Christian Service Brigade

Tree Climbers - A Ministry of Dads to their Primary aged Boys

Purpose

To give opportunities for fathers to build relationships with their primary aged boys, to share God love and grow together in their Christian walks.

Goal

To see fathers and sons come to know Jesus as Lord. To see Christian fathers and sons grow in Christ. To see fathers and sons grow closer together through shared life experiences.

Definitions

	Co-ordinator: The man in charge of the total Tree Climbers program. The Co-ordinator plans all aspects of the weekly meeting with Tree Climber Leaders and dads. The Co-ordinator also builds relationships with the dads to create a fellowship of men. (See Job Description)
	Tree Climber Leader: A dad or other man who has recieved Brigade Basic Training and is assigned to the Tree Climber program. These leaders assist the Co-ordinator in all aspect of the Tree Climber ministry. (See Job Description)
	Father: The man who brings his boy to Tree Climbers. This is a father/son ministry in which the father/son team is central to the program. If the father is not available another significant male should attend in his place. A man in your church may fulfill this role or another relative of the boy.
	Woody Raccoon: The animal host of the Tree Climbers program. Paper animal figures, including one of Woody, are mounted on a plywood tree to indicate that a boy is present.

Introduction

Our revisions to the Tree Climbers program is now complete. In DISCOVERY and ODYSSEY LEADER’S GUIDES, Fathers and sons learn and explore nine discoveries about birds, trees, outer about: rocks, fishing,space, oceans, wildlife,reptiles, pets, snow,weather, swamps,disasters, farms,caves & mountains,flowers, and wildand insects. These fun activities in each volume to do with your children helping you build relationships with them and teach them about God.

Discovery Book Odyssey Book
The key word in planning Tree Climbers meetings is simplicity. A program for young boys—and busy fathers— should be uncomplicated and easy to operate. Boys at this age appreciate a routine set of activities, so follow the out line of these meetings carefully. There is no need to be extravagant or flashy with your activities: simple projects will accomplish the purposes of Tree Climbers.

TIPS

	Order the Tree Climbers Animal Figure kit in advance and construct the plywood tree as described in the kit instructions.
	Have extra animal figures ready for visitors to use during their first meeting.
	The man who is responsible for Woody’s Games and Woody’s Stretch should also lead the pre-meeting games.

A Weekly Meeting Run Through...

The weekly meeting is the center of Tree Climber activity and achievement. It is a ninety minute purposeful father/son relationship building and ministry opportunity. This meeting usually takes place on a week-night, although some churches conduct their Tree Climber programs on Saturday mornings or Sunday evenings. The local church chooses the meeting place, which often is a large multipurpose room in the church building.

Here is a typical Tree Climber meeting schedule:

TREE CLIMBER MEETING PLAN

7:00 Woody's Welcome

7:10 Woody's Games

7:25 Fun To Do

7:50 Woody's Checkup

8:05 Woody's Stretch

8:15 Tree Climber Circle

8:30 Dismissal

8:35 Lcaders' Huddle

WOODY’S WELCOME (10 minutes)

The Coordinator calls the Tree Climbers group to order with the words, "Tree Climbers rally." The boys should line up in a semicircle around the tree. Men should stand behind their boys, while the Coordinator faces the group.

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Boys then come forward one at a time, take their own animal figures (which have been colored and mounted on thin cardboard), and hang them on one of the hooks on the tree.

The Coordinator then selects one of the boys to hang Woody Raccoon on the tree, preferable on the top hook.

When all the boys are back in their places, begin the meeting with prayer. Then ask the group to sit on the floor. Make announcements about the activities for that night and any special events in the future. Comment on the theme (see Introduction and Woody’s Welcome in the meeting plans found in the Tree Climbers Adventures volumes) and what the group will learn that evening. Finally, read the theme verse for the night (write it in large letters on a chalkboard or newsprint pad).

The Coordinator is normally in charge of this part of the meeting. He should make sure the ceremony is orderly and prompt, but not rushed. He may ask one of the men, or one of the boys, to pray. His announcements should be brief but enthusiastic.

TIPS

	In the first meeting of the year, have boys select their animal figures, color them and mount on thin cardboard. Keep these figures at the meeting place. Prepare the Woody Raccoon figure in advance.
	The boy who places Woody Raccoon on the tree could be selected on the basis of positive behavior (preferably from the previous meeting). Try to affirm each boy by rewarding him with this assignment.
	Be sure the man who is leading the game is ready to start as soon as Woody’s Welcome ends.

WOODY’S GAMES (15 minutes)

Play two fairly active games. The men should participate with the boys, although they must not get too aggressive or rough. For many boys, games will be the highlight of the meeting. Be sure it’s fun but also safe.

The Coordinator should ask different men to lead the games each week. The weekly plans in Tree Climbers Adventures provide two games for this period. The Coordinator should make sure the game equipment is on hand and ready to use.

TIPS

	Don’t play any game too long. Stop or change games when the interest is high. It will be easier to use the game again.
	Be alert to possible dangers or accidents and take corrective measures.
	Call the group into formation after the games as instructions are needed for "Fun To Do."

FUN TO DO (25 minutes)

Themes help to tie the different elements of a meeting together. They are handy devices to help men and boys learn some aspect of God’s Word and the world He made.

The Tree Climbers meeting plans found in Tree Climbers Adventures consists of nine themes, all of them related to nature. A second volume contains another set of nine themes—each theme requires four meetings to complete. The "Fun To Do" project at each meeting is especially devoted to the theme is some way.

The project will need to be prepared by one of the men. Assignments cannot be made at the last minute! Men need to know several weeks before which meeting they must lead. The men may want to take turns, or perhaps lead an entire four weeks at a time. Check the Advance Preparation list for each theme to determine what supplies are needed.

If the project that is suggested in this guide does not fit your circumstances, make any adjustments that will help convey the theme.

Since this part of the meeting requires the most planning, the Coordinator should be ready to assist the man who will lead it. The Coordinator may lead some of the projects him self. It’s important to develop a spirit of cooperation among the men so that no one person carries too much of the bur den. Also, the Coordinator may want to invite some fathers who do not attend regularly to come for particular sessions where their skills can be of help.

TIPS

	Short films are occasionally recommended. Check local libraries and film service agencies for film catalogs and equipment rental. If you decide to use a film, order it several weeks in advance to be sure you get it.
	Ask for a resource cabinet at the church so certain sup plies are available. It should contain pencils, crayons, paper of various sizes and colors, glue, saws, hammers, sandpaper, nails, paintbrushes, and felt-tip markers.
	Follow the themes in the order in which they are outlined in Tree Climbers Adventures. The two volumes contain enough material for two years (September-May). If one does not fit your geography or season, you may switch with another one. Do all four of the meetings suggested in each theme even if it stretches into the next month (because of holidays or other church events).
	Begin to conclude the project about five minutes before the end of this period. Men and boys who cannot finish may need to take it home. Encourage them to assist in cleaning up.

WOODY’S CHECK-UP (15 minutes)

This step includes the most spiritually significant moment of the meeting. Father and son (or one man with several boys) sit down to talk about the theme verse (each meeting has its own verse) using the questions provided in Tree Climbers Adventures. They should first memorize the verse together and then examine its meaning. These man-boy pairs should sit by themselves in a corner or in a separate room. Men who are visiting the group may sit in with another man if they feel uncomfortable doing this exercise on their own.

Sticker awards are available to recognize a boy’s participation in the meeting. Each theme has a sticker with four parts—one part for each meeting. Woody’s Check-up is the time when a boy can place the sticker on his wall poster, after he has recited the memory verse to his father or one of the leaders.

The Coordinator brings the group into formation after 10 minutes and gives each boy his sticker. He should invite one or two boys to recite the verse aloud to the whole group.

If the Coordinator’s son is in the program, he will want to do this exercise with his boy. If there are more boys than men, the Coordinator should assign several boys to each man, making sure the more difficult boys are not all with the same man. Also, the Coordinator should keep an eye on the clock. Allow about 10 minutes for the conversation and five minutes for the award ceremony. Have the sticker sheets (available in the Tree Climbers Award Packet) ready for boys to remove the portion designated for this meeting and attach to their posters.

TIPS

	Mount the award wall charts (also available in the Tree Climbers Award Packet) near the tree at a height which boys can reach. If possible, attach these firmly and leave them there until the end of the year. Boys can then take them home.
	Find the most effective seating arrangements for the Check-up. Then stay with the same format. Men can go to the same private location each week and start the conversation immediately.
	Expect both men and boys to memorize the verse. They are able to learn it by repeating it a number of times. Re member, most important is the discussion that relates to the verse.
	Follow up on one or more of the questions when the group has reassembled. In the meeting outlines, certain questions have an asterisk (*) beside them for this purpose. This will help to reinforce a correct understanding of the verse.
	If a boy misses a meeting and wants to get the sticker he missed, he must learn the verse and recite it to the Coordinator as soon as possible.

WOODY’S STRETCH (10 minutes)

This game is intended as a change of pace. Most of the games suggested can be played in a circle on the floor. They should not be as active as the previous games but help release some energy before the Tree Climbers Circle. The same man who leads Woody’s Games should lead this game as well.

TREE CLIMBERS CIRCLE (15 minutes)

Men and boys sit in a circle and one of the men tells the story suggested for this meeting. Encourage the man to be come familiar with the story in advance so he can tell it to the boys without reading it. Telling the story allows him to have eye contact with boys and dramatize it more.

Some men enjoy telling stories more than others. Give every man in the group a chance, but don’t pressure a man who is not ready. Occasional guests can add some variety (e.g., the pastor of the church). At the end of the story, the Coordinator should call the group back into formation. Each boy then removes his animal figure from the tree. The Coordinator then selects one of the boys to remove Woody Raccoon from the tree (he will also place Woody on the tree at the start of the next meeting). Then one of the men offers a closing prayer.

The Coordinator moves the group from the game into the story formation. Boys sit in front of their fathers or one of the men.

The Coordinator will concern himself with how the group sits and pays attention to the speaker. He also makes sure the concluding ceremony goes smoothly and quickly.

TIPS

	Be sure each man has a copy of this guide so he can lead the story (or Games or Fun To Do Project) when it is his turn.
	Check next week’s assignments with the men before you leave. You may even want to list them on a bulletin board for several weeks ahead.
	Have a copy of William Coleman’s Listen to the Animals (use the CSB order form) available. Some of the stories suggested are taken from that text.

Leader's Huddle (five minutes after dismissal)

The Tree Climbers are on the way home. Transportation which may be necessary has been arranged by the Brigade Chairman or one of his assistants. Leaders then meet for a brief time of discussion, evaluation and prayer. If there are specific problems, they should be considered, but lengthy discussions should be reserved for the monthly planning sessions.

This brief huddle is an important time in developing the leadership team and maintaining spiritual teamwork among the men. The impact of this brief conversation on the entire Tree Climber ministry can be enormous.

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Tree Climber FAQ

Q: What if a boy’s father cannot attend?

A: This will happen in almost every Tree Climbers group. The way you handle this situation will depend on how strongly you and your church want fathers to be actively involved. The Tree Climbers program is designed to encourage fathers to participate and works best when they do. One or two men with a large group of boys is a poor arrangement, especially since boys in grades one and two need so much personal attention. To help avoid this situation, the Brigade chairman and Coordinator should stress the importance of fathers attending with their sons.

There will be exceptions, of course. A boy’s father may be absent from the home. Or the father may be active in another church program that meets at the same time as Tree Climbers.

There are several things that can be done:

Recruit as many fathers as possible. Aim for a maximum ratio of one man to three boys. In the weekly meetings, each father should work with the same small group of boys on projects and in Woody’s Check-up. Those fathers who cannot attend should be invited to all special events.

Invite other men to participate. Men who do not have sons in this age bracket—or sons at all—can be effective as adult partners for boys. Older men (even grandfathers) can do a great job of befriending a boy. Mature college-age young men are also capable of good leadership. Fathers who have only daughters may enjoy regular contact with boys. You may wish to pair certain boys with men if you believe it would encourage boys, especially ones without fathers.

Q: Can Tree Climbers include boys of kindergarten age?

A: Five-year-olds may have difficulty keeping up with first-and second-graders. Occasionally, there will be kindergartners who have matured faster and can fit into the group, or who are already 6 years of age and are not yet in first grade. In these cases, kindergartners should be welcomed but fathers should be expected to attend.

Q: What are some ways to involve fathers?

A: Try the following:

	Make a personal contact with each father of first- and second-grade boys who could possibly participate. Explain the purpose of Tree Climbers and what men are expected to do in the weekly meetings. Give them a week or two to think about the matter and then ask them for a definite answer.
	Send a letter to all parents announcing the Tree Climbers program. Address the letter to wives as well as husbands. Make some comments about your enthusiasm for Tree Climbers.
	Mention the need for additional partners at the church’s prayer meeting. Devote some of your personal time to praying for the fathers in your congregation.
	Sponsor a father/son event for all men and boys in the church (e.g., banquet, and sports event). Make it as attractive as possible. Use this occasion to promote the church’s Tree Climbers program and any other man/boy church programs.

Q: Should Tree Climbers be kept separate from a church’s Stockade program?

A: It’s always tempting for Stockade leaders to form a post of boys who are not old enough to be in Stockade. Some have even called them Tree Climbers posts. This approach is not recommended. The age span between 6 or 7 years and 11 years of age is too wide to conduct effective projects or discussions. Older boys will begin to drop out of the pro gram if they perceive the Stockade as a program for little kids. The pre-Stockade boys also run the risk of being injured in games when they play with older boys. Also, boys that begin Stockade as early as first or second grade will be much more inclined to tire of it by the time they reach fifth or sixth grades. Four years is about as long as one program can be expected to interest boys week after week.

CSB recommends that the Tree Climbers program be distinct from the Stockade. Allow boys to look forward to Stockade when they are old enough to attend. At the same time encourage fathers to spend time with their sons in the more relaxing Tree Climbers program. This will improve the chances of fathers continuing on as adult partners or leaders in Stockade.

A Tree Climbers group may need to meet at the same time and place as the Stockade and there are some events that can be shared together. But the men and boys in Tree Climbers should conduct their weekly meeting in a separate room.

Q: What about father/daughter pairs in Tree Climbers?

A: An increasing number of Tree Climbers units have opened their groups to father/daughter participation. In most cases, there have been few difficulties integrating boys and girls at this age level.

If there are enough father/daughter pairs to form a separate group, this ought to be done. Continue to use the existing Tree Climbers Adventures meeting suggestions.

Q: Can Tree Climbers meetings be conducted in 60 minutes?

A: Yes. You can reduce the time allotments for Woody’s. Games. Fun To Do and Tree Climbers Circle. You could even drop Woody’s Stretch, but do not eliminate Woody’s Check-Up. A 60-minute meeting will not be quite as relaxed as the 90-minute, but it is workable.

THE JOB OF THE COORDINATOR

(See the Job Description)

The man who agrees to be the Coordinator for Tree Climbers should do exactly what his title suggests. He should coordinate the activities of the group, relying upon all the men to take part in the leadership. To prepare for this leadership role, a Tree Climbers Coordinator should complete the certification process described on page 109.

Q: Who should be the Coordinator?

A: Review the following:

	A man who has a personal concern for the spiritual growth of boys in grades one and two. He might have a son at this age and he will want to be involved in a regular program with his son.
	A man who recognizes the importance of getting fathers involved with their sons. An effective Coordinator is a man who relates comfortably with other men and has their respect.
	A man who is willing to devote personal time and effort to Tree Climbers. He needs to limit other church responsibilities. Tree Climbers must be a high priority for him.
	A man whose personal Christian walk sets a good example for other men and for boys. He should be able to talk about the Gospel with others and help boys learn from the Word of God.

Q: What are the Coordinator’s responsibilities?

A: Review the following:

	Lead the weekly meetings. These duties include the Tree Climbers formations, award ceremony, some of the Tree Climbers circles and occasional games and "Fun To Do" projects. He must as sign the parts of the meeting to the other men on a weekly or monthly basis rather than doing everything himself. Normally, the Coordinator is the one who watches the clock, making sure that the group moves along from one activity to the next on schedule. He should check with the other men to be sure that they are ready to lead their part of the meeting. He usually makes last-minute changes in the meeting plan.
	Assist in recruiting leaders. Recruitment of men is primarily the job of the Brigade chairman. The Coordinator, however, will have frequent contact with the boys’ fathers and he should do his part to get them to participate. If there are boys in the group who need an adult partner, the Coordinator should try to find such a man.
	Take care of administrative matters. This includes obtaining Tree Climbers materials and literature from the CSB office (through the Brigade chairman), keeping track of the awards and posters, communicating with parents and church leaders about the needs of the program. In larger Tree Climbers groups, some of these duties can be delegated to others.
	Guide planning session. Although Tree Climbers is an informal program, planning is still necessary. Each theme will require some advance preparation by the men. The Coordinator should find a suitable procedure and time for the men to review each theme (which consists of four meetings), check the supplies that will be needed and assign the different du ties to be performed.

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From: Building Men Pages 32-37