Maker Youth Programing Inspiration

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One of my visions for involving youth and frankly others in the work of the church and I think could work great in small as well as large congregations. Decide on one of several possible projects– Augmented reality mobile guided church tour and visitor ap which would help coordinate and assure new visitors through a new member integration path of interactions and activities- identify key faith stores that should be shared with young children and produce a series of illustrated books that tell those stories and a number of plush toys, puzzles and branded products like cups, class schedule posters, pencil cases- tablet covers etc. that would both be used by child care staff or volunteers at the church and or sold or gufted to parents in the congregation and beyond- produce a multi episode youtube program like you might see on HG TV where youth do weekend work programs to help people who cant afford to higher someone for needed home repairs- — What ever it is you want a space that is equipped with the needed design tools complete with software access, camera and recording equipment, maker shop tools and supplies. The projects could be rolled out in ways that would coordinate efforts and offer unstructured face time for those involved as well as encourage and support individual and small group engagement in elements of the project almost any time during the week. Also there would be additional enrichment programs that would arise to meat the needs of the project but these could be open to others in the church and the wider community – things that might cover say- 3-d modeling- building ap interactions, making stop action figures, basic photo editing – designing print and digital documents, Other religious traditions what have you. Sort of stealing from the online universities that often rely heavily on students for a great amount of their content creation of everything from visual aids and tutorials to interactive simulations and even course text content. So that early on and even often now it is the currently enrolled students providing the drafts and prototypes that will be offered to and used with future students and faculty.

A shout Out for the Torch Bearers Continuing the Legacy of the Woman who Gave us Young Children and Worship, Sonja Stewart (without whom Godly Play may not have been what we know it to be today).

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Those individuals and congregations that are looking to go beyond the Spirit Play Trainings I know some have taken advantage of chances to attend Godly Play events or trainings which is awesome but I wanted to let people know if they didn’t already that another great resource for further development of your practice can be found through Young Children and Worship which also offers trainings and has even been involved in promoting Montessori based R.E. methods in parts of the U.K. This is the group that was founded by Sonja Stewart Who was an early co-developer of a great deal of what we have come to know as Godly Play. She came from a less liturgical background than Jerome and focused on sacred story lessons and is the source of a fair number of the Bible lessons told using wood figures. The owner of Worship Woodworks the company that has produced premade material sets for several Spirit Play Lessons and who graciously donated prototypes of my first group of lessons helping Spirit Play take off with the excitement it did–her name is Sally and her materials are based around Stewarts designs so Spirit Play has an early and blessed connection with this kindred practice of doing R.E. I felt inspired by their updated website and recent activities to share that good work with folk who may not have been aware of yet another school of playful church educators out there.

Young Children and Worship

Worship Woodworks