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The end of the school year is a great time to have parties that are geared toward reflection, as it is a natural time to look back over the year and see what has transpired.
Youth love to reflect and reminisce, LOVE. Seriously. The ideas below will help you celebrate the end of another school year and kick off the summer! I always loved doing end of the school year parties because it was soooooo easy to get the youth to open up and share.
Youth really enjoy talking about the highs and lows of the past, it’s really easy to get them to participate in a meaningful way and have a great party that they’ll remember for a long time!
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End Of The School Year Party Ideas For Youth Group #1: Bonfire
I don’t know what it is about bonfires, but youth love them. It’s not just the fire! Bonfires aren’t a common occurrence for many
If there is a place in your area where you can have a bonfire, great! Go there. If not, check with other adults or parents and find places for your bonfire. Of course, your church might even have space on its property for a fire, but it never hurts to look into options.
And yes, S’mores are a must!
Again, what is also great about situating your end of the school year party around a bonfire is that it is a natural place for reflection.
It’s the perfecting setting to capitalize on getting the youth to open up and share about their high and low points of the school year.
Use the opportunity to ask them questions, like:
What was your favorite youth group event or meeting was over the past year?
Do you feel like your have grown this year?
Thinking about the first day of school and now the last, have you changed from that first day of school? If so, how?
Biggest regret of the year?
Biggest win of the year?
Biggest surprise of the year?
Biggest hope for the next school year?
What are your plans for summer?
Plan to play some outdoor games. We have a great list of awesome outdoor youth group games that your kids will have a blast playing.
End Of The School Year Party Ideas For Youth Group #2: Cookout
So much potential in this end of the school year party idea!
Serve hamburgers, hot dogs, watermelon.
Play lawn games or plan to have the cook out at a park.
Or if you live in a warmer climate, plan to do this at a nearby lake or at one of the youth’s homes that have a swimming pool.
Bring a volleyball and organize a game.
End Of The School Year Party Ideas For Youth Group #3: Party At The Youth Minister’s Or Leader’s House
Youth have ALWAYS loved coming over to my house, as well as the other leader’s homes. They love seeing where you live and its a great place to have an end of the year party.
You could watch a movie
You could make them dinner
You could just hang out
Seriously they will just love being over at your house, it will be a memorable night for them.
End Of The School Year Party Ideas For Youth Group #4: Hawaiian Luau Party
Have the youth wear Hawaiian print, grass skirts, straw hats, leis, flip flops, etc.
Serve a ham or even roast a pig (there might be people in your congregation that do this).
Serve pineapple and other tropical fruit.
Have a Spam eating contest, or enjoy different Spam dishes.
Play limbo.
End Of The School Year Party Ideas For Youth Group #5: Costume Party
What a way to end the school year with a costume party!
Ideas:
Have the youth dress up
Get candy
Play games
Prizes for best costumes
Here’s to a great end of the year party! You made it through another school year-kudos!
For more Youth Ministry resources check out these great posts:
101 Conversation Starters For Ministry
128 Small Group Questions For Youth Group
450 Lesson Topics For Youth Group
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