1.
How much time does the basics of the curriculum take?
You need
2 - 2 ½ hours to do the basics of the curriculum - Launch, Fitness
Challenge, and Health Challenge.
Schedule:
-
Opening
games and activities take about 15 minutes
-
The
exercise videos are about 40 minutes long
-
Offer a
15 minute water and restroom break after exercise
-
Allow
at least 40 minutes total to teach the Bible and Health lessons
2.
What kind of space do I need?
That
depends on how you plan your camp. Fitness Camp can be done in a large
group setting or in rotations. If you use a large group setting, all
segments can be done in the same room. For example, have the kids
gather for Launch (opening games), line up for Fitness Challenge
(exercise class), and sit down for the Bible and Health Challenges.
For a
rotation model, you will need rooms for each segment and/or group in
your rotation. Segments could include Launch (opening activities and
icebreakers), Fitness Challenge (exercise class), Bible Challenge, and
Health Challenge, Replenish (snack), etc.
3.
How many teachers do I need?
If all of
your kids will fit in one room (e.g. a gym), you only need one lead
teacher. Supplement with enough chaperones to make your group safe. The
lead teacher can do the opening activities, introduce the exercise
class, and teach the Bible and Health lessons. (The Bible lesson flows
into the Health lesson.)
If you
use a rotation schedule, you will need a teacher for each segment and/or
age group, such as Launch (opening activities and icebreakers), Fitness
Challenge (exercise class), Bible Challenge, and Health Challenge.
4.
Do I have to lead the exercise?
No, just
plug in and play the DVDs, and they will lead the kids through their
entire exercise time. However, there are suggestions in the Fitness
Challenge section of the Manual for additional exercise classes, if you
would like to add them to your camp.
5.
How many kids can attend?
That
depends on your facility and how you set up your camp. You need enough
space for kids to play games, exercise arms length apart, hear the Bible
and Health Challenge lessons, and eat lunch (optional).
6.
Can this be used in place of VBS?
Absolutely! It is a great alternative to VBS because of its
uniqueness. There is no other curriculum available that combines
fitness, nutrition, and the Bible for kids. It is a fantastic tool for
reaching out to the community because of the relevance to our kids
today!
Fitness
Camp also provides a great opportunity to have parents involved. Invite
parents to stay with their kids. When parents hear and see the same
material as their kids, they have the perfect opportunity for great
conversations at home. Also, the manual offers suggestions on how to
include additional classes for parents during Fitness Camp.
7.
Are the lessons on video or do I teach them?
The Bible
and Health Challenges are taught by your teachers. Only the exercise
classes are on DVDs. The curriculum is on the Director’s Manual CD.
This way you can print as many copies as you need for your teachers.
8.
Is there anything else I need to purchase?
One of
the best points of Fitness Camp is that there is nothing else necessary
to purchase. We do give some optional ideas of products to purchase,
such as take-home exercise equipment for the kids (jump rope, pedometer,
etc.) and a healthy snack. The cost for these can be added to the cost
of your camp.
Fitness
Challenge: There is no equipment necessary for the exercise time -
except for the optional video, Drum 'n Boogie, which requires a fitness
ball, pair of drumsticks, and a bucket. Exercise mats are optional but
not necessary. Most of the exercises in the DVDs are done in a standing
position.
9.
How I do I make this a full day camp?
The
basics of Fitness Camp take 2 – 2 1/2 hours. This includes Launch,
Fitness Challenge, and The Bible and Health Challenges. You can make it
a full day of camp by adding the optional activities listed in the
Director’s Manual, such as lunch, field trips, on-campus activities, and
snack time.
10.
Can Fitness Camp be used as a midweek/weekend series?
Yes -
This program is designed to be very flexible. In addition to using it as
a camp, it can be structured as a midweek series. The basics of the
curriculum take 2 – 2 ½ hours. If you do not have 2 ½ hours, divide
each lesson into 2 parts and do your series for 10 weeks. For example:
-
Week
One: Use Launch, Fitness Challenge 1, and Bible Challenge 1
-
Week
Two: Use Launch (select alternative game from the Energize section),
Fitness Challenge (choose an alternative Challenge as listed in the
Fitness Challenge or Target Zone sections), and Health Challenge 1
11.
Does the
Bible lesson contain a daily Bible verse?
Each day
the kids will review the Victory Verse, I Corinthians 10:31, at the
beginning of camp. In addition, there is a Bible verse in each lesson
that will help kids apply the Bible Challenge to their life.
12.
I have overweight children and/or volunteers in my ministry.
Will Fitness Camp cause them feel uncomfortable or draw attention to
them?
Fitness
Camp focuses on how God intended for us to take care of our bodies when
He created us. The curriculum focuses on healthy habits of physical
activity and good food choices. We talk about the pressures that lead us
to make wrong choices with what we put into our bodies, from junk food
to drugs. We do not talk about body size, shape, weight, or diets. We do
explore calories and how our body uses them, explaining the difference
between good calories and bad ones.
Children
who are overweight may already have a self-esteem problem - either from
their body shape or from even before being overweight was an issue in
their life. Fitness Camp helps kids understand that they were created by
a loving Heavenly Father for a special purpose in life. It enforces they
are unique and have special gifts given to them by God. Kids are
encouraged to have self-control and be responsible for their lives. Our
goal is that Fitness Camp gives kids the confidence they need to feel
special and want to take care of themselves.
13.
For what age group is fitness Camp best suited?
We
recommend Fitness Camp for kids in first through sixth grade. The Health
and Bible Challenges are relevant for all ages, meaning the material
would be the same for children through adults. However, it is written
for an elementary age level. To include youth, adults, or
kindergartners, offer separate classes and tailor the material to
challenge the age level you’re teaching.
