Wondering if anyone here has, or if you know someone, who has been involved with youth groups and model railroading. Really need to think this a bit farther before chatting with my Pastor?.
So far my concept is this, Promoting my faith, getting parents involved with there children in some type of progect, of thier choosing (depending on age), tool saftey, reading comprension (setting cv's), measuring( inch, metric and micrometer) wireing, sodering, making trees and scenery and of course running trains.
Being I have taught College level courses I doubt if I will have probems with the teaching aspect's of the above.
My layout is a around the room two tier with a helex, four swing ups, main problem due to it being a 12x14 room, is limited working working space in the room. Work desk rolls under the layout. But with spring weather coming I have a very large patio.
Thank you in advance for your info...Take care...John
I contemplated doing this back when I was in the high school youth group at my church. The problem is that I was kinda the odd one out in that there are not many teenagers interested in the hobby these days. The first step will be to convince them that it is a cool hobby. You might have some luck with the the wiring DCC thing as it is computer related an I bet some techies would get into that. Anybody in the youth group involved in Science Olympiad you might be able to get some members there, as there are there are a lot of building activities in the competition.
I am hoping to be a high school teacher in the near future and have wondered if I would have any luck starting a model railroad club as an after school activity.
Gilshrat
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Personally I think it is an awesome idea!
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Aralai Personally I think it is an awesome idea!
I agree with you 100 percent! It would be a great way for people to come together.
Great idea.This hobby has it all, from carpentry to history and fun creating something. Best of luck.
Our club is in the basement of a church Kids are encouraged but they have to have a parent with them. The parent has dues to pay but the kids are free. Here's our website.
www.starr-mrc.org
Springfield PA
Sounds like a great idea to me. This is a very family-friendly hobby appropriate for all ages. WHile there aren't really any specific religious elements, spending time together as a family and workign coorperatively certainly promotes many of the same ideals espoused by the religious side of things.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Did some of that many years ago when I was a "young, eager pastor", now I am about worn out and don't relate to the youth we have today as well as I should. However, will pass this on to our minister in training who is working toward his Youth Pastor calling. Church does have some room, but the board is about as old and stodgy as me. On the other hand, they all know I play with trains in my basement.
Hum, not a bad idea.
Bob
Ya know, if you are talking about a Christian church group, then you might start by playing up that whole "carpentry" angle.....
rrinker Sounds like a great idea to me. This is a very family-friendly hobby appropriate for all ages. WHile there aren't really any specific religious elements, spending time together as a family and workign coorperatively certainly promotes many of the same ideals espoused by the religious side of things. --Randy
I agree with Randy. At a time when it is more and more difficult to find family entertainment fare on television or in the movies, it seems to me that model railroading would be an ideal way to encourage family togetherness. Youth pastors take note.
John Timm
I have done Cub / Boy Scouts and Model Railroading. Boy Scouts in particular have a Railroading Merit Badge, one aspect of which can be model railroading. I'm sure scout leaders in your area would be happy to hear from you. Even if the boys are not working on a Railroading Merit Badge, there are still many activities a good leader could sign off from such as session. It's also just a good outing.
Let me know if that interests you, and I can get you in touch with your local Council.
Scouting teaches most of the same values as you're trying to promote, and the two go together well. In fact, my Cub Scout Pack is sponsored by St. Bridget of Kildare, one of the local Catholic churches, though there is no requirement to be affiliated with the church to join the pack.... I'm not.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
Thanks guys...to each and all the above. I will persue this wednsey night and see what shakes out
Thanks again for all the info...Take care...John
Thank YOU John.
I teach SS to youths, coached youths until recently and am an Assistant Scoutmaster(BSA have a RR Merit Badge). My 12 year old son is a 3rd generation MRR. I have been wondering some of the same things too as I am still learning how to do it. .
1. First, what age group of youths are you targeting? Once boys have the hormones kick in, their minds tend to wander off to what we in Scouts call--gas and girls.
2. Depending on the age of youth. If the girls come, the boys will follow. On the other hand if it's the younger youth, sometimes having both girls and boys doesn't matter. Of course having both together can make outreach a little bit more difficult regardless of age as there are always issues of confidence and not wanting to get embarrassed.
3. I have never had serious discipline problems with my teams, classes, scouts, etc--although there have been many times when discipline has been needed. But not to the point of unruly. The first meeting with parents present and them knowing you are very watchful of their behavior really helps set the tone.--by no means the only thing necessary--lots of material can be discussed on this. My point is that inviting youth over to your place for the model railroading experience doesn't have to be full of mayhem and destruction. We have had youth over many times over the years ranging from 1 to 15 in qty. Some things were broken, but they were the more detailed models. Lesson learned--if you you have a valuable highly detailed piece, maybe put it up. That's why I like the old Athearn BB models, they're tough. Your idea of having the parents around will make a world of difference. Ironically those youth we try to reach out to who are not in a good way, many times don't have one or both parents. I have found they live with their Grandparents, Aunts, etc. So a lot of times those caregivers are stretched to the point of not being able to be present. Unfortunately a lot of times reality is they are the ones that need the most watching.
4. Boys learn by doing. They get bored just watching, they will want to touch. So, things need to be set up appropriately. BTW, I would schedule for 45 min to 1 1/2 hour, otherwise boredom will set in. Also, have an agenda(at least one in your head) to keep things moving, going from subject to subject. I have found after about 30 minutes, they get bored with a subject. Take a snack and/or outside break???
5. These kids a lot of times have iPods, cell phones, laptop computers, etc. So, having a computer hooked up to the layout helps with a subject matter that they understand and it can serve as a bridge.
6. They like sound too. So, either sound locos or some type of sound system with background sounds helps.
7. If you want them to build kits, I would make it a multiple day thing where they first become familiar with tools and materials, etc. That's what we do in Scouts and it seems to work. If they pick out their kit to build for themselves they are normally more interested in building it. Shared kits may work, but be careful. Sometimes there are those who aren't good for each other behaviorally and need to be separated.
8. I like math too and have found that in building the Pinewood Derby cars to Merit Badges that there are lots of opportunities to relate a lot of concepts. Some boys will soak it in like sponges, some won't care, but that's OK, they're in the process of growing up.
I could go on and on, but need to get back to work. Feel free to contact if you need more info.
Richard
Several years ago I came across a "Christian Model Railroaders"site on the net. Not sure if it still exists, but I thought it was a fantastic concept. I don't see why it wouldn't work to invite both adults and children into the scope of your project. BUT! I would be very sure to have some form of insurance. Unfortunately, some people seem to lose their christian spirit when it comes to 30 pieces of silver. Good luck
Kevin
The problem with that the 3 great carpenters that I know of Joseph Jesus and Norm Abrams are all Jewish :)
Joe Staten Island West
Bruce,
Totally agree with you.
Michel D.
Well the editor of the NMRA Magazine is Steven PRIEST. And I have heard many modelers make mention of the Diety and his Son particularly when soldering or using Xacto knives .... And who understands the power of prayer better than model railroaders?
When I was a boy the (Episcopal) priest at our church was a modeler and one night he obtained the Kalmbach films "Along the Right of Way" and I think the other one was called "Fun with Model Trains." Kalmbach also provided free copies of a booklet called Your Introduction to Scale Model Railroading by Linn Westcott. He put together a father and son night around this theme and my dad took me. The church hall was jammed with boys! (We are talking perhaps 1958-60 here.) I have a vague recollection that the evening began with a prayer but apart from that, there was no overt church aspect to it but I think the overall idea of a family oriented activity that brought people to the church on a week night made complete sense.
Dave Nelson