Our Children Ministries

We love kids – and we are here for you, a family with kids. All of our kids programs are professionally supervised and operated by a group of volunteers that believe in the future and want children in Winter Park and surrounding areas to receive the best, most well-rounded opportunity to grow and learn in a friendly environment. And it isn’t all about old fashion “Sunday School.” Oh, we have one of those, and it is important, but it isn’t all we do by a long shot.

About those volunteers – most are parents or grandparents and have kids in these programs. They are all people we know and trust. We require annual police supervised background checks for anyone working with children on any level (staff and volunteers). We do this so you can be assured this is a safe environment for children.

SUNDAY MORNING

We start Sundays off at 9:00 a.m. with an organized Bible study time called Sunday School. But it isn’t your father ’s Sun day School. It is packed with study time, but we do this in a creative way using games, crafts, music -- about anything you can think of. The groups are small and the training is individual. Our groups are divided by school grade so all students in a small group are the same age.

KID’S WORSHIP

It all changes at 10:30 – it is KID’S WORSHIP – a special worship experience for kindergarten trough fifth grade that happens at the same time as the church’s main worship service for adults. Kid’s Worship is guided by our children’s minister and her group of volunteers. The themed kid’s sized service includes Bible study, music, interactive games, large and small group activities – all used in worship.

AWANA

Awana is a unique kid’s club and is a highlight of the week here at Winter Park’s First. Every Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m. kids by the hundreds gather to study, memorize Bible verses, gain leadership training, play crazy games – from Cubbies for pre-schools through Sparkes for younger kids to T & T groups for older kids up to fifth grade, there is an achievement-based Awana group for every child.

Many families come to family night dinner together at 5:00 and then the kids go to their Awana club meetings while the parents take advantage of other opportunities.

UPWARD BASKETBALL

Upward is a basketball league for all children, first through eight grades. Practices start each year around the first week of November with games starting the first or second week of December running through mid-February. All practices and games are held in the Edith Bush Family Life Center at Winter Park’s First. This is a wonderful double basketball court gymnasium with enough room for a small crowd to watch. The administration is by our children’s minister and a capable group of dedicated volunteers. Most of our coaches are parents with kids in the program ( we always can use more help). We emphasize improving fundamental skills so kids of all skill levels (included no skills at all) are challenged and everyone helps their team by playing in every game. Game days are fun filled activities that we all enjoy.

For more information on any of these activities call (407) 644-3061 and ask to speak to someone in the children’s ministry department.

CHILDREN’S MUSIC

Sunday evenings are the time we have set aside for our large children’s choir program. This program is professionally administered by our Music Associate and her very capable group of volunteers. All children’s choirs meet by ages and all activities are designed to help teach music reading, singing and instrument skills and music appreciation. But it doesn't’t end there. We all love it when the kids sing for us, so several times throughout the year the different groups perform music plays or sing special music in church or other activities. The program is activity-based and just plain fun using various training techniques including learning to play Orff instruments, a unique system of having several children play different parts of different instruments with the total making beautiful music.

CHILDREN’S TONE CHIMES

AND HAND BELLS

A long time ago we learned that children who practice the discipline it takes to master a musical instrument usually do better in school. Tone chimes and hand bells are a unique way to take this even further. Chimes or bells of different notes are divided up between the members of a small group of children and each plays the correct note (their bell or chime) at the correct time. When it works it is quite beautiful. The children’s music ministry has tone chime and hand bell groups for children of all ages.

To find out more about these opportunities please call (407) 644-3061 and ask to speak to the music associate.

SUMMER

Centri-Kid is a Christian summer camp for those who have finished the third through the fifth grades. It is a jam packed camping experience where kids from all over come together to learn and grow and just have fun. This award winning camp program is centered around a highly-trained professional camp staff that is dedicated to making this the greatest camp out there. Each morning starts with a high-energy celebration that is focused on each day’s theme of applying God’s Word. Throughout the day kids attend various activities including Track Time classes. A Track Time is an opportunity for a kid to work in a small group setting on new skills or practice old ones like art, photography, music, sports, drama, fishing, backpacking, cheerleading – even a Baby-sitter’s Club. Each evening there is a time of powerful, camp-wide worship designed to help each camper reflect on the Lord’s presence throughout the day. Of course, there is food, fun and fellowship with kids from all over and also to spend quality time with their own group from Winter Park’s First.

OUTRIGGER ISLAND

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Pack your gear, prepare to set sail and discover how to live God’s unshakeable truth on Outrigger Island. This one-week adventure will be June 23-27 for all children, pre-K 4 through fifth grade. The mornings will be filled with Bible studies, crafts, music and other activities.

For more information on any of these activities call (407) 644-3061 and ask to speak to someone in the children’s ministry department.