1. Building an ARK

2. This all started with a movie… Evan Almighty Evan Almighty

3. Which got me thinking Which got me thinking –How can we help get the kids excited and get them to see their faith in practical, hands-on ways? –Catholic’s are so unique because we have our catholic social teaching. How can we share this with our youth? –We wanted to talk to you tonight about incorporating an experiential learning activity into the curriculum for TYM

4. We chose this as something to bring forward to you because we feel that it is really important to connect and have a hands on experience for our youth, but want to be able to do it in a way that won’t be additionally taxing, in a large way, to our volunteers and staff.

5. Tell me about a time in your own life when your faith has come alive and you were living some of our social teachings.

6. We’ve been looking for a few ideas where we might be able to utilize youth ministry to offer some level of support to create an experience out of TYM and tie into our catholic social teaching. We’ve been looking for a few ideas where we might be able to utilize youth ministry to offer some level of support to create an experience out of TYM and tie into our catholic social teaching. One idea: Heifer.org One idea: Heifer.orgHeifer.org

7. What it could look like

8. TYM 6 th -8 th Grade Utilize Heiffer.org’s curriculum: GET IT! Utilize Heiffer.org’s curriculum: GET IT! The GET IT! curriculum provides teachers with a standards-based academic unit that can be integrated - in whole or in part -- into their annual middle school lesson plans. The GET IT! curriculum provides teachers with a standards-based academic unit that can be integrated - in whole or in part -- into their annual middle school lesson plans. The GET IT! curriculum is designed to be flexible, so that teachers can easily incorporate these consumer education lesson plans into any curriculum. The GET IT! curriculum is designed to be flexible, so that teachers can easily incorporate these consumer education lesson plans into any curriculum.

9. TYM 6 th -8 th Grade We would suggest that these lessons be incorporated into the Wednesday night lessons. We would suggest that these lessons be incorporated into the Wednesday night lessons. We would provide resources on the wiki site about speakers that could come to speak about local poverty issues We would provide resources on the wiki site about speakers that could come to speak about local poverty issues Additionally, we would like to get each class involved in a small local service project for hunger. Additionally, we would like to get each class involved in a small local service project for hunger.

10. TYM 6 th -8 th Grade Examples include: Examples include: –Canned food drive for the food bank –Helping at the food bank –Making cards/prayers for Meals on wheels recipients

11. TYM: 9 th -11 th Grade Gift Ark: Changing the World Two By Two Each family who receives livestock will pass on one or more of the animal's offspring to other families who are in need in their community. Every gift will multiply for years to come. Each family who receives livestock will pass on one or more of the animal's offspring to other families who are in need in their community. Every gift will multiply for years to come. Your ark provides 15 pairs of animals to change lives. Your ark provides 15 pairs of animals to change lives. The Heifer Gift Ark costs $5000 The Heifer Gift Ark costs $5000

12. TYM 9 th -11 th Grade We would like each high school class to come together to help reach our goal to buy an Ark We would like each high school class to come together to help reach our goal to buy an Ark Each class would come up with ONE service project aimed at fundraising for our goal. Each class would come up with ONE service project aimed at fundraising for our goal.

13. TYM 9 th -11 th Grade Resources will be provided on the wiki site, but examples include: Resources will be provided on the wiki site, but examples include: –Sponsorship events like: Hike for Heifer Hike for Heifer Bike for Heifer Bike for Heifer Dance Marathon Dance Marathon –Prepare a pancake breakfast or soup-and-sandwiches lunch. Sell tickets in advance. –Offer to do chores, such as raking leaves or walking someone's dog, with the fees going to Heifer. –Car wash –Christmas sale –Decorate a holiday tree with animal ornaments made by youth group members, and sell them as a fundraiser.

14. TYM 9 th -11 th Grade Once an activity is decided upon, youth ministry can assist in some planning and implementing. (ex. If you need sponsorship forms, we can put them on the wiki) Once an activity is decided upon, youth ministry can assist in some planning and implementing. (ex. If you need sponsorship forms, we can put them on the wiki) Youth ministry will provide $30 start up budget for each class Youth ministry will provide $30 start up budget for each class

15. Reaching out to the whole community for all of TYM To finalize the theme for the year, we would suggest that all classes have an informational fair where they are responsible for one table where they explain some things that they learned and how to help end global hunger. To finalize the theme for the year, we would suggest that all classes have an informational fair where they are responsible for one table where they explain some things that they learned and how to help end global hunger. Resources are available at Heifer.org Resources are available at Heifer.orgHeifer.org

16. We will create an Ark on a bulletin board in the gathering space and invite youth and parishioners to add “plank” to the ark that share the Acts of Random Kindness they do in their regular lives. We will create an Ark on a bulletin board in the gathering space and invite youth and parishioners to add “plank” to the ark that share the Acts of Random Kindness they do in their regular lives. Involve K-5 in small ways. Possibly giving them the “Fill the Ark” Bank to take home. Involve K-5 in small ways. Possibly giving them the “Fill the Ark” Bank to take home.

17. Once again, the goal is to create a great experience for our youth while doing it in such a way that respects the time of our volunteers. Once again, the goal is to create a great experience for our youth while doing it in such a way that respects the time of our volunteers. This, or any project, should be able to be incorporated into class time, without taking up too much time. This, or any project, should be able to be incorporated into class time, without taking up too much time. Depending on the activity the class chooses, additional time may need to be spent outside of class. Depending on the activity the class chooses, additional time may need to be spent outside of class.