

Woodlands is excited to introduce our NextGen ministry!
NextGen serves children ages Birth through 12th Grade, providing Christ-centered community and programming that will nurture and disciple kids and teens so that they can faithfully follow Christ, both in their childhood and throughout their life.
Have questions about our NextGen ministry? Click here to read FAQs or reach our to our NextGen Ministry Leader, Keelea Chartrand.
Sunday Kids
Sundays | Birth-6th Grade
Sunday Kids
Sundays | Birth-6th Grade
Classes + Childcare
Mondays + Thursdays | Birth-6th Grade
NextGen Nite
Wednesdays | 4K-12th Grade



In NextGen, our mission is to help all of our children, and their families, faithfully follow Jesus! One place where that happens, in a big way, is within our Sunday Kids program. Not only does Sunday Kids provide a caring place for your children while you participate in our worship services, it also surrounds them with Biblical teaching, worship, and Christ-centered community of their own.
Nursery | Birth-3
Our Nurseries are located near the Auditorium and are provided for both the 8:45 and 10:30 AM Sunday morning worship services. Our nursery teams are a mix of parents, grandparents, and students, and all of our volunteers are fully screened.Â
In addition to our Nurseries, we provide a Family Foyer space near the Nurseries which is available to give newborns and nursery-age children a little more wiggle room (and noise level) while providing the opportunity for parents to participate in the service via video. We do offer a Nursing area in the Nurseries as well for Nursing mothers.Â
Learners | 4K-K
If you have a child who is 4 years old they will be in our Pre-K room and if you have a Kindergartener they will be in our Kindergarten room, both located just down the hallway to the right of the Gym Foyer (closest to the Hoover entrance of the building). They will sing worship songs together, learn a Bible story from Lifeway’s Gospel Project curriculum which takes us on a 3 year timeline journey through Scripture, participate in activities, and playtime which fosters community and relationship building between teachers and children.Â
Elementary | 1st-6th
If you have a child who is in 1st – 6th grade you can drop them off in The Square, located right around the corner from our Preschool rooms. We will have a time of large group worship and gathering. Then, we’ll break into classrooms (by grade) to dive deeper into the series topic with a Bible story, activities, scripture memorization, and classroom discussion. For Preschool – 6th grade we use Lifeway’s Gospel Project curriculum which takes us on a 3 year timeline journey through Scripture
Unique Needs
We offer a Unique Needs Ministry to any child who struggles with the usual format of Sunday Kids. Because every Child is unique unto themselves, each child is assisted individually allowing them to be able to attend Sunday Kids programming. It also gives parents an opportunity to attend the service. The plan for assistance is developed with guidance from the parents who know their child’s needs best. The unique assistance will be adjusted as the child’s needs change.  It is an honor to get to know both you and your child.Â
Questions can be directed to Unique Needs leadership, or you can visit the check-in desk when you attend. If you are interested in a tour of the facility at a quiet time during the week, let us know! We would love to arrange a time to meet.

If you are visiting Woodlands, your children are invited into our Sunday Kids program! We can register you at the check-in desk, but you can also register here ahead of time. If you know you’ll be visiting, and would like someone to walk you through your first time here just let us know by emailing Keelea Chartrand, our NextGen Ministry Leader.Â
Sunday Kids Check-In Procedures
When you check in your child on one of our iPads you will be given a name tag to place on your child, and a paper slip that you will need to keep with you and return when checking your child out. We will only allow adults with their check-in slip to enter our secure kids areas during drop-off and pick-up times, 10 minutes before and after the sunday services.Â
You can also download the Church Center App and check your child in there which will provide you a digital pick up tag!Â
Midweek CLASSES + CHILDCARE
Mondays in NextGen
On Monday nights we provide a special opportunity for children whose parents are attending Monday Night Adult Classes at Woodlands. While adults grow in their faith, kids either attend nursery (birth-3) or gather in small groups to dive deeper into God’s Word through fun, age-appropriate, and enriching curriculum (4k-6th grade).

Nursery Care
Mondays starting Sept 15th | 6-7:30PM | Birth – 3
Nursery is offered for any child that has a parent or guardian attending a Monday Night Adult Class at Woodlands.Â

Tiny Systematics
Mondays starting Sept 15th | 6-7:30PM | 4K – 6th grade
This fall, for ages 4K-6th grade we will be offering Systematic Theology for Kids – a meaningful way for children to explore foundational truths about God, Scripture, and faith.Â
Thursdays in NextGen

Midweek Childcare
Thursdays starting this Fall | 9:30-11AM | Birth-5
Midweek childcare is open to children 5 and under whose parents/guardians are remaining in the building to attend a group, attend a Woodlands activity, or utilize the common spaces at Woodlands for personal use. The cost is $15/day. Children must be registered ahead of time in order to participate.
If cost would prohibit you from using our childcare, please reach out! Scholarships are available.

Nursery Care
Thursdays | 6-8PM | Birth-3
Nursery is offered for any child that has a parent or guardian attending a Thursday Night Adult Class at Woodlands.

DivorceCare for Kids
Thursdays starting this Fall | 6-8PM | Ages 5-12
Are your children angry, hurt, and confused about your separation or divorce? DivorceCare for Kids (DC4K) is a safe, fun place where your children can learn skills that will help them heal. DC4K groups blend games, music, stories, videos and discussion to help kids process the divorce and move forward.
NextGen Nite
NextGen Nite is our new Wednesday gathering for Kids + Teens, ages 4k-12th grade!
 During NextGen Nite, each age group will experience Christ-centered community through participating in small groups, worship, games + activities, and Bible teaching.  All kids + teens will have the opportunity to learn Biblical truths about who God is, who we are because of Him, and how we can faithfully follow Him, for life!
One of the priorities of NextGen Nite is to elevate small groups, and small group leaders across all ages. Small group leaders are on the front lines of caring for and shepherding your child. Leaders will be encouraged and equipped to build a strong relationship with kids + teens, and their families, with the hope that they will spur on and nurture faithfulness and excitement towards knowing and following Christ for all of their life.
Kids | 4k-6th Grade
Wednesdays | 6-7:15PM | Hoover Entrance
During NextGen, Kids will be gathering by age specific groups to hear a Bible lesson, gather in small groups, play games and sing together.
Drop off for Kids is 10 minutes before to their groups. Check in will be open at 5:30 in the Gym Foyer.Â
Teens | 7th-12th Grade
Wednesdays | 7:15-9PM | Auditorium Entrance
Teens will begin their night in the Auditorium with an opening activity. They will have a time of worship, Bible teaching, games, and small groups.Â
NEXTGEN FAQs
Why combine Kids Ministry and Youth Ministry?
We continually seek God’s leading in ways that we can better be a church that helps people faithfully follow Jesus. Our Elders recognized organizational changes that would help improve the way that our ministries work together for the good of our congregation, kids, families, volunteers and staff. With discernment and unity, our leadership made the decision to combine Kids and Youth into NextGen for multiple reasons:
- Aligning shared values and culture
- Creating consistent discipleship pathways
- Building strong leadership and spiritual development
- Creating margin for families, leader and staff
- Meeting the needs of a growing church
We are excited and anticipate this change will ultimately bless our kids, families and leaders!
Why are Kids and Teens both gathering on one night?
NextGen Nite will emcompass all ages in order to best acheive our goals to align our values and build consistent discipleship and rich relationships between our children and leaders. Having all children and leaders gathering on the same night will create a culture shift amongst our ministry; one that we are excited for! We look forward to giving our teens ways to get involved with serving throughout NextGen night, and watching Christ-centered community be fostered among all children and families.
Also, by having all ages on one night we allow families and volunteers more margin throughout their week to rest or make time for other commitments or other ways to get involved in Christ-centered community. For families that have children across multiple age groups, this will be a huge benefit.
How does this affect Volunteers?
This change will not affect any volunteers outside of ones that were serving in Kids Crossing and Youth Group. We have communicated with all volunteers, and asked those that were serving on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to consider serving during NextGen Nite. We know that shifting all ages to Wednesdays will create scheduling conflict with volunteers that were only available on Tuesdays for Kids Crossing. We are grateful for those volunteers and they will be missed at NextGen Nite. We hope they will be able to serve in another area as their schedule allow.
Also, one of the priorities of NextGen Nite is to elevate small groups, and small group leaders across all ages. Small group leaders are on the front lines of caring for and sheparding your children. We hope that the relationship built between your child and their small group leader will be one that spurs on and nurtures their faithfulness and excitement towards knowing and following Christ for all of their life. Because of this, we ask that NextGen small group leaders commit to more than one year of serving with their age specific group. The continuity of building and growing that relationship is essential and impactful for kids and families.
If you are interested in getting involved with NextGen, whether that be in NextGen Nite, Sunday Kids, or throughout the week, in any capacity or role, reach out to Laura Humphry through email or give her a call at 715.728.2485.
How Does This Affect staff previously in Kids Ministry and Youth Ministry?
We are truly blessed by the excellence of our staff, and were able to retain all Kids and Youth staff for our NextGen ministry in the same capacity. Under Keelea Chartrand’s leadership as the NextGen Ministy Leader, all staff have been reassigned to roles that we know they will thrive in based on their giftings and the needs of the NextGen ministry.
Other questions? Email Keelea Chartrand, the NextGen Ministry Leader.
Meet The NextGen Team

Keelea Chartrand
NextGen Ministry Leader

Justin Armstrong
NextGen Team Development Ministry Leader

Gabby Allord
Student Programming Director

Mia Stanke
Midweek Kids Programming Associate

Kelly Johnson
Elementary Sunday Kids Associate

Heidi Landis
Birth-K Sunday Kids Associate

Sara Stanke
NextGen Classes + Curriculum Associate

Laura Humphry
NextGen Team Development Administrative Assistant

Kari Leonard
NextGen Administrative Assistant

Angel Coronado
NextGen Leader Support