Draussen: Yeti entdeckt!

Snow Weekend with a YETI Theme

It’s been a few years now, but the youth group members still talk about that memorable day when the Yeti was finally not only spotted but also captured. 

’sidea for the weekend: a sledding weekend and a new challenge. What could be more fitting than “the search for the Yeti”?

“Yeti”—a name that divides opinion. Is it purely a matter of belief—or is there scientific basis behind it after all? A new species? Fiction or fantasy? These questions are at the heart of the weekend’s concept.

ProgramWe only had one and a half days available. However, the program can easily be extended to two full days or even two and a half days. There’s definitely no chance of getting bored.

Our weekend was meant to feature an exciting combination of tried-and-true activities (sledding) and new ones (action: Yeti hunt). Above all, we absolutely had to do the “tubing” again in the evening on a homemade “bobsled track” lit by torches. 

Tubing
isn’t without its dangers, so here are a few safety rules to keep in mind. It’s important that participants are instructed on how to ride properly. In the heat of the moment, even the most basic rules are all too easily ignored.

• The slope used for tubing must be free of obstacles. Individual trees, posts, poles, etc., must not be within reach of the tubing run.
• The landing area must be long enough. Especially when the snow surface is frozen (evening/night tubing!), even 100 meters may be too short under certain circumstances—as a serious accident a few years ago demonstrated.
• Only allow a reasonable number of children per tube. It makes little sense to try to fit three, four, or even more people on a single tube.
• Jumps may be fun—but they can also cause severe pain. Clear rules ensure order.
• The path to the top is marked at a safe distance from the run. No one is allowed on the run (not even a leader!).
• Torches stuck into the side of the slope must under no circumstances be within reach. While plastic jackets burn only briefly, they burn all the more intensely. 

Yeti Gear
It goes without saying that the Yeti you’re hunting must be dressed appropriately. You can rent a fur cloak from a local costume rental shop to wear over your clothes. A dark military coat also works well as a disguise. The shoes are important. Since the Yeti leaves tracks as early as the first day, it’s worth giving some thought to your footwear. We used small wooden boards (about 50 cm long) cut to the shape of our feet. To ensure that the Yeti doesn’t run away on Sunday and become a source of amusement for the children, the Yeti’s feet must be securely fastened. If you have old shoes available, it’s definitely worth screwing the boards onto them. We used only tape, but it wasn’t strong enough and caused the Yeti to limp after just a short time.

Spiritual Program
As already mentioned, the whole Yeti story is a matter of faith. This makes it a natural opportunity to explore the background of that faith.

For Older Participants:
A workshop on the topic “Is Faith in the Bible Still Relevant Today?” allows participants to discover for themselves that the Bible is relevant both historically and scientifically. The Bible’s teachings cannot simply be dismissed as fairy tales and thus as a matter of faith. Too many characteristics point to the truth of God’s Word.

Younger participants:
The story of Abraham (his departure from Haran, the sacrifice of Isaac) is a biblical example of how faith in God, while not exactly easy, is all the more rewarding. Abraham is presented in the New Testament as a model of faith.

Worship Service:
“Faith in God” can also be the theme of a communal worship service. The basis for this is Hebrews 11:32–39. Main message: Faith saves you, even if you cannot yet see any benefits. Personal experiences shared by leaders and children help make the worship service more personal. 

In case of bad weather:

• Snowshoes
• Materials
   
• Yeti Contest
• Equipment

References:

Manfred Kaderli, Patrik Lehner: YETi—Spontaneous Group Games with Snow, rex-Verlag: A small paperback book with 75 game ideas 

• Content and image: Forum Kind, Issue 4/02, pages 13 and 14. Snowy weekend with a bad-weather alternative (making snowshoes). © Copyright www.forum-kind.ch
• Author: Lori Keller, BESJ Secretary