FREE 14 Day Trial Is Now Available for the Odyssey Adventure Club!

 

Think of ways you can enjoy this summer for free:

• Hiking
• Visiting parks in your area
• Swimming
• Camping in your backyard
• Visit a public museum or library

Now, add more fun and imagination to your summer through the Odyssey Adventure Club!

The Odyssey Adventure Club will give you streaming access to more than 800 Adventures in Odyssey episodes plus a sneak peek of exclusive audio and video stories, on-line activities and daily devotions you can’t find anywhere else.

Start a free 14-day trial for your family today and make the summer even more fun!

Nourish Your Family's Spiritual Health this Easter | Mealtime Devotions with Whit

Emilie here: I just love the idea of meal time devotions! No, I don't have kids, but I have a feeling if I did I would want to use these fun Whit's End Mealtime Devotions to help foster great conversation at the dinner table and beyond. Gear up for Easter and check out the info below:

If your family is like most, breakfast is rushed to get everyone out the door. Lunch is spent at school or work. So where does that leave dinner? Nourish your family's spiritual health as you eat supper together. Adventures in Odyssey and Odyssey Adventure Club want to give you a free resource to help you begin your new dinner tradition of making the most of your family mealtime, beginning this Easter season. Simply head to this page and fill out the form to receive a free sample of Whit's End Mealtime Devotions.

 

Want new resources to continue to build your family's faith, even after Easter is over? Consider signing your family up for the Odyssey Adventure Club (OAC). It offers safe and free content for everyone in your family. Membership to the OAC costs just $9.99 a month — or even less if parents make a six-month or one-year commitment. Enrollment provides more than enough content to keep kids engaged throughout the year:

• Access to exclusive content and first looks at books and select Radio Theatre dramas.
• On-the-go access to the OAC app for both iOS and Android users.
• 24/7 streaming access to nearly 800 AIO episodes.
• A new, members-only AIO episode every month.
• A subscription to Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse Magazine, and more.

To learn more about the Odyssey Adventure Club, visit www.oaclub.org, Facebook, Twitter. and Pinterest.

Easter Devotions and Activities for Your Whole Family | Adventures in Odyssey

 

We're down to the final two weeks before we celebrate Easter and Jesus' resurrection. Do your children understand and grasp the full meaning of why we celebrate the holiday? Adventures in Odyssey and Odyssey Adventure Club want to provide your family with a week of meaningful, fun Easter activities to help make the holiday come alive this year. Simply head to this page and sign up to download your free PDF full of family devotions, egg wraps, recipes, crafts, and cards. Oh, and as a bonus, here's a free activity sheet from Focus on the Family!

 

If you're looking to dig into the Easter holiday more and want to build your kids' faith, consider signing your family up for the Odyssey Adventure Club (OAC). It offers safe and free content for everyone in your family. Membership to the OAC costs just $9.99 a month — or even less if parents make a six-month or one-year commitment. Enrollment provides more than enough content to keep kids engaged throughout the year:

• Access to exclusive content and first looks at books and select Radio Theatre dramas.
• On-the-go access to the OAC app for both iOS and Android users.
• 24/7 streaming access to nearly 800 AIO episodes.
• A new, members-only AIO episode every month.
• A subscription to Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse Magazine, and more.

To learn more about the Odyssey Adventure Club, visit www.oaclub.org, Facebook, Twitter. and Pinterest.

People You Look Up To: Celebrate the Whit Award with Adventures in Odyssey

Emilie here: I've loved Adventures in Odyssey - you know this if you've spent some time on the blog. Nope, I'm not a mom, but I do love the commitment Focus on the Family has made through the years to promote creative, God-honoring episodes that tackle real life issues but are just plain fun too. I'm really excited to share this opportunity for you with the "John Avery Whittaker Award". Check it out - I'm sure you know someone who qualifies!

 

Most people can think of one or two figures whose love and life example had a great impact on the formation of their spiritual foundation. It might be a coach, a Sunday school teacher or a parent or grandparent. Whatever the role, it’s hard to put a value on the investment these people make on a daily basis. In an effort to bring honor to these countless, quiet heroes, Adventures in Odyssey announces the John Avery Whitaker Award. Named after Odyssey’s resident leader and the namesake of Odyssey’s most famous attraction, Whit’s End, the award will be bestowed annually on one deserving mentor.

Like the Adventures in Odyssey character John Avery Whitaker, or “Whit” as he’s known by fans of the show, the person should be someone who is passionate about innovatively teaching children the truths expressed in the Bible. Those who create Adventures in Odyssey know that while Whit might be a fictitious character, there are thousands of real people just like him. “Our hope is that by bringing those people into the light, others will be inspired to follow their example,” says Dave Arnold, the executive producer of Adventures in Odyssey. “If we can spur mature believers in Christ to mentor and influence a generation being barraged with messages of compromise, we can turn the tide and encourage revival in our youth.”

Nominations are being accepted now through October 31 for the “Whits” out there in the world. Beginning on November 1, one nominee will be selected daily and awarded with a prize package including Adventures in Odyssey's latest album, Taking the Plunge, and a DVD of the movie Beyond the Mask. One grand prize winner will be chosen and announced on November 20. This worthy recipient will receive more than $500 worth of Focus on the Family resources, including an Odyssey Adventure Club (OAC) membership. The OAC offers 24/7, on-the-go access to more than 800 episodes of Adventures in Odyssey, as well as a new, members-only episode every month. It is a safe, fun environment where the whole family can explore, create and imagine, all while learning biblical truth.

Nominations can be submitted via this form, or the information can be emailed to contest@whitsend.org. (See the Official Rules for all the details.)

To learn more about the John Avery Whitaker Award, visit www.whitsend.org. Discover the Odyssey Adventure Club at www.oaclub.org or on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Love Adventures in Odyssey? Get Access To Every Episode Ever!

Oh my goodness...is it time for school already? 

Aside from prepping your kids for their new teachers, new classes, or maybe even a new school, it's important to prep their faith. Sign your whole family up for Adventures in Odyssey's Odyssey Adventure Club for a special price of $9.99/month. The club is an essential tool to teach your children to share their faith at school, to be bold, and to grow in their relationship with God.

 

Join during the month of August for $9.99/month, and you'll receive these benefits for being a member:

• Unlimited streaming of Adventures in Odyssey library (800 episodes) retail value over $1,500 USD
• New monthly exclusive episodes
• Monthly Web Quests
• Monthly Clubhouse magazine subscription (U.S. Residents Only)
• Daily devotions based on Adventures in Odyssey episodes
• OAC monthly member newsletter
• OAC exclusive video stories
• Animated Odyssey videos, Last Chance Detectives, and more!

Spend the last few weeks of summer vacation with your kids listening to Adventures in Odyssey episodes and build their faith!

Ready to join? Head over to the website and sign up today!

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Seriously though, this is a FANTASTIC deal! I grew up listening to Adventures in Odyssey (and yes, I totally still listen to them). They are great for sparking imagination, teaching Biblical lessons, and helping your kids connect the dots of their faith. Check out my review of this awesome app and the club. And make sure to take advantage of the special price - you won't regret it!

Take the Plunge | Summer Challenge

 

Excited to share this with you all! As you'll remember, I reviewed the Odyssey Adventure Club app last Saturday and now I'm excited to share about the "Take the Plunge" challenge. If you have kids this is AWESOME for them - and, let's be honest, for you too! Adventures in Odyssey will provide some pretty great resources and it's something you an do with your kids. I love this idea!

So, check out the post below and make sure you look into the "Bonus Challenge" (which ends June 5) at the bottom too.

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From Flickr by Jeff Turner

Summer . . . a time that kids pine for during the school year and parents may anticipate with something akin to dread. Fearing refrains of “I’m bored” or hours spent on the couch playing video games can make moms and dads nervous about the long, hot months stretching before their family. Focus on the Family’s Odyssey Adventure Club offers an answer, encouraging parents and kids to embrace faith and fun with the Take the Plunge Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse magazine’s Summer Challenge.

 

 

Take the Plunge

The Take the Plunge challenge features:

• Master Mind Monday — commit God’s Word to memory
• Ways to Play Wednesday — spend active time with your family
• Faith Sharing Friday — share God’s love with others

The Take the Plunge challenge helps families memorize at least five verses, engage in five activities together and share their faith with five people before the school doors swing open again. Those who sign up will receive an 11-week plan with suggested verses to memorize, activity ideas (such as visiting a war memorial) and ways to witness (such as passing out popsicles at the park with an invitation to your church), making this challenge the perfect tool for parents who want summer to be a time of spiritual and social stimulation for their kids.

"Research tells us that the more senses we involve when teaching children a principle, the more likely it is to stick,” Plugged In editor and Adventures in Odyssey podcast host Bob Smithouser says. “Bible memorization by itself is great, but it becomes even more powerful when put into action. Know it. Share it. Live it.”

Families who sign up to take part in the challenge at www.whitsend.org/summer will have access to weekly verses to memorize, ideas for family fun and suggestions for service projects that allow a family to share their faith. Additionally, anyone who signs up to participate in the Take the Plunge challenge will receive a free scene from the latest Adventures in Odyssey album, as well as a free story from the book Strange Journey Back.

A Bonus Contest

From June 1–5, tell us in 30 words or less how you are going to take the plunge to deepen your faith this summer for a chance to win a family four-pack of tickets to the theatrical release of Beyond The Mask June 5th weekend and free access to the Odyssey Adventure Club all summer long (June, July, August—total $85 prize value)!

Send your entry to contests@whitsend.org. Two winners will be chosen to win each day June 1-5 and announced on the Adventures in Odyssey Facebook Page.

Entries will be chosen based on creativity and writing skill. Rules are available at whitsend.org.

Adventures in Odyssey and the OAC Club App | REVIEW

So, when I was growing up my mom always had the radio on. Come to think of it, she still keeps the radio on a lot ;) But, the best part of that was Saturday mornings and Adventures in Odyssey. I couldn't wait to hear what the next adventure would be! Then we ended up buying the tapes (yeah, no CDs at that time) for some of the series adventures.

Well, it just got so much easier for parents (and kids) everywhere. Adventures in Odyssey now has a club (The OAC or Odyssey Adventure Club) and a very cool mobile iOS app. I have gotten the chance to test out this app and get to share with you about it! The best part, which comes later in this post, is that it's on a major SALE. $1 for the first month! This only lasts until May 31st though so you'll probably want to get a move on with joining up.

Anyway, in review, I will say that the app is pretty great. Sign in is easy as is navigation through the app. I've already used it to listen to a few episodes (yeah, I'm a grown up and I still listen to Adventures in Odyssey) and found that the quality was great. I like that you can search as well as switch back and forth from Episodes to Podcasts and download them as well. There are even some video's included which is awesome. They also have an "Adventures" section but I'll be honest and say I haven't completed one yet. It looks like fun, I just haven't had the time.

The only issue that I've noticed is that, when coming to the end of an episode, the app will sometimes freeze up before allowing you to go back to choose another. It's happened several times and I'm sure it's likely just a bug.

Over all, I'd say it's definitely worth it to join up--especially if you have kids or, like me, enjoy access to endless episodes of Adventures in Odyssey. I highly recommend it to parents with the advice that, inspiring your children to let their imagination dream up all sorts of awesome things leads to innovation and creativity. I know that as a kid, I loved getting lost in the adventures while coloring or playing with toys, and their well-crafted stories and lessons have long since stayed with me. "And don't you forget it!" (BTV anyone?)

Rating: 4*

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I received  free access to the OAC for review purposes, but was under no obligation to post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own.

::Check out this info from the Odyssey Adventure Club::

 

THIS JUST IN: School will soon be out for the summer! Parents, does that fill you with dread, knowing all you'll hear for the next few months is, "I'm bored!"? Keep reading because we have a deal for you—one that will only cost you a buck and that will keep your kids safe online while allowing them to have fun and to grow in their relationship with Jesus.

Buck Oliver is back in the latest Adventures in Odyssey album, and to celebrate, you can try the Odyssey Adventure Club for just a buck for your first month. Sign up before May 31st using the promo code BUCK! *This deal only applies to first-time accounts and is good the first month only.

Members receive:
—24/7 streaming access to more than 750 Adventures in Odyssey episodes (a $1500 retail value).
—A new, members-only Adventures in Odyssey episode every month.
—A subscription to Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse Magazine.
—A web quest of video stories and online activities reflecting the biblical theme of that month's episode.
—On-the-go access with the OAClub mobile iOS app.
—Growing access to Odyssey books, a daily devotion, access to select Radio Theatre dramas and more.

Additionally, a portion of each Odyssey Adventure Club membership benefits Focus on the Family partner organizations, such as Carry the Cure and Mission Aviation Fellowship, providing parents with an opportunity to teach children about the value of serving others. The Odyssey Adventure Club hopes to spend another 25 years hand-in-hand with parents seeking to teach biblical truth to their children while inspiring the theater of their imagination.

 

Your favorite Adventures in Odyssey characters are also Taking the Plunge in Album 59 and now you can, too! This summer, dive into your faith and grow closer to God by joining the Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse Magazine Taking The Plunge Summer Challenge. It includes these simple things:

• Learn 5 memory verses
• Get active with 5 family activities together
• Share God’s love and your faith in 5 different ways

When you commit to the Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse Magazine Taking The Plunge Summer Challenge, you'll receive:

• A promo code for an exclusive Odyssey Adventure Club first month offer (for new members only)
• Adventures in Odyssey special studio message
• “Strange Journey Back” book excerpt
• “Jones and Parker Mysteries” book excerpt

To learn more about the Odyssey Adventure Club, visit www.oaclub.org, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.