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Adventure with the EXPLORER youth group, Uznach
Jungschar program, invited: non-believing youth
Providing personal guidance to children and teenagers is one of the most important tasks of a youth group leader. The focus is not on programs, but on people and relationships. Seeing individuals grow into joyful and mature individuals is one of the most rewarding aspects of youth ministry. This “tool” provides you with a very practical resource—we hope you enjoy putting it into practice.
Materials needed: balloons, depending on the number of teams
Participants are divided into two teams (5–12 people). The teams form a line (with hands on shoulders or hips); the last person in each line receives a balloon attached to their pant leg. Within a marked-off area, the task for both teams is to pop the other team’s balloon while protecting their own.
TIP: Make sure the leaders of the two lines are of the same gender.
Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jomsphotography/4084620391/
Materials needed: a folded tarp or a blanket / piece of fabric × number of groups
Participants are divided into groups of 4–8 people and all climb onto the tarp.
They are told that they are at a bazaar in Turkey and a merchant is offering them a very good deal on a magic rug that will take them home faster. The only thing they need to keep in mind for it to work is that if it rains, it must be wet on both sides.
They’re now flying at an altitude of 10,000 meters. They’re almost home; but… It’s starting to rain in heavy drops… the magic carpet is beginning to lose altitude… they have to flip it over to the other side as quickly as possible, or they’ll all die!
The teams have 5 minutes to figure out how to flip the mat over without anyone falling off.
Sweet chocolate milk—perfect for making, for example, after an exciting night spent camping outdoors.
Materials needed: 2 or more plastic jugs, depending on the number of teams; approximately 200 grams of corn kernels; one chair per team.
Participants form two or more teams, depending on the number of participants, and line up in a row. Place one chair at the front of the line, with the backrest facing the participants. A plastic bottle is placed in front of each chair. Each participant receives two kernels of corn (the number is flexible; it can be increased after the first round), which they hold in the palm of their hand. Each player’s task is to drop as many kernels of corn as possible into the bottle without touching the chair or going around it. Kernels that fall next to the bottle cannot be picked up.
Teams are free to devise their own strategy (e.g., helping or picking up the smallest players). There is no set time limit. The team that collects the most kernels of corn in the bottle wins.
Equipment: area marked off with tape
Participants are divided into two teams that compete in a relay race. Everyone must crawl under the tape and perform a squat (girls) or a push-up (boys). After completing the task, they return to their team and pass the baton.
For more details, see the image and video.
"Samaritan Stories": Many Activity Suggestions for Three Different Age Groups on the Theme of Helping
This article is from the Forum magazine.
Get to know each other through play and become familiar with each other.
Jugend und Sport is an organization in Switzerland that supports Swiss sports and youth clubs in their work.
As they search for the rescue submarine, everyone is in the dark. Yet it's in the middle of the ocean, acting all calm while everyone else searches excitedly.
A fun icebreaker where there is no loser.
How to make cuffs that match the Roman cladding.
Youth group camps often include hikes lasting one or more days. This article explains how to plan and carry out such a hike.
A game in which you can experience experiential communication disorder.
God created a beautiful world. The first man’s task was to care for the plants and animals that God had placed in the Garden of Eden. It is the duty of all people—and even more so of Christians—to show respect for God’s creation. Instead of destroying, cutting down, and wasting, let us appreciate, protect, and promote an attitude of gratitude for God’s magnificent creation.
Active involvement in caring for the environment can also create many opportunities for evangelism.
In this article, you’ll find a creative idea for how to visually demonstrate loyalty and devotion.
This example is by no means intended to replace the Bible, but only to serve as a way to illustrate certain aspects of Scripture. This creative tool can teach only a part of divine truth. You can find other creative approaches on this website.