First Field Trip

The club had it's first field trip this last saturday. We went to the Cathedral of Joy's Clothing Ministry. The kids got to meet with a volunteer there and learn about what the clothing ministry does for the community.

The clothing ministry collects donated childrens clothing and distributes it to any child in need. They currently are a supplier for Child Protective Services, supplying emergency clothing to children removed from unhappy homes... The kids just learned that there are children in the community that need clothing and that the clothing ministry helps to solve that problem.

We went over some very BASIC steps in service projects:

See a problem
Brainstorm, think about the what NEEDS to be done and talk about what we CAN do.
Act! Do something to help make things better.

Each of the kids got a paper sack to decorate. They drew pictures about helping people on the bags. They are taking the bags home to collect clothing for the Childrens Ministry. (It's our first step to learning how to help) It's easy for the kids to collect clothing they've grown out of and since they have to "give up" possessions to help others it will help the kids feel connected to the project.



This project was specifically for the StarFlight kids, but because it is such a basic project we let the LittleStars come help. It was over most of their heads, but if we keep going over the steps the hope is that one day it'll all click.

I've decided to Blog a "minutes" of our little Camp Fire Meetings.

We are starting the 'Trail to Family and Community". Where StarFlights learn about what a community is, the different jobs "community helpers" and about what it means to volunteer. LittleStars are working on Manners.

Pre Meeting Activity : Using pre cut out construction paper shapes and glue sticks "construct" your home. Tape the pictures on the wall surrounding the community, making a neighborhood.

Talk about what each of the buildings in the community are and who works in them.

StarFlights
Community Helpers: Using Paper Dolls and their pre cut out clothing dress your doll in a uniform that you might find on a community helper. Community Helper Uniforms available: Teachers, EMT, Camp Fire Leader, Surgeon or Doctor, Nurse, Fire Fighter, Baby Sitter, Police Officer.


Meanwhile the Little Stars were discussing Global Diversity
Traditional Costumes Around the World: Using paper dolls dress your doll in traditional costumes from around the world. Costumes Available: Indian, African, Pacific Islander, Japanese, Cowboy. Some paperdolls included graphics of wheel chairs so that disabilities could be brought into the discussion.
After the Paper Dolls were finished Little Stars listened to a few books about people from around the world and about people with disabilities.

Snack Break: graham Crackers and Apple Juice

Game, Bucket Brigade: Used to discuss about what communities did before fire trucks and hoses, talked about how members of the community would all help each other and use teamwork to put out fires by using a bucket brigade. Two Pots were filled with equal amounts of water and placed across the room from the kitchen sink. Two lines of kids were formed between the pots and the sink. Each team was given a cup and told they had to scoop water out of the pot with the cup and pass it to each team member in the line and the kid at the end of the line would toss the water in the sink and pass the cup back to each team member along the line to the pot. The first team to empty their pot wins! *this was the highlight of the evening and not as much of a mess as I imagined it would be*




We split after that again... LittleStars went to practice phone manners and StarFlights went to discuss more what it means to volunteer.

StarFlights, Have You Ever Helped Someone? : Draw a picture about a time when you helped someone. How did helping make you feel?

LittleStars, Phone Practice: Using some play phones practice your home phone number and manners on the telephone.

Wrap Up, Make New Friends: Closing Ceremony to stand in a circle and sing the song "Make New Friends"