ABOUT OUR EVENTS
Superficially, our Christmas events appear to be huge parties with colorful activities, great entertainment, delicious food, toys, and lots of surprises. They are fun. On the surface, that’s exactly how they are supposed to appear.
In reality, however, their primary purpose transcends the superficial to a level much deeper and more meaningful. All of our events have been carefully crafted by our team of counselors and educators to create a nurturing environment which addresses children’s self-concept and loss issues. Through the use of activities firmly based on the principles of the Expressive Therapies, the children are presented with essential life lessonsin a format that is fun.
The cycle of poverty prevents children from achieving their full potential by undermining their own self-concept and ability to strive for their dreams. Why try if you feel the expectation placed on you is that you are a failure? The activities are designed to break this pattern by teaching the children skills that will encourage and empower them to strive to do their best throughout their lives.
Our military children struggle with the issues created when a loved one is removed from the family for an extended period of time and deployed to a war zone. Their fears and sense of loss often damage the children’s concept of self-worth. The subsequent pain results in anger directed at or withdrawal from a world that is totally out of their control. The activities are designed to help the children express their feelings and to revalidate the children’s own feelings of importance.
Every event is composed of approximately thirty different components, each requiring fifteen to twenty minutes for the children to complete. This timeline keeps the children fully engaged and receptive to the lessons presented as they participate in the activities.
All of the activities must support our primary mission, to increase the children’s awareness of their own potential, build their confidence, and improve their self-concept. While we strive to make all of the activities fun and challenging for the participants, all of them must reflect our core belief that every child is capable of success in life if they are provided with the support, guidance, and acceptance of the adults around them.
the 2007 event activities
PURPOSE – This activity gives the children the opportunity to make this uniquely personal
event by placing their name on the Christmas tree. While this is a celebration of children, it also celebrates the individual beauty of each child by allowing them to express who they are through their creative ornament design.
DESCRIPTION - The children create their own ornaments, sign their artwork, and then hang the completed ornaments on the Christmas tree.
CAFÉ RUDOLPH
PURPOSE – This is the area where lunch is prepared and served. The objective is to 
provide a quiet place where the children can take a break to eat and socialize, exchanging stories about what they have experienced at the event so far.
DESCRIPTION - The area consists of tables from which the food is served and ample floor space for the children to picnic with their group. Food service can be configured in any of the following four ways:
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Food can be totally prepared and distributed in the Food Area.
- Food can be prepared outside and brought inside for distribution in the Food Area (i.e. when a gas or charcoal grill is used).
- Food can be delivered to the event pre-prepared and ready to serve (i.e. pizza, submarine sandwiches, etc.)
- Combination of the previous three.
THE HOLLOW TREE
PURPOSE – While enjoying a cookie, the children assist a storyteller as a book is read aloud. Every child gets to take center stage and perform in front of their group, building self-confidence while using their reading skills.
DESCRIPTION - Children are greeted by a Keebler Elf hand puppet in a hollow tree and given cookies. They then help a storyteller read the book “The Homeless Christmas Tree.”
PURPOSE – Art is a tremendously valuable therapeutic tool that promotes healing by enhancing communication and utilizing creativity. Besides allowing the children to address
feelings they might not be able to express with words alone, the activities are designed to teach the children to complete an art project using unfamiliar materials and techniques. The projects are designed to provide an extremely nurturing, confidence building process that results in a quality finished project. This area encourages the children not to fear trying new things, to keep an open mind with new ideas/concepts, and underscores the fact that they are capable of doing much more than they may think they are capable of doing.
DESCRIPTION - Children are guided through one of several art projects designed to expose them to art supplies and techniques with which they often have no experience. The children will marvel at their finished projects, proudly showing everyone what they accomplished.
PURPOSE – While teaching high-tech video special effects, a subject that will captivate the children, this activity encourages participants to try new things and to look closer at the world around them. Sometimes things that look real aren’t real at all.
DESCRIPTION – Students and staff from Collins College teach the children about video special effects. Each child is given the opportunity to go onto a green-screen stage and act out a scene in which they open a footlocker and put on Harry Potter’s cloak of invisibility, disappearing in the process. The performance is broadcast to a big screen television and recorded on a DVD so it can be shared with the rest of the school and with parents.
UNIVERSITY OF TOMORROW
PURPOSE – This activity encourages the children to not only complete high school, but that it is also possible for them to continue on and attain a college degree. The best way to break the cycle of poverty is to obtain the education and skills necessary to get a higher paying job. Often, impoverished children are not aware that this option is open to them.
DESCRIPTION – The children put on caps and gowns and receive a diploma with their name on it proclaiming that they have been found to be smart enough to be a future college graduate. Pictures are taken as each child receives his/her diploma. Time allowing, the entire group takes a processional march around the facility.
PURPOSE – This area provides the fire department with the opportunity to impact a large group of children with potentially life-saving information in a very nurturing environment, where the children are likely to be very receptive to learning new concepts.
DESCRIPTION – The Phoenix Fire Department provides an interactive exhibit of its many programs focusing on children.
ELF BOUTIQUE GIFT TABLE AREA
PURPOSE – Sponsored by Kiwanis Clubs, this area provides the children with the 
opportunity to select presents for their families. Often, due to reduced income, the primary needs of these children are provided by the assistance and generosity of the community. They receive support but do not have the resources available for them to give back. We believe the ability to give is intrinsic to human nature and is also a primary need that must be met. Failure to do so creates self-centered individuals who lack the basic concept of social responsibility.
DESCRIPTION – Prior to arriving at the event, their school gives the children “Kiwanis Cash”. This “cash” can be used to “purchase” items at the Elf Boutique that they can give to their family members as Christmas presents.
ELF BOUTIQUE GIFT WRAP AREA
PURPOSE – When family incomes are limited or strained, traditions are lost because they 
can no longer be afforded. Many of the children we serve have never encountered gift-wrap and don’t understand what it is. This activity provides them with that experience. For those who have used gift-wrap but no longer can afford it, it provides a return to some semblance of normalcy by restoring a family tradition. The other benefit of this activity is the nurturing interaction between the volunteers and the children.
DESCRIPTION – The children take the items they’ve selected in the Gift Area to the Gift Wrap tables where volunteers help them wrap the presents. They select the gift-wrap patterns they like and learn how to wrap a present.
MAGIC OWL POST OFFICE
PURPOSE – Rather than being well connected in society, the poor are typically overlooked and ignored. This activity area addresses these issues by providing the children with a direct line to Santa Claus and by giving them a personal Christmas card. Both activities utilize reading/writing skills to underscore that the children are important and that people do care about them.
DESCRIPTION - Children write a personal letter to Santa Claus and then place their letter directly into Santa’s Book for him to read before he goes to bed tonight. After they place their letter in the book, they go to the “Magic Mailbox” and receive a personal Christmas card. They are assisted through these activities by members of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), one of whom uses a large owl hand puppet to entertain the children.
MAGIC OWL WILDLIFE EXHIBIT
PURPOSE – This is a wildlife exhibit, familiarizing the children with the variety of animals indigenous to Arizona, especially the more dangerous ones. The activity focuses on respecting wildlife and safety, by teaching them what to do when they encounter these wonderful creatures. The segue that transitions the children from the letter writing activity and Magic Mailbox to the wildlife display is a live great horned owl, just like the one who delivers mail in the Harry Potter movies and books.
DESCRIPTION - Children visit with a live great horned owl and learn about Arizona’s wildlife from the staff of the Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center. Besides the owl, there will be live exhibits of Arizona’s venomous animals and many surprise visitors.
TOYLAND, HAND & FACE PAINTING
PURPOSE – This area has three functions. First, it gives the children something positive to 
do while they are waiting in line. Second, it provides the opportunity for our volunteers to facilitate some quality one-on-one time with each child. Children thrive on adult acknowledgement and attention. Third, the personal information the volunteers learn from the child is relayed to Santa Claus, where it is used to make the visit more personal.
DESCRIPTION – While the children are waiting in line to see Santa Claus, our volunteers entertain them by stamping and painting their hand and/or face. Each child chooses their own design and colors.
TOYLAND, SANTA CLAUS PICTURES
PURPOSE – This area provides the gift of memories. Economic constraints often prevent families from taking pictures of their children as they grow up. Unfortunately, time passes quickly and there is no way to replace those lost memories. Each child is given two copies of the picture of their visit with Santa for their parents. The Santa visit itself is a nurturing experience designed to heal damaged self-concept by addressing their self-image, self-esteem, and sense of self-worth.
DESCRIPTION – Santa Claus greets each child by name. As their picture is taken, Santa has a conversation with the child, using bits of their personal information and giving them positive feedback about their potential and how much they are liked and appreciated. Finally, Santa sends them into Toyland to select a toy for themselves.
TOYLAND, TOYS
PURPOSE – This area provides the gift of choice. Often, during times of financial hardship,
children are expected to settle for whatever they are given. What they want becomes irrelevant. This activity lets them know that their feelings do matter, that they have choices in life, and helps them develop the thought processes necessary for them to make good choices.
DESCRIPTION – Each child looks through all of the toys in Toyland and chooses one item as a special gift from Santa Claus. There are ample toys to provide the last child with as much choice as the first child. The goal is for every child to find something they really want. For every 100 children participating in the event, we need to collect 225 toys to provide enough choices. We are creating “Birthday Closets” at each school with the leftover toys.
PURPOSE – This area provides the police department with the opportunity to impact a large group of children with potentially life-saving information in a very nurturing environment, where the children are likely to be very receptive to learning new concepts.
DESCRIPTION – The Phoenix Police Department provides an interactive exhibit of its many programs focusing on children.
SMALL WORLD, TRAIN DEPOT
PURPOSE – Even though model railroading has been extremely popular for over one hundred years, these children probably have never experienced it. This exhibit introduces the children to the magic of the hobby and broadens their knowledge of the world around them.
DESCRIPTION – The children visit and operate model trains on a large train display.
SMALL WORLD, NORTH POLE
PURPOSE – This interactive exhibit teaches the participants to examine more closely the things they see and to pay attention to the small details. They also learn that it is easier and faster to solve a problem (find the hidden objects) if they work together as a team instead of working alone.
DESCRIPTION – Children visit a miniature model of Santa’s North Pole Village and help the elves find items that are hidden in the village.
HALL OF HEROES
PURPOSE – To provide the children with the opportunity to meet positive role models from their own community, people whom the children admire and with whom they can readily identify. To have these Heroes provide the children with their stories and secrets to success. To honor these Heroes and acknowledge their intrinsic importance to the health of our community.
DESCRIPTION - Children are introduced to several role-model “Heroes” who meet individually with each child, posing for pictures, autographing pictures, sharing their stories, and mentoring them with suggestions for succeeding in life and achieving their goals.
PURPOSE – This activity is designed to allow each child to be recognized both as an individual contributor and also as part of the entire production team. The lesson is that nothing is complete without all of the pieces. Each child is important. Sequential time skills are also taught. The first group of children learns that their work will be the beginning of the project and that all future groups will build on what they have done. They are the foundation. Each subsequent group of children learns that their work is built on what was done by previous groups and that future groups will, in turn, build on what they do. In this way they are gain a historical perspective on who they are and the importance of what they do in life.
DESCRIPTION – Children sign their name on a 2” x 2” tile and then paste it onto the mosaic wall, becoming part of a 10,000 children work of art, 36’ long and 8’ high, which will be displayed for the next twelve months at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix.
NORTH POLE IDOL
PURPOSE - This activity helps the children build self-confidence and improve their self-image by providing them with the opportunity to perform in the North Pole Idol competition by singing karaoke. Everyone wins and is appreciated for their efforts.
DESCRIPTION - Children are given the opportunity to perform on stage, individually, in small groups, and as a large group. Their performances are projected onto a big-screen TV and recorded on a DVD so the children can show their parents.
AMUSEMENT RIDES
PURPOSE – Amusement rides provide a fun way for the children to challenge their fears. They also provide a social experience where the children can share being thrilled with their 
classmates. Many of the rides, especially the Inflatables, involve exercise (jumping, running, and climbing) and some are competitive (obstacle courses and double slides). They usually provide high-energy activities and, like school recess, are welcome breaks for the children and teachers alike.
DESCRIPTION – Our goal is to provide at least three amusement rides for each day’s event. The rides could be mechanical (Roller Coaster, Safari Train, Sea Dragon) or inflatable. There are three basic types of inflatable rides: Slides, Obstacle Courses, and Bounces. The rides will vary from day to day depending on availability.
VEHICLE RIDES
PURPOSE – This activity allows the children to experience and learnabout a variety of 
unusual vehicles that can be found in our community.
DESCRIPTION – Children get to explore and take rides in unusual vehicles (fire truck, Hummer, Lamborghini, etc.)
PURPOSE – Like the amusement rides, this activity provides a fun way for the children to challenge their fears. The thrill of being elevated that high into the air, also provides a
different perspective on how things appear. The lesson is, when solving a problem, examine the issues at hand from a variety of perspectives to determine the solution.
DESCRIPTION – APS and the Phoenix Fire Department give children rides in a bucket truck.
ANIMAL EXHIBITS
PURPOSE –Inner city children have limited exposure to animals, aside from domestic pets.
Contact with animals of these types is not only therapeutic but also helps broaden the experience of the children.
DESCRIPTION – Children visit a “petting zoo” type animal display (horses, alpacas, etc.).
HOT AIR BALLOON
PURPOSE – Very few of these children have ever been able to get close to a hot air balloon. Most have only seen them in pictures. They live in areas near airport flight patterns that are typically restricted to balloon flights, so they haven’t even seen them flying high overhead. This area will give them an experience they will never forget.
DESCRIPTION – Children get up close and personal with a huge hot air balloon tethered in front of the building.