Age Level: 3 to 5 and adult
Activity Time: 15 minutes
Materials: Four large plastic tote tubs, a drill, four 10-foot pieces of nylon rope, orange cones, and a referee

Before the event, drill two holes in the front of each plastic tote tub. Loop a piece of nylon rope through the holes, and tie the ends of the rope together to create a sled and harness. Create a racetrack by placing orange cones around your area.
Encourage adults to be careful with this activity. Match an adult with each child age 3 to 5. Have these partners form two lines at the starting line.
Have kids sit inside the tub and hold on. Their adult partners will step inside the nylon rope harness as the “sled dogs.” On “go,” two teams make a trip around the racetrack. Have the next teams loaded into their tubs and ready to go once the first two teams have made it to the finish line.
Continue this rotation until every child has had a chance to ride. Some adults may need to run more than once.

A Humane Mission

What it is: Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church in Tipp City, Ohio, began the Montgomery County Humane Society mission project three years ago after revamping their existing family missions program. The church’s goal was to offer mission experiences that partnered with families and connected kids to Jesus.
How it works: Kids and families can participate in some or all of the four steps of this service project.
“The first step is to partner with us in praying for the orphaned and stray animals currently sheltered at the humane society and their caregivers,” says children’s ministry coordinator Erica Sharp. “The second step is to make treats or toys at home and donate them to the shelter. The third step challenges families to purchase and donate items from a wish list given to us by the humane society. Our final step is to visit the Montgomery County Humane Society.”
The visit is scheduled for a Saturday morning for two hours. About 65 people participate each year. Volunteers get to socialize with animals, help landscape, create cards and treat bags for adopted pets, and wash the vehicles that transport animals.

Do-It-Yourself Tips: Erica Sharp suggests these tips for churches hoping to create a similar program:
• Contact local animal shelters to learn how to help.
• Research easy-to-make pet toys that everyone can create.
• Encourage families to invite nonchurch members who also love animals.