Q: What’s your favorite youth work activity and why?
A: It’s always hard for me to pick just one favorite thing to do or one memory from my time in youth work. Even though it’s been relatively short compared to many youth workers and youth pastors, I’ve had so much fun and so many great memories it’s always hard to pick just one.
I’m really passionate about youth learning about other countries, so one of my favorite things to do with youth is a community service project or fundraiser for other youth overseas. They learn about the country and the organization and get to do some good as well. It’s a fantastic opportunity to combine a lot of different elements into one project and give the youth some really comprehensive skills.
However, I also LOVE residential and retreat experiences for and with youth. While I wouldn’t want to have to work at a residential center and be qualified to belay youth on a regular basis, it’s an extremely fun experience spending time away with them, helping them learn about themselves and watching as they try new things. And let’s be honest – it’s also fun to try some of the stuff too!
Spending Time Away
Youth learn so much when they leave their parents. So do you. You’re the responsible one. You have to keep them safe, fed, watered, rested, free of illness and so much more. You have to make sure they learn about waking up, going to bed at a reasonable time, being on time to activities, trying new things (sometimes including new foods) and that they wear sensible PJs around each other.
On my first residential, I was really nervous that the at-risk youth I was with were going to sneak out and either a) get in trouble or b) drown in the ocean. I kept the door to my room open and every time a youth came out to go to the bathroom, I sat bolt upright and asked where they were going.
Needless to say they were pretty sure I didn’t ever sleep. I was awake when they went to bed (you know how late-night hallway patrol can be on a co-ed trip) and woke them up each morning, plus was apparently awake every time they left their room at night. My advice? You won’t be very fun or effective if you’re tired. Be reasonable about safety and precautions, then get your rest.
Helping Them Learn More About Themselves
On our residentials, we’d spend the days doing all kinds of new and fun activities but in the morning we’d spend a little time reflecting on character-building and interpersonal skills to focus on for the day. I loved when I’d see youth putting skills of patience and forgiveness into practice with each other on the rock wall, mountain biking trail or just while in line for food. It’s definitely worth taking the time to reflect at the start and end of each day about what the youth are learning – not only about the activities they’re doing, but also themselves.
Watching Them Try New Activities
One of my favorite things about youth residentials is watching them try things they might never have otherwise tried. Like rock climbing, snowboarding, speed boating, sailing, kayaking, high ropes or riflery. We always made a real effort to stretch young people out of their comfort zones just a little bit, but also to respect the level of anxiety they were experiencing. We usually started trips with this activity about identifying fears, so we had a good idea about how much anxiety different activities might trigger.
I loved watching youth on the Velodrome. Especially when it was explained that they had to have their feet strapped to a bike without any brakes and trust the others to hold them up, send them off and catch them. (Seriously – and very embarrassingly – I might have cried a little bit from the stress my first time out. They could therefore only be so uncool because I beat us all to wearing the cone of shame on that one). For many youth, the chance to ride on the Velodrome was a once in a lifetime opportunity (especially since Calshot’s is one of only three in the UK) and I really enjoyed watching them improve and encourage each other.
Question: What’s your favorite youth work activity? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
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