CentriKid Camps Bloghttp://www.centrikidblog.com/blog/en-US2012-02-23T22:15:26ZSquarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)3 Leadership Tips From Working CentriKid Campshttp://www.centrikidblog.com/blog/3-leadership-tips-from-working-centrikid-camps.htmlCentriKid2012-02-23T15:00:45ZAndy camp 2012 leadership 

Serving on a CentriKid Camp team is like living inside of a Leadership Test Lab. It’s a place to grow, be stretched, learn, and try out new things. One of the things I learned along the way is that your title at camp doesn’t equal your leadership value. Most assume that the Camp Director is the one and only leader on the team. While the Director holds the majority of responsibility on a team, he or she isn’t the only leader. In fact, I’ve learned that every member of the team chooses whether or not to be a leader. Here are three tips that you can file away and keep with you for learning how to become a leader even if you don’t have an official leadership title.

 

  • Build Relationships. Leaders know how to gain the respect and trust of their respective team members. This means spending time with people and getting to know them for who they are, not for what they can do for you.
  • Be a learner. Leaders are learners. If you serve as a Team Leader, for example, and you are very interested in how to lead rec games, walk alongside your Rec Leader and learn from him. Ask him questions and soak up everything you can about how to lead as a Rec Leader. 
  • Be a servant. Leaders are servants. Find ways to serve your camp team throughout the summer. See opportunities to help your fellow-staffers either cleaning up their track time, completing a mundane task for them, or even taking time to pray with them. It’s important to serve them out of love and genuine care, not to serve so you’ll be noticed by others.

 

Andy Dukes serves as Event Coordinator and works on all LifeWay Kids events, including CentriKid Camps and works closely with training our Production Leaders, Camp Directors, and Worship Leaders. Keep up with Dukes and his interests on Twitter.

]]>Rescued.http://www.centrikidblog.com/blog/rescued.htmlCentriKid2012-02-22T15:00:21ZGod.life.faith Mary

I frequently need to be reminded that this is not a picture of my spiritual state. Of course it is not now, as I have already been redeemed by Christ, but even before salvation this was never a good visual of where I was. Never have I been treading water, surviving on my own strength and efforts. I couldn't save myself and I couldn't even sustain myself long enough to wait for rescue.

Before Christ, I was dead. Not treading water on the surface, surviving for a while, but dead. Realizing the weight of the fact that Christ didn't just rescue me, but created life in someone who was absolutely dead and drowned in sin reminds me of the intensity of the gift of salvation!

Jump over and read Ephesians 2:1-10 today.

]]>2012 Camp Prep #4: Team Assistant Programhttp://www.centrikidblog.com/blog/2012-camp-prep-4-team-assistant-program.htmlCentriKid2012-02-21T15:00:44ZMeredith camp 2012What's a Team Assistant? Glad you asked. A couple of years ago, we heard you cry, "HELP!!!" in relation to recuriting adult sponsors and that's why we started our Team Assistant Program.  This option gives older high schoolers and college students a look at what it really means to serve on staff with CentriKid Camps, and gives YOU more leaders to bring to camp!

We do have a strict age requirement with the Team Assitant program. Your students must be in their junior or senior year of high school, OR in college. Sorry, but because we want to be fair to everyone and provide the BEST experience possible for campers, we do not allow anyone who's a high school sophomore or younger to participate. We know they are very mature and help with your kids at church... but we need them to wait until they are in their junior year of high school.

Its really easy to get them signed up... register these students to attend camp just like any other camper or sponsor. Be sure to include their information on the release form found within your specific Group Leader Information. When you submit your participant list, simply mark each of these students as "Team Assistant" from the grade-level dropdown menu. You may bring TWO (2)of your most trusted students to take part in the Team Assistant Program.

We hired a number of new staffers for this summer who served as team assistants last year! It's a GREAT way to learn about camp, get aquainted with the CentriKid staff process and gain some great experience to prepare these folks to serve at camp.

Looking for MORE INFO?  Visit our Team Assistant Page for even more details! 

Meredith Teasley trains rec leaders who work directly with team assistants at camp each week. She also serves on the interview team and is encouraged to hear stories of applicants whose lives are changed by serving as a team assistant! Keep up with her camp staffer stories on twitter.

]]>2 Games to Play, Even When It's Cold Outsidehttp://www.centrikidblog.com/blog/2-games-to-play-even-when-its-cold-outside.htmlCentriKid2012-02-20T15:00:56ZMary gamesAt camp, we love games. Games are fun when it’s warm outside, but here are some crazy fun, semi-messy games that you can play, even when it is cold outside! Here are two of our favorites – and can be used for fun Saturday events, DNow Weekends, and more!

1. Ninja Search
Combining the best of capture the flag and sharks and minnows, all you need are two teams and two flags.
Each team huddles together on their side and chooses one person to hide the flag on them where no one can see it (pocket, ect.). The other team should not know which team member of the opposing team has the flag. Both teams line up at the back boundary line. At the whistle, both teams run towards each other tagging everyone they can before they make it to the opposite back boundary line. If the person with the hidden flag made it to the opposite back boundary line without being tagged, that team gets a point.

(Picture Credit)2. Foot Search
Equipment:
2-3 baby pools
 Marbles
Pudding, warm apple pie, etc.

Directions:
Divide kids into teams (you will want to have the same number of teams that you have baby pools.) You can also use some sort of large mouth bucket instead of baby pools if you have smaller teams.

Lead kids to sit on the ground around baby pools filled with pudding (marbles are already hidden in the pudding)

Kids use their feet to get as many marbles out as they can after you say “go”. The team with the most marbles out after a certain amount of time will be the winner.

Other variations: Use water, jello, or leftovers. Have 2 teams per a pool, make certain colors worth more points than others.

***MAKE SURE TO PUT DOWN A TARP FOR THIS ONE IF YOU ARE PLAYING INSIDE!

Mary Carlisle serves on the CentriKid office team, and loves recreation and developing fun games for track times. She served in a church and messy games were always one of her favorite things to do! She serves as Camp Director for the CK3 team at Millsaps College. Follow Mary on twitter.

]]>Meet "The Rizers"http://www.centrikidblog.com/blog/meet-the-rizers.htmlCentriKid2012-02-17T15:00:54ZAndy Kids Music Kids Worship Music 

What does kids worship music look and sound like at your church? Our camp team is in a constant learning process on this topic as we seek to implement great kids worship at CentriKid Camps! Along the way, we get the opportunity to meet groups that are doing great worship for kids. 

One of those groups is, The Rizers. They are from Super Big Robot, LLC – a family media and entertainment company based in Seattle, WA. The Rizers is short for “Memorizers” and they are a group of fun characters each with a fun personality whose mission is to write songs from scripture that helps kids know God's Word. They’ve had coverage in the likes of ParentLife, Foursquare.org, The Resurgence. Several months ago, they released their second full-length album, entitled, “Rise Up”.  What we love about “The Rizers” is their mission...to get the Word of God into the hearts of kids everywhere!

We wanted to share some of their music with you on the blog today. Get some free downloads of their music by CLICKING HERE!

For more info on “The Rizers” visit their website at http://www.therizers.com/

 

Andy Dukes serves as a Camp Specialist and works on all things production including CentriKid Camp Worship. Dukes loves talking all things technology. He also serves on the Worship Team at his church, Redeemer Church in Hendersonville, TN. Keep up with Dukes and his interests on Twitter.

]]>3 Uncompromising Qualities of a CentriKid Stafferhttp://www.centrikidblog.com/blog/3-uncompromising-qualities-of-a-centrikid-staffer.htmlCentriKid2012-02-16T15:00:56ZJeremy Ministry Help staff

Image: Bill Longshaw / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

We base hiring decisions for the CentriKid office and CentriKid summer staff on three qualities....character, chemistry, and competence ... in that order.  We get this emphasis from reading Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels.  
  1. It all begins with character, and this is non-negotiable.  We seek out staff who demonstrate Christ-like character and a calling to ministry.  Our ministry is focused on making the message of Christ clear for kids at camp so we must have staff who are pursuing Christ.
  2. Team chemistry is not an easy thing to predict, but the type of person we hire has to be one that we believe will fit the CentriKid culture.  The nature of serving at camp is in a team setting where everybody pitches in to help get the work done behind the scenes.  Even with kids, it is a team approach to connecting with them through the week, helping answer questions, explaining spiritual truths, and modeling the gospel in our lives.
  3. Competence comes 3rd on the list, although it is very important, we make the distinction that it isn't the MOST important thing about a staffer.  We don't just hire a person because they are good at something... their character and chemistry to match up first.
The proof is in the results.  We love that we have the opportunity to celebrate over a thousand kids who came to know Christ for the first time at CentriKid in the summer of 2011!  This is a God-sized number of lives impacted by the staff who serve at camp.  I'm so thankful that they are willing to serve the Lord and share the gospel at camp.

 

Jeremy Echols leads our interview team and knows the importance of selecting great staff to lead our ministry, because of the trust that Children's Leaders place in CentriKid. He is always reading and always looking for new ways to improve our staff selection process...and always on the look-out for great new applicants.

]]>The Law of Additionhttp://www.centrikidblog.com/blog/the-law-of-addition.htmlCentriKid2012-02-15T18:00:57ZJen leadership 

I’ve recently been reading 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell. It’s been a great experience and I’ve learned so much. I’d love to share with you one law that really struck a cord for me. Leadership is so much more than just managing. 

The Law of Addition says that “Leaders add value by serving others”. Are you serving those who serve under your leadership? Something else Maxwell says is that every interaction between a leader and follower will either add or subtract from a person’s life. As a leader, it’s my job to reach out and make things better for the people who are serving under my leadership. 

I never want to be a person who subtracts instead of adds to a person’s life. Treat people well. Give them credit when credit is due. Brag on how well they are doing in front of other teammates or volunteers. Spend time with each person and make sure they know you care about them as a person, not just the job they are doing.

 

Jen Hall, our camp intern, loves reading a learning new leadership concepts. She is excited to use what she's learned as she directs CK2 at Campbellsville this summer. Keep up with Jen via twitter.

]]>2012 Camp Prep #3: Fundraising Ideas: Feb 14http://www.centrikidblog.com/blog/2012-camp-prep-3-fundraising-ideas-feb-14.htmlCentriKid2012-02-14T15:01:00ZMary camp 2012It’s that time again! 
No, not Valentine’s Day, although I know that is today.

It’s time to start thinking seriously about fundraising for camp.

There are tons of ideas on how to do this, and here are a few I collected while talking with one of you guys just a few weeks ago:

1. M & M Canisters
Go to a bulk sales store and buy a large package of the little M & M canisters (They have mini M&Ms in them and are about the size of a roll of quarters). Send these home with church members. The candy is theirs to eat. Ask that they bring back the canisters with quarters (some will put dollars) in it. The church I spoke with said this is one of their best ways of raising money for camp!
(Picture Credit) 

2. Sunday Lunch

Provide lunch after church on Sundays after church. Ask for $5 or so for lunch and have kids be the servers. Spaghetti, lasagna, soups, sandwich meals, casseroles, etc are all great choices!

3. Host an event

What are the people at your church good at? Do you have someone that the community would pay to comehear in concert? Could you plan a fun scavenger hunt that people would want to participate in? Could you host a community-wide pancake breakfast or ice cream social? Could all of your kids create a piece of art and you host an art auction?

You also can provide some sort of service (car washes, rake leaves…), sell something (baked goods, arts and crafts…), or have sponsorships (another church member secretly sponsors a kid, a Sunday School class sends a kid or a few kids to camp…)

Check out other articles from CentriKid Camps on fundraising!

Mary Carlisle serves on the CentriKid office team and serves as Camp Director for the CK3 team at Millsaps College. She gets to make calls to lots of folks who love camp and have great ideas for fundraising and ministry and loves to share them here. Follow Mary on twitter.

]]>5 needs of first-time volunteershttp://www.centrikidblog.com/blog/5-needs-of-first-time-volunteers.htmlCentriKid2012-02-13T15:00:48ZMeredith Ministry HelpI'm a new volunteer. You coerced me to come help out, or one of my friends convinced me, or maybe I just felt the Lord leading to work in children's ministry. Either way, I'm new. I don't know what I'm doing. What do I need? Here are a few things that come to mind...

Direction. Tell me what to do. Help me understand my role. Give me clear directions and show me what SUCCESS looks like in this ministry.

Inspiration. Cast a big vision for me. Remind me of the work the Lord is doing in our kids ministry. Show me evidence of the need for workers in our church. What I'm doing makes a difference, and I need YOU to remind me of that!

Encouragement and Prayer. Let me know you care. Show me that you really do pray for me. Write me a note. Say "Thanks" as often as you can. Let me know you see my efforts and appreciate having folks like me volunteering to help kids know and love Jesus. Allow me to share when things are not going well, and let me know you really are praying for those kids who are struggling in my group!

Feedback. Am I doing a good job? Tell me. Are there areas where I really need to improve? Let me know. If you've encouraged me and shown you care, then feedback is just what I need. Remember I'm not perfect but help me to stay on track with where you are leading our team.

A Challenge. Allow me to grow! Give me something new to tackle, especially after I've proven that I'm up for the task. Don't give me Mt. Everest to climb, but a small hill leading to a small victory will help me grow in my service and leadership.

If you are a my leader, help me. Appreciate me. Encourage and pray for me. Most of all, lead me. Set an example and keep me focused on the big picture, the end goal. What else to new volunteers need? Comment and add your thoughts!

Before joining the CK Team, Meredith Teasley led a team of 100+ volunteers as a #kidmin in a local church. She writers from her own mistakes and challenges working with lots of new volunteers. Now, Meredith and her husband Nic love serving in the reverse role - volunteering with 3rd-6th graders in their Nashville church.

]]>What NOT to buy for Valentine's Dayhttp://www.centrikidblog.com/blog/what-not-to-buy-for-valentines-day.htmlCentriKid2012-02-10T15:00:30ZJeremy Just For Fun

Image: nuchylee / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Here is a handy guide for Valentine's Day shopping ... I'm not here to tell you what TO buy, but I've got a few tips on what NOT to buy for your special someone on Valentine's Day:
  • Home appliances - it can be tempting, but just don't do it.  This tends to send all kinds of wrong signals... like something your spouse should be doing at home, or something they do but just not very well.  Warning: even if your spouse verbally agrees to the "home appliance in lieu of a gift" plan, this one doesn't ever work out too good.
  • The same thing you just got her for Christmas - come on guys, put some thought into it.  She may have loved that gift at Christmas, but that was barely 2 months ago so it's likely that she's still enjoying it so don't repeat the same gift.
  • Something you actually want - A common gifting mistake is to give something that you intend on borrowing regularly.  If you search your heart and find any hint of this motivation, just get that thing for yourself and buy a gift for your special someone that they actually want. 
  • Something for the house or kids - Married couples will sometimes look to cut expenses by agreeing that their gift to each other will be a home improvement or something for the kids.  That might work on other holidays but not Valentine's Day.  It doesn't have to be expensive, but you need to do something specifically for your Valentine.
  • Belated Valentine's card - If you are in that unfortunate predicament of forgetting ... then you've gotta get way more creative than a belated Valentine's day card.
  • Carnival sized stuffed animal - These are really cute, but the bottom line is that you have to deal with the hassle of transporting it.... and your Valentine has to deal with storing it until the next garage sale.  These are hassles that neither of you need.

You may think of other Valentine's Day guidance ... please share it on our CentriKid Facebook page!

Jeremy Echols leads our camp team and will has been married to his wife Emily for 10 Valentine's Days.  They typically go out to eat early before the crowd and he tries to follow his own advice for gift-giving success.  You can check his blog on Valentine's Day to see what he gave his wife Emily and his daughter #BabyMadison.

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