a r n ( o r s t r i n g ) , g l u e , t o o l f o r p u n c h i n g h o l e s i n t o c a n s ( i f u s e d )

Conflict Storm Have campers, alone or working in teams, write down on paper one conflict or challenge they face. No names on the paper. When done, have campers wad up the papers. Create a “conflict storm,” where they get to throw paper wads at each other for a moment or they simply throw the paper wads as far as they can. Have campers go grab a paper wad and gather into teams of three or four. Each team will serve as Peaceful Conflict Resolution Consultants. They will— • Read the conflicts they gathered out loud. • Come up with one or two ways that the person could respond to the situation in a loving, peaceful way. • Write those solutions on the paper, ready to report to the whole group a few of the conflicts and the ideas they had for peaceful resolution. Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: P a p e r , p e n s o r p e n c i l s , t r a s h b a g f o r g a t h e r i n g p a p e r t o r e c y c l e

You Don’t Go Alone Leader Notes: For this activity, campers will have a chance to encourage one another. Just as Jesus offered peace to the disciples, campers can do the same thing for one another. Monitor the signing to make sure every camper has things written on his or her page and that all the notes are positive. In advance, create for each camper a sheet of paper with “Peace be with you, [his or her name].” on it. Place the papers around the room and give campers time to move to all the papers and write the other campers messages of encouragement or positive things they saw in their peers this week. After everyone has written on each page, regroup in a “memory circle.” Take a few moments to read a few snippets from each camper’s page, or give campers time to relay memories of one another and the week they shared at camp. Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: P a p e r , p e n c i l , p e n , o r m a r k e r f o r e a c h c a m p e r

Nature Peace Signs Find a secluded spot for your campers to sit quietly. If time allows, hike to a peaceful location where your whole group can sit together, or find a place that overlooks a peaceful spot in your camp (waterfront, worship space, cross…). Ask the group to sit quietly for a few moments and enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, and the feeling this place gives. Then ask: • What are the feelings you get in this place? (how peaceful it is) • Why do you think this place feels like that? • What is different here from home? Remind campers that Jesus most often came to outdoor places to teach, pray, and be in communion with God. Nature helps us to put aside other things and be with God. This is at the very heart of what makes camp so special. In pairs, ask campers to look around for some found objects that they can use to make a peace sign. Remind them not to damage anything living to form their signs. Arrange your peace signs around the space on the ground so that the next group that comes to this space will know your campers were at peace here. Ask for a volunteer to pray for peace in this space, in your camp, and in the world. Multiple Intelligences: N a t u r a l i s t , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: Q u i e t , p e a c e f u l l o c a t i o n

Peace Out of Chaos Gather campers in a large, open area. Tell campers to run around creating “chaos”—making noise, waving hands, and generally acting wild. When a counselor calls out “Jesus gives us peace!” everyone should freeze in place. The last one to freeze is out. Play continues until you have one winner. Dig further: • What did the chaos feel like? • What would it be like to live like that everyday? • What are some the things that cause chaos in our world? • What are some things that cause chaos in your life? • How do you think Jesus can help give you peace in the middle of the chaos? (Remind campers that Jesus does not promise to remove all chaos, but he empowers us through the Holy Spirit to rise above it all and know his peace.) Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: O p e n p l a y a r e a w h e r e y o u c a n b e l o u d

Hearing God Have campers sit in a circle. Tell them when you touch a person’s shoulder, that camper should stand. Invite campers to be as loud as they can while sitting in the circle. One at a time, touch the shoulder of each camper. When the camper stands, each leader should speak an affirmation quietly near the ear of the camper. Be sure to speak at a volume that is loud enough for the standing camper to hear, but not loud enough to get over the noise of the group. Repeat this action for each camper. Afterward, have the campers settle down, and discuss: • Could you hear what we said to you over the noise? • What did it feel like to hear something positive though all the distraction? • How is this like how God speaks to us? (Even with all the noise of the world, if we listen we can hear God sharing God’s love for us.) • How can you better tune in to God’s voice? • How will you find ways to listen better for God when you get home? Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: A p e r s o n a l i z e d a f f i r m a t i o n f o r e a c h c a m p e r

The ABCs of Resolving Conflicts Divide into small groups. Have each group write down seven random letters of the alphabet. Then instruct the groups to think of strategies they can use to power up to deal with conflict. The challenge is that for each letter of the alphabet written, the strategy must start with that letter. For example, for “s” someone might say “stop and say a prayer,” for “t” someone might say “take a walk,” or for “n” someone might say “nap, sleep on it, and then think about what to do.” Ask groups to report one or two of the ideas they came up with. Conclude by noting that each of us has power and resources to help us in conflict. The trick is tapping into it, praying and asking for wisdom instead of just giving in to our feelings in the moment. Multiple Intelligences: L o g i c a l / M a t h e m a t i c a l Supplies: P a p e r , p e n s o r p e n c i l s

A Little Piece of God’s Creation Pair up campers and give each duo four craft sticks and four pieces of 12-inch long string. Show the group how to prepare a “fence” (tie one string to one craft stick at the top; tie a second craft stick to the other end of the string, and continue until all four are tied together so that when the craft sticks are pushed into the ground they draw the strings taut and form a “fence” that defines a one-foot square (approximately). Invite campers to find spots outside to set up their fences. They then have about five minutes to explore their square area and inventory everything within the boundary of the string. Have them estimate how many grasses or plants, insects passing through, pebbles, sticks, leaves, pine needles, or dead materials are in the square. Have them write down or draw the items inside their square on sheets of paper. Encourage campers to look for the variety of items and identify the different items as they are able. Gather the group and have each pair share what they discovered in their sample square. Discuss similarities and differences between what the pairs of campers found. Point out that each sample represents a tiny piece of God’s creation and together, all the samples within a larger area represent the variety of God’s creation, even in a limited space. Share a prayer together that gives praise for God’s amazing and diverse creation. Multiple Intelligences: N a t u r a l i s t Supplies: F o u r c r a f t s t i c k s p l u s f o u r 1 2 - i n c h l o n g s t r i n g s f o r e a c h p a i r o f c a m p e r s , s h e e t s o f p a p e r o n a c l i p b o a r d o r c a r d b o a r d ( o n e p e r p a i r ) f o r r e c o r d i n g , w r i t i n g u t e n s i l

Skit: “Find Peace with Jesus” A “Jesus” character holds a paper that says “Peace.” One at a time, other characters enter complaining about how busy they are; how stressed they are about school; or how anxious they are about family, money, or world issues, for example. Each time, Jesus tries to offer his peace, but all the characters ignore him and continue to obsess over their problems. Finally, one character accepts the peace from Jesus, relaxes, and walks off stage sharing with Jesus his or her concerns. Multiple Intelligences: L o g i c a l / M a t h e m a t i c a l Supplies: C o p y o f s k i t o u t l i n e f o r s k i t t e a m

Freak, Fight, or Flight Have campers do one of three action motions to indicate how they would respond when they are startled or frightened. If they would “freak” they should grab their hair and open their mouths wide. If “fight” is the response, they should put their fists up in front of their face. If “flight” is their choice, they flap their arms like wings to take off. Read scenarios of your choice, and ask for campers to assume one of the motions indicating how they would respond: • You are walking in the woods and suddenly come face-to-face with a bear • You are walking in the park and a gnat storm swirls around your head • You look down and see a snake starting to curl around your ankle • A mosquito lands on your shoulder • You bump into a tree and bees start to swarm you • You are walking across an intersection and a car zooms your way • Your bike’s brakes fail in the middle of the hill you’re going down Point out that every person’s body has a natural response for when it thinks it’s in danger or threatened in some way. Wanting to freak out, fight back, or take flight (run away) are all natural body responses to what’s going on inside of us. However, as human beings, we also have the gift of having a thinking brain. We have brain power, and God power that can help us think past our natural body responses to choose how we want to respond. Our natural responses don’t always serve us well, sometimes we have to take a breath and tap into our power. Challenge the group to think about these situations: “How do you think you would respond?” • Someone calls you a bad name. • You get called out to fight in the bathroom at school. • Your younger brother or sister makes more allowance than you do. • You are shoved into a locker. • You are bumped in the hallway and all your notebooks fall out of your arms. • You are the person the other team is talking trash to on the basketball court. • Someone walks up to you and hits you for no reason. • An umpire makes a ruling you think is unfair. • Your sibling gets a pricier gift than you do at Christmas. • Your team loses a game you thought you’d won. In these situations, freaking out and fighting in particular won’t serve you well. You feel the way you do because you feel threatened or afraid. However, if we can remember that Jesus said he is always with us and we have his peace, if we can take a moment to breathe and remember that truth, then we buy ourselves time to get our natural response back to normal and we remind ourselves of the truth. We don’t need to be afraid. We have all we need. We have the power with the help of the Holy Spirit to choose to respond in love! Have the group pick one or two of the scenarios and brainstorm ways to face those situations with brain power and God power instead of natural instincts. Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: L i s t o f s c e n a r i o s f o r l e a d e r

Role-play Living Peace and Forgiveness Invite volunteers to act out one or more of these scenes, then talk about ways, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to follow Jesus’ commission to bring peace and forgiveness. Role-play some of those options. Invite campers to contribute other scenarios for the group to role-play. • A friend is being bullied on the playground • A classmate steals from another student’s desk • Your younger sibling is crying in bed because he or she is afraid of the dark Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: N o n e

Peace Activators Have the group sit in a circle and each person pull a card. One person gets the Peace Activator card; another gets the Chaos (or Conflict) Causer card; everyone else gets an Action Card that shows the action to take when activated by either the Peace Activator or the Chaos Causer. The Peace Activator and the Chaos Causer are both trying to activate the other players in the circle into action. The Peace Activator will try to activate others by a smile, wink, or a friendly handshake. The Chaos Causer will try to activate people by sticking out his or her tongue, a grimace of the face (model it), or a slight and gentle bump of the shoulder. They will do these actions as the group mingles around greeting one another with high fives. Once activated, players should follow the action on their card and remember who activated them. So, for example, if an action card says to sing “Let there be peace on earth,” the activated person will sing that over and over again. Campers who haven’t been activated attempt to guess who is activating peace and who is causing chaos. If they guess both forces correctly, the game is over and everyone is deactivated. (Game is over when someone guesses the peace person and the chaos person OR when everyone is activated (but that shouldn’t happen because if it gets down to three players, the person who isn’t it will know the other two are the activators) When over, count how many campers’ actions were activated positively (like singing “Let there be peace on earth”) and how many were activated negatively (like shouting “I’m gonna get you!”). Debrief: • How many of you were activated by the Peace Activator? (Ask for a show of hands.) • How many of you were activated by the Chaos Causer? (Ask for a show of hands.) • Was the action you responded with positive? or negative? (Ask for a show of hands for each.) • Some of you responded in positive ways even though you were activated by chaos, and the reverse is true: Some of you responded negatively and you were activated by peace! That crazy response is true in life: Sometimes, life is good and suddenly we go haywire. And sometimes, chaos and conflict can bring out the best in us. Why do you think that is? • Can we choose to always respond in peace? What choices can we make in our day-to-day lives that will help us practice peaceful living so that, when chaos or conflict strikes, we are better able to respond in positive and peaceful ways? Point out that we have an example in Jesus Christ and the ever present power of the Holy Spirit to help us choose peace and to respond in love. Action cards – make a set of cards with a variety or responses such as: Sing “Let there be peace on earth” Yell “I’m gonna get you!” Shake fist up and down Laugh Smile Fake crying Say “Peace be with you” Blow a kiss Fold hands into prayer position Growl Cross arms and give a mean look Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: P r e p a r e d a c t i o n c a r d s ( o r s l i p s o f p a p e r )

Bully Gone Have a conversation first about teasing and if anyone in the group has ever been teased. Ask the group to think about: What do you do when teasing is really bullying? What are the best responses? What are the possible outcomes for different responses? Initiate role-plays, but first establish parameters: The role-playing exercises are not to include anyone being attacked, hit, or pushed— nothing physical allowed. Ask for volunteers to bully you, the leader, first. Let them know that it’s OK—you can take it. Model these different strategies for the group. Discuss the pros and cons of each: • Verbally engage with the bully. What happens if I verbally respond to the bully? Point: Usually prolongs the interactions. • Totally ignore the bully. What happens with this strategy? He probably will get tired of it. • Walk away. What happens with this strategy? She either quits or follows but eventually will tire of it because it’s not fun anymore. • Stepping in when someone else is being targeted. Intervene. What happens when a bystander changes the equation so that the victim has someone else in his or her corner? Point out that bullying is serious and it is imperative that targets of the bullying also tell a trusted adult, even if they think they’ve handled the bullying with one of these strategies. After modeling, invite volunteers to take turns being the bully or the victim to role-play ways to resolve the conflict. Talk further about the issue of bullying. Ask: How does it feel to be bullied? How does it feel, for example, to be called names? How does it feel to be teased about something you have no control over, such as how tall or short you are? Note that being bullied never feels good, no matter what the issue is. But if campers can show self-control and ignore the behavior, those are important steps toward making the bullying go away. Bullies are generally cowards looking for easy targets they can provoke to respond. Continue to stress the importance of reporting to a trusted adult. No young person need face bullying alone. Ask the group how it felt in the role-plays when the bully got frustrated and walked away or left them alone? How empowering was that? Remind the group that each of them has the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, enabling them to choose how they respond to negative situations. Note that the real power in these situations is not with the bully but within each student and how he or she responds to the situation. If someone can find the strength to ignore a bully, the bully will tire of picking on the person because that person is no longer fun for the bully. (Adapted from Tales Told Twice: Exploring Life Lessons in Literature Activities and Writing Prompts for 4th–5th Graders. Copyright © 2010 by Susan Ragsdale and Cindy Lawrence, YMCA Center for Asset Development. Used by permission. For further information visit http://theassetedge.net/PDF-Documents/Tales-Told-Twice-Exploring-Life-Lessons.) Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: N o n e

The Sending In advance, write out instruction slips and put them inside blown up, tied off balloons. Divide into smaller teams of 5 to 10). Each group sends a runner, one at a time, in this relay-race to retrieve a balloon at the other end of the room, pop it, retrieve the instruction card inside, and bring it back to the team to read and follow the instructions. Once instructions are completed, the next runner goes and the process is continued. The leader should be prepared with supplies on hand for when runners come to them with requests. Balloon card instruction slips: • “Tend my sheep.” Pick one player to be the shepherd and four players to be sheep. The sheep must be herded to the finish line and back. Sheep move on all fours (on hands and knees). • “Feed my sheep.” Pick one player to be the shepherd, who must run to the game leader, get enough peppermint (or gum) for the sheep on the team, run back, unwrap the peppermint and give each sheep a piece. • “I love you.” The runner must pick two other players and sing “Jesus Loves the Little Children” song all the way through. • “Love one another.” The runner must hug or shake hands with everyone on the team. • “Peace be with you.” Jesus breathed on the disciples with the breath of life and told them to continue his work. Practicing breathing out peace. One runner must run to the game leader, get a balloon, blow it up, get on hands and knees, and blow the balloon all the way back to the team. After each out breath, the person must say out loud “Peace be with you” before blowing the balloon again. • “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Jesus says we have not only his peace but also the presence and power of Holy Spirit—we are not alone. Two players must get a balloon, hold it between their hips and walk from their team to the finish line and back. • “Two players must go to the other end and blindfold themselves (or close eyes). Two other runners race to them after they’re blindfolded and in position and help them walk once around the playing area and then back to the team. Debrief: • This game was all about Jesus’ commission, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” What are some of the things Jesus asks us to do? (Tend people, feed them, love them, forgive) • What are some of the things Jesus reminds us as we go forth to do his work? (We are not alone; Jesus loves us) Multiple Intelligences: B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: B a l l o o n s , i n s t r u c t i o n s w r i t t e n o n s l i p s o f p a p e r

Peace Jam In small groups (call them “Peace Bands”), challenge campers to think about peace, why it’s important, what it means to them, and how living in peace can make the world better. Have each person write down two words that come to mind when thinking of peace. The bands are then to look at all the words from each person in their Peace Band. Working together, they are to create a song, rap, or television commercial, drawing from their list of words about peace. Suggest to the bands that they can use a familiar tune, if they are writing a song, to make it easier (such as “Jesus Loves Me,” “Jesus Loves the Little Children”). Let the bands take turns in the Peace Jam sharing their beliefs and presentations about peace. Multiple Intelligences: M u s i c a l Supplies: P a p e r , p e n s o r p e n c i l s

If you’re peaceful and you know it, send out love (Make a heart with curved fingers and joined thumbs over heart and move it forward away from the heart while singing back “love”; repeat twice.) If you’re peaceful and you know it, then your life will surely show it. If you’re peaceful and you know it, send out love. (Sing “love” while doing motion.)

If you’re peaceful and you know it, go forgive (Hold up four fingers and make a giving gesture—open palm up extending out to another person while singing back “forgive”; repeat twice.) If you’re peaceful and you know it, then your life will surely show it. If you’re peaceful and you know it, go forgive. (Sing “forgive” while doing motion.)

If you’re peaceful and you know it, do all three (Do all three motions and sing key words while doing them; repeat twice.) If you’re peaceful and you know it, then your life will surely show it. If you’re peaceful and you know it, do all three. (Do all three motions and key words.)

Intergenerational “Spirit of the Living God,” Hymn “We Are People of God’s Peace,” Hymn, Menno Simons “Spirit, Now Live in Me,” Hymn, Brian Jeffery Leech “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” Hymn, Sy Miller and Jill Jackson Younger Children “What a Wonderful World,” Louis Armstrong “More Precious Than Silver,” Lynn De Shazo “Sing Alleluia to the Lord,” Linda Stassen “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” Hymn, Sy Miller and Jill Jackson Older Children “They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love,” Hymn, Peter Scholtes “Sing When the Spirit Says Sing,” Traditional African “Every Time I Feel the Spirit,” African American Spiritual “Breathe on Me, Breath of God,” Edwin Hatch “Come, Holy Spirit,” Jonny Baker and Jon Birch “Spirit, Draw Near,” Adrian Riley “Shelter,” Bill Bastone and Andy Crouch “Here I Am, Lord,” Hymn, Daniel Schutte “Breathe,” Marie Barnett “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” Hymn, Sy Miller and Jill Jackson Younger Youth “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace,” Hymn, Sebastian Temple “God Be with You ’Til We Meet Again,” Hymn “Here I Am, Lord,” Hymn, Dan Schutte “Breathe on Me, Breath of God,” Hymn “Peace Give I to You,” Graham Kendrick “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” Hymn, Sy Miller and Jill Jackson Older Youth “With My Own Two Hands,” Ben Harper “I’ve Got Peace Like a River,” Traditional “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace,” Hymn, Sebastian Temple “If We Are the Body,” Casting Crowns “God of This City,” Chris Tomlin “Beautiful Things,” Gungor “Give Peace to Every Heart,” Jacques Berthier (Taize´) “Dona Nobis Pacem,” (Grant Us Peace), Traditional Round “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” Hymn, Sy Miller and Jill Jackson Multiple Intelligences: M u s i c a l , B o d i l y / K i n e s t h e t i c Supplies: S o n g l e a d e r , w o r d s , s o u r c e o f m u s i c

Quiet Time High-Low Ritual Invite each camper to identify one high and one low for the day. Use the ritual in the Quiet Time slot or as part of Devotions. Even younger campers can learn this practice. The first time not all the campers will be ready to speak, but continue the practice throughout the week and watch them blossom. Encourage everyone to listen closely. They will be increasing their sense of empathy and care for one another. Also, as appropriate, invite the group to give suggestions of ways to deal with the lows. Multiple Intelligences: I n t r a p e r s o n a l , I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: N o n e

Rest and Read Here are storybooks to read aloud for Quiet Time, perhaps after lunch. Three in One: A Book About God, by Lynne M. Lepley) 3 in 1 (A Picture of God), by Joanne Marxhausen One Small Blue Bead, by Byrd Baylor Islands of the Skog, by Steven Kellogg Yes We Can, by Sam McBratney The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, by Eleanor Coerr (Provide origami paper and show campers how to make cranes of their own to take home. Instructions are available on the Internet.) Multiple Intelligences: L i n g u i s t i c , S p a t i a l Supplies: S e l e c t e d s t o r y b o o k , o r i g a m i p a p e r ( o p t i o n a l )

Devotions Pass the Peace Sing songs from the Song Fest list, including “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” Read John 20:19-23. Remind campers that they are loved and called by Jesus, who has given them the Holy Spirit and peace. Ask each camper to write his or her name on a small stone. Put the stones in a bowl and, one at a time, have campers draw a name out. Invite each to keep that stone as a reminder to pray throughout the week for the person whose name was drawn. Encourage them to pray that the Holy Spirit will help that person deal with whatever concerns he or she has. Invite them to pass the peace of Christ with one another as a benediction before they go home. Multiple Intelligences: M u s i c a l , S p a t i a l Supplies: W o r d s t o s o n g

Peace Reminders Sing songs from the Song Fest list, including “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” Read today’s John 20:19-23 expressively, inviting campers to close their eyes and imagine themselves there among the disciples. Give (or allow campers to choose) a quotation to keep. Encourage them to put it on a mirror or the refrigerator or in some other place where they will see it regularly. If possible before campers leave, have small clusters with some younger and some older campers come together to compare their quotations and talk about what they mean. Close with prayer that encourages campers to live the way of peace and forgiveness. Peace and Forgiveness Quotations: “Peace is not something you wish for. It’s something you make, something you are, and something you give away.” —John Lennon “Don’t let others pull you into their storm. Pull them into your peace.” —Kimberly Jones “When we put our problems in God’s hands, God puts peace in our hearts.” —Anonymous “Forgiveness is me giving up my right to hurt you for hurting me.” —Anonymous “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” —Lewis B. Smedes “Forgiveness is the best form of love. It takes a strong person to say sorry and an even stronger person to forgive.” —Anonymous “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”—Jesus (John 14:27) “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you... Receive the Holy Spirit.” —Jesus (John 20:21b-23) “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” —Jesus (Matthew 5:44b) “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.” —Jesus, in response to Peter’s question of how often should he forgive someone (Matthew 18:22b)

Multiple Intelligences: M u s i c a l , L i n g u i s t i c Supplies: B i b l e , q u o t a t i o n s w r i t t e n o n c a r d s o r s h e e t s o f p a p e r . o n e p e r c a m p e r , w o r d s o f s o n g

You Are Forgiven Sing songs from the Song Fest list, including “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” Read John 20:19-23. Focus on the forgiveness Jesus offers. Engage campers about what that means in practical terms (relating to the person as forgiven, not holding a grudge or anger, praying for the one forgiven, and so on). Remind campers that they are given new life and can start fresh, even when they make mistakes or cling to fear. Give a charge to the campers as they leave the time of worship: “Receive the Holy Spirit. You are never alone or without help. You have been given power, peace, and courage. Go and live in the ways that show who and Whose you are!” Multiple Intelligences: I n t e r p e r s o n a l Supplies: B i b l e , w o r d s o f s o n g

Peace Makers Sing songs from the Song Fest list, including “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” Read John 20:19-23. Have staff primed to tell about actions and words of peacemaking, including forgiveness, they saw happening during the week. They don’t have to use specific campers’ names. Encourage campers also to share incidents of peacemaking they saw. Then invite volunteers to tell of areas in which they want to be peacemakers when they return home. Celebrate all the peacemakers in your camp. End with campers giving one another the two-finger peace sign. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: B i b l e , w o r d s o f s o n g Pass It On Sing songs from the Song Fest list, including “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” Read John 20:19-23. Draw attention to the symbol, the two-finger go-in-peace sign. Point out to campers that in times of conflict or uncertainty or fear, they have a reminder of the peace Christ gives us—literally just two fingers away, close at hand, as is the Holy Spirit! Give an individual blessing to each camper. You may also choose to add anointing with oil to this blessing by making the sign of the cross on the back of each camper’s hand as you say: Peace be with you. I’m sending you out into the world— Receive the power of the Holy Spirit. Forgive and pass on the peace. Give each camper either or both of the bookmarks (Power Up with the Promise of Peace, and Power Up for Peace Wherever You Go. Multiple Intelligences: S p a t i a l Supplies: B i b l e , w o r d s o f s o n g , b o o k m a r k s f r o m E x t r a R e s o u r c e s • Thank you to Susan Ragsdale for writing additional material for Day Camp Week 6. Susan provides training for the staffs of all the Middle Tennessee Y’s Day Camps. She is also an author of numerous books of games and other learning activities. • Tell Us What You Think…

Each year an Editorial Advisory Team convenes to dream and create a theme and outline for upcoming editions of InsideOut. Their starting point is answering the question, How can this resource serve camps most effectively? To answer that question, we want to hear from you. Please complete the following survey and e-mail or snail mail it to the address below.

1. What role does a program resource play in your camp experience?

2. How much or little is the theme expressed at camp?

3. Describe your experience with Power Up!

4. What changes or updates would you like to see in the future?

5. How can InsideOut serve your camp most effectively? ______Your name

______Your e-mail address

May we contact you for research or testing new materials? ____ yes _____ no

Are you interested in applying to write for the new camping materials? ____ yes _____ no

• E-mail to [email protected]. Or, mail it to InsideOut 483 E Lockwood Ste 100, Saint Louis, MO 63119 “Power Up!” is part of a four-year cycle of camp resources developed for InsideOut Christian Resources for Outdoor Ministries. Themes include:

• • • God the Creator “All Things New: Look What God Is Doing!”

• • • Jesus the Christ “Get Real: Finding Your True Self in Jesus”

• • • The Holy Spirit Working within Us Power Up! Living in the Spirit

• • • The Church in the World (available fall 2015) “Fearless Faith”

Sneak Peek at next year Fearless Faith

What does it mean to be a part of a Christian community?

How can the church be a resource that gives campers confidence

and courage? Campers will explore how they themselves are a part of the Church and what that means about how we relate to one another and the world. Watch how the strength of Christian community

casts out fear and replaces it with hope!