Yearly Letter

One activity day group sends out a letter every year to the parents to remind them of their ultimate responsibility to get the program done, tell them of the time, address concerns, and review what the program is and what to expect from the leaders.  Great idea!  

Super Saturday

One ward has Super Saturday once every six months and work on the 11 year-old requirements together.  This also is a good time to encourage the girls to get their books signed and follow through.  Thanks for the great idea!

Summer Time Field Trips

One ward combines their Activity Day groups in the summer to do longer activities like visiting the temple, the family history library, temple dedications (they actually had three girls get baptized because of that activity), etc.  Thanks for sharing this great idea with us!

Implementing Primary Activity Days

Except for the new information on quarterly activity days, all this was copied from the Faith in God booklet.  Usually, if you have a question about activity days, it will be answered there.

Monthly Communications

You can pass along information to the parents of your activity day girls every month or so in order to 1) Let them know when and where you will be holding upcoming activities and 2)To let them know what Faith in God requirement will be accomplished at each activity.  This information can be in the form of a calendar, a flier, or an email.
Let me know your ideas about passing along information by clicking on "comments" below!

Dividing up Goals

Many wards divide up all of the goals in the Faith in God book between their activity days groups so that each group works on different goals.  This is a great way to ensure that each girl completes all goals when she is in activity days and that no one goal is repeated too often. 
Share your ideas about Coordinating Activity Day Groups by clicking on "comments" below!

Using Faith in God in Activity Days

Click here to see a great page entitled "Using Faith in God in Activity days" on lds.org.  On this page you will find lessons on the purpose of activity days, planning activity days, roles and responsibilities of leaders involved in activity days, generating ideas for activity days, etc. 

Understanding Activity Days

Activity days is active. 

·         Activity days is hands on. 

·         Activity days is a chance to build the girl’s faith by taking gospel principles learned at home and in primary and ACT on them. 

·         It is a chance to learn skills that will help girls grow into righteous and able young women.

·           Activity days includes food, games, field trips, and fun. 

·         While activity days does involve listening, thinking, and sometimes writing, it is not school—it should focus on learning through doing.  

·         Activity days is not a party; It should always implement gospel-centered activities that increase faith.

·         Activity days is a positive place where all girls and leaders feel welcomed and loved.

·         Activity days may well be one of Primary’s most successful tools for conversion, activation, and retention.  Girls who don't come to church still love to come to activity days!  Your activity may be the only chance they have in the month to be reminded that they are precious children of God!

Magnifying the Call

(Points taken from M Russell Ballard’s talk, O Be Wise, Oct 2006 General Conference)

·         To magnify is to focus on the girls and their needs. 

·         It is to use Innovation born of inspiration.

·         To magnify is often to simplify.

·         To magnify is not to embellish, complicate, or expand.  It is not to sap too much time, money, or energy. 

Orienting New Leaders

Orienting new leaders is key to insuring that our activity day programs continue to run smoothly.  The counselor over activity days  will want to insure that someone (typically the counselor herself or an experienced activity day leader or both) meets with each new leader to explain the activity day program to them and to fill them in on how your ward implements this program.   Having some one assigned to see that this orientation takes place with each newly called leader will help to insure that your ward will continue to have wonderful activity days now and in the future.  
Share your ideas on Orienting New Leaders!  Click on "comments" below.