Elementary School Ministry
We have an active schedule of faith-based classes, worship experiences, service opportunities and athletics for children in first through sixth grade.
Awesome Adventure
Sunday Classes
Elementary classrooms are located on the lower level of the church building and are divided up based on grade. Volunteers who know and love Jesus teach the same class from September through May so that children can develop a consistent relationship with their teachers.
Our Programming
Worship Adventure
In between Sunday morning worship services, elementary children can participate in Worship Adventure, a half-hour of music and teaching time featuring a live band designed to encourage kids to worship God. Worship Adventure is held in Room 147 on the lower level.
Sunday Electives
Elementary students who join us for more than one service have the option to select an elective that meets during a different service than their Bible class. Just like any class, when you check-in you can select one of the classes below. We do expect them to attend their regular Sunday morning class in addition to one of these electives.
Quest: How to Study the Bible (4 – 6 Grade)
Begins Sun, Sept. 10 @ 10:45 a.m. and
Continues Through May (Room 141)
We want to set kids up on a trajectory to seek God through His Word all the days of their lives! In this elective, kids will learn how to read, interpret, and apply God’s Word for themselves, setting them up to understand the larger narrative of Scripture, develop basic skills, and correctly read each genre so they are equipped to stand firm in biblical truth for the rest of their lives.
WinterBlast Retreat (Grades 3-6)
A weekend filled with winter fun like sledding, tubing, ice skating, and hot chocolate as well as time learning about God’s deep love for us. We go to Camp Orchard Hill in Dallas, PA.
Our Curriculum
We use a curriculum called The Gospel Project by Lifeway, which presents the Bible chronologically over a three-year cycle, showing kids how the whole Bible works together to tell a single story: God’s plan to redeem His people through His Son, Jesus Christ, compelling kids to join the mission of God. All children birth to sixth-grade study the same Bible story each week, so if you have kids in multiple grades, you can review, discuss and apply the same lessons in daily life with your family.
Check-In Process
If you have children who participate in multiple programs during Sunday Mornings, we created this video to help you better understand the check-in process!
Vacation Bible School
For one week over the summer, the entire church transforms into an awesome adventure with high-energy worship, intriguing skits, life-transforming teaching, crazy group games, amazing demonstrations, impactful mission opportunities, and kid-adored snacks. For boys and girls age 4 through completed grade 5, this is the place to be that week!
Special Needs Ministry
Awesome Adventure is for all children, even those who face special challenges on their adventure. We have a coordinator who helps these children and families join the adventure by partnering them with Adventure Guide buddies and meeting with parents to discuss specific needs.
More Elementary School Ministries
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Fāz6
Fāz6 exists to help students KNOW God personally and passionately, GROW in community and in relationship with Jesus Christ and GO out to serve and share the Gospel with others. It is our prayer that students will begin to grow in the spiritual maturity they will need in their junior high and high school years…and beyond!
Fāz6 Format
• Fāz6 will take place on the same Wednesday nights that the Jr. High meets for large group.
• The 6th graders get started in room Room 147 (near the North entrance) with a crazy opening activity.
• Afterward, they gather for a topical Bible Study time.
• Finally, Fāz6 students will break-off for their own game time in the gym where parents will normally find them at the end of the night.Contact Tifany Banks
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Trail Life
School Year | Monday Evenings
Our Trail Life troop teaches boys grades K-12 “to live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way …” (Colossians 1:10). Boys achieve this mission through outdoor adventure, character development, and leadership training.
Contact Terry Allison
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American Heritage Girls
School Year | Monday Evenings
Girls in grades K-12 become women of integrity as they learn “to love God, cherish their families, honor their country, and serve in their community” by building close friendships, developing new skills, and serving thousands of hours each year in the community.
Learn More About American Heritage Girls
Contact Terry Allison
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Cumberland Pointe
All Year
God calls us to love our neighbors and Awesome Adventure provides opportunities for your family to do that! Join us as we minister to the international families living at Cumberland Pointe with weekly food deliveries, tutoring, block parties, summer swim lessons, and more.
Contact Terry Allison
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WinterBlast
January
WinterBlast is a winter weekend retreat at Camp Orchard Hill for boys and girls in grades 3-6 that gets the new year started right. Snow games, tubing, ice skating, hockey, gym games, inspiring worship, a challenging Bible teaching, and our incomparable annual “Manly-Man Run” make WinterBlast a weekend to remember.
Contact Tifany Banks
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AROMA All-Sports Camp
June
Messiah University athletes bring a high level of enthusiasm as they coach an entire week of day camp that features four different fun sports every day. Boys and girls ages 7-12 naturally admire these fantastic college students who challenge them to carry the aroma of Jesus Christ wherever they go (2 Corinthians 2:14-15).
Contact Terry Allison
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Upward Sports
Upward Sports at West Shore Free Church is a fun, non-competitive sports experience where children learn the sport, increase their athletic abilities, practice teamwork and good sportsmanship and grow in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Flag Football registration begins in May for the Fall. Basketball registration begins in October for Winter.Contact Lisa Dunlap
Local and Global Outreach
We are deeply committed to both local and global outreach as a children’s ministry. Locally, this includes a weekly food distribution and an after-school ministry. Globally, we take annual mission trips for 5th and 6th graders to Costa Rica, Honduras or the Dominican Republic, where our students have had the opportunity to develop friendships and share the gospel with thousands of children.