How to Plan a Youth Group Lock-In

A lock-in is an overnight party where the party-goers are "locked" inside for the night. They are very popular activities with youth groups. Here are some steps for planning your own lock-in.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Decide where to have your lock-in. Usually lock-ins take place in the church fellowship hall. If your church is small, consider having a lock-in with a larger church.
2. Find chaperones. You need 1 chaperone for every 5 to 8 teens. Since lock-ins are often co-ed, its important for the teens to be well supervised.
3. Set a date and a time for your lock-in. Reserve the hall or building where you plan to have the party.
4. Decide on the food you're going to serve. Are you preparing dinner or just having snacks to munch on? Will you be serving breakfast or is everyone leaving as soon as they wake up? Figure out what type and how much food you'll need.
5. Calculate food costs and ask for donations for the expense. Or have the teens bring potluck and their own munchies to share.
6. Plan activities to fill the time. Board games, video games and storytelling are all fun ideas. Your group can also be community-minded and prepare food baskets for the needy or fold bulletins to help out the church secretary. Whatever you do, make sure you over-plan your activities so the teens won't get bored.
7. Create permission slips and have the parents and guardians sign them before allowing the teens to attend the party. Keep the contact information together in a folder and available at all times in case of an emergency.
8. Set a bed-time and a wake-up time. It's unrealistic to expect the teens to actually sleep during a lock-in, but it is necessary to have a time when everyone will wind down and do a quiet activity. Also set a wake-up time, especially if you'll be serving breakfast in the morning.
9. Make a list of items the teens will need to bring, such as a sleeping bag, pillow, snacks and games. Photocopy the list and pass out copies to the teens who will be attending the lock-in.
10. Establish rules and post them in the hall or building where you're hosting the lock-in. Go over the rules as soon as the teens arrive. Make your expectations clear. This will help reduce conflicts that might arise during the night.
11. Make sure everyone who attended the lock-in cleans up before he or she goes home. It's important to leave the hall or building in the same shape as you found it. Involve everyone in this process.

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