As the weather cools, youth groups that like to get outside have to change their plans slightly in the wintertime. With snow on the ground and a chill in the air, it can sometimes be hard to think of unique ideas, so we’re going to look at some outstanding winter options that everyone should enjoy!
As a youth group leader, you might feel pressure to deliver a ton of fun along with the word of God. Make sure that you’re helping your youth explore these great winter activities so that they can grow in the right direction during this chilly season. We have a mixture of fun for the kids and ideas for learning and service to others so the youth can learn essential life lessons.
Hot Cocoa & Coffee Stand Fund Raiser
Trying to raise money for your church? What’s better than hot cocoa & coffee to warm up with on a cold winter night and cash donations going right to the place you want them to go. Be proactive in planning this event that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. All you need are your youth group, a coffee maker, coffee, hot cocoa, cups, hot water, milk, creamer, and any other accompaniments your customers might want.
This is a great way to teach the youth about contributing to the church and keeping people warm at the same time! A hot cocoa and coffee stand is a fun way to volunteer to raise money for a church because it can be enjoyed by all ages, and it does not require any skill to set up. All that is needed is a space to set up the stand, hot cocoa packets, and cups. This fundraising opportunity is perfect for the winter months when people are looking for something warm to drink.
Bonfire Activities
This is an excellent way to enjoy the crisp winter air while staying warm. Get into the fresh air and tell stories, roast marshmallows or hot dogs and enjoy the simpler things in life. This is an excellent opportunity to teach your youth group or have them share their own stories and lessons. Have them share what they’re thankful for with each other, or have each person read a passage from the bible.
This is also a fantastic opportunity to cover the nativity story, with each youth reading one part of the story. Again, it’s an easy activity to do to get the kids together and enjoy being around each other.
Snowman Building Competition
If you have snow on the ground, it’s natural to want to build a snowman! With a few pieces of clothing and other materials from around the church, you can organize a snowman-building competition that will be remembered! It’s a great way to get the youth involved and work together to see who has the best snowman!
If you live in a place without snow, then you can make “pine cone men” with pine cones and other natural materials. A hot glue gun and supervision are recommended!
Pine Cone Bird Feeders
Pine cone bird feeders are a fun activity for youth groups. First, you need to go out and collect some pine cones. You can either buy them or pick them up in the woods or local parks. Once you have your pine cones, you need to spread peanut butter on them and roll them in birdseed.yo
Tie a string around the top tip of the pine cone, and now you have a bird feeder that you can hang from trees. You can try experimenting with different bird seeds to see which ones are most popular with the birds in your area!
Snow Carnival Games
Think back to the days of going to the carnival. Do you remember all those games framed with the most giant stuffed animals you had ever seen? Recreate that fun using snow! You can paint a target with points on a large sheet of plywood and have the kids throw snowballs at it. You can cut holes out of the plywood of differing sizes and let the kids throw snowballs like it’s a snowball “ski ball.”
You can blow up many balloons until they are taught, then have the kids throw pine cones at them to pop them. You can also write prizes down on little slips of paper and put them inside the balloons. Your imagination is the limit!
Heartwarming Snow Shoveling
Some kids may think that shoveling snow is a lot of work, but this is an excellent opportunity for them to see how teamwork can make a big job much more straightforward. It’s also a perfect opportunity to teach the youth about the joys of being charitable to others.
It’s also an excellent chance to show kids how hard work can still be fun when you’re working with your friends. In addition, it will help the elderly and the disabled, who might not be able to shovel their own driveways. Lastly, it’s an excellent opportunity to show the community how grateful you are for all they do to make your life better.
Inspiring Youth With A Donation Drive
Wintertime is often filled with many needs. The homeless and less fortunate need warmth, food, and shelter. Organizing your youth group for the good of these people is a powerful way to spread kindness during wintertime.
One way to get people’s needs during wintertime is to start a donation drive. For example, you can ask people to donate hats, gloves, scarves, and coats. Canned and shelf-stable foods are also great items for a donation drive.
Running a donation drive will teach kids the value of helping others and generosity. There are a few ways you can run this. You can have the kids set up a table in front of their houses to collect donations from neighbors and friends. They can also set up a donation station at a school event or local store.
Alternatively, you can have kids collect donations together at a central location.
Maple Syrup Candy (It’s not just for snow anymore!)
Maple syrup snow candy is a sweet, snowy snack kids love to make. It’s a fun and simple outdoor winter activity. All you need is a few ingredients, a pan, and a stovetop. This snow candy recipe tells you exactly how to make it- and it couldn’t be simpler!
Basically, you heat a pan of maple syrup then drizzle it over snow (finely crushed ice or ice blocks for people like us who live in the south). Then roll the now hardened maple syrup onto a popsicle stick.
There are lots of winter activities kids can do together. Whether it’s outdoor skating, building snowmen, making snow forts, or a lazy afternoon of hot cocoa and watching holiday movies. Being bundled up and staying inside isn’t the only option for making the most of winter weather. We hope you love these fun, inexpensive ideas for your youth group during winter. Let us know what you think!
