Survey: activities for a small youth group

[Frecs]

I attend a small church and have a fledgling youth group of *3*...count them *3* teens (girls: ages 12, 15, & 16). I am wanting to plan a monthly "activity" for the coming year. These activities will largely come out of my own pocket so need to be inexpensive. I need ideas.

Here are a few I have to get the ball rolling:

1. Pizza Night -- go out to dinner at Pizza Hut
2. Putt-Putt golf (we live in the Myrtle Beach area so there are tons of those!)
3. Picnic at my place and pet bunnies
4. T-Shirt painting/design Day


So, I know we have youth on here and parents of youth...give me ideas!! I need ideas, people!!

 

[5dognightfarm]

Pizza night would be fun. If you have a bowling alley in your area, pizza and bowling are always fun activities. It's a pretty popular one for our 4-H kids.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

1. Halloween face painting if your church allows participation in Halloween celebrations

2. Thanksgiving crafts
http://www.ehow.com/list_6497480_thanks ... teens.html

3. Sing Christmas carols in children's ward at hospital or retirement home

Christmas crafts:
A. Drizzle paint into clear glass ornaments, roll to make neat designs- 6 packs of glass bulbs at 99cent store/paint
B. Beaded horseshoes- used horseshoes free from farrier, stone beads from craft store, copper wire
beaded-horseshoes-unveiled-t5121.html
C. Soup "kits" in canning jars, decorate lids with fabric scraps/ribbon
http://www.budget101.com/frugal/soup-mixes-200/

4. "Game night" board games or charades- Popcorn, snacks

6. Spring: decorate plant pots- paint, sequins, glitter, potting soil, seeds

5. Summer: water balloon and squirt gun fight- Lemonade, watermelon, hotdogs

 

[Frecs]

Those are great, MSD!!! :-D

We have in the past done "Hallelujah Night" parties for kids. Not sure if we will this year or not.

Now, to post some requests for used horseshoes on the Conway Trade FB group....lots of horse folks on that...some of those activities can also serve as Fundraisers to get the girls to Fine Arts Festival!<br /><br />__________ Tue Sep 24, 2013 12:49 pm __________<br /><br />Oh, and Cait, great idea about combining Pizza night with bowling! I'll need to check the local bowling alley to see what food they serve and how close they are to a pizza place...

 

[HowlsOfAngels]

Go to the humane society and ask to work with their dogs, teach the girls to use positive reinforcement and have them teach the dogs. It'll give the girls something to be proud of and it'll give the dogs an advantage as few shelter dogs know a single cue, much less how to walk on a leash.

Call around to some stables and see if you can muck stalls in exchange for a lesson on basic horsemanship.
Grooming, haltering, handling, etc. Horses are messy, but fun and humbling.

See if they may want to volunteer at any other local rescues. (I have at least five local canine rescues and one respectable local equine rescue nearby, the latter of which I frequently volunteer for working with previously abused or young horses).

Go to a roller rink, from what I remember they're usually pretty cheap and frequently have an ice cream place nearby.

Go to the drive in movies! They're usually very cheap compared to a movie theater and it's just more fun when you're sitting in a car or in the bed of a truck with friends.

Call ahead to an old folks home/hospice/wherever and see if you can bake some cookies/cupcakes/whatever, make "Have a great Day" cards, and maybe even get some dollar store goodies to pass out.

Go wander around your local mall! Allot a pittance each and have them pick something from their favorite store.

Sorry if these are unusual suggestions, but I'm all for volunteering and I always have fun when I make someones day (human or animal). One of my most memorable volunteer days I went out with some family friends and cleaned out the hay barn of an older woman, their was literally hay up to our hips and we had to wear masks the dust was so bad, but it was worth it because the older woman was so grateful and appreciative.

 

[Frecs]

HowlsofAngels, those are very interesting ideas! Not exactly what I was expecting but not bad. not bad at all...

 

[ladysown]

girls night out. They bring their own stuff. you rent a movie they would all be interested in. have popcorn, girl "stuff", and what not. ME>.. I don't enjoy those things BUT I do enjoy laughing together with other girls so THAT I like.

 

[Frecs]

girls night out. They bring their own stuff. you rent a movie they would all be interested in. have popcorn, girl "stuff", and what not. ME>.. I don't enjoy those things BUT I do enjoy laughing together with other girls so THAT I like.

lol...yeah, I had a meeting with the Conference level Youth Pastor and Director of Discipleship ministries Monday night. They were encouraging me and giving me some pointers for getting the youth group going. I told them, "yeah, I told God that He has quite the sense of humor. I didn't relate to teens when I *was* a teen, much less now that I'm 50!" They assured me that I have what is most required--a heart for these kids.

Girls night out is a very good idea! Just have to find a decent movie....do they make those anymore???