Preparedness Fair Ideas

For all you Ward/Stake Emergency Preparedness Specialists, I thought I'd share the success of our ward preparedness fair which we called a "Preparedness Extravaganza." We had excellent attendance and have received positive feedback. We held it on our activity night and it served as the joint activity for the youth and was geared for the entire ward family. We assigned the different stations to different priesthood quorums and auxiliaries who came up with these great ideas. Below I will outline the event. If you would like to share your ideas for a preparedness fair, please feel free to comment.

A. Food Storage Potluck Dinner & Cook-off: People brought a dish to share made from food storage and could enter it into the cook-off if they wished. Bishopric judged the competition. Prizes: 1st Prize: Apron with "Prepared Chef" embroidered on it, Faith Trivet; 2nd Prize: Chocolate Emergency Kit (basket filled with gourmet chocolate delights); 3rd Prize: Oven mitts.

B. Preparedness Jeopardy Game: projected on a large screen and played during the dinner, Coloring pages were provided before the meal to keep the children busy.

C. Preparedness Stations: Families were able to peruse stations at their leisure. Kids were provided a list of stations. They received a sticker at each station. If they brought back their paper with a sticker on every station, they received a prize (ours was their choice of a granola bar or lollipop)

1. Spiritual Preparedness: Quotes provided for adults. Game for kids: Told the story of Moses and children of Israel where they had to look at the brazen serpent to live, likened it to reading scriptures, listening to the prophet to be spiritually prepared. Then they played a game with different cards for the kids to step on. If they stepped on snake, they were out. If they stepped on a prophet card or a brazen serpent, they could continue. First person to get to the end of the cards won.
2. Water Storage: Information on water storage and water purification provided with examples of different storing methods provided for adults. Game for kids: Water pitcher with marbles in the bottom. Demonstrated the need to filter water by having the kids pour the pitcher of water through a colander. Likened the marbles in the colander to things that contaminate the water.
3. Food Storage: Food Storage Starter kit was displayed with "All is Safely Gathered In" Food Storage Pamphlets provided. Children and adults could grind wheat by hand and with an electric grinder, knead bread dough, make butter and sample whole wheat bread. Sample food storage shelving displayed (the kind where the shelves are slanted for rolling cans.)
4. Emergency Communications: Ham Radio, CBs, Telephones, Walkie Talkies were displayed, info about emergency communication was provided. Activity for Kids: Kids were escorted to a big rig cab and talked on the CB to someone in the church. They loved it! Each was given a "handle." (CB nickname)
5. Cooking without Power: This was outside and assigned to the Young Men who love to make fires. They provided a pamphlet with information about cooking without power. They demonstrated different methods of cooking without power (fires, charcoal, charcoal pit, dutch oven, etc.) Kids and adults could roast a hot dog on the fire and sample food made through various methods.
6. Provident Living: Monthly menu planning utilizing food storage, bulk shopping and canned items was demonstrated and great information provided. Older children could fill out a weekly menu with food they liked; younger children played with toy food.
7. Financial Preparedness: "One for the Money" pamphlet and "All is Safely Gathered In" pamphlet were provided, budget forms, a book containing important documents and information was displayed. Game for Kids: Penny toss into Tithing, Spending and Savings buckets.
8. 72 Hour Kits: Info provided for adults, 72 hour kit displayed, Each child assembled 72 hour food kits in a Ziploc bag. This was costly but we felt that it was worth it to have all the children go home with a three day emergency food supply. Game: Kids had to find 72 hour food kit items (pictures on paper) hidden around the room and put them on the paper backpack. Younger children could color.
9. Gardening: Info about square foot gardening provided. A planted square foot garden was displayed along with a model showing different ways to lay out a square foot garden. Expert gardeners were there to answer questions from ward members. Children could sample food from the garden. Other ideas: The kids could plant a seed at this station or could receive a small plant.
10. Emergency Preparedness: Pamphlets from the Red Cross were provided about creating a family emergency plan, what to do after a disaster, etc. Game: Children sat on a stool, drew a question about emergency preparedness out of a hat (example: What two items should every home have in case of fire? Smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher). Children answered into a microphone and received a lollipop at the end.