Recruit additional volunteers. In addition to station leaders and Ranch Crew Leaders, you may want to recruit volunteers to help with registration, transportation, and child care for the staff. Refer to the “Recruiting” section on page 98 of your Director's Manual for more ideas.

Get your congregation excited about Operation Kid-to-Kid. Check out the Operation Kid-to-Kid section of the Director's Manual to find easy ways to get everyone involved with this missions project.

Continue publicity. Mail Avalanche Ranch invitation postcards to children in your church and community. Distribute Avalanche Ranch doorknob danglers in your community. Write your church’s name and when your Avalanche Ranch will begin. (Invitation postcards and doorknob danglers are available from Group Publishing or your Group supplier.) Be sure to direct people to your Avalanche Ranch Web site for easy registration.

Continue preregistration. Print off copies of the “Avalanche Ranch Registration Form” found in the "Tips & Updates" section of your Web Toybox. Insert copies in your church bulletins, distribute copies in Sunday school classes, and keep a supply in your church office. Encourage parents from your church to preregister their children and their children’s friends. This will make your first day more manageable.

Hold the scheduled leader training meeting. Plan to meet in a large room where you’ll be able to try out some Avalanche Ranch snacks and activities. Before the meeting, set up a TV and DVD player, and decorate the room using the suggestions provided in the staff training outline. Bring the station leader manuals, Crew Leader Pocket Guides, and photocopies of the “For Ranch Crew Leaders Only” handouts.

Meet with each station leader. It’s a good idea to touch base with each station leader on a one-on-one basis. Take each person to lunch or out for ice cream, or simply go for a walk together as you discuss what supplies the leader needs, what concerns he or she may have, or any aspects of the program that are not clear. This will not only prevent miscommunication but also help your volunteers know how much you appreciate them.

Provide Avalanche Ranch information to your church office.
Fill in your church’s information on the community flier, and photocopy a stack of completed fliers on brightly colored paper to put in your church office. Someone in the office can refer to the fliers if people call with questions about your program and can distribute fliers to people who stop by the office. If your church has a phone answering machine, you may also want to include Avalanche Ranch information in your recorded message. If your church has its own Web site, be sure to add Avalanche Ranch information there, too.

Start building your daily Challenge Corral.
The Daily Challenge is an important part of Avalanche Ranch. You’ll need a place for
crews to add their Daily Challenge Wow Cows each day. Not only is this a super, visual way to show that kids are living out the Bible Point, but it also becomes a focal point of your Sing & Play Stampede decorations. Use the directions, and work with the Sing & Play Stampede Leader to create a sturdy corral.