The Winter Games

Youth Retreat

Haley Keen

During the first 5 years of a

child’s life, almost 90% of his or

her mental make up such as

personality, behavior, and

emotions have already

developed.

About Me

• Adopted at birth into a

strong Christian home

• Brother Haden and Sister

Victoria also adopted

The Issues Facing Churches

and Bible Studies

• Significant decline in the number of

children participation in group Bible

studies and small groups

Why This Topic?

• Bible studies and small groups have

had a significant influence on my life

and my faith

• Bible studies are not child friendly

The Relation

• Research helped create an ideal Bible

study

• Realization that the methods I

researched were easy to duplicate and

use with the children at my church

The Process

Meet My Facilitator

• Nick Yother

• After school

teacher in

elementary

school and

junior high

youth pastor

until I went

into the 9th

grade

More of

Nick

Qualifications

• Experience with children

• Has a strong Christian faith

• Needed to be someone I am personally

close to

• Lives close by

• Earned a Bachelor’s degree in education, certified in teaching grades K-5, from Reinhardt University

• Hickory Flat United Methodist Church’s junior high youth pastor for four years

The Issues

• Busy schedules for both parties

• Unexpected move to Virginia

Step One

• Decide between hosting a middle

school youth retreat or leading a

Wednesday night small group for middle

school girls

• Decided on a youth

retreat

Step Two

• Determine where the retreat would be

held and how many days it would last

Step Three

• Plan the activities and the lesson plans

Step Four

• Meet with Nick to calculate costs of

food, supplies, transportation, and other

last minute items

Step Five

• Send out emails to the

parents of the church’s

registered youth

members

Step Six

• Finalize

plans and

print

itinerary

and flyers

The Lesson

• 1 Corinthians 9:24

“Do you not know

that in a race all

the runners run,

but only one

receives the prize?

So run that you

may obtain it.”

Let the Games Begin

Chaperones Sheila Hougan and Angela Shever, volunteer Anna Sherrill, and myself waiting for the kids to arrive at the church

• Santa hat safety

• Explaining the rules

Mall Scavenger Hunt

The Games

The Candy Cane Relay

Race

The Wrapping

Paper

Wrestling

Match

Frosty the

Snowman

Relay

Our “Comedy

Central”

Worship and

Communion

Breakfast and

Awards

My Discoveries

• Procrastination to organization

• Lack of self perseverance

• My love for working with

children

My Plans for the Future

• Pursue a degree in music education at

Reinhardt University

• Aspire to be an intern for the fine arts

department at Hickory Flat United

Methodist Church

Thank You for Your

Time

Questions