children

Adventure Zone

1st - 2nd Grade

In the Adventure Zone Ministry, we remain diligent in our desire to partner with parents in reinforcing the spiritual truths that parents are teaching and living at home. The volunteer team in Adventure Zone is committed to loving children and leading children in worship and praise, presenting Stories and Scripture in ways that capture a young person’s mind and heart and in forming meaningful connections through small group shepherding.

This ministry is currrently coached by:

Tom Lasley, (615) 425-6215

Shepherding Coach, Shelly McElhaney, (615) 969-8099

Class Location

East Hall, room 106

Before you bring your child to Adventure Zone…

Before a child can attend a Adventure Zone Class, he/she must register at Children/Family Registration in the Lobby. Every child must be issued a 2-part name tag. One tag is for your child and one is for the parent who will be picking up the child. This is the only way your child may be picked up from class…give the matching tag to an adult volunteer in the classroom. When applicable, an “Allergy Alert” tag can be issued. This tag will need to be attached to the tag the child is wearing.

Sundays in Adventure Zone

Adventure Zone hours - 9 a.m. -10:15 a.m.

When children arrive, they are welcomed by a Greeter in the Zone. After entering Adventure Zone, children are given the opportunity to engage a time of free play with age appropriate toys, games and manipulatives while waiting for other classmates to arrive.

Large Group Time: The “Clean Up Song” is then played and children are gathered for the time we call “Large Group Time.” During this time, children engage in Praise and Worship and they experience the Bible Story presented by our very creative Teaching Team. Children also practice hiding God’s Word in their heart through a variety of fun presentations. Zoners focus on 1 Key Verse of the Month. Currently, Adventure Zone uses “The Story for Children” by Max Lucado as a curriculum guide. Following Large Group Time, we transition to “Small Group Shepherding.”

Small Group Shepherding: In Adventure Zone, children are divided into small groups of 8-10. Each group has at least one leader that we call, a Shepherd. A Shepherd has the same group for the entire School Year. Small Group Shepherds are there to greet their “sheep” as they arrive, sit with them during Large Group Time and then lead a Small Group Time following. That Group Time is a very special time for Shepherds and their Sheep. It is during this time that Shepherds “check in” with their kids to see how they are, what’s been happening at home or at school, what they’d like the group to pray about, etc. Also in Shepherding, the Shepherd may lead the children in a game or activity that helps children apply the story that they have just heard. Yes, we want our children to hear God’s stories AND we want them to know that God has a purpose for those stories. And, of course, a favorite part of Shepherding is…the-snack-of-the-day! ~A Shepherd’s commitment to his/her group extends beyond what happens on Sunday mornings. Shepherds do their best to contact their children through notes put in the mail and/or phone calls to parents. Shepherding takes place during the school year, breaks for the summer and then resumes when the new school year begins.

Class ends at 10:15. Children need to be picked up no later than 10:20. Only parents, caregivers, or responsible older siblings presenting the matching tags will be able to pick up their children.

Wednesday evenings in the Zone

6:30-7:30

AZ kids meet in Celebration Station with the CS kids

Some FAQs about Adventure Zone…

When do my children promote to Adventure Zone? Children promote to Adventure Zone in September of their 1st Grade year. Families will receive a Promotion Day post card in the mail prior to Promotion.

What does my child need to bring to Adventure Zone Class? Be sure your child has his/her name tag on and that you have the matching tag. If you are visiting, a volunteer at Children/Family Registration in our church lobby, will be able to help you register your child and issue your child’s two-part nametag. We want our children to be safe. The purpose of a two-part tag is so that a parent or caregiver has one tag and the child has the other. At pick-up time, only the person showing the matching tag may pick up the child.

May I visit my child’s class? Absolutely! Parents are ALWAYS welcome. We do ask that when you visit with your child that you wear your child’s matching tag. This is for security purposes. It lets our team of volunteers as well as other parents know that you are a parent visitor.

When do my children promote to JAM “3-5"? Children promote to JAM “3-5“ in the September of their 3rd Grade school year. Families will receive a Promotion Day post card in the mail prior to Promotion.

If your family does not have a copy of "The Story for Children," we have them available at the Children/Family Registration Desk in the Lobby for a suggested donation of $10.00.