Parents Night Out will be on February 24th from 5:30 - 9:00 PM. Sign your kids up so you can go out on a well-deserved date night! If you're interested, you can sign up here: http://firstbaptistsylva.com/giving/
Zaxby's 1st Explorers Fundraiser
1st Explorers is having a fundraiser night at Zaxby's in Sylva on Monday, February 20th from 5-10 PM. 10% of the sales will go toward our 1st Explorers ministry. Please come out and eat dinner in support of 1st Explorers!
PassportKids! Camp
This summer, children will be able to attend an overnight Christian camp experience called PASSPORTkids! in Montreat, NC. It will be held at Montreat Conference Center from July 3rd through 6th.
Campers must have completed 3rd – 6th grade to attend PASSPORTkids! Camp.
While at PASSPORTkids! Camp, campers will participate in Bible study, worship, missions and many other fun activities with campers from all over the Southeast!
A deposit of $50 per camper is due on February 17th,
Total cost per camper is $295.
Apply for PASSPORTkids! Camp on our church website here: http://firstbaptistsylva.com/giving/
*Some scholarships are available.
*This experience is separate from 1st Explorers Day Camp.
For more information about PASSPORTkids!, visit them on the web at http://passportcamps.org/kids-camps/
Parents Night Out
Parents Night Out will be held on Feb. 10 from 5:30 - 9:00 PM. Sign your kids up for a night out with your valentine!
Sign up on our website here: http://firstbaptistsylva.com/giving/
Summer Explorers Camp 2017
We're excited to announce summer camp information for this coming summer!
Camp will begin one week following the end of the Jackson County Schools' calendar year and will end one week before Jackson County Schools' calendar year begins in August.
Summer Explorers campers will participate in a variety of activities, including faith development through Bible study and chapel, trips to the pool, library and other various places.
Wee Explorers Preschool will be a half-day camp from 7:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Cost: $250 per month
Summer Explorers Day Camp (K-8) - 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
One Child $650 ($100 dollars of tuition due by March 3rd)
Two Children $1,000 ($200 dollars of tuition due by March 3rd)
Three Children $1,400 ($300 dollars of tuition due by March 3rd)
All payments are non-refundable. Accounts must be paid in full no later than May 26, 2017.
*Breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided.
Sign up here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdqPUCy4whnnAZDkrtbftU4F7XehiZpOxOOofl2alGkiGswVQ/viewform?c=0&w=1
Upon acceptance to Summer Explorers Camp, your family will receive an email confirming your child's acceptance.
How to Give to 1st Explorers
Our 1st Explorers Ministry continues to grow at First Baptist Church and many have asked how to support this ministry. There are several ways to support this ministry.
1) With your prayers! Pray for our staff that care for children daily. Pray for the children and their families. Pray that our programs leadership continues to listen to God and hear where he is calling us.
2) With your time! Come volunteer in the program. You could read with a child, assist in a classroom or provide a special program! Contact Kelly Brown our Director about volunteer opportunities!
3) With supplies! We are always in need to crayons, paint, pencils and more! Check with Kelly Brown our Director to find out what specific needs are.
4) Our Amazon Wish List here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/LKIDY053QS5O/ref=bnav_topnav_lists_2
5) Financially. The money that funds our 1st Explorers Ministry is mostly through tuition and contributions.
a. While the tuition assists in the overall costs of the ministry we know that it takes more than that to support the good work our staff is doing as the minister to children and their families. You can donate directly to the 1st Explorers Ministry which in turn will assist the annual budget of $133,000 for the program.
b. You may donate to the Lou Bryson Memorial Fund which is overseen by our Children’s Advisory Board. This fund was created by Lou Bryson’s family to honor her love for children and our community. This fund is used to provide scholarships for families and provide supplies for the 1st Explorers Ministry.
c. Provide Scholarships for students in our programs:
i. Wee Explorers Pre-School tuition is $250 a month.
ii. After School for one child is $85 a month, $130 for two children, $195 for three children.
Summer Explorers Camp costs between $600 and $1,200 depending on family sizes.
Parents Night Out
Parents Night Out care will be on January 20th from 5:30 - 9:00 PM. If you are interested in signing your child up, you can do so on our website under the Online Giving tab or by clicking here.
Merry Christmas from 1st Explorers!
Sign Up for 1st Explorers Newsletter!
If you would like to receive updates about First Baptist's 1st Explorers Ministry, we encourage you to sign up to receive our 1st Explorers Newsletter! You can do so by submitting your email address at the bottom of the 1st Explorers page on our website. You can access it here: http://www.fbcsylva.com/first-explorers
Volunteer with After School!
Many of you provide support for our 1st Explorers Ministry in numerous ways, however we don’t have many congregation members that are willing to come volunteer and that is one thing I encourage each of you to consider. Consider coming to visit one afternoon and spending time in a classroom getting to know the students and staff members that make our program great!
For the past three years Betty Blanton has come on Tuesday afternoons to form relationships with our students and staff. Heres what she has to say about her Tuesday afternoons with 1st Explorers:
I have been volunteering in the program for at least the past 3 years. I am there on most Tuesday afternoons. Folks this is one of the finest things our church has ever done when we started this back in 2013with about 6-106th graders from Fairview School.
It has been my privilege to work with many of these children but especially with my friend Joe Carnes. Joe has been in After school ever since it became a full-time program which I think was 3 years ago. He is a fine young man and he and I have become best friends. We talk and laugh much of the time when I am with him and share what we have done during the day. This is especially meaningful to me.
If you are retired and looking for something to help out with at church for one afternoon a week, contact Kelly Brown and volunteer to help with after school. I am sure Kelly would find a place for you to help. There are now about 60 kids in this program which is led by a fine staff from our church and students from WCU.
I sincerely hope this program will continue for years to come.
Please prayerfully consider volunteering with 1st Explorers on a consistent basis! Your presence will create lasting relationships with students and staff memebers!