Summer Event Ideas

Summer is one of those times to kind of take it easy. If you can swing it give your volunteers a couple of months off from the week-in-and-week-out grind of youth ministry.  Scale back the weekly programming.  Kick your feet up.  Hang out with students in a "chill" environment.

Since you're not running your weekly programming as frivolously as you may be during the middle of October or March, what are some opportunities you may see to hang out with students?

Some quick summer ideas:

• Movie Night

Watch a movie at the church, or at a youth leader's house.  It doesn't have to be an officially church sponsored event, but just a chance to get students together to hang out.

• Beach Hangout

Go find a sandy beach. Pack some lunches. Play sand volleyball.  Hangout and chill in the water.

• Canoe/Kayak Trip

Spend a lazy day out on the river with a bunch of your students in some rented canoes.  The best part about these trips is that no one stays dry :)

• Bowling

Hit up the local bowling alley and just have fun being bad at a sport that so few people are skilled in.

The bottom line about summer is get out of your natural environment so that you can break down the relationship barrier between yourself and students.  Start building the rapport between students so that they trust you by the time you kick off in the fall!

What do you do during the summer to connect with students?