Trailhead Day 3: The Shepherd Who Comes Looking

As hikers arrive, greet each one at the 'trailhead' and send them to their trail crew's gathering spot (marked with a sign and a color). Every crew has a screened adult leader plus one or two teen helpers; take attendance and do a quick allergy/medical check against your roster before anyone touches snack. Teen helper job today: be the 'Welcome Scouts' — hand out name tags, help little hikers find their crew color, and lead a simple seated hand-game while the room fills. No helper is ever alone with a child; all check-in happens in the open room with adults present. Have water available from the moment kids walk in.

Welcome everyone loudly and warmly: 'Trail Crews, welcome back to the trail!' Sing a song your church already sings that fits a joyful, upbeat start (two songs max). Do a quick, high-energy icebreaker game called 'Lost Sheep Scramble': leader calls out a 'lost sheep' description ('everyone wearing green shoes!') and those kids hop up, get 'found' with a cheer, and sit back down — repeat fast for 3-4 rounds, and make the last call 'everyone who is a hiker!' so every child gets found. Introduce today's big idea in one sentence: 'Jesus comes looking for us because we matter to him.' Preview the day's trail map (story, crews, stations, snack, closing). Keep the whole crowd seated on the floor in crew clusters so leaders can see every child.

Gather the whole group for the story (large-group teaching). Tell Luke 15:1-7 in kid-friendly words: Jesus was surrounded by people others had given up on. So Jesus told a story — a shepherd with 100 sheep notices ONE is missing. Does he shrug and say 'oh well, I still have 99'? No! He leaves to go find the one, searches until he finds it, lifts it onto his shoulders with joy, and throws a party because the lost one is home. Read Luke 15:4-6 (BSB) aloud slowly. Then explain: Jesus told this story about HIMSELF. Read John 10:11 (BSB): 'I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.' Make the point simple and repeat it: you are the one sheep Jesus would go looking for. You matter that much to him. Use a prop: a toy sheep you 'hide' and then find, lifting it on your shoulders. PRESCHOOL ADAPTATION (ages 4-5): shorten to the search-and-find action — hide the toy sheep, let little ones point to help you 'find' it, cheer, and say the one line 'Jesus looks for me because I matter to him.' Use baa sounds and shepherd motions. OLDER-KIDS NOTE (grades 4-6): point out that the grumbling crowd thought some people weren't worth looking for — ask them to hold that thought for crew time.

Kids go to their trail crews (same adult leader + teen helper each day). Teen helper job: pass out and collect supplies, sit beside younger kids to keep them engaged, and read the verse aloud if asked — but the adult leader leads the discussion and handles any personal sharing. Open with a quick 'high point / low point of your week on the trail' round (anyone can pass). Then walk through the discussion questions, choosing the ones that fit your crew's ages. Practice the memory verse together with motions (shepherd's staff reach, hands as shoulders, point to self). PRESCHOOL ADAPTATION: keep it to one question ('Who comes looking for YOU?') and lots of the toy-sheep 'find it' game. OLDER-KIDS DISCUSSION OPTION: use the deeper 'dig' questions about why the religious leaders grumbled, and talk honestly about times they've felt left out or 'not chosen' — and that Jesus goes after the one. Close crew time in a short prayer, inviting (never requiring) kids to pray.

Crews rotate to the craft station (station leader + teen 'Supply Scouts' who pre-portion materials and help with cleanup). Kids make a cotton-ball sheep they can carry 'on their shoulders' — a paper sheep shape with a yarn loop, cotton balls glued on, and their name written on it as 'the one the Shepherd came looking for.' Kids KEEP their craft to take home as a reminder of the big idea. SAFETY: for the 4-5 group, pre-cut all shapes, skip small beads or googly eyes (choking hazard) and use large pom-poms or cotton balls with close supervision; no child puts materials in mouths. OLDER KIDS: let them write the memory verse on the back. Teen helpers assist but are never alone with a child and do not take children to the bathroom — see the two-adult policy in leader notes.

Head outside (or a large indoor space if it's hot) for shepherd-themed games. Game 1 'Round Up the Flock': a few kids are 'shepherds' who gently tag 'sheep' to bring them safely to the 'sheepfold' (a marked circle) — everyone gets found. Game 2 'Shepherd Says' (Simon-Says style) with shepherd actions. HEAT & SUN SAFETY: set up in the shade, require a water bottle for every child, and build in a sitting water break halfway through — call it 'resting by still waters.' Watch for overheating; bring kids into shade at the first sign. Teen 'Game Scouts' demonstrate moves and retrieve equipment. PRESCHOOL ADAPTATION: slower tag, bigger sheepfold, hold-hands version so no one is overwhelmed. Reapply the point as you play: 'The shepherd doesn't stop until every sheep is safe!'

Snack is a build-your-own 'shepherd's pouch': animal crackers (sheep-shaped if available), pretzels, and raisins or dried fruit, served in a cup. ALLERGEN NOTE: standard trail mix commonly contains WHEAT/GLUTEN (crackers, pretzels) and may carry SOY; keep it nut-free like the rest of the week and skip any brand labeled 'may contain nuts'. Check every label. ALLERGY-SAFE SWAP: offer a clearly separate nut-free, gluten-free option (e.g., certified GF oat cereal and raisins) plated on its own table with its own serving spoons to avoid cross-contact. ALWAYS check each child against the allergy roster before serving; no sharing between cups. For ages 4-5, avoid whole nuts and any round, hard items that are choking hazards — use softer pieces and seat children while eating. Everyone washes or sanitizes hands first. Teen helpers serve and wipe tables but adults supervise allergy checks. Tie it to the day: the shepherd brings his found sheep home and celebrates — we celebrate with a snack.

Short, concrete missions story (station leader-led). Explain simply: just like the shepherd goes looking, Jesus' people around the world go looking for kids and families who are lonely, hungry, or far from help — telling them they matter to Jesus. Pick ONE real ministry your church actually supports and describe what they really do (keep it true — don't embellish). If you add an example of your own, keep it true or start it with 'Imagine...'. Today's crew mission project: kids decorate 'You Matter' cards or fill a simple kindness kit for a partner your church names; explain exactly where it will go. OLDER KIDS: challenge them to name one person at their school who feels left out and one kind thing they could do this week. Keep it hopeful and doable, never guilt-driven.

Built-in time for moving crews between stations, restroom breaks (two-adult policy, never one adult or helper alone with a child), handwashing before and after snack, water breaks, and quick cleanup. Leaders: count heads at every transition and keep crews together. Use a simple call-and-response ('Trail crews — eyes up!' / 'Ready to hike!') to regather attention quickly.

Bring all crews back to base camp. Sing a song your church already sings. Recap the day in one line and have the whole room shout the big idea: 'Jesus comes looking for us because we matter to him!' Say the memory verse together with motions — John 10:11 (BSB): 'I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.' Celebrate the found sheep with a 'party cheer' tying back to the story. Do a quick, calm closing prayer thanking Jesus the Good Shepherd. Give a one-sentence teaser for Day 4 ('Tomorrow is the most important day on the whole trail: the day the stone rolled away.') and remind kids to take home their sheep craft. Dismiss by crew only to a checked, authorized adult following your church's pickup policy.