Spring Cleaning Activities for Church Youth Groups

**Note: the following ideas and suggestions come from the writer's personal experience of being in and working with church youth groups over the course of the past 11 years. As Spring Break looms on the horizon for countless middle and high school students across the U.S., many church youth pastors are tasked with planning those perfect Spring Break activities. Will you take your students out for an evening of all-night bowling? Miniature golf? How 'bout a pizza party and movie night at the church? Rollerblading in the gym? Christian concert in the area? Whatever you ultimately decide, it is usually a good idea to mingle your fun with a little life lesson of sorts. And what could be more perfect for Springtime than a little youth group Spring cleaning? Here are a few ideas to help you get started:

1. Volunteer your Group to Clean the Church Gym

If your church's gym is anything like the several I have had the privilege of working in, it is prone to clutter, disorganization, dust and other forms of downright uncleanliness. Before scheduling an evening full of fun for your group, speak with your senior pastor and volunteer your students to clean the gym. Assign different tasks to different students, bearing in mind each student's maturity level. Assign each student a task you are confident he/she can complete with success and do not be afraid to recruit the help of some additional adult leaders to monitor student progress.

Depending on the specific needs of your gym, you will likely be utilizing a large dust broom, several dust pans, a vacuum or two (for any carpeted areas that may line your gym's hardwood floor), Windex and paper towels (for windows and other glass surfaces such as basketball goal backboards), and the usual spare trash bags for any loose garbage in the area. If your gym has a concession stand, clean it. You may additionally wish to clean any bathrooms located near the gym, in which case you will need the necessary cleaning supplies.

2. Spend a Day Cleaning the Homes of your Church's Widows

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction..." James 1:27a-b (English Standard Version)

In partial fulfillment of the call of James 1:27, organize a group of your older students and assemble of list of the widows who attend your church. Consult your church directory and include their telephone numbers and physical street addresses. Be certain you first call to confirm that a visit is okay. Load your church van and any other necessary vehicles or trucks with the appropriate equipment. Inform your students that they will be spending an entire day visiting these ladies, conversing with them and offering to perform any needed house and/or yard work.

Make a quick stop at a local florist, Wal-Mart or drug store and pick up a few single roses. When you greet each lady be sure to hand them a flower and tell them how much you would love to clean their house and/or spruce up their yard today. Whether it's cutting grass, sweeping a sidewalk or driveway, raking leaves, washing a car or vacuuming and dusting the house, this is one activity that is sure to bring a smile to the faces of several elderly ladies. And, perhaps, your students will be smiling by the end of the day as well.

3. Clean Out and Reorganize your Church Loft/Attic

While this suggestion may not apply to all churches, it certainly worthy of including in the list. If your church has a large loft or attic in which unused items are stored, such as seasonal Christmas decorations, books, etc., spend an entire Saturday going through the items with your students. Many churches leave these odds-and-ends untouched for months or even years. Not only will the storage room likely need dusting and organizing, but many items are probably in need of discarding. Before throwing anything out, however, be sure you first consult with a member of the pastoral staff or a secretary who may know whether or not the item should be kept.

4. Wash the Pastoral Staff's Vehicles

This one is just plain fun. Find a time when the majority of your senior pastoral staff members are at the church. Perhaps there is a regular day and time they come together for a staff meeting. During the week of Spring Break, notify your students in advance they will be teaming up to wash several vehicles in a short amount of time. Tell them to come prepared to get wet and to wear the proper clothing. Swim suits and flip-flops are typically the best idea.

Have your students arrive on the church campus roughly five minutes after the pastoral staff is safe inside. Make certain you have assembled all of the necessary car washing supplies: hoses, washing fluid/soap/shampoos, wax, polish for wheel rims, buckets for water, hand rags, Armor All® for tires, towels for drying, etc. As quickly as possible, help your students perform complete washes and detailing of the vehicles. I guarantee your fellow staff members will be eternally surprised and grateful, and your students will be serving and having fun at the same time.

So this Spring Break, why not teach your youth group to focus on serving others? Find some time to plan one or two of the aforementioned activities around all the "fun stuff." These are all practical ways that your students can put what they know, believe and have been taught into action. And who knows? Maybe they'll have fun and go stronger and closer together as a group in the process! "...but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave." -Jesus, Matthew 20:26-27 (English Standard Version)