Programming & Planning
What Your Participants Will Learn
1. Evaluate the club’s mission and goals and relate it to your club planning
2. Build a yearly club calendar that incorporates your conference and school calendars
3. Incorporate aspects of Investiture Achievement into yearly club calendar
4. Plan weekly club meetings with opening and closing ceremonies
Club Mission, Goals, and Planning
The purpose of the Pathfinder club is to introduce young people to Jesus Christ and to help them grow in Him. The
Pathfinder club program will help them develop their body, mind and spirit (Luke 2:52). With these skills, our
young people are able to carry on the work of the church and bring others to the feet of Jesus. More than just
skills, we want young people to build a relationship with Christ as their Lord and Savior, thus giving them the rela-
tional experience with Jesus that they need to lead their friends to know Him too.
Building a Club Calendar
It is challenging to develop the Pathfinder club yearly calendar. It takes time and effort to gather all the planning
details and people together to make a plan, but it must be done if your club is going to succeed. Know that your
club’s calendar planning is crucial for the success of your club. When planning your club’s calendar, begin by
gathering other calendars that you will need to coordinate with. These include church school and conference
calendars.
Once you have gathered all necessary information, begin to set your meeting schedule, what day of the week you
will meet at what time. Some clubs meet every week, and some meet twice a month. Determine what schedule
works for your club. Once you know your weekly schedule, begin planning major programs such as Induction,
Pathfinder Sabbath, club campouts, fundraisers, Investiture, [Link].
Weekly Club Meeting Programming
Most Pathfinder clubs meet on a weekly basis; however, some only meet twice a month. How often a club meets,
when it meets, and where it meets should determine duration of a club meeting.
Church Board Approval
The church board must approve the Pathfinder Club’s annual calendar. This provides two important advantages for
the club. First, it builds board members’ respect for the Pathfinder Club. When the board is aware of the club’s
plans, the club is in a better position to ask for monetary considerations when the board develops the annual
church budget. Second, the church board must approve all Pathfinder activities in order for them to be covered by
the church’s insurance.
Investiture Achievement Planning
Investiture Achievement (IA) is the core curriculum for Pathfinder club ministry. Most activities and events can be
developed and planned to fulfill the requirements throughout the Pathfinder year.
Staff Meetings
In addition to club meetings, Pathfinder Club Staff should meet at least once per month or more to plan all the
details for club nights as well as other events and activities. Staff meetings are crucial to the success of a Pathfinder
club! The club mission and goals should determine the regularity of staff meetings rather than the convenience of
time.
Staff meetings should include but are not limited to the following:
• Opening prayer
• Treasurer’s report
• Investiture Achievement
• Honors
• Special programs (Induction, Pathfinder Sabbath, Investiture, etc.)
• Outreach projects
• Calendar events and changes
• Conference events
• Specific items of interest for your club
• Planning session for at least 3 to 6 months in advance
• Closing prayer Activities
TASK
• Plan a weekly club meeting with opening and closing ceremonies