How to Travel With a Church Youth Group
Whether you are 14 or 40, traveling with a group of youth can be a joyful and challenging experience all at the same time. Parents of a teenager know that keeping one youth happy is not always easy, much less a large group. Here are some ideas to make the journey a positive experience.
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Instructions
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Determine how many days you will be traveling. If you need to stay in a hotel or rent an extra vehicle, then place your reservations.
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Set a budget for the trip and for each youth.
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Set ground rules for the group and communicate these before you leave. These rules should include, but are not limited to, wearing seatbelts, no foul language and whether eating is permitted in the vehicles.
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Encourage positive behavior by listening to uplifting, yet youth-friendly music. Remind the youth to show kindness and respect to one another.
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Provide activities such as travel games, coloring books and paper with pens or pencils. You can also come up with some topics for them to discuss.
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Set a good example by following the rules you expect of the youth.
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Take plenty of rest stops for bathroom breaks and eating. Make sure everyone gets out and walks around. This will help boost their attitude.
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Tips & Warnings
Set limits on the items allowed per person. A good rule of thumb is one large bag to stow in a trunk or trailer in addition to one small bag and pillow for inside the vehicle.
Meet with other leaders before the trip to make sure everyone knows the ground rules and what is expected of them.
To promote unity, have the youth write encouraging letters to one another and to other church members.
Decide room assignments for the hotel ahead of time. Consider individual personality styles and behaviors when choosing roommates.
Be flexible with the youth. They want to be treated like adults, not children. Allow them some freedom to express their individuality while staying within the ground rules.
