I look carefully at certain things and it was no different when I looked through the 2019-20 Awana Ministry Catalog. Below are some observations that I made from the Awana catalog.
Screenshot from the catalog
Observations about T&T
Uniforms & Awards
There has been much discussion regarding the future of the two different T&T uniform jerseys and awards. Some who are “in the know” shared some of these things which now seem to have been answered in the 2019-20 catalog.
On page 43 of the catalog you will see the uniforms and awards for T&T (screenshot on the right) shown with the caption, “Now, T&T kids of every age get their choice of jersey and award emblems.”
Uniforms are no longer designated for a particular age group! It notes that clubbers can choose which jersey that they would like to wear. That means that your 3rd graders can choice between the green (which used to be for Ultimate Adventure – UA, 3rd & 4th grade) and the blue uniform (originally for Ultimate Challenge – UC, 5th & 6th grade). A little history, originally T&T only had green uniforms and when jerseys were introduced, the blue option was offered so the older children would feel different from the younger.
The awards for T&T are now shown only as the chevrons (as shown on the right). As it has been from the introduction of T&T, the clubber can choose which patch they would like. Yes that means that a clubber may select all green patches, or any combination.
In this on-demand world where people are encouraged to make things “their own”, Awana is providing the clubbers the opportunity to be unique and customize the jerseys/awards. While the award system has been noted this way since the beginning of T&T, the option for the jersey is the first that I remember seeing it this year.
So this leads to the question about the former Ultimate Challenge (UC) patches. If you turn to page 50 of the catalog, you will find a page that shows T&T extras. At the end of that page it shows the former UC awards. They are now called “Everyday Emblems” (image from the catalog below).
Quoting the catalog, “… these 16 just-for-fun emblems” – you can now choose how you will utilize the former UC award patches! As you prepare for the new year, you can begin to think about how you might be able to use these patches to encourage and award clubbers through the year.
Having said all of that, you are free to choose if you use a particular jersey for a particular group or not. You can choose to designate which patch a clubber receives for completing the requirements. Many do this to keep track of inventory. Some clubs, like mine, will allow the clubbers to select which patch they would like. I would add one note…. if you plan to continue to use the former UC award patches (now everyday emblems), then I would stock up on them since I believe that Awana will be discontinuing these emblems (I have no evidence or official word that this is the plan, just years of observation).
I am not aware of any official word from Awana about these revisions to the T&T program (I admit that if there was one that I missed it), but by being observant, one can learn a lot from looking at the catalog and how items are presented.
One final note about observations from the Awana catalog. I am glad that the catalog now clearly notes that, “Essentials is an abridged version of the handbook that makes T&T more accessible for a wider range of kids (ineligible for year-end Awana awards). I am hopeful that clear up some confusion.
As always, if you have any questions about Awana, you should contact your Awana missionary.
Thanks for the heads up. This is useful information.
Although it allows the kids to ‘design their own” it also causes confusion for kids when different clubs mix for an event as the kids no longer have a system of knowing who is who and who has completed what.
Yes, it can be confusing or difficult if you attend, or organize, a regional event, especially quizzing.