Sparks Activity and Theme Nights 2016-2017
September 21, 2016
First Night of Club – Welcome/Registration
September 28, 2016
Registration (continued)
October 5, 2016
Hilarious Hat Night – Clubbers are encouraged to wear silly, funny, crazy, and wacky hats tonight. Stick ‘em with
pipe cleaners, stream ‘em with streamers, tie on some yarn, cover ‘em with feathers, or simply dust off that old
cowboy hat. Any hat will do.
October 12, 2016
Paper Airplane Night – All clubbers should construct a paper airplane at home and bring it to club night this
week. During game time, the clubbers will participate in fun activities using their paper airplanes (longest flight,
highest flight, loopiest flight, most spirals, accurate throws to hit a target, etc.).
October 19, 2016
Pumpkin Contest - Clubbers are encouraged to bring a decorated pumpkin to club this week. Let the clubbers’
creative inspirations run wild as they decorate at home with paint, markers, stickers, glitter, clothing, etc. Due to
safety issues, we ask that you do not bring carved pumpkins. Certificates will be awarded for several fun
categories.
October 26, 2016
Dress-up Night - Clubbers are welcome to come to club dressed in tasteful, NON-scary costumes (e.g.,
hero/super-hero, sports character, animal, profession, favorite movie or cartoon character, etc.).
November 2, 2016
Banana Night & Yellow Night
Banana Night - Clubbers are encouraged to bring a decorated banana (use markers, stickers, paper cut-outs, Mr.
Potato Head accessories, etc.) to club this week. Make if fun! Make it creative!
Yellow Night - In support of the four colors of the Sparks’ handbook groups, we are showing our support for
the YELLOW team by dressing in as much YELLOW as possible. Yellow shoes, yellow socks, yellow pants, yellow
shirts, yellow hats, yellow jackets, yellow scarves, yellow gloves! Even yellow hair is allowed for this evening :)
Have fun and be creative!
November 9, 2016
Dots & Stripes Night – Clubbers are welcome to come to club dressed in polka dots and/or stripes. For every
verse recited, clubbers get to place a colored sticker dot onto their leader’s face. This is a silly and fun way to
encourage the Sparks to study their verses at home.
November 16, 2016
Thankful Hearts Night – Clubbers are asked to bring non-perishable canned or boxed food donations to club
tonight. All donations collected will be taken to a local food bank to help those in need. Happy “Thanks”-Giving!
November 23, 2016 – NO CLUB (Thanksgiving)
November 30, 2016
Operation Christmas Ornament & Tree Trimming – This week we will be participating in the Awana Clubs
International’s “Ornaments of Hope” program and sharing Christ through Christmas ornaments. Flyers were
handed out in previous weeks with information about this program. In brief, clubbers are asked to decorate 4
ornaments at home and bring them to club this week to hang on our Christmas tree. Additionally, if you have a
little extra left over in your Christmas stocking and would like to consider making a small donation towards this
project, any donation amount ($1, $2, $5, $10, etc.) would be graciously appreciated. The donations will be sent to
Awana Clubs International who will distribute them to children throughout the world to share the hope and love of
Jesus Christ this Christmas season.
***Note to Parents: If donations are in the form of a check, please write “Ornaments of Hope” in the memo line on
the check. Thank you.
December 7, 2016
AWANA Mart (#1) - Please remind your Sparks to bring the Awana dollars they have been earning for reciting
verses to club this week because it’s time to spend them at the Awana Mart!!!! We have tons of fun toys, games,
knick-knacks and much more. It’s always a fun event that the kids look forward to!
December 14, 2016 (get info from Patti on T&T Variety Show)
Christmas Party & Red Night
Christmas Party - The annual Sparks Christmas party! Yay! Get ready for a variety of fun activities including a
nativity video and message, Christmas-themed arts and crafts, and of course….PIZZA!!!!
Red Night - In support of the four colors of the Sparks’ handbook groups, we are showing our support for the RED
team by dressing in as much RED as possible. Red shoes, red socks, red pants, red shirts, red hats, red jackets,
red scarves, red gloves! Even red hair is allowed for this evening :) Have fun and be creative!
December 21, 2016 – NO CLUB (Christmas)
December 28, 2016 – NO CLUB (New Year)
January 4, 2017
Layer Night - Come to club dressed in as many clothing layers as possible! If you parents recall the movie ‘A
Christmas Story’, when Ralphie’s mother made his younger brother dress up a bit too warmly with layers and layers
and layers of clothes only to top it all off with that puffy, full-body snow suit in which he could barely walk
around....well that’s exactly what we are looking for!!! Layers of socks, and pants, and shirts, and jackets, and
scarves, and gloves, and hats, and....you get the idea. It’s a fun event all the kids enjoy and have a good laugh over.
Layers will be counted and a special prize given to the Sparky with the most layers. The record to beat is
somewhere around 40-50 layers of clothes. Whoa!
January 11, 2017
Missionary Night - Sparks will have a special Council time focused on missionaries.
January 18, 2017
Pajama Night - Break out those fluffy bunny slippers and footie pajamas! This week we allow our Sparks to wear
modest pajama attire suitable for club. Feel free to spruce up the bedtime jammies with an accompanying teddy,
favorite blankie, head cap, hair curlers, slippers, etc. It’s sure to be a fun and comfy club night!
January 25, 2017
Fruit of the Spirit Night & Blue Night
Fruit of the Spirit Night – Clubbers are encouraged to bring a decorated piece of fruit or vegetable of their
choice to club this week. Recreate your favorite Veggie Tales character or create an entirely new character. Let
your little imaginations sprout up!
Blue Night - In support of the four colors of the Sparks’ handbook groups, we are showing our support for the
BLUE team by dressing in as much BLUE as possible. Blue shoes, blue socks, blue pants, blue shirts, blue hats, blue
jackets, blue scarves, blue gloves! Even blue hair is allowed for this evening :) Have fun and be creative!
February 1, 2017
Favorite Sports Team Night – Clubbers are encouraged to come to club this week representing their favorite
sports team (e.g., jerseys, uniforms, outfits, hats, etc.).
February 8, 2017
Dots & Stripes Night – Clubbers are welcome to come to club dressed in polka dots and/or stripes. For every
verse recited, clubbers get to place a colored sticker dot onto their leader’s face. This is a silly and fun way to
encourage the Sparks to study their verses at home.
February 15, 2017
Hearts Night & Love “Bears” All Things Night
Hearts Night – “For God so loved the world…” In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, let us show our love for Him by
coming to club decorated in hearts! Heart-shaped pins, heart-shaped earrings, hearts on your shirt, hearts on your
pants, hearts on your socks, paper or felt hearts pinned to your vest, etc.
Love “Bears” All Things Night – Clubbers are encouraged to bring their favorite teddy bear (or other stuffed
animal) to club night. Games this evening will involve their favorite furry loved ones. That being said, it is possible
that teddy bear injuries may occur so please plan accordingly when deciding which stuffed animal to bring.
February 22, 2017
AWANA Mart (#2) - Please remind your Sparks to bring the Awana dollars they have been earning for reciting
verses to club this week because it’s time to spend them at the Awana Mart!!!! We have tons of fun toys, games,
knick-knacks and much more. It’s always a fun event that the kids look forward to!
March 1, 2017
Inside Out & Backwards Night – Clubbers’ clothing can be turned inside out and put on backwards for club night.
Always lots of laughs during this fun evening!
March 8, 2017
Leader Appreciation Night – Club night this week is focused on showing appreciation to your leaders for all of
their hard work, dedication, and commitment to club and your clubbers. As Sparks Director, I would appreciate it
if the Sparks parents would please speak to their children about how much their Sparks leaders do for them. Just
like Jesus loves us so very much, the Sparks leaders have such a love for Jesus in their hearts that they take time
out their busy schedules so that they can bring Jesus’ love and teachings to your little ones. I’m sure the leaders
would love to receive a hand-written thank you note from the clubbers in their personal handbook group. As an
extra incentive, clubbers who show me (Mr. H) their personal note for their leader at the sign-in table will receive
an extra Awana dollar!
March 15, 2017
Crazy Hair Night & Green Night
Crazy Hair Night – Clubbers are encouraged to come to club this week sporting crazy, funky hairdos:
Do it up...do it down...do it all sorts of twisted around;
Shape it spikey...shape it straight...shape it into curly figure eights;
Make it blue...make it green...make it with a high-gloss greasy sheen;
Add some toys...add some flowers...add some high-rising pipe cleaner towers;
Come to club...have some fun...crazy hairdos for everyone! :)
Green Night - In support of the four colors of the Sparks’ handbook groups, we are showing our support for the
GREEN team by dressing in as much GREEN as possible. Green shoes, green socks, green pants, green shirts, green
hats, green jackets, green scarves, green gloves! Even green hair is allowed for this evening :) Have fun and be
creative!
March 22, 2017
Funky Shoe & Silly Sock Night - Fuzzy slippers, rubber galoshes, cowboy boots, or just plain old sneakers…if it
fits, wear it! Don’t forget to jazz up that funky footwear with some outrageous, mismatched, down-right silly
looking socks!
March 25, 2017 (tentative)
Sparks-a-Rama - The Sparks-A-Rama is a multi-church event where clubbers compete against other church
teams in a series of fun games and activities. The Sparks have been learning a variety of games each week during
game time. Now they are ready to put their skills to the test against other local churches. As per the Sparks-ARama website, practice and participation in the games results in the following:
• Clubs develop a stronger identity and closer bonds amongst members.
• Kids are motivated to attend club and complete handbook sections to qualify for their team, learning God’s
Word in the process.
• Area churches and leaders are able to connect with each other in an atmosphere of fellowship.
• Leaders are able to interact one-on-one with clubbers’ parents.
• Most importantly, the gospel is presented at each Sparks-A-Rama competition, allowing unsaved family
members and friends in attendance a chance to hear and respond to God’s plan of salvation, some for the
first time.
March 29, 2017
Stick With It Night - With summer just around the corner and only a few weeks left of club, clubbers are
reminded to stick with it and keep working hard studying their Bible verses. As the clubbers leave this evening,
they will get a stick of Fruit Stripes gum (one of featuring one of Mr. H’s favorite childhood treats…Fruit Stripes!
April 5, 2017
Seder Dinner & Easter Activities - Seder is the traditional Passover week dinner celebrated by the Hebrews
since the Exodus. It is the Hebrew Thanksgiving, giving thanks to God for deliverance and redemption. It is also
called the Passover dinner, commemorating the protection of God as the Angel of Death passed over every family
protected by the Blood of the Paschal Lamb. Seder is that famous dinner called The Last Supper, hosted by Jesus
for His disciples when Jesus chose to announce The New Covenant. And it was at this Seder that Jesus asked all
of us to do this in remembrance of Him.
The Sparks will not be having ‘dinner’ in the traditional sense but rather a symbolic dinner consisting of:
• Parsley dipped in horseradish – symbolic of a ‘bitter herb’ to help clubbers relate to the bitterness of being
in slavery to the Egyptians.
• Parsley dipped in salty water – symbolic of the tears shed while in slavery.
• Charoset – a sweet but tart mixture of apples, cinnamon, dates and oatmeal giving a sticky consistency and
a symbolic reminder to the Israelites that their forefathers mixed mortar for the Egyptians.
• Matzoh – symbolic of the body that was broken.
• Grape juice – in place of wine and symbolic of the blood that was shed.
Upon check-out, clubbers will receive an Easter jelly bean bag, with a religious poem playing on the colors of the
jelly beans, along with fun Easter activity sheets.
April 12, 2017 – NO CLUB (Easter)
April 19, 2017
Watermelon Night - A refreshing watermelon treat will be provided for the clubbers to snack on. We will have a
watermelon rind tossing contest as well!
April 26, 2017
Welcome Sparks to T&T – Those Sparks who are in 2nd grade and will be moving up to T&T next year, will be
paired with a T&T mentor for the evening and spend their night visiting with the T&T club.
May 3, 2017
AWANA Mart (#3) - Please remind your Sparks to bring the Awana dollars they have been earning for reciting
verses to club this week because it’s time to spend them at the Awana Mart!!!! We have tons of fun toys, games,
knick-knacks and much more. It’s always a fun event that the kids look forward to!
May 10, 2017
End of Year Pizza and Cake Party - For this last night of club we let the clubbers have a little fun to celebrate
the ending of another exciting Awana session. We will have game time, handbook time and then a pizza party,
followed by delicious, scrumptious, mouth-watering custom made Sparky cakes!
May 17, 2017
Awards Ceremony