Finally there is a book that has crafts and projects that are for boys! If you are tired of cutting and gluing 'cutesy' projects, this is the book for you. Designed by a man for men and boys. No fluffy little projects, but real wood working, metal cutting, hammering-type projects. The author has worked with boys for over 25 years in settings ranging from very rural (1000 people in Gruver, TX) to inter-city boys (Waco, TX) to international boys (Honolulu, HI) These years of experiences have been distilled into the top 50 crafts and special events (ex. Pinewood Derby, Chili Cook-off, Tractor Pull, etc.) to be used for family events. Special attention is focused on getting boys to help others by the use of several projects at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. All of the crafts and special events have been field tested with boys and refined to be easy to use. The book is divided into eight sections: Introduction - general ideas about working with boys, getting complex projects cut odwn to the level of younger or older boys. The focus of the book is on boys in 1st - 6th grades (but most projects are great for boys in the 7th - 9th grades, because they can learn to use shop power tools). Also discussed are wood finishing, building self esteem and ministering to elderly in your community. Awards and Patches - A philosophical basis for the value of awards is presented. The names and addresses of several good places to purchase awards and patches are listed in this section. Special Events - Special Events are the heart of a great Boys club. These events involve the families. Eleven great events are detailed with suggestions for running to event, awards and were to get supplies. The events presented are: Air Combat, Bike Rodeo, Campcraft Competition, Catarmaran Competition, Catapults, Chili Cook-off, Dragsters, Pinewood Derby, Toolman Competition and Tractor Pull. Special Events Patches - Eight of the events have custom made patches that are illustrated and made available from the author. The Bike Rodeo and Pinewood Derby use patches from commercial firms (addresses listed). Crafts and Projects - The top 50 crafts and projects for boys are presented in detail. Each craft is illustrated by a photo(s) showing the completed craft. Complex crafts have full-sized plans that are present for photocopying. Each craft has an Introduction, Materials needed, Before the Meeting (cutting out the parts), and Assembly at the Meeting features. For crafts/projects that can be used for Special Events, there is a discussion on how to have an event competition. All the crafts have been 'boy tested'. You will enjoy the detailed presentation for each craft. Helping the boys to listen - This is a special section that presents the idea of using 'Story Recall Games' to keep the boys listening during the meeting. This innovative approach has resulted in boys being much more attentive while listening (or reading) a story. When they expect to play a 'story recall game' they really listen. Top 10 ways to Memorize - Many boys clubs learn Bible verses, pledge and/or mottoes during their meetings. Ten fun ways are presented to help boys learn to memorize. Try these and you will be surprised how fast boys can learn (and have fun doing it). Where To Get It - No good book on 'how to do it', would be complete without telling you 'Where to get it'. This section lists sources for all kinds of materials, crafts supplies, awards and much more. Finally the book is concluded with a cross-indexed list of the crafts by uses: Christmas Projects, Easter Gifts, Father's Day projects, Games for group competition, Games for personal use, Mother's Day projects, Projects to take home, Puzzles, Science Games and Thanksgiving Projects. So this makes it easy to find a project for your needs.

Fun, inexpensive crafts for use in youth groups and similar situations

Toddlers and preschoolers can be difficult to keep busy because their attention spans tend to be short lived. Yet, they are curious and imaginative and so much fun to spend time with. Furthermore, most young children just want to be entertained throughout the hours of the day and are eager to learn anything they can. Now, you too can collaborate with your little one on art masterpieces and decorative crafts, as well as play educational games. Whether you’re a parent, nanny, day care provider, or preschool teacher, you can benefit from this long list of activities to stimulate children’s minds and keep their hands busy for hours. In this book you will find a wealth of ideas to share with your young child. Some of the activities require your close supervision. Many of the arts and crafts projects will result in beautiful seasonal decorations to display in your home. You will be astounded by the creations you can make with your preschooler, who will, alternatively, be enthusiastic about tapping their imagination, enhancing their knowledge, and most of all, spending valuable time with you. The 103 activities are split into four main categories that correspond to the four seasons. Many of the projects can be done during any season, but the subcategories are themed. Here are what the subcategories look like: Introduction The Best Way to Use This Book I. Spring Let’s Go Fishing Pirates and Princesses Easter II. Summer Let’s Go on a Safari Gnomes and Fairies Fourth of July III. Fall Let’s Be Detectives Cowboys and Native Americans Halloween IV. Winter Let’s Make Music Snowmen and Penguins Christmas

Its time to rewild the child! Spark children's imagination with this book of themed crafts and activities, helping the whole family enjoy the great outdoors in all seasons.

In today's world, a club needs to offer more than state-of-the-art equipment and certified fitness instructors to recruit and retain members. You need something that will appeal to your members and keep them coming back. In Successful Programs for Fitness and Health Clubs: 101 Profitable Ideas, you will learn how to utilize programming to meet your strategic and financial goals. Written by internationally-respected programming consultant Sandy Coffman, this book will teach you exactly what programming is and how to make it work for you. Successful Programs for Fitness and Health Clubs: 101 Profitable Ideas presents more than 100 ready-to-use programs for use in fitness centers, group exercise studios, pools, gyms, and classrooms. The programs are designed to get hundreds of new members involved immediately. But the text is far more than just a program recipe book. Coffman addresses the challenges faced in programming, including teaching skills, communication skills, marketing techniques, and follow-up procedures. Her advice will help you design programs that unite members with common interests and abilities and foster a sense of belonging and commitment. Such programming leads to increased participation, reduced attrition, greater retention, more referrals, less downtime, and improved staff productivity. The text will first lay the foundation for programming by presenting the key principles and concepts that need to be considered. Part I explores -the five steps to programming success, -the 10 keys to member retention, -hiring and training the right people, -why a program director is needed, -internal and external promotions, and -niche marketing. By understanding and using the information in Part I, you can successfully implement the programs in Part II. Here you will find 101 actual programs, with numerous variations--including ideas for court sports, group exercise, and programs aimed at adults, families, kids, seniors, and women, covering a broad range of fitness levels, from beginners and intermediates to advanced participants. It also includes programming for specific time frames, such as the holiday season, spring, or summer. An activity finder located in the front of the text makes it easy to find programs based on criteria ranging from the type of activity or member to the type of special event. In addition to providing vital information for planning your programs, Successful Programs for Fitness and Health Clubs: 101 Profitable Ideas comes with a CD-ROM containing more than 60 files that will help you create support materials to get your programs started. You will find printable quizzes, flyers, score cards, invitations, scoring systems, round robin tournament schedules, and logos--most of which can be customized to include information specific to your facility, such as logo, contact names, dates, times, and more. Additional files provide templates to create T-shirts, buttons, and other promotional pieces. Headings and icons in the text indicate when to refer to the CD-ROM for certain materials. When it comes to enhancing your club offerings, follow the expert programming advice from Sandy Coffman. With it you will be able to create, implement, and deliver successful programs that will attract and retain new members and ultimately make your club a greater success.