Start the ADVENTURE!

Start the ADVENTURE!

CROSSROADS MISSION CROSSROADS IS ABOUT CONNECTING SEEKERS TO A COMMUNITY OF GROWING CHRIST-FOLLOWERS WHO ARE CHANGING THE WORLD 1

KIDS CLUB MISSION TO REVEAL GOD S HEART TO KIDS, AND BUILD A BIBLICAL FOUNDATION THAT INSPIRES THEM TO CHANGE THE WORLD 2 Your part in this ministry is monumental in building up future warriors for the Kingdom. My daughters will certainly be in the front row. Thank you!

KC VISION We believe that kids can understand and engage in God s story right now, not just after they grow up. The Kids Club experience is driven by volunteers like you who have the opportunity to impact kids and their families each week. My 5-year-old son s younger brother had gotten in trouble. He informed us that he was willing to give up something that he loved (playing Angry Birds before bed), so that his brother could play. We just knew that it (this idea) had to be from Kids Club. A big thanks to Kids Club, his leader and Crossroads. 3

KC LIFE From newborns to sixth graders, all kids are welcome here. For kids three and up, the overall structure is the same, but varies depending on the age group. Each service will include the basics: time to hang out, to play and/or talk about life; music; an interactive experience using a variety of media to communicate a part of God s story; small group time where kids can engage in an activity, game or craft to help them dig a little deeper; and finally, sign out and say goodbye. But the sixth graders won t be swatting at bubbles or pretending dolls are real babies, and the 3-year-olds won t be playing ping pong or listening to rock music. Each place meets kids where they are. 4 I m actually getting a little weepy thinking about how [my daughter] has grown up in the arms of so many amazing Kids Club volunteers. God has divinely placed each of them there, of that I m certain. The work that all of you do is Kingdom work, and we have been privileged to have been on the receiving end of it.

KC SERVING OPPORTUNITIES WEEKEND ROLES Volunteers work together like the pieces of a puzzle to create the Kids Club experience. Kids Club will never tell you where to try to fit; we wouldn t want you to feel stuck as a middle when you re really an edge or a corner. So before you commit, check out your options: WELCOME CENTER: greet new families, INFO CENTER: answer questions, direct make them feel comfortable, and guide parents to the Welcome Center, and them to their kid s classroom. show new volunteers the way to their rooms. SMALL GROUP LEADER: engage with kids, talk about ways to follow Christ, do an ADVENTURE CLUB: hang out with the kids activity and spend time together in of other volunteers so they can attend small groups. service. SPECIAL NEEDS TEAM: partner up with one special kid who needs a little extra attention during Kids Club. TECH TEAM: provide hardware support during a weekend service (printers, computers, A/V equipment). PRESENTATION TEAM: lead (or help lead) the large group experience to engage kids in God s story. 5

KC SERVING OPPORTUNITIES WEEKDAY ROLES CREATIVE TEAM: create, illustrate, animate, edit, and record original scripts, lessons, songs or video. BEHIND THE SCENES: prep for the week- end by shopping for supplies, outfitting classrooms, organizing materials from the resource room, etc. ADMIN TEAM: complete office projects to support parents, kids and weekend volunteers. 6 Know that I will, quite literally, be grateful through eternity for every minute that is spent preparing lessons, cleaning toys, straightening rooms, teaching, playing, [doing] paperwork All of EACH AREA IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT SO THAT THE PUZZLE HAS NO MISSING PIECES! it is impacting the eternal lives of the next generation in our city! May God continue to bless the work that you do!

KC VOLUNTEER PROFILE 1 2 We are looking for all types of people, ages 13 and up, (10 12 year-olds can serve with a parent). We do ask two things: Though we acknowledge we are all at different places on our journeys, we ask that those who work with kindergarten through sixth grade be Christ-followers. To keep it consistent for the kids, we also ask that you be able to serve at least 50% of the time if you re serving with younger age groups or in a role outside the classroom, and at least 80% of the time if you re in a third through sixth grade classroom. 7

THE PROCESS BECOMING AN OFFICIAL KC VOLUNTEER ATTEND KIDS CLUB 101 If you like OBSERVE When you sign up, you ll be checking things off your list, go right ahead. paired with an experienced volunteer who will show you the ropes. You can test out different age groups/areas until you know where you want to consistently serve, or you can observe once and select a team right away. APPLY Fill out and submit an application, either at the end of Kids Club 101 or at the Kid s Club Info Center. Then our Onboarding Team will process your background check, contact your references, and keep you updated on the progress of your application. JOIN A TEAM After your application has been processed and you ve selected your age group, you ll be assigned to the team. You ll get guidelines for serving in that specific area, and you ll be connected to the team leader. Questions? Call 513.731.7400 and ask to speak to Kids Club staff. 8

THE PROCESS SIGN UP While you are observing and figuring out the best fit for you, and while we re processing your application, the Kids Club Onboarding Team will take care of getting you signed up to serve. Once you join a team, you can sign up yourself at crossroads.net. You will begin to get email from your volunteer leader each week. He or she can answer any additional questions you might have. Here s how: Choose your team from the Sign up to Serve box on the home page. From there, you can sign up for every week, every other week or selected weekends. Don t forget to hit save! You ll immediately get a confimation email. If you don t get the email, you are not signed up. 9

THE PROCESS OBSERVATION Observing is easy and can be broken into eight simple steps. But observing is really more of a technical term. We set room capacities based on the number of volunteers and you count! That means you ve got to let us know you re coming, and if you say you re coming, we re counting on you to show up. 1. If you will be serving with two-year-olds or older, access the lesson and read through it before the service, so you can be prepared to engage with kids. You can find lessons at crossroads.net/kc. Just click on current kids club lessons. 2. If you re serving on the weekend, arrive at Kids Club Info Center 25 minutes before the service starts. If you re serving during the week, you ll get instructions on where and when to arrive. 10 3. Get a nametag at the Kids Club Info Center. 4. Head to your room/serving area and meet a volunteer who will show you the ropes. 5. Find at least one kid and engage. 6. Stay in the room. Until you re fully cleared, no walking crying babies or pushing the fussy bus. 7. Have fun. We believe serving should be fun! 8. Let us know where you were and how it went. Fill out a green card and drop it off at the Kids Club Info Center. If the area/age group you shadowed isn t for you, no worries. Just try something different next time. You can put the next date and time you are available to serve on the green card.

TIPS If you re not sure where to start when it comes to engaging with kids, that s OK. Try this: sit down and color, or build a tower of blocks with a kid while asking him or her about family, school or favorite pizza topping. When you re up for it, here are some more great ways to engage: Thanks for teaching my kid the Bible in an engaging way that makes the people real and memorable. Ask one kid about their week. Encourage one kid with a kind word. Tell a parent something positive about their child. 11

KC TOP 10 Since most of our volunteers work directly with kids, here are the ten highly important things to know before serving during a typical weekend service. This list is the heart of what allows Kids Club to run smoothly and safely. 2. STICKERS At the Welcome Center, parents get a sticker with a number that is the same as their child s. If parents don t have a matching sticker when they come to pick up their kid, we can t release the kid. Even if it s your best friend. Send them back to the Kids Club Welcome Center, and a volunteer will assist them. 3. HELP Somebody will assist you if you run 1. ONE ON ONE Never be alone in a room with a child. Ever. No matter what. This is for your protection. Don t even let a parent drop a child off until a second volunteer has arrived. If there is only one child left at the end of a service, two volunteers must stay until the parent(s) arrive. out of Goldfish, a kid is hurt, or even if you need somebody to clean up vomit (that s right, there are people who will clean up vomit for you). Just contact the Info Center at your site ask a volunteer or staff leader how to do this if you re not sure. 4. STAY Once you re in your room, don t leave. And please do not ask a student volunteer to run errands for you (like getting coffee or another soft drink). 12

KC TOP 10 5. ALLERGIES There are stickers at e>check computers if kids have allergies. Parents should fill them out. Never give a kid any kind of medication, even if you are a doctor. 6. LANYARD COLORS The cords that hold nametags are colored for a reason. Yellow lanyards show us that you are not officially on a team yet. Once you are cleared, you ll get a black lanyard. Exceptions are: students under 18 get a purple lanyard; special needs helpers get red lanyards and blue is for volunteer or staff leaders they are your resources! 8. BIBLES We love giving away Bibles. They are in rooms to give away to kids and families. 9. POTTY DUTY Leave the diaper-changing or potty-helping to a cleared volunteer. If you are cleared and you take a child into the bathroom, leave the door ajar. 10. FUSSY BUS This has been said before, but it is important: Only cleared volunteers ages 15 and up can be outside of the room with a fussy kid or push the fussy bus. As delightful as these activities may sound, please wait until you re cleared. 7. LAP-SITTING Only kids four and younger are allowed to sit on laps, and three and four-year-olds should sit on laps only when necessary. This is another rule that s for your protection. We know it might sound like a lot, but it s worth it. You re not just building into kids; you re changing entire families. 13

Q&A Here are some commonly asked questions. If you ve got something else, remember you can always call 513.731.7400 and ask to speak to Kids Club staff. What if my own sister is picking up her child and doesn t have a sticker? Too bad. She ll have to get a new one at the Welcome Center. We know it sounds harsh, but no exceptions. We want parents to know we ll always check stickers, so they can feel comfortable leaving their kids in Kids Club. Why do I have to sign up just to observe? And what if a new family is behind your sister Safety reasons. We have to have a certain and they ve forgotten their tag too? If you number of volunteers for each group of kids. make them go get a new sticker, but don t We will count you in that number. Also, it make your sister, they will immediately feel enables us to help you find the best fit. like an outsider. And that s not good. What if I wake up sick on the day I m scheduled? Life happens, and we understand. But since we are counting on you, please let us know. Give the Kids Club Info Desk a call at 513.731.7400 xkids and follow the prompts. 14 What if a parent comes to the door claiming that the e>check-in computers are down? If e>check is not working, you will be notified by somebody with a headset, and a room or staff leader will initiate the manual check-in backup system. Unless you ve been notified, don t accept a kid without a sticker.

Q&A How will I know what to do if there is an emergency? Look for the Emergency Packet in your room. There are instructions for all kinds of emergencies, including evacuation procedures. Can I switch teams if I want to try something new or want to move to the next age group with the kids with whom I ve built relationship? Of course. You choose the piece of the puzzle that fits you best, and sometimes that might mean you move around. Can I serve with my own kids? It s OK to serve with your kids. Just be mindful that all your attention isn t focused on your child. Also, we won t put your kid in your small group. We just want the other kids and yours to feel comfortable. What should my kids do while I m serving? Children two and younger can stay in their Kids Club room; potty-trained kids three years and older can go to Adventure Club, a special program for volunteers kids. Check your site for Adventure Club and childcare times. When can I leave the room after service? You are free to go after the last kid is picked up and the room is ready for the next service. While you were loving and accepting my [special needs] child, I was able to sit in service, where, I heard about CityLink. Because you loved my child, just the way he is, I am now fighting my way out of poverty. Thank you. 15

KC COMMITMENT So you re in...now what exactly is your commitment? TIME This varies depending on the role you ve chosen. But if you serve in the classroom on the weekend, please make sure you prepare by checking out that weekend s lesson at crossroads.net/kc. Also, don t forget to come 25 minutes before the service starts. That way parents have plenty of time to check in, get coffee, and settle into the service without feeling rushed, and you can set up the room so it s ready for the kids. CONSISTENCY This is crucial to establishing relationships between volunteers and kids. If you are serving in a classroom on the weekend, the kids really need you to be there as frequently as possible at least 80% of the time for third graders through sixth graders. For everybody else, at least 50% of the time. HONESTY We re all on different places in our journey, but if you re working in a classroom with kindergarten through sixth graders, we ask that you be a Christ follower. It s important that you believe the stuff you re teaching kids. SAFETY We ll say it again: never, ever, ever be alone with a child. This is for your protection. Don t begin checking kids in until two volunteers are present; don t leave the room if only one volunteer would be remaining. PERSONAL GROWTH If you re helping kids engage with God s story, it s important that you re regularly engaging with God on a personal level, too. That said, we believe attending the main service should be a priority. We ask that volunteers not serve in place of a weekend service, but in addition to it. 16

When you spend time engaging with kids, they are able to hear God s story, ask questions and understand how to engage with God right now, while they are young. The foundation you build for kids will forever transform their lives, which could, in turn, change the world. Thank you for providing a safe and loving environment for our kids. Thank you for providing that same environment for the friends my kids bring. A super amazing kids program has gotten our friends and neighbors, who are searching and seeking God, into the doors at Crossroads and gets them returning. THANK YOU Thank you for your willingness to serve. We happen to think you might get even more out of this experience than the kids will.

REVISED JAN. 2012 CROSSROADS.NET