Tips on Delivering Studies

There are a number of things you should keep in mind while delivering studies:

• Develop your own personal style. Don’t feel like you need to deliver exactly like other people who you’ve seen before. Do what works for you.
• There are a number of different ways that people learn (visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinaesthetic or physically)
• Seek advice. Ask for tips from someone who you respect. If you’re feeling brave, ask an experienced study leader (teacher of God’s word) to watch you practices your studies ahead of the camp and to give feedback.
• Ask for feedback throughout the week from leaders and campers. Be ready and willing to receive this feedback constructively.
• Use your voice wisely – consider your volume, tone, and pacing. Ask for feedback or record yourself speaking to get an idea of this. Look after your voice throughout week – find what works for you (e.g. don’t yell, use a microphone if needed, drink fluids, etc.)
• Use your time wisely. Stick to your main points and don’t waffle.
• Avoid Christianese and explain the meaning of non-secular terms (i.e. sin, repent).
• Be friendly and engaged. Show the campers you care, affirm them, and highlight their value to God.
• Ask recap style questions to the campers at the start of each session to ensure they will remember key points.
• Communicate with leaders the vision/importance of study in the leaders meeting each day so they can encourage campers to engage in the study session.

Crowd Management

• Consider your room set-up – e.g. are you going to get better attention if the campers are on chairs or on the floor; are the campers sitting close enough to the front?
• Set some ground rules to begin with if needed. Expectations should be clearly communicated and consistently enforced. Start firm and relax as appropriate.
• Engage camper attention from the beginning – consider using an anecdote or a joke. It is important to get camper focus before talking – don’t talk over the top of them if they are unfocused as this is unlikely to command their attention.
• Ensure that leaders are dispersed throughout the crowd with their campers to prevent them from talking to each other, etc.