Turn the last official night of Caravan into a fun-filled exploration of Nazarene Missions. The General Caravan office has teamed up with the World Missions Candidate Coordinators and developed an exciting life-sized game to introduce children to the world of Nazarene missions.

Purpose of Missions Mania

"Missions Mania" is a game to introduce children to Nazarene missions. The questions will challenge the children while introducing them to interesting facts about the seven world regions. As they play the game, children ‘travel' through all seven world regions of the Church of the Nazarene. Children become the game pieces as they advance on a room-sized game board. Missions Mania is designed to be big or small, elaborate or simple, depending on the needs of your budget and room size. Missions Mania, which debuted at the Children’s Ministries family camp, NAZJAM 2002, at Bonita Park Nazarene Conference Center, is adaptable for children elementary age through high school..

Missions Mania takes approximately thirty minutes for a group of eighteen children to play. If you have a medium-to-large-sized Caravan, consider rotating groups of children through the game while having other activities planned and running at the same time.

Object of Missions Mania

The object of the game is to present children with interesting facts about missionaries, the world regions, and situations missionaries might face. Game cards will present children with specific questions about the different regions or indicate tasks children must perform.

The Game
See the illustration for the shape of the game board. Game pieces are color-coded half pieces of poster board, with each color representing a different world region. Each game piece asks one question about a particular region. The answer to each question is written on 3" x 5" cards and attached face-down with Velcro to the front of each corresponding game piece.

To Play
Each region is marked by a sign (poster board size) with the name of that region. These signs can be hung from the ceiling, placed on posts, or propped up on the floor in each region.

Each region has an entry point. Seven children can enter the game at a time. At the beginning of each game, have seven children stand at the entry points of the seven different regions. There children receive the first star for their passport sheets. Once a child is halfway through the first region, another child can enter at the same entry point. As children work their way through each region, let them add stars to their passport sheets. The game is completed when all children have either moved through all seven regions or the allotted time is up. [Note: If time or space is an issue, you might want to play through three regions one night and the remaining four regions on another night.]

Have an adult spin a number wheel or roll a die, calling out the number that comes up. Have each child move ahead that number of spaces. Have each player then either answer the question or complete the task indicated on the game card.

After the completion of each game, have a short time (no more than five minutes) of discussion. Here are some questions you might ask:

1. What did you learn that you didn’t know?

2. Which region did you find the most interesting?

3. Do you think it would be difficult to be a missionary? Why or why not?

4. How do you think Caravan helps kids who feel called to become missionaries?

5. Would you like to learn more about being a missionary?

Have information available for kids. If children are interested in learning more about being a missionary, contact Sandy Cunningham in World Mission (scunningham@nazarene.org).

The Room
Decorate each section of the room according to the region. Inflatable animals, palm trees, fish, birds and globes are inexpensive and can decorate the room. Inflatables can be stored easily and used for other events. Large stuffed animals, fishnets, flowers, and large posters can be used to transport children across the globe. The game can be easily expanded or scaled down depending on the size of your room and budget.

How can children earn badges while helping you build Missions Mania?

Scouts - Handicrafts – Scouts can earn the handicrafts badge by making the dice or spinning wheels and regional signs for Missions Mania.

Sentries - Games – Sentries can earn the Games badge by helping to design and make the individual game pieces and a poster board with instructions.

Pathfinders – Missions – Pathfinders can earn the Missions badge by working on the questions on the game pieces. The children can research, design, and implement accurate decorating ideas for each region.

Trailblazer - Journalism – Trailblazers can earn the Journalism badge by chronicling the work of the other groups. They can either be reporters or photographic journalists as they write or take pictures of each group working on its part of Missions Mania. Consider putting together a Power Point presentation for the Graduation Ceremony or submitting short articles about the making and playing of Missions Mania.

Making the Game

Making Game Pieces

Supplies needed:

Eight pieces of poster board in each of the following colors:
Red – MAC (Mexico & Central America)	Green – South America
Dark Blue – Africa	Yellow – Eurasia
Light Blue – Asia Pacific	Purple - USA/Canada
Orange – Caribbean
White – Description cards	100 white 3" x 5" cards
7 pieces of black poster board for Region signs	Sharpie Pens, thick and thin
Access to laminating machine	Clear Con-Tact paper or access to laminating machine
Velcro tabs	Gold adhesive stars (7 per child)
Passport sheets (one per child)

To Make

1. Cut poster board in half to create 22' x 14' game cards
2. Prepare and laminate game cards, putting only one question on each card.
3. Print answers to questions on 3' x 5' cards, and laminate.
4. Attach answer cards to game cards using Velcro tabs.

Making Region Signs

Supplies needed:

7 pieces of black poster board and colored markers or use of a color printer

To Make

1. Use the entire piece of poster board for each sign.
2. Select a fun font from your computer. (Comic Sans is a good choice and easy to read.) Type the following regions: MAC, Caribbean, South America, Eurasia, Africa, Asia Pacific, and USA/Canada using your selected font. Enlarge the font to at least 100 pt. (as big as each letter will fit on a page). If you have a color printer, print out each letter in color, coordinating with the color of poster board. Or, print out letters with Òno fill' on the letters, (just the outlined letter with a white middle) and have your Caravan children color each letter coordinating with the color of the poster board. Cut out letters.
3. Arrange letters, and use rubber cement to affix them to the poster board.
4. Laminate your signs.

Making Spinner Wheels or Dice

Supplies needed for spinner wheel:

1 piece of white poster board or foam core	Ruler
Pencil	Hole punch
Paper fastener	Markers in the colors chosen for each region

To Make

1. Cut off a 3-inch section from the width of the poster board. Set aside.
2. Draw a large circle on the poster board.
3. Use a ruler to divide the circle into eight equal parts.
4. Color each section in colors coordinating with the colors representing each region.
5. Use a black permanent marker to write 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2 on the eight sections.
6. Make a large black arrow out of the 3' piece of poster board that was set aside.
7. Punch a hole in the exact center of the colored circle and the center of the end of the arrow.
8. Use a paper fastener to attach the arrow to the circle.

Supplies needed for dice:

2 pint-sized empty milk cartons	White paper
Permanent black markers	Tape

To Make

1. Rinse out empty pint-sized milk cartons.
2. Flatten out top of milk carton to make a box.
3. Cover milk carton with white paper and secure it with transparent tape.
4. Using a black permanent marker, number each of the seven sides of the box with the following numbers: 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3.