Activities for church youth lock ins: We can’t all have an awesome day at a music festival, or have an amazing time with our friends while camping in the woods. If you are looking for lock-in activities to make this summer special, then look no further than our list of best lock-in activities for church youth lock ins . In this post, I’ve laid out 38 different senior lock-in activities for you. These are fun and inexpensive ways to invite your high schoolers to be a part of your church community. Check out youth group all nighter ideas and lock in activities for church.
There are many ways to have fun during a lock-in. Some of the most popular activities include: crafts, games, tech opportunities and food. One alternative version of these traditional activities has been lock-ins for churches, parties and community events. What do you get when you combine a great time, activities and a super cool place? You get our Church Youth Lock In! We’re glad to have you here in our humble abode.
Activities For Church Youth Lock Ins
You’re looking for the best ways to entertain your church youth during the lock ins at night. You’ve got a room full of young people itching for something to do, so we’ve put together some of our favorite activities for high school youth lock ins. They’ll have something fun to do from 11pm until maybe 4am!
Church youth lock ins have become an important part of many churches’ youth ministry programs, and they don’t need to be boring! Church youth lock ins are when high school students are allowed in a church building overnight during an activity (like a mission trip, retreat or overnight).
Youth Group All Nighter Ideas
If I ever meet the youth director who invented lock-ins, I may have a few cross words to share with them. These events have been a staple in youth ministries since at least the 60’s and, although they are dreaded both before and after they occur, they are always fun while they’re happening.
Lock-in no longer has to mean “locked-in.” Lock-in really just means staying-up-all-night-doing- something-with-the-youth-group. They’re a great way to get kids together, create community, build relationships and have a lot of fun. Here are some ideas for your next lock-in.
Traditional Lock-in
The old fashioned lock-in is when you stay at your own church and play all night. Depending on the size of your group, you can do each activity together, or have different activities in various places and have students rotate through them. Some ideas: A board game room, cookie decorating/baking, make your own pizza, button making, inflatables, dodgeball/volleyball, etc., S’more making, movie room. You can also utilize talented parents by having them host a card-making room, wood carving, scrapbooking, etc. Pinterest is a great source for lock-in ideas.
Not every activity has to go on all night. Create a schedule where new and exciting things pop up throughout the night to keep student interested. Midnight dance party! 3am Coffee Bar!
A-Thons
You can raise money on a lock-in by having a walk-a-thon, bike-a-thon, fast-a-thon, game night marathon, you get the idea. Students get sponsors for each lap or hour, then hang out at the church doing the a-thon. Add food and entertainment and you have a lock-in!
Traveling lock-in
These can be expensive, but they are loads of fun. They work best with large groups. Some venues offer a flat rate rental so, the more students you have, the less it costs per student. Other venues charge by the student. Trampoline centers, bowling lanes, mini-golf courses, go–carts, gymnastics centers, climbing centers, swimming pools, etc. are usually willing to stay open late or open early for lock-ins. Spend a few hours at each place, load the bus and head to the next event.
If you have adults who don’t want to stay all night, it’s easy to switch them out between events.
Mystery Destination Lock-in
Give a few clues about what to bring and wear (plus a few incorrect clues just to throw people off), load the bus a head to a surprise destination. You might head to a concert, rally, or other event. You can also go to any of the travelling lock-in destinations mentioned above. If you’re really adventurous, make it a mystery weekend and head to an amusement park or resort area.
Theme Events
Although lock-in are often just wild events used as recruiting tools, they can also be fun learning experiences.
- A poverty lock-in may include visiting a homeless shelter and serving a meal or leading worship, volunteering at a thrift store cleaning and sorting after hours, then ending the night sleeping in cardboard boxes on the church lawn.
- A hard-hitting lock-in on drug and alcohol abuse might include a stop at a rehab center, police station, emergency room and even a morgue or funeral home.
- A world tour lock-in could include an Italian restaurant, Salsa dancing lessons/demonstration, or Japanese origami.
- Simply interspersing themed teachable moments or devotions throughout any lock-in can make it both fun and educational.
Low Budget Ideas
Locking in at your own church is cheap, but can be boring since your students are always there. However, going to another church (perhaps in a different city) can add inexpensive excitement. Every youth director has ideas about what to do in their own church, so this is an easy way to add excitement without extra cost. You could even to a lock-in swap with another group.
Transportation can be expensive especially if you‘re paying a driver. You can save money by travelling less time. Stay at your own church until 10 or 11:00, then have the bus arrive to take you somewhere. You can also have your last destination near the church. Once you arrive there, say at 4:00AM, release the bus driver and have parents pick up students there rather than at the church. This will cut few hours off bus/driver fees.
Lots of venues are free, but you may need permission to be there after dark. City playgrounds, arboretums, tracks/stadiums, barns, etc. are great places to do activities for little or no cost.
Since lock-in’s seem to be here to stay, we might as well make them as fun as possible for everyone involved. Be safe, be creative, and have fun.
Lock In Activities For Church
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A lock-in at the church is an opportunity to strengthen relationships in the youth group and have good old-fashioned fun. Plan enough activities to fill the night so kids don’t get bored. Combine activities with reflection and community outreach to make the lock-in enjoyable and purposeful.
Scavenger Hunt
A church has a variety of places to hide clues to a scavenger hunt. Write clues ahead of time and place them throughout the church or in a fellowship hall. Make the clues relate to lessons learned in Sunday school or specific facts about the church. Make harder questions so the youth has to ask a friend or a church elder to learn the answer to the clue. Have a prize or an evening snack at the end of the scavenger hunt.
Minefield
Develop communication and trust within the youth group with this game. Set up an obstacle course with jump ropes, cups, chairs or other furniture. Blindfold one person and guide her to the beginning of the obstacle course. The other youth members tell the person how to get to the other side of the obstacle course. Try dividing the youth group into teams and see which team can get someone through the obstacle course in the least amount of time and run into the fewest number of things.
Blanket Making
Involve the youth group in a community service project during a lock-in. Buy large squares of fleece or ask a local craft store to donate the material. Put two squares of fleece back to back and cut fringe around the outside. Tie the fringe from the two squares together to join the pieces of fleece. Give the blankets to a homeless shelter or the fire department to give to kids.
Circle Run
Ask the youth group members to pick a partner. One person from each paring forms an inside circle while the other person from each paring forms an outside circle. Play music as the youth members run around the circle. The inside circle runs in one direction and the outside circle runs in the other. When the music stops, each pair finds each other and one partner hops on the other partner’s back. The pair who is last to complete this formation is “out.” See which pair is the last one standing.