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FAQ’s about Tree Climbers
Below are some commonly asked questions about getting a Tree Climbers group started, along with some questions you may want to consider as you get things going. As always, if you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact us. For instructions on getting a Tree Climbers group started, click here.
1. Why should we start a Tree Climbers group?
Running a Tree Climbers ministry offers several benefits. Your church will.
- Encourage fathers to be involved with their children and their church
- Provide Christian role models to boys at a critical stage of their development
- Offer evangelistic outreach to boys and fathers in the community
- Prepare both boys and men for future involvement in Stockade and other ministries
2. How much will this program cost?
Very little! There is a one-time $50 Application Fee to accompany your completed Working Agreement (if this is the first time you are offering a CSB program), and an annual ministry fee to be paid to CSB, currently only $75. Every leader should have a copy of the Tree Climbers Discovery or Odyssey manual. Any other expenses are for materials and snacks at the meetings. You may wish to purchase Tree Climbers T-shirts.
3. What if a boy’s father cannot attend?
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.
- 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.
4. Can Tree Climbers include boys of kindergarten age?
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.
5. What are some ways to involve fathers?
- 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.
6. Should Tree Climbers be kept separate from a church’s Stockade program?
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. While we understand every church needs to minister within its means, this approach is not the first choice. The age span between 6 or 7 years and 11 years of age is too wide to conduct effective projects or discussions. Older boys may 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.
7. What about father/daughter pairs in Tree Climbers?
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.
8. Can Tree Climbers meetings be conducted in 60 minutes?
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 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.
9. Who should be the Coordinator?
- 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.
10. What are the Coordinator’s responsibilities?
- 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.