Event Ideas

7/29/2019 Event Ideas

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Event IdeasAll Around The Houses:

Enlist the help of church members & get them to prepare some food at their homes .. . without telling you what it is. It could be drinks, desserts, snacks . . . anythingthey want. Start at one of the homes and progress around to each house to eatwhatever has been prepared. At the final location have all the 'hosts' gather for anevening of fun. This got our youth group and our older folk together and it was greatfun. We had soup, garlic bread, yorkshire puddings, gravy, banana chips, Africanpunch, sausage rolls, and the last house had a fantastic array of desserts.

Added by Fiona KellyAmateur Olympics:We rented out a local gymnastics club for the night. We didn't tell the students whatwe were doing but told them to wear "athletic clothing" because we would be doingsomething physical.

We set the night up like an Olympic gymnastics meet. There were four events thatthe students rotated through: beam, vault, floor and trampoline. There were judgesat each event who judged the students on creativity, style, fun factor, etc. They heldup scores at the end of each event they did. They also kept track of all the scoresfor the event.

Before we started, the students were divided into teams and had to create a teamname and flag. Then they marched into the gym waving their flag.

Event Details:

For the beam we used a low beam that was only a few inches off of thefloor. The students had about a minute to do their best and most creativeroutine on the beam.

For the floor we had a CD player and turned on random music that the kidshad to create a routine to on the spot (this was the most fun!!).

For the trampoline they got judged on how high they jumped, creativity, andstyle.

For the vault they had two tries to get over, under or around it as creativelyas possible.

After they had rotated through all the events we had an awards ceremony and gaveout medals for each event. We gave away a gold, silver and bronze for each of the 4events and then we gave an award to the team that had the highest total of points.

Weve done this idea at 2 different churches that we have been in. It was a huge hitat both.

Added by Stacy Goebel, Phoenix, AZ

Amazing Race, The:This event is incredibly simple, has very minimal set-up cost and is a ton of fun for

all from children to college aged students! Everyone seems to be a fan of the realityshow The Amazing Race where contestants go around the world getting clues and


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accomplishing tasks in order to be the first to finish and win the race. In this versionof The Amazing Race there is only one task to accomplish at the end of the raceand endless amounts of riddle solving during the race.

Heres how it works:

1. You need to come up with a phrase that would be great for whatever season,date or event you are playing the race at. (In the example below, the phraseis Goodbye 8th Graders for a final middle school ministry event for 8thgraders.)

2. Take that phrase and split it up into individual letters (into single letters isbest, but you can do a couple together also.)

3. Third, create riddle-like clues about the location you intend to hide each letteraround your church building or other facility (this works great in larger

facilities, if your facility is small, remember to use the outdoors to youradvantage!). There is an example at the end.

4. Now that you have your phrase and locations down, simply make enoughcopies of each letter so that every hiding place has the same amount of lettersas teams. At each hiding place should be one sheet of paper per team thathas the letter in a huge font that takes up most of the page and then a smallstrip of paper that has the clue to the next hiding spot. (i.e. 7 teams wouldneed 7 copies of each clue/letter- paper at each hiding place).

5. Now go plant your clues (legal envelopes are great ways to place your clues inthe hiding spots) and remember that your first clue will be handed to

everyone at the beginning of the game.

6. Get your groups together; explain that the first group to find all the lettersand solve the phrase that they make wins the race! Instruct teams that oncethey have solved all the clues and collected all the letters, they must return toa designated place and unscramble the phrase that the letters spell out. (Beprepared, this can take upwards near 15-20 minutes to do if your phrase islong.)

7. Hand them clue #1 to start with and let them run. First team to solve thephrase at the end WINS!

ATASCOCITA COMMUNITY CHURCH EXAMPLE:

1. CLUE #1 NO LETTER The sounds of adventure start here in this zone!(Soundboard in Adventure Zone)

***This is the clue that you handout at the beginningthe students race tothe location the clue #1 gives to find clue #2 and the letter G***

2. CLUE #2 G The things we dont want, the things we cant keep we put in

this thing to keep ACC neat. (Dumpster)


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***The students race to the location the clue #2 gives to find clue #3 andthe letter O and so on***

3. CLUE #3 O In the days of castles, these were lowered to allow entrynowadays they keep people out. (Gate)

4. CLUE #4 O Rock, rock, who has the rock? (Rocks in front of building)

5. CLUE #5 D This portal allows one to see children 3-6 years old onSundays (outside window of Zoofari)

6. CLUE #6 B Diapers, diapers everywhere, but not a toddler to make thisstink. (changing table in Toddlers)

7. CLUE #7 Y Ping-pong the witch is dead??? (underneath ping pong table)

8. CLUE #8 E Its not the movies, but it is a big screen! (Auditorium screen)

9. CLUE #9 8 This is a backdrop for artists, especially master artists. (AZbackdrop)

10.CLUE #10 T Show me the money, and your family information card.(Offering box)

11.CLUE #11 H You might find a robot in this room, or at least somethingmechanical anyway. (Mechanical room)

12.CLUE #12 G 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, which John could it be in? (Boys andGirls bathroom)

13.CLUE #13 R Signs, signs, everywhere are signsthis is a big sign withservice times. (ACC sign)

14.CLUE #14 A To heat something up quick, youd put it in this (Microwave Kitchen)

15.CLUE #15 D Oh, thats just PERFECT!!! (Perfect sign behind stage)

16.CLUE #16 E Getting tired yet? This is where babies sleep when theirtired. (Nursery crib)

17.CLUE #17 R That old piece of junkI cant believe it still runs! (Jamiescar)

***Clue #17 leads only to the final letter***

18.NO CLUE S

TIPS: You can scramble the order of the letters so that they dont get each letter inthe exact order of the phrase, but I have found that the students dont pick up on itand it makes your life easier to keep it in order.

Remember to remove the answers that are in parentheses in the clues when you


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play the game. Although, you do want to have a master list for yourself that has theclues, answers and letters all together so that you can help students who may haveaccidentally missed a letter somewhere.

Make sure the space to unscramble the phrase is big enough for your students tospread out all of their letters.Awake-A-Thon:Begin by printing out pledge sheets for youth. Have them collect pledges basedeither on hour pledges or flat rate pledges.

Have students bring sleeping bags and pillows, etc., and arrange a large room tokeep youth and chaperones in. Have plenty of snacks and games on hand. Schedulethis for a Fri evening thru Saturday evening. Plan ahead with a variety of games(getting-to-know-you's, team building activities, and other mixers). Make it a rulethat NO ONE goes home from beginning to end except in the case of medicalemergencies, etc.

If you have the equipment, take lots of pictures to show on a slide show set to pre-selected music every hour on a screen.

Each participant raises money for their youth group (or missions project) by stayingawake! Each hour they stay awake will be initialed by a chaperone. Have youth totalhours and collect pledges the following week. This is a great way to raise moneygather for great fellowship!

Added by Melanie GuertinBack In The Day:This event was actually done by a Childrens Worker, but could be tweaked forteenagers.

Have everyone including teachers/sponsors - come dressed as a Bible character,but not tell anyone who they represent. Decorate your room to resemble a banquetin Jesus' Day, with candles for lighting. Have volunteers fix a meal consisting of onlyfoods from back in Jesus' Day (breads, deer, fruits, vegetables, spices...best of allthe chance to taste vinegar!).

After enjoying the meal each person has to describe him or her self while others tryto guess who they were. Award prizes for best costume (most creativerepresentation of a Bible character) and most thorough knowledge of that characterand of Bible days. This is a great opportunity to educate your students on Jesus'lifestyle and minister to them through the characters they chose to come as.

Idea from Tara TurnerBackwards Halloween:Our congregation donates candy for several weeks - which is then split into about100 bags. The week before Halloween, our youth group goes into the community,knocks on doors and gives them candy, along with information about our church.(We don't wear costumes.)

Leads to a great lesson on how people accept a "free" gift - some appreciate it,others are apprehensive, and others reject it...just like with Jesus.

Also good training for students and leaders in outreach and showing genuine carewith no strings attached.


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Also see Charge 'Em Up on Events page.

Added by Cecile KaiserBanana Night:Banana Overload event including additional banana games from our Games pages forcamp, outreach, the love of bananas - you name it! Go bananas!

Have everyone come dressed as a banana (or, at least wear yellow). Admission tothe party is one banana per person and whatever monetary cost you determine, ifany. Prizes for games could be Bic-bananas, among other banana-related things.Make and eat banana shakes or banana splits.

You can have everyone go from event to event or have "stations" that teams can goto, one after the other.

Ginormous Ice Cream Sundae

Buy LOTS of bananas, banana split toppings, napkins, and spoons.

Build a huge ice cream sundae in 80 feet of gutter (use cheap plastic). Try to buildthe massive sundae in waves and then when it is "official" they all take spoons andbegin to eat.

Banana BarfThis game is played up front with a few people while the crowd watches. Have two orthree volunteers put a whole banana in their mouth, instructing them not to eat it,just hold it in their mouth. Then put a pair of panty-hose over each volunteer's head.Have them squish the banana threw the tiny holes in the hose into a trash or grocerybag.

Added by Elisabeth

Banana Dress-upEach team or group is given a banana and a baggy of random items (felt, foil, beads,etc. - BE CREATIVE). They then are told to create a personality and appearance fortheir banana with the items they get. One volunteer from each group gets up andintroduces their banana to the group. It's better if each group gets different items forvariety.

Added by Jessica Fletcher

Banana LegsThis game is played up front with a few people while the crowd watches. You can useas many contestants as desired but it's best with an audience cheering them on. Thecontestants place a knee-high over their head (like a bank robber) and are given abanana. They race to see who can eat the banana through the nylon first. Have acamera ready!

Added by Trish Barnhart

Banana Poke

This game is played up front with a few people while the crowd watches. Bring 2

students up front. Tie their left hands together and give each a banana. They mustpeel the banana with one hand and poke the other in the face (not in eye).


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Round Two: blindfolded

Idea from Young Life

Banana Split-N-SlideEveryone remembers their very first slip and slide out in the yard on a hot summerday. Here's a variation.

Get approximately 50 feet of plastic tarp and items that would be found on a bananasplit (ice cream, strawberry syrup, caramel syrup, chocolate syrup, banana piecesand maraschino cherries). Pile items on top of the tarp and spread it out. Add a littlecooking oil for extra slip and slide. Have students line up and take off one at a time!

We've done this with just Hershey Syrup (about 50 lbs. found in bulk at Sam'sWarehouse). Had we not mixed a little oil and water with it, we wouldn't have beenable to slide very well.

Idea by Cristin

Banana Splits in the MouthThis game is played up front with a few people while the crowd watches. Recruit fourhungry volunteers. Two people stand up in chairs while two others lie on the floor attheir feet. People in the chairs try to make a banana split in the other persons mouthby dropping ice-cream, syrup, banana, nuts, whipping cream and finally, a cherryinto the person's mouth.

Variations: Blindfold the people in the chairs. Alternate people in chairs with peopleon the floor. Payback time.

Added by Tammy Straub

Banana Stuff (aka Blind Banana Stuff)This game is played up front with a few people while the crowd watches. Bring threeguys to the front to see who can eat the most bananas in five minutes whileblindfolded. As soon as one banana is peeled and eaten, the contestant will behanded another. Blindfold all three.

Instruct the crowd to cheer for their favorites Then have associates silently removetwo of the blindfolds and let the guys rejoin the crowd. Start the "contest" and keepthe one guy stuffing down bananas as long as possible. When his blindfold isremoved and he realizes he was the only one, it's funny.

Banana SurgeryHave a team peel and cut up a banana into equal parts. (Dont tell them what comesnext until they're done.) Then tell them they must put the banana back togetherusing pins, needles, tape, or whatever. The team with the best, reconstructedbanana wins.

If you do this with a big group, use a video feed to a big screen and time the"surgery" so it doesn't drag.

The point: Things taken apart (relationships, reputations, etc.) aren't as easily putback together.


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Idea from Young Life

Option: Adapt songs to have a "Banana-along" ato include favorites like: "My OldKentucky Banana," "On Top of Old Banana," etc.

See Bananarama, also on Events page.Bananarama:Have a scavenger hunt where each team is given a banana and a list of things tomeasure with in banana lengths:

Sample items:The height of a stop signa garage doorthe length of a ChevyHeight of a Staff personwidth of a sidewalk

someone's waistthe banana area of a window(window banana length x window banana width)Bigger and Better Hunt aka Trade Up:This is a scavenger hunt where you send out each team with a coat hanger (oranother small item if you wish) and you instruct each team to go door to door in theneighborhood asking people if they will trade for something bigger (strictly the size)or better (quality, value, etc.). The team that brings back the biggest or best itemback is the winner. Teams must trade the items, not come back with a stockpile ofitems. Each team will come back with one item and judges will determine thewinner.

Rules:You must trade each item you receive for the next item.No money or anything else can be offered on the side.Your team must stay together.

Idea by ChristyBlack Light Bash:For this black light event, buy any game supplies you need, a bunch of glow sticksand five to ten dark t-shirts for an object lesson.

Play games under a "black light," like Hockey, Capture The Flag, Clean Up Your OwnBackyard (like Dodge Ball, but trying to throw all the balls on the other side), oranything; it doesn't matter. It's just fun to play under the black light, especially ifpeople wear white. Here are some of the specific black light games from our website:

Glow-in-the-Dark Dodgeball (Click Here)

Black Light Basketball (Click Here)

Black Light Dodgeball (Click Here)

Black Light Volleyball (Click Here).
http://www.thesource4ym.com/games/game.asp?GameID=784http://www.thesource4ym.com/games/game.asp?GameID=778http://www.thesource4ym.com/games/game.asp?GameID=781http://www.thesource4ym.com/games/game.asp?GameID=731http://www.thesource4ym.com/games/game.asp?GameID=784http://www.thesource4ym.com/games/game.asp?GameID=778http://www.thesource4ym.com/games/game.asp?GameID=781http://www.thesource4ym.com/games/game.asp?GameID=731


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After the games are done, bring everyone together.

An Object Lesson:Ahead of time, break open a glow stick for each of your four or five dark t-shirts andwrite the name of a sin on the back of it (ex. drug abuse, disrespecting authority,stealing, swearing, lying, lust, premarital sex, gossip).

Pre-select some student leaders up front to don the new "black light" wear. Have itso their backs are facing away from the audience and the audience doesn't seewhat's written on the back of the shirts. Say something like, "We just brought thesemodels in from Norway to show you our fashionable new T-shirt line. The modelagency says that these models are good people. I just had to take their word for it. Imean, it's not like we wear our sins on our shirts, right?"

Have the students "model" them on a mock runway or stage, or just through thecenter of the room. Have them walk out through the center of the audience with the

lights normal (you can see the writing a little bit), but then when the first modelturns to go back to the stage, switch to your black lights so the kids can see the backof the shirts as they walk back toward the stage. Have the "models" stop and strikea pose when back on the stage, with their backs (and the writing) facing theaudience. You'll have the black lights on now and everyone will see their "sin."(Note: this only works if you have the black lights hung and rigged pretty well and alllighting can be controlled from the back. You don't want someone following the kidsaround with a black light- it just sends a totally different message- like we're tryingto expose their sins.)

Have the models exit the stage (then you can have them change out of the shirts).

Transition Statement:I don't know about you, but there have been some times in my life that I'm glad mysin wasn't written on my shirt for all to see. Wow. That's pretty embarrassing. Butlet's be honest, no matter how private our sin is, there's someone who always seesit. Let's break up into small groups, and then afterward well come back together fora final word.

CLICK HERE for a quick training article on how to maximize your small groupsusing our small group formata great resource to equip your small groupleaders.

Small Group Questions:

1. AROUND THE CIRCLE: (a light opening question to warm up the group) Beforewe get started, let's go around the circle and everyone quickly share theirfavorite thing to do an the weekend.

2. ASK A FEW: We just saw a bizarre fashion show. What were some of the sinswe saw written on people's backs.

3. ASK A FEW: What are sins?

Sin is just a word for "when we do things our way instead of God's way. He'slaid out a great plan for us, but we try to do things our own way. That's sin.
http://www.thesource4ym.com/howdoi/smallgroups.asphttp://www.thesource4ym.com/howdoi/smallgroups.asp


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4. ASK A FEW: What are some of the "sins" that you think are common in theteenage world today?

5. ASK SOMEONE: Which of these sins does God NOT see? (The answer isnone--He sees them all.)

6. ASK A FEW: So why do you think that people try to hide sins from God orpretend that He doesn't see them?

Read the following two verses:

1 John 1:8-9 (NLT)If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing

to accept the truth. [9] But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithfuland just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.

7. ASK SOMEONE: According to the verse, what are we doing if we "say wehave no sin?"

8. ASK SOMEONE: (Remind students to look at what the verse says.) So how dowe get rid of sin?

9. ASK A FEW: The verse says that He is "faithful and just" to forgive us. Whatdoes that mean? (He always will. He keeps His word.)

Small Group Wrap Up:Let's close in prayer. And as I pray, maybe there are some of us in this group thathave something to confess or talk about more. I encourage you, if that's you, stickaround and talk with me or one of the staff tonight. PRAY

Idea by Brandon SwongerBlack Light Bash:For this black light event, buy any game supplies you need, a bunch of glow sticksand five to ten dark t-shirts for an object lesson.

Play games under a "black light," like Hockey, Capture The Flag, Clean Up Your Own

Backyard (like Dodge Ball, but trying to throw all the balls on the other side), oranything; it doesn't matter. It's just fun to play under the black light, especially ifpeople wear white. Here are some of the specific black light games from our website:

Glow-in-the-Dark Dodgeball (Click Here)

Black Light Basketball (Click Here)

Black Light Dodgeball (Click Here)

Black Light Volleyball (Click Here).
http://www.thesource4ym.com/games/game.asp?GameID=784http://www.thesource4ym.com/games/game.asp?GameID=778http://www.thesource4ym.com/games/game.asp?GameID=781http://www.thesource4ym.com/games/game.asp?GameID=731http://www.thesource4ym.com/games/game.asp?GameID=784http://www.thesource4ym.com/games/game.asp?GameID=778http://www.thesource4ym.com/games/game.asp?GameID=781http://www.thesource4ym.com/games/game.asp?GameID=731


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After the games are done, bring everyone together.

An Object Lesson:Ahead of time, break open a glow stick for each of your four or five dark t-shirts andwrite the name of a sin on the back of it (ex. drug abuse, disrespecting authority,stealing, swearing, lying, lust, premarital sex, gossip).

Pre-select some student leaders up front to don the new "black light" wear. Have itso their backs are facing away from the audience and the audience doesn't seewhat's written on the back of the shirts. Say something like, "We just brought thesemodels in from Norway to show you our fashionable new T-shirt line. The modelagency says that these models are good people. I just had to take their word for it. Imean, it's not like we wear our sins on our shirts, right?"

Have the students "model" them on a mock runway or stage, or just through thecenter of the room. Have them walk out through the center of the audience with the

lights normal (you can see the writing a little bit), but then when the first modelturns to go back to the stage, switch to your black lights so the kids can see the backof the shirts as they walk back toward the stage. Have the "models" stop and strikea pose when back on the stage, with their backs (and the writing) facing theaudience. You'll have the black lights on now and everyone will see their "sin."(Note: this only works if you have the black lights hung and rigged pretty well and alllighting can be controlled from the back. You don't want someone following the kidsaround with a black light- it just sends a totally different message- like we're tryingto expose their sins.)

Have the models exit the stage (then you can have them change out of the shirts).

Transition Statement:I don't know about you, but there have been some times in my life that I'm glad mysin wasn't written on my shirt for all to see. Wow. That's pretty embarrassing. Butlet's be honest, no matter how private our sin is, there's someone who always seesit. Let's break up into small groups, and then afterward well come back together fora final word.

CLICK HERE for a quick training article on how to maximize your small groupsusing our small group formata great resource to equip your small groupleaders.

Small Group Questions:

1. AROUND THE CIRCLE: (a light opening question to warm up the group) Beforewe get started, let's go around the circle and everyone quickly share theirfavorite thing to do an the weekend.

2. ASK A FEW: We just saw a bizarre fashion show. What were some of the sinswe saw written on people's backs.

3. ASK A FEW: What are sins?

Sin is just a word for "when we do things our way instead of God's way. He'slaid out a great plan for us, but we try to do things our own way. That's sin.
http://www.thesource4ym.com/howdoi/smallgroups.asphttp://www.thesource4ym.com/howdoi/smallgroups.asp


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4. ASK A FEW: What are some of the "sins" that you think are common in theteenage world today?

5. ASK SOMEONE: Which of these sins does God NOT see? (The answer isnone--He sees them all.)

6. ASK A FEW: So why do you think that people try to hide sins from God orpretend that He doesn't see them?

Read the following two verses:

1 John 1:8-9 (NLT)If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing

to accept the truth. [9] But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithfuland just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.

7. ASK SOMEONE: According to the verse, what are we doing if we "say wehave no sin?"

8. ASK SOMEONE: (Remind students to look at what the verse says.) So how dowe get rid of sin?

9. ASK A FEW: The verse says that He is "faithful and just" to forgive us. Whatdoes that mean? (He always will. He keeps His word.)

Small Group Wrap Up:Let's close in prayer. And as I pray, maybe there are some of us in this group thathave something to confess or talk about more. I encourage you, if that's you, stickaround and talk with me or one of the staff tonight. PRAY

Idea by Brandon SwongerBring Your Own Utensil Dinner:That's what you advertise it as . . . "Bring Your Own Utensil," and you don't tell themanything else. When you're pumping the event, give suggestions of utensils they canbring: wooden spoons, spatulas, serving forks, egg beaters . . . whatever you want.

Serve a spaghetti dinner for the event. The catch is... no silverware. Everyone hasto use the utensil they brought with them. Take pictures with a digital camera (if youhave the capability, show a slide presentation at the end of the night). Give prizesafterward for the following:

Most Creative Utensil Most Functional Utensil Sloppiest Eater Neatest Eater Largest Portion Consumed Smallest Portion Consumed


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Enjoy!Broom Hockey:Reserve your nearby ice rink and go play hockey with mere tennis shoes on, usingbrooms as sticks, a huge insurance liability policy, and a small ball as a puck.Car Restoration Ghetto Flava:Got a big ol' hooptie or an ugly little junker that still runs? This isnt really a game,but a great activity for your group.

This idea was submitted by Jake & Vicki Hookham:

My 1986 Olds Delta 88 was white and crying out for some ghetto (it looks like agrandma car, and that's exactly who died right before it was donated to me).

To pull in a couple of unchurched skaters, I invited them beforehand, got all thecolors of house paint I could. We surprised the skaters and painted the car with it. Itold them I needed their help to paint something big, had them all stand in the

parking lot, told them to wait for me while I went to the car to get it, then broughtthe car.Everyone had lots of fun, and "things about God" and our church's address andslogan are plastered all over my car. The kids feel unified whenever they see itaround town.

Our variation: If you have more than one hooptie owner, you can break your groupup in teams and have a contest for most original restoration job.

Australian youth worker Chris Bowditch's variation:

Same as above, only turn it into a two-week competition with two teams - one foreach side of the car.

Week One: Same "decorating" idea as above, even providing stencils for some of thestudents to decorate the car with.

Week Two: Take the windows out and give kids turns smashing the car. Again giveeach team a side of the car and let them lay into it with sledgehammers and/or blocksplitters.

This can last at least an hour! We then used this to talk about sacrifice (it was aweak link, but it was there).

The main idea was to launch the new year, and to 'smash' the students expectationsabout what people who are involved in a church do.

Smart youth worker tip: Just make sure you let the neighbors know what's goingon (otherwise they may call the police)!

Also see Car Stuff on Outdoor Games page.

Charge 'Em Up:Have your congregation donate new 9-volt batteries to your youth group for a few


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weeks. Then, hand them out (or install them yourselves), in Jesus' name, in yourneighborhood surrounding the church building. The batteries are for their smoke-detectors...take along a clipboard, paper, and a pen to take down the neighbor'sprayer request...plenty of ministry to be had by all!!!

The reason this worked was because we didn't do the expected-try to convertpeople. We just met a need (batteries in smoke detectors) and offered to pray forthem.

The neighbors were shocked... (NO PUN INTENDED)...They really couldn't believe it.The youth were really charged...(I did it again...) to show GOD's love so practically!

Also see Backwards Halloween on Events page.

Idea by Marty A. NicholsChicagopoly, Lincolnoply, Sacramentopoly:A Personalized Youth Event

Those of you who are running a weekly program, whether for a youth group or anoutreach, are always looking for fun events. Kevin Flick just added this great idea toJonathan's Resources Event Page last week.

Monopoly Night:

This event gives you the opportunity to be creative and build a custom event for yourown youth group, using recognizable streets and industries from your city. Call theevent what you want- use the city or the youth group's name if you wish.

Take really wide paper (we use paper that is used for covering tables) and constructa gigantic Monopoly board. Use construction paper for the different colors. The larger

the board, the more exciting the teens will find it! (Or Just use butcher paper and rollout the frame of the board almost as big as the room!) Print huge Chance andCommunity Chest cards on colored paper. Also, title each space with street namesthat the teens live on.

Mass reproduce the Monopoly money on matching colored paper, buy play money orgo to http://www.hasbro.com/monopoly/pl/page.treasurechest/dn/default.cfmand print off monopoly money (free). Print off one page then you can use yourchurch's printer for the rest.

Have the teens bring icons for their game pieces (Stuffed Animals, etc. We had oneteen bring in a tire!). Use fuzzy dice if you can find them...

Split the teens into small groups as teams and have them work together.

Give the game a specific amount of time. Give away prizes for certain things:First team to own a Monopoly.First team to cross GO!First team in jail.etc.Use your creativity (or, have your student leaders use their creativity and own theevent), the sky is the limit!

At the end, count the money of each team and award the winners.


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Check out more great events on Jonathan's "Events" Page:

http://www.thesource4ym.com/events/index.html

Christmas Light Project:Similar to Video Scavenger Hunt on our Events page, teams go out with videocamera to capture on video a list of Christmas Decorations. See below description forsuggestions.

Sometimes we list the items with descriptive words so they have to figure out whatis needed on the list. This works at night. Have students bring flashlights.

The unique part of the event is that the group must add a dramatic flair to the video,like a mini movie. Each group must create a documentary movie while getting the

items on the list. The rule is that everyone on team must be captured on the video(in front of the item) to get "credit" for their team.We ask everyone with camcorders to bring the necessary equipment so we canwatch the videos when we get back. Have a chaperone judge it, giving extra pointsfor creativity.

Suggested list:

house with all white lights a baby doll in a manger camels three wise-men Mr. and Mrs. Claus Snowman wooden nativity luminaries (candles, lights) group of live Christmas Carolers Extra points if you get a homeowner in the video with said object, person

dressed as Santa, etc. Extra points for house with the most different colored lights

Idea by Tara Spradley

Christmas Tree Scramble:This is a fun event where youll need transportation for each team (unless you arewithin walking distance).

Give each team a given time to acquire decorations and decorate their tree. (60minutes or so . . . enough time to judge the trees at the end, hang out and eatChristmas cookies.

Each team receives:


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1. A fake tree2. $5 for supplies3. Starter kit of decorations

Goal: Decorate your team's tree. Trees will be judged on Beauty, Economy (moneyefficiency), Creativity, and Pizzazz (over-the-top uniqueness).

You may:

buy decorations with your teams money trade decorations with a stranger use only decorations that do not need to be returned to their previous owner make decorations out of recycled materials trade decorations with another group

You may not:

take decorations from your house or a friends house (everything must costyou something)

use decorations that need to be returned sabotage another teams decorations spend your own money

use pyrotechnics damage your tre

Idea by Scott Kobewka

Click, Grab, and Get Hunt:Kind of like the Disposable Camera Rally on this Events page, this is a scavengerhunt where each team has a camera (disposable or not) and a vehicle to get aroundtown in (with adult sponsor drivers) Give them a list of items, worth different points,

to get a picture of, get, or do. You can develop the pictures at a one-hour place andsee results that evening, or develop the pictures for a PowerPoint slide presentation(many places will develop pictures on CD) the next week. Winners can be servedpizza and pop first by losers.

For these points, take a picture of20 a tree in bloom20 a farm animal20 a "House For Sale" Sign30 a license plate from Ohio or Kentucky30 a "CLOSED" sign on a business's door30 a church van or bus (not LaBelle's)30 a house with a car parked in the yard40 a house with 3 cars parked in the driveway


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40 any type of scoreboard50 a house that still has Christmas decorations

Put in your sackfor 25 points eachChop SticksWendy's Chili CupPack of McDonald's ketchupSubway wrapperNapkin with a logoStraw1984 pennyTo-Go boxMenuDime wrapper

Picture of someone in your groupfor 50 pts.holding an apple in their right hand, a pear in their left hand, and an orange under

their chinholding a package of cat litterholding and feeding a baby dolldoing a cartwheelwearing a (rival team) baseball capon a swing

for 75 pts.picking their noseon a toilet

for 100 pts.

wearing a restaurant employee's apron

Things to dofor 150 pts.Sing "American the Beautiful" under Wal-Mart's American flagGet any stranger's autograph and ask them if anyone's ever told them they look likea famous personAsk a golfer, on the golf course, to tell you his best Tin Cup golf storyRub a bald man's head while singing "Jeannie in a Bottle"

for 200 pts.Get a stranger to sing the theme song from "Gilligan's Island"Get an autograph of a Fireman and ask if he's ever seen "101 Dalmatians"Get a construction worker to let you wear his tool belt and you both sing "YMCA"Get a video store worker to perform with your group, his/her favorite movie soundtrack songAt an Ice Cream Shop, get a worker to put sprinkles in his/her hair while singing "IFeel Pretty"

for 250 pts.Get a policeman in uniform to sing the theme to COPS, "Bad Boys, Bad Boys,Whatcha Gonna Do"

Idea by Tammy Cox

Commitment To Purity Ceremony:After a sermon series or small group discussions about sexual purity, organize a


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Commitment to Purity ceremony, giving your students an opportunity to publiclycommit themselves to sexual and relational purity until marriage. Allow the studentsto come up with a ring for the ceremony. Some parents bought their kids rings,some kids bought them themselves. Others used rings they already have, or ringsthat have been passed down in their families.

Each student also brings a person of accountability with them to support them in thisdecision (A close friend, a parent, guardian, coach or teacher . . . usually not aboyfriend or girlfriend). The students pledge to stay a virgin until marriage. Youngpeople are asked to remember that the ring is not nearly as important as thepromise they are about to make to themselves, to God, and to their future spouse.Then the rings are placed on the ring finger of their right hand, only to be replacedsomeday with a wedding ring.

Note:check out Lifeway.com for other ideas and resources. Also,click here for a link toour topical curriculum page, specifically the Growth page for topical agendas onpurity, an agenda called The Wedding, and an agenda on Pre-Wedding Intelligence

Gathering.

Idea by Colleen O'Dowd

Cookie Mission Impossible:

Split group into teams. (Make sure first of all, that you have vehicles, and an ovenfor each team to use.) The team will be given a list with several items needed tomake cookies.For example:floursugar

baking sodachocolate chipsbutterbrown sugarsaltcookie sheetbowl

Each team must go door to door in your community, trying to collect ONE ingredientfrom each house. You can allow them to buy one and only ONE item from a store.

Once the items are collected, the teams must go to the location where there oven iswaiting. Without a recipe they must prepare their cookies, cook them, and bringthem back to the facility. The first team to collect all items, bake the cookies, andarrive at the facility, wins.

Enjoy eating the cookies when you're done (even though they might taste funky)!

Idea by Jenessa Vande GriendDisposable Camera Rally:A crazy scavenger hunt where each team has a disposable camera and a vehicle toget around town in (I recommend adult drivers). Give them a list of items, worthdifferent points, to get a picture of. You can develop the pictures at a one-hour place

and see results that evening, or develop the pictures for a PowerPoint slidepresentation (many places will develop pictures on CD) the next week. Options are
http://www.lifeway.com/tlw/http://www.thesource4ym.com/topical%20curriculum/http://www.lifeway.com/tlw/http://www.thesource4ym.com/topical%20curriculum/


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endless!!!

Sample List:

Mandatory Category (Must have all of these to qualify for prize!)A PICTURE OF:

o A creative introduction picture for that particular team

o 3 team members being pushed in a shopping cart

o Someone in group chugging out of a 2 liter bottle of Pepsi

o Entire team hanging upside down

1000 point itemsA PICTURE OF:

o Team member hugging a stranger

o Lady scolding child

o A guy coming out of the girl's bathroom

o A grocery clerk singing

o Two teenager's kissing (can't be team members)

o Someone ordering fast food

o Lady walking her dog.

1500 point itemsA PICTURE OF:

o Person peeling out in a car (team vehicles not included)

o A fireman in uniform

o A team member rubbing a bald mans head

o Someone (other than a team member) buying "Depends"

o Little kid singing

o Someone giving a stranger a noogie

o Team member hugging a gas station attendant

3000 point items

A PICTURE OF:

o A dog relieving himself on a fire hydrant

o A traffic accident

o Old lady on the ground yelling "I've fallen and I can't get up"

o A police car (other than the one at the traffic accident) with its lights on

o Someone crawling out of a manhole

o Entire team coming out of a VW bug

Dive-In Movie:


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What better week than The Discovery Channel's SHARK WEEKto pump an event likethis.

Use the church's video projection unit and project it onto a huge screen at the edgeof the swimming pool. Have everyone bring their air mattresses. (I got a big raftfrom my friends at Rock'n Water, the best white water rafting camp in California - tocheck out their web site click here.) Everyone floats in the pool while you watchJAWS. All the lights are out except the pool lights.

We barbequed threasher shark that night and advertised it as the event where "youeat the shark!" During the movie some of the guys swam around acting like sharksand scaring people.

The sky's the limit with this one - enjoy!Duct Tape Fest:Be sure to encourage attendees to show up with some sort of duct tape accessory oroutfit. Award prizes for most creative and most functional.

Set up stations where students compete in the following:

3-Legged Friends:Loosely duct tape your leg to a friend's leg and walk around for 10 minutes, earningpoints for walking backward, hopping, or dancing.

Crowning achievement:Place a roll of duct tape on your head like a crown and pass it through a line ofpeople, placing the roll on each person's head, without using your hands or droppingthe roll.

Juggle:Juggle three rolls of duct tape.

Pyramid Power:Make a pyramid of fifteen rolls of wrapped duct tape on their sides. Must stand inplace for 15 seconds.

Strong Arm:

Hold a jumbo roll of duct tape with a straight arm at a 90 angle from your body foras long as you can (go for a record).

Duct Tape Shuffleboard:Use wrapped duct tape rolls to slide to a target on a slippery floor. Three chances tohit target.

Duct Tape Bowling:Roll rolls of duct tape toward a bowling pin(s) or other target. Two chances to hittarget.

Fishing with Duct Tape:Make a duct tape line and hook (ball of sticky-side out duct tape) and try to removepaper fish from a bucket.

Head Stacker:With five rolls of duct tape, stacked on your head, walk 10 feet.
http://www.rocknwater.com/http://www.rocknwater.com/


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Duct Tape Challenge:teams of 3 tape the smallest to a wall to see who can be held up the longest. (SeeDuct Tape challenge on our Upfront page, CLICK HERE.)

Added by HalltFamily Night:Each family is asked to bring a dish to share (Pot Luck). The students from the youthgroup introduce each family member and tell something special about each one(depending on the group size, this can be done in front of the whole group, or justaround each table). The student then serves his/her family members. After dinner,each family member is given a questionnaire to fill out see below. Go around thetable and share the results of the questionnaires. It is amazing how much familiescan learn about each other in 2 hours. The evening ends with a prayer service.

SAMPLE Family Night Questionnaire (Feel free to customize your own):

1. What would your family say youre like first thing in the morning?2. Whats the weirdest thing you like to eat?3. Which family member spends the most time in the bathroom?4. What goofy or funny thing does your parent/son/daughter (respectively) do to

make you laugh?5. After an argument, who in the family is most likely to apologize first if at all?6. What does your parent/son/daughter do for your home or family that helps

you most?7. Name one of your favorite things about your parent/son/daughter.8. How have you seen your parent/son/daughter mature or grow in the past

year?

9. Share a time when your parent/son/daughter did something that made youproud?

Idea from Eileen HoranFasting and Prayer Dinner:Get your group together and tell them only that you are going to have a progressivedinner with the theme ofPrayer and Fasting. Prepare them for the evening, lettingthem know that they will be fasting and praying until the end.

At each stop on the way (appetizer, first course, second course, dessert, drinks, etc.)the host (different families) shows the group the part of the meal that they haveprepared. The kicker is that instead of eating it, the group sacrifices this meal portionto the Lord and prays for needs in that church family's home as well as others in thegroup. At each stop a different verse is read and adults give examples of how Godhas worked in their life.

At the end of the dinner go back to the church for games and fun but when thegroup arrives the hosts have all backtracked and set up the meal at the church. Theteens then get to eat together with the host families. It is an awesome time ofsharing. This worked well to hammer the idea home of spiritual disciplines to ourteens.

Added by John
http://www.thesource4ym.com/games/upfront.asphttp://www.thesource4ym.com/games/upfront.asp


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Fear Factor/Faith Factor:How about an evening where you host your own Fear Factor competition? Withgood marketing, this could bring out a ton of new kids!

The sky is the limit for what events to actually use. But the best place to start wouldbe to click on our GAMES page and then click on SICK AND TWISTED GAMES. Youllsee a ton of great ideas, including a few games starting with the words Fear Factorin their title.

This can be an outreach or Halloween event. Have students sign up ahead of timeand warn them in advance to wear clothes they don't mind getting dirty.

Before the event, film contestants telling everyone why they think they will win orwhat their strategy is going into it. After everyones cleaned up, have a speaker talkon "Fear vs. Faith".

Make t-shirts for all the contestants and have a cool grand prize for the champion. If

you don't have a budget for a good prize, talk to your local malls about donations.

Round 1: Mustard MarshmallowsHave contestants lay on their backs. Place a chair at the head of each contestantwith volunteers from the audience standing on the chairs. The volunteers dipmarshmallows in mustard, hold their arm straight out and drop them to thecontestant's mouth below them. The top 8 to catch and eat the most mustardmarshmallows move on to the next round. (The top however many depend on howmany you have playing, of course.)

Round 2: Clothespin SlimeFill two kiddie pools with slime (mix flour, water, and green food coloring). Drop in a

ton of clothespins. Have contestants pull clothespins out with their feet and pin themsomewhere on themselves. The top 6 with the most clothespins moved on to Round3.

Round 3: Worms & PenniesContestants must place their hands in a bucket of live worms and find as manypennies (pre-placed) at the bottom as they can. The top 4 move on to Round 4.

Round 4: Fear Factor CuisineFill a large bowl with your choice of sardines, pigs feet, or frog legs (purchased atmost supermarkets). We recommend a certain amount like 10. Place anotherempty container at the other end of the room. The student has a designated amountof time to grab a sardine (or whatever you choose to use) in their mouth, run acrossthe room and drop it into the empty container. They must transfer as many fooditems as possible in the amount of time given but can only transfer one at a time.The first 3 to transfer their 10 items across the room go on to Round 5.

Round 5: Slimy Slip & SlideTake a Slip and Slide and pour buckets of slime over it (flour, water, and green foodcoloring). The students slide through the slime, grab a flag at the other side andbring it back to where they started. They can only grab one flag at a time and mustget as many as they can within a designated amount of time. The fastest two timesgo to Round 6.

Round 6: Board Walk


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Use a stopwatch or watch with seconds hand for this competition. Secure a 2x4x16board on top of a few cement blocks (not too high; you don't want a law suit!). Tieseveral football flags to the 2x4. Have the students walk across it, reach down andpull off as many flags as they can, while being sprayed from all sides with supersoakers. If they fall off they are eliminated. The one to walk across the quickest andwith the most flags wins the Fear Factor Event.

Added by Renee BendeckFish Night (starring Sparky the Stunt Fish):

This involves Sparky the Stunt Fish. Purchase a BIG, hardy fish (ask the meat guy atthe grocery store), as Sparky will be performing several incredible stunts.

Zip line of death: Insert string through fish gills and run him down the zip line!

Ring of fire of death: Small hula hoop with matches taped to it. Throw Sparkythrough it!

Bed of nails of death: Bed of nails, smash Sparky.

For the finale, use the Blender of Death: Blend Sparky up.

Its always good to talk to Sparky and encourage him, keep him in your pocket, feedhim treats. Incorporate him when ever possible throughout this event.Five Buck Receipt Rush:This event requires little planning and is always very fun. Sometimes it requires a bitof a budget, depending on how many kids are on each team. I usually charge adollar and end up in the red. If you charge two you could break even or even comeout ahead. I advertise that the winning team gets pizza at our local cheap pizzajoint.

Have as many teams as you do vehicles. Each team is given $5 to spend as theywish. The contest however, is to get the most amount of receipts, each from adifferent store or restaurant. The total dollar amount of these receipts must be lessthan $5. The team that gets the most receipts and makes it to the meeting spot (thepizza place) by a certain time is the winner.

I also have a rule that every receipt given must be witnessed by a staff member andsigned by them. This keeps the team together and helps prevent them fromwhipping out a receipt they had from the day before.

If I do have extra money I sometimes surprise them and by them all sodas. This willappease the losing teams a little more.Food Pantry Scavenger Hunt:Break your group into several teams. Depending on your neighborhood, teams canwalk or be driven. Give them a list of non-perishable food items to find with pointvalues assigned to each item (see below). Students collect items off the list.Obviously the team that has the most points wins. However, it is also a serviceevent. All food collected is then donated to your local food pantry.

It really is best to call your food pantry, or the place you are donating the food to.They often have specific items that are needed more than others. Also it's good tohave them draft a letter saying that the food hunt is a legitimate activity. Have as

many students as possible actually deliver the food to the pantry.


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When doing the hunt, you need to rely on what people have in their cupboards. Thechallenge is really to accumulate the most points while collecting food for the shelter.

Candy 1 pt per bag or bar

Sugary snacks 2 pts(cookies, chips, fruit flavored snacks, Little Debbie type snacks)

Healthy snacks 5 pts(Real fruit snacks, graham crackers, granola bars, etc.)

Box dinners 5 pts(including mac-n-cheese, Hamburger Helper, Rice-a-Roni)

Oatmeal 5 pts

Pasta 5 pts

(noodles, elbow macaroni, etc.)

Dry cereal 10 pts

Crackers 10 pts

Spices 10 pts

Paper goods 10 pts(t.p., napkins, paper towels, paper plates, cups, etc.)

Condiments 15 pts

(mayonnaise, catsup, mustard, etc.)

Small cans or jars 15 pts(tuna, Spam, peanut butter, jelly, jam, pickles, vegetables, fruits, etc.)

Large cans or jars 20 pts(soups, vegetables, fruits, meats, olives, etc.)

Cooking products 20 pts(cooking oil, spray, sugar, flour, etc.)

Toiletries 20 pts(deodorant, soap, laundry and dish detergents, etc.)

Baby products 20 pts(diapers, wipes, formula, and other unopened baby products)

Idea by Trish Kapelke

Formal Dinner:Hold a formal dinner, dance (okay . . . some of us can't do that!), or Ball forstudents. You can rent a facility or just fix up the youth room, teen center . . .

wherever you normally meet! I recommend selling tickets ahead of time forpromotion. Get staff or student leaders to be the DJ, waiters, etc. A fun twist is to


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have everyone dress up and then just serve pizza or fish and chips (those of you inthe UK). Can also be used as a fund-raiser or prom alternative ("Grad Nite").

Submitted by Sally Anderson

Also see Prom A La Mode (Post-Prom Party) and Ten Dollar Prom, both on Eventspage.

Girls: Project Esther - Spa Night:

Project Esther: Spa Night's motto is, "Esther got a whole year, we get one night." Wecharge the girls $2 and a snack to share. It doesn't take much prepatory work andeven if you don't charge the girls, how much you spend on spa products and thingsto do are dependent upon attendance. For a large group, plan on spendingapproximately $75. Look for sales! You may also opt to tell the girls to bring theirown favorite products and a beauty secret to share.

When you announce it give away free coupons to girls who wouldnt normally attend

your youth ministry. You can make the focus outreach, requiring your plugged ingirls to bring unchurched girlfriends. Or this could be a bridge-builder between two ormore different youth groups, depending on the potential number of attendees. Eitherway, provide flyers for the girls to hand out.

Find a host-home, where the atmosphere is relaxing and comfortable. Assure thehost that whether they stay in their home during the event or not, you and any co-leaders will leave their home as you found it. Be sure and follow-through by movingany furniture back, cleaning up any rooms used, etc.

You can work the "spa" one of two ways: Buy spa products like masks, foot scrubs,nail polish, etc. at any retailer like Wal-Mart. Or you can recruit a Mary Kay or Avon

consultant to donate discontinued items, samplers, or demo tubes of body and nailproducts.

Brush up on basic massage techniques because on the scheduled Friday evening for4 or 5 hours, the girls come over and receive massages by female youth staff. Ifyoure going to offer scalp massages, have them wash their hair before they come orwash it at your host home. Decide ahead of time who will provide towels. Paint theirnails and let them put cleansing masks on, etc.

This is a great event to tie in anything from inner and outer beauty, self-image, andself-respect to servanthood (likening the youth staff pampering the girls to Jesuswashing his disciple's feet).

Ideas for having a different "beauty" focus on your Project Esther evening:

Sponsor Project Esther the night before high school prom focusing onpampering and last minute needs for the girls, not to mention quality girl-timebefore the big dates.

Sponsor Project Esther for mom's and daughters or combining the women'sministry and the youth group girls' ministry.

Bring in real beauticians/cosmetologists or skin care consultants who arewilling to donate their time to give professional spa care and advice to the

girls.


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With your left over supplies, give out coupons to girls to schedule a time to gettogether where you give them free manicures or massages, facials, etc. When theyturn in their coupon for the service, you get to build an even stronger relationshipwith them.

Tips:

It is best to split the Jr. High and High School girls into two different rooms oron two different evenings; again, depending on how many attend.

Maximize the one-on-one time you have while painting a girl's toe nails. This is a good low-pressure opportunity to invite college-aged girls and

women you think would be great at mentoring girls.

Remember to be creative!

Added by Kristin Welch, IL

Great Mattress Run, The:This is a fun EVENT where teams have to carry a mattress a mile or two across townWITHOUT getting caught by STAFF HUNTERS. Let me explain.

Arrange teams and drop each team off at separate designated points, each the exactsame distance from the FINAL MEETING PLACE. Each group has one mattress each.Their job is to be the first team to get from their designated point to the FINALMEETING PLACE while the STAFF HUNTERS travel around in their vehicles "hunting"them.

The teams are only safe from the STAFF HUNTERS when the entire team is jumpingup and down on the mattress. So the entire trek, they need to keep their eyes openfor STAFF HUNTERS and immediately throw their mattress down and start jumpingon it if they see them. Teams are only vulnerable to STAFF HUNTERS within onehundred yards- and the STAFF HUNTER is the judge of distance. If the STAFFHUNTERS catch the team within one hundred yards NOT jumping on their mattress,they can TRANQUELIZE the team by saying "gotcha!" Then the entire group MUST liedown on their mattress for 2 minutes, or until the STAFF HUNTER releases them.

The first team to the FINAL MEETING PLACE wins. Icing on the cake: provide every

STAFF HUNTER with a person in their passenger seat with a video camera. Thefootage makes a great video, edited and put to music the next week.

Original idea by John TempestGreat Way to Advertise Your Event:

Some stores take artwork and, for a charge, slaps it on water bottles. If you dontfind a store that will do this or you dont want to pay that cost, you can take yourevent logo and main info, print it on labels and put it on the water bottles yourself.Make it a group/team effort. Then take the cases to middle or high school parkinglots with coolers on hot days and hand out free water bottles. A lot friendlier thanthe old half sheet flyer.

Idea from Paul Ikonen


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Human Music Videos:Take familiar praise and worship songs and assign a song to each team and askthem to create and perform a music video.

Assign a teacher to judge on creativity, energy, and humor.

Idea by Yohsuke Miki

Jello-O Wrestling:That's right, Jell-O wrestling.

Here's how you do it:1. Find a store near you that sells bulk foods and purchase large quantities ofinstant Jell-O, enough to make 80 gallons. You can make it in a bunch oflarge rubber/plastic garbage cans in a big walk-in fridge.

OR . . .

Some of you might be thinking, Okay, I dont have access to a walk in fridgeor I dont have a connection with a local grocery store that will let us use theirmilk fridge. Well . . . youre in luck. To try this web site for some no chilljello CLICK HERE.

2. Once you make the Jell-O, scoop this stuff in baby pools and you're readyto go.

We told the kids to wear clothes that could get messy, and we did the event outsidefor easy cleanup. (Note: Cleanup was anything but easy!) We had guys vs. guys and

girls vs. girls. It was normal wrestling, but in Jell-O. Use your own judgement forsafety. It is slick and it is wrestling, so use caution. We had no injuries, but we werevery careful.

An event like this could bring out a ton of new students.

Karaoke Night:Find a friend with a laser disc player or a Karaoke machine and rent some KaraokeDiscs (screen the songs beforehand- a lot of the videos are pretty raunchy). If youdon't have a professional Karaoke machine, you can hook up a laser disc player to asound system and a 19" TV that the person that's singing can see. Have the videoinput split so it is projected on a large screen behind the person.If you have the ability, send the music through a set of earphones (so the personsinging can't hear themselves too well).

If you use a video mixer and a camera, you can shoot the person singing and placethem on the screen in a wipe mode or mixed in.

Hilarious Method:Have the music play through the earphones only during a song or two so you onlyhear their voice out loud- always good for a laugh.Kickin' It:

It's an all night party with plenty of activities and plenty of time to hang out, or just"kick it." You could almost market it as just that.
http://www.jellowrestling.com/http://www.jellowrestling.com/


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This event requires enough vehicles to haul your entire group around, enough driversthat can handle driving all night, and enough caffeine to help keep the driversawake! Start at your normal facility with an open gym/facility or some fun organizedgames. After a couple of hours, switch to the next location.

KICKIN' ITCalvary Youth's All Night Party

Plenty of Stuff to do ... and Plenty of Time to Just Kick It!

Then plan activities for all night, starting at your normal meeting place. Then go todifferent fun places where kids can participate, or simply "hang out."

Possible locations/activities:

Movie- at someone's house where their basement or large room is set up likea movie theater

Swim (at a person's house- a neighborhood pool, even a local hotel if you canpre-arrange)

Bowling Lazer tag Roller-skating Costume parties (theme driven) Door prizes Prizes for who brings the most friends Movie- at someone's house where their basement or large room is set up like

a movie theater Swim (at a person's house- a neighborhood pool, even a local hotel if you can

pre-arrange) GOOD food (nachos, pizza, M&M's, Pepsi, Continental breakfast in the a.m.)

Kidnapped Gnomes:Similarly named Roaming Gnomes has at least a 20 year history (Google roaminggnomes to find hilarious stories). The tradition is that a Lawn Ornament (e.g.

gnome, rabbit, etc.) is kidnapped and taken on adventures that are recorded onpictures or video. At the end of the adventure, the LO returns home happy andcontent and has pictures to show its family of where it has been.

Purchase (or have donated) 5 LO gnomes and put them at 5 pre-arranged houses,maybe even the houses of 5 adult volunteers.

Announce: Your mission tonight is to kidnap a LO from the address specified andtake it on adventures around the city that you will capture on video camera!

Rule #1: The game is called Kidnapped, not Murder. Treat your LO well. Tell us ifyou damage it, so we can pay for hospital costs.

Rule #2: Everyone in the group must appear in at least one scene with the LO, and


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the more scenes that include lots of people, the better.

Rule #3: Have fun, but dont get arrested. Keep it G-rated so we can give a copy ofthe video to the family of your LO.

Video Tape your LO doing the following, and while youre at it, give the LO a name,voice and some personality:

50 Points EachDrinking coffee at a coffee shopShopping for vegetables at a grocery storePlaying on a swing setGoing to schoolDancing or playing an instrumentDriving a car as if in a speed chaseTrying to get in a store that has a Closed sign up

100 PointsCaught in the act of trying to escapeEating with chopsticksHaving a conversation with another LO about the experienceBeing interviewed by a reporter about his/her adventures so far

200 PointsAsking a stranger for a datePosing with a community or emergency worker (paramedic, fire dept. personnel,police officer, etc.)Working behind the counter at a fast food joint

Posing by a house with a For Sale sign & saying why they like this house

LO doing a TV commercial for a productEND THE VIDEO WITH A GROUP HUG AND FAREWELL STATEMENT FROM THE LO

Prizes will be awarded for:Blockbuster Award: Most PointsMTV Award: Single funniest sceneDirectors Award: Funniest overall videoYouth Leaders: Drive around before the event and get the addresses of houseswith LOs. Write the addresses on a slip of paper and have each team pick one froma hat.

Added by Kristin Clark

Lost:An All Day Event Theyll Never Forget

Ever looking for another event besides the proverbial mini-golf? Well maybe yourgroup would like LOST. Imagine dropping off your students at a far off unknownlocation in teams of eight, equipped with only a $100 bill per team, an envelope ofcrazy instructions, and a video cameraman recording the whole thing!

Many of you have seen shows like LOST where they drop someone off in the middleof nowhere and make them find where they are and find their way home. This is the


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same idea as Lost and The Great Race, but with your youth group, and for only$12 bucks a kid. Interested? Keep reading.

This is an event you can do for pretty cheap. But it does take a lot of work. It takesa good staff ratio to ensure safety, and it takes a lot of pre-planning. WARNING:Do not cut corners on the planning of this event. You are entirelyresponsible for the safety of your youth group. You will want to note Dalessafety precautions and evaluate your own. Use wisdom while planning thisevent- use these ideas at your own risk.

Heres what Dale did:

He divided his group into teams of eight. Each team of eight students had two staffmembers, each with cell phones. He divided teams by picking names out of twohats: a hat full of the guys names, and a hat full of the girls names. This mixedstudents up with other students they hadnt met of different ages and genders.

The entire group took their church bus towards an unrecognizable destination, 30minutes out, placing blindfolds on all the students. They dropped them all off in atown called Walnut Creek, CA. Each team got out and received a packet. The packethad several numbered envelopes in it and one $100 bill.

The teams would score points by the following:

1. Who got to their final destination first2. Who had the most money left3. Who guessed the closest to the final destination

Dales group started in Walnut Creek, riding BART (the subway) into San Francisco to

Ghiradelli Square. On their journey they had to go through Chinatown and order aspecific item in their packet that was written in Chinese, they had to ride a taxi, ridea cable car, buy chocolate in Ghiradelli, and a cookie in the San Francisco ShoppingCenter. Each team had a staff person video taping the entire day.

Dale said, I couldnt have planned the discussions that happened after thisday. Students couldnt stop talking about it. They got a glimpse of what it was liketo feel lost! They had to call a cab, ride the subway, order Chinese food and try tobreak a $100 bill! We asked them questions like: What would you have done if youwere dropped off alone? One student said, I have to be honest. I would haveopened up all the envelopes at the beginning and cheated!

I asked Dale how he kept this event safe.

Each team had two staff people who each had cell phones. We kept a 1 in 4 staffratio. When they booked the cab- they had to get a cab that fit six people, includingthe driver, because I wouldnt let them split up from their staff person. Then eachteam had to call three designated times throughout the day.

There you have it. LOST. An event that can kick off discussion after discussionabout how were lost or searching for the right path.

LOST INSTRUCTIONS

Here are the instructions that Dale included in each packet. These includedoriginal instructions and individual assignments in each envelope. (Note:


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These are just to give you an idea. I dont know all the specifics so pleasedont email me and ask me how he did assignment # 4 and what the clue

was. Youre on your own on that one!

LOST 2002INSTRUCTIONSWhere are you? Where are you going? How are you going to get there? These are allquestions you need to answer today. One of your leaders has an envelope with allthe necessary information for your journey. You must complete each assignmentbefore opening the next. You have been given enough money for the day, but youneed to spend wisely. You must record all of your expenses.

But first, do you know whom you are making this journey with?Your first assignment is to write down everyone's name

What city are you in?

Where do you think the finish line is? Be specific.(The team that is closest gets a fantastic prize. You cannot change your answeronce its written.)

Once this page has been completed you may open envelope # 1.

LOST 2002ENVELOPE #1

Your first assignment is to get to the Walnut Creek Bart Station. It is too far to walk,but how you get there is up to you. Your team must travel together. The map below

might be a good way

(925) 555-3950 (This was an actual number- I just changed all numbers for thisarticle.) - Info. Line

When you get to the Walnut Creek Bart Station, open envelope #2


Congratulations, you made it to the Walnut Creek Bart Station. Your firstassignment is to call Dale @ 408-555-3572 to check in. Secondly, buy tickets, boardthe Bart and get off at Powell Street in San Francisco!

WC Powell11:17a 11:54a11:37a 12:14p11:57a 12:34p12:17p 12:54p12:37p 1:14pWhen you have arrived at the Powell Station, head towards the SAN FRANCISCOSHOPPING CENTER Once your team is off the train you may open envelope #3.

LOST 2002


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ENVELOPE #3

Go to the San Francisco Shopping Centre. Find a place that sells cookies. Purchasea cookie, have everyone on your team take a bite.


Go ride the Cable Car to Chinatown.


Get to Ghiradelli Square. You can get there any way you want options includeCable Car, walking or a Taxi! (Try the latter, it should be the quickest!)

Buy a piece of candy from any store in Ghiradelli Square. Have someone eat it and

then open envelope # 6.


The final leg of your journey!!!! The church bus is near pier 17. Get there any waythat you can! Muni (the trolley) is a good option but it's up to you!!!! Call Dale (408)555-3572 so he knows you are in the home stretch.

Your entire team must touch the bus to finish. Congratulations! You made it!Love Your Neighbor Project - Outreach:Call up a local neighborhood ministry, store or facility and do a clean up day with

your youth group. Our youth facility is right next door to the local Pregnancy CareCenter. To help apply love your neighbor as yourself our youth group volunteeredto clean their entire building for free. With fifteen teenagers it took less than twohours to sweep, mop, clean toilets, take out trash, vacuum, and even take somepictures in the process. Now its a tradition in our youth group. We do it once asemester and have become very close with their neighbor in the process. Evenbetter, the idea has sparked interest in doing this for others as well.

Who lives near your church or youth facility that you can be a good neighbor to?Give them a call and offer to do something for them (anything!) for free. Youll beamazed at relationship that could develop.

Added by Dillon BurroughsMakin' Music Videos:Supplies Needed:

several video cameras (one for each team) blank tapes for each camera various costume props for each team to use(i.e. sunglasses, crazy shirts and

dresses, etc.... all in the theme of looking like a rockstar--glamorous)

Event Description:

Divide your Youth into groups of 5-8 people. Give each group a video camera and letthem choose a song from a pile of CD's that you have collected. Each group will need


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to act, sing or pretend to sing, and dance to the song they have chosen in their veryown Music Video Clip.

Give each group an hour to come up with their masterpiece then all meet togetherand watch each others'. They turn out very funny!

You can even have some of your leaders act as judges. Have prizes for the winningteam!

Idea by Jared StrappMall Manhunt:Find as many people (20 or more) from your church as possible to go out to a certainmall (preferably a large one) a half an hour before the youth group comes.

Upon arriving with your youth group, break them into teams of 4 or 5 and hand outa packet of sheets to each team with all of the faces of people who are hiding in themall photocopied onto each sheet. Within a certain time frame (an hour is best) the

teams must track down as many people as possible and have them sign under theirpicture.

The winning team is the one who arrives back at the meeting point on time with themost signatures. There should be a penalty for teams that are late (they lose onesignature a minute).

It's great because it allows the youth to see the adults in their church in a differentlight and know them on a more personal basis.

For more fun, have your volunteers dress up in costumes. We had a gentleman,usually sharp dressed, dress up as a skater, etc.! It was a hoot!

We've also written "crimes committed" by each individual (stole candy from a baby,etc.) just to add more fun.

Added by Scott MacDougallMan Hunt:This is a great event to market your group and try to increase group size. This worksbest if your group has already been meeting for a few weeks and has built a little bitof momentum.

Advertise a Man Hunt, but don't tell anyone what it is. Have enough transportationavailable for twice the amount of students that you normally have. Divide everyoneinto teams and give them instructions. Let them know that this is a contest to go getas many of their friends as possible back to the meeting place by a given time(usually a little over an hour). Give each team a list.

The list could look something like this:

Find a high school student . . . who has red hair who has a 4.0 who is on the football team


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Teams go out in the transportation provided (half empty cars and vans), get thesepeople and bring them back at the designated time. Have fun games and activitieswhen everyone gets back, along with a small promotion of what your group is like,inviting everyone back. Give the winning team, guests and all, a prize.

Option: Seniors and freshmen team up to bring as many kids as they can from theirclasses. Juniors team with sophomores. Do class competitive minutes. Have anaward or a trophy for winning classes.Mystery Supper (Missions Emphasis Meal):This dinner could be just for fun and fellowship for in conjunction with your missionsemphasis month or one night to simply kick off a specific missions focus.

Choose what kind of food you will serve (Chinese, Italian, Ukrainian, etc.); then getsomeone to write out the menu in that language. List 12 things including fork, knife,spoon, water, juice, etc.

Have people fill out an order form with three courses of four things. They get thosefour things, and after a certain time take it all away and bring the next course. Youmight get only cutlery or all food and no cutlery. After it's over let everyone getseconds so they end up getting a full meal.

Added by Noelle Bonk

Variation: You could use this idea on any random night, and use nonsense wordsinstead of other languages.Napolean Dynamite Night:Even those who haven't seen this movie know that "Napoleon Dynamite"tookAmerica by storm in 2004. This low budget film was released in June 04, and it paid

for itself every single weekend since. Teenagers went to the theatres to see it-someup to 20 times.

For lack of a better description, Napoleon Dynamite is the story of a geeky kidnamed Napoleon who decides to help his new friend Pedro win the class presidencyin their small town high school. His family life consists of an even geekier brother,Kip, who "chats online with babes all day" and his Uncle Rico who wishes he could goback to high school and play football again. CLICK HERE for our more detailed reviewof the film.

This event is a fun night where everything evolves around the theme ofNapoleonDynamite. So plan a Napoleon Dynamite Night or, if you've already done one ofthese nights, have a Napoleon Dynamite Reunion Night. Use the tips from the articlereferenced above to make it an event at which your students will have a killertime!

Before you plan for this night you may want to CLICK HERE so you can prepare byreading Jonathans 5 Tips to Make Your "MOVIE NIGHT" Flop!

You could also use this event as an excuse to put a "student event-planning team"together to help you plan the event. They'll come up with better ideas than we could.Use some of these ideas to jumpstart their thoughts:

Give prizes for the best Napoleon Dynamite costume
http://www.thesource4ym.com/moviereviews/moviereview.asp?ID=37http://www.thesource4ym.com/archives/arc20041130.asp#TITLE1%3CBR%3Ehttp://www.thesource4ym.com/moviereviews/moviereview.asp?ID=37http://www.thesource4ym.com/archives/arc20041130.asp#TITLE1%3CBR%3E


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Serve "tater tots" Have the Napoleon Dynamite dance contest Show the extra features on the DVD: deleted scenes, the making of, etc.

The event could be a great outreach event to bring out some new kids. Use thisevent to "just have fun" and invite kids back to your youth group.

Oscars Night (aka "See You at the Oscars!"):Outreach event

Hold a formal night (tuxes, gowns, etc.). Book (or form) a youth band and providedesserts. Go to your local trophy store and by 12 cheap "Oscar" trophies to do awhole Oscar night.

The key is plugging this months ahead of time so students can make videos to

submit for the evening. You'll want to list some guidelines about content, length, etc.Have the videos due at least 2 weeks before the event so you can screen them andprepare the awards, etc.

We tried to reach out to students outside the group by talking to some local schoolswith film classes or drama classes. We let them in on the competition. We had oneteacher give extra marks if the kids did it. The Sky is the limit with this.

Added by Marcel KurtzParent Appreciation Dinner:To know the parents of my students, and hopefully get them into the gathering onSundays, at Easter we advertise a meal for them, with their own kids waiting on

them. We cook something simple that the girls help prepare before hand. The boys,in shirt, trousers, and tie wait on their parents. We have had good success withgetting to know parents, They hear the word preached, songs by the kids andtestimonies from older men and women from the church.

Idea from Lee Jones, UK

Also see Parents' Night Live! on Topical Curriculum GROWTH page.Parent Night Live:These are ideas for a Parent-Student meeting. Provide refreshments and havegreeters who will take coats and welcome parents into the room or guide them to the

registration table (if you use one).

Thank parents for coming and tell them the focus for the evening is to, meet oneanother, give you a glimpse into (name of your youth ministry), let you know howyou may get involved, and to have fun with your teenager.

Share about a recent event or service that went particularly well or at which God didsomething significant in a students life. Have one or two students briefly share theirappreciation for: something God has done in their life, the youth ministry, theirparents, or a combination of these.

Just For Fun

Mummy Wrap:


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Supply each family team with two rolls of toilet paper. Have everyone in the familywrap the mommy I mean, mummy (either parent or guardian is fine). At the signalstudents mummify a parent as quickly as possible, using the entire two rolls oftoilet paper as a bandage. The first team done wins. If theres a tie, you can havethe audience vote by applause for the most creative or thoroughly wrapped mummy.

Award the winner with an economy pack of toilet paper.

Announcements

Heres your opportunity to do one of the things parents crave youth workers to domost: communicate.

Tell them about upcoming events, locations, dates, times, and costs. Provideflyers and use sign-up sheets.

Let them know if you need drivers or chaperones for any of these events.

Share upcoming opportunities to support upcoming fundraisers.

Games

The Parent GameThis game is to be played like the old Newlywed Game. Four parent/student teamswill compete by answering a series of questions. The parents go to a sound proofroom while their kids answer questions. Write the answers on cards held face downin their laps. Bring the parents back and score each one. Next, the students leaveand the parents answer questions. Award gift certificates (TCBY, local coffee shop,movie tickets, etc.) to winners.

Sample Questions

Student Questions:

1. How did your parents meet? (5 points)2. If your parents could look like any movie star, who would it be? (10 points)3. Which relative does your parent look forward to visiting at Christmas? (10

points)4. Which parent is the most frugal with money? (15 points)

Parent questions:

1. Who in your family (not just immediate) does your son/daughter resemblemost? (5 points)

2. Which house rule does your son/daughter most dislike? (10 points)3. Who is your son/daughters favorite teacher? (10 points)4. Where does your son/daughter enjoy shopping for clothes the most? (15

points)

Bonus: When was the last time your son/daughter was embarrassed bysomething you did? (25 points)


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Fathers Revenge

Choose three fathers and students willing to get messy. Players should face oneanother in chairs about six feet apart. The dads will be fed. Supply eachfather/student team with a large jar of baby food, a plastic bib, and a flexible plasticspoon. You can add a few optional props, such as baby music, rattles, and babybottles. Put the bibs on the fathers. Put down plastic or newspapers to catch themess.

Tell the audience, If you have ever tried to feed a baby you will appreciate thisgame. Babies usually throw, spit, spill, or drool most of their food all over dear olddad. Thats why we present to you tonight, Fathers Revenge!

At the signal, the student takes a spoonful of food and attempts to feed their baby.The goal is not necessarily to get all of their food in the babys mouth, but at least

onto their face. Reward all contestants with an appropriate prize.

Wrap-Up

Here are some suggested closing comments. Tweak to make them fit yourpersonality and communication style.

Thanks again for coming tonight and for allowing your son or daughter to be involvedhere at (name of your youth ministry). We have an awesome year planned.Throughout the year we will have (name a few planned activities). Students cancount on fun and friendship with adults who are somewhere between their peers andtheir parents!

(Name of your ministry) has a serious side, too. Each week we (will) talk aboutsubjects teenagers feel are important or problem areas. For example, peer pressure,family, divorce, purity, decision-making, etc. (If you break up into small groups orhost small groups on a separate evening, refer to that.)

(If unchurched parents are present, these remarks are intended to clarify anyquestions about the spiritual instruction youre giving their kids.) We are interestedin your student being a whole person mentally, physically, and socially. However,we try to focus on one area that is neglected at times: the spiritual. We will betalking about God and how He fits into our every day lives. Your teens will NOT becoerced or beaten over the head with religion, but asked to think about theirrelationship with God.

Thanks for coming to Parent Night!

Also see Parent Appreciation Dinner on EVENTS page.

Puzzle Find Service Project:This is a service project for your student leaders or a small group . . . with a creativetwist.

Arrange a service project for your groupyou could volunteer to clean someones

home or even something like cleaning a supply closet in your church. I decided myoffice, storage room and tables needed a major clean-up. So, why not put the group


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to work by having a clean-up (we called it "Service Night"). However, the trick addedwas that at each clean-up area, a puzzle piece was hidden. The kids had to collect allthe pieces to form a puzzle. Mine spelled out, "Free food in my office." We workedfirst, then enjoyed good grub afterwards!

Added by Bethany SearleRake and Run!!!:Each year, we get a list of elderly people from our parish, divide up into groups of 6-8 and then run from house to house raking up their leaves to be picked up by thedept. of public works in our city.

If you don't have a list- who cares? Pick a neighborhood in need and go to work!

It is so much fun. And, from time to time, the kids will rake all the leaves togetherand just start diving into them for fun! (Is your liability policy up to date?)

It is a great service project as well as some fun for the teens. Over the years the

kids and elderly have become more relaxed around each other and often the elderlywill bring candy or drinks out for the kids.

added by Jerry Smith

Side note: Walt from Illinois says that they do the same thing, but start by pickingan elderly person in their congregation, rake their yard AND their wholeneighborhood. Walt writes: "This way we have helped a couple in need, had anopportunity to witness through our service to the neighborhood (many times thepeople we are serving come out and talk and/or offer money which we refuse andtell them we do this for Jesus not for money, and we leave an ideal opportunityfor the couple in the neighborhood to talk to their neighbors about Christ after weve

left the neighborhood! It works great and is a lot of fun!"

NOTE FROM JONATHAN: I think one of the best ways we can point to Christ isthrough acts of service. Im not talking about handing out tracks or doorknocking Im talking about good ol fashion helping people in need. And if peopleask why, we simply answer, Because thats what Jesus would have done, and werepretty excited about Jesus.

Regressive Dinner:Basically this is a night of eating and fellowship. It's like the age old "progressivedinner" where you go from location to location, usually large houses, eating differentcourses of a meal. The "progressive" dinner does each course in order: one house forappetizers, one house for salad, one house for the main course, one house fordrinks, one house for dessert.

The "REGRESSIVE" dinner switches the order of the courses. You may start withdessert, then go to main course, then salad, then appetizers, etc.If you have a group of up to about 30 or 40, you can get away with going to all theselocations together. Each house needs to be able to fit this amount of people (we'veemptied out living room furniture and brought in tables for the main course, etc.). Ifyou have even larger groups, you can divide the group and go to different courses atdifferent times and save the last course, maybe appetizers, for a big location where

you can fit everyone.


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Fun event of just "hanging out" and getting to know each other.

Added by JohnScavenger Trash Hunt:Here is a good way to clean up your church and have fun. Divide into teams orpairs. You can almost always find these items around the church's parking lots oreven in empty lots or parks near the church. Set a time limit so teams can winwithout all of the items. Make sure you use gloves and safety precautions.

How to play: All items must be trash, but cannot come from a trash can. You willhave ten minutes. Come back as soon as you have all items or when the whistleblows. You can g

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