How to Plan a Youth Lock-in
A lock-in is an overnight party where kids are "locked in" for the night. Lock-ins provide a safe and controlled environment for kids to meet other kids, hang out for the night and just have fun, all under the supervision of adults. Popular sites for a lock-in are churches, skating rinks and bowling alleys, but don't limit yourself to just these; lock-ins can also take place at a community center, an amusement park or someone's home. The most important components in any lock-in is proper planning and safety, though a few more tips can help you properly organize a successful lock-in. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Form a committee to plan and prepare for the lock-in. The committee should consist of parents, youth workers and kids.
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Decide on the venue for the lock-in in the early stages of the planning as the location will likely affect how many kids can attend as well as the nature of the activities.
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Plan the details of the lock-in. These should include the date, the start and end times, the estimated group size, the expected age groups, the estimated budget, the rules and the emergency action plan.
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Gather adult volunteers to chaperon the lock-in. You should have at least one adult per five to seven kids. If your lock-in is going to be coed, ensure that you have enough responsible adults on hand to supervise the event.
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Put together a schedule of the lock-in. Make sure you have a full schedule from the time the kids arrive until the time they leave. There should be little time during the lock-in when there is nothing for the kids to do. Split the kids into age groups so the activities are age appropriate. Keep in mind how many different groups you will have so you know how much supervision is needed. Plan alternative activities in case something goes wrong and you need to move to another activity unexpectedly.
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Purchase food, activities, equipment, first-aid kits and decorations needed for the lock-in. Since lock-ins are usually all-night events, food might be a large expense. Make sure you purchase enough food to cover your estimated number of attendees. It is better to have too much food than to run out. Don't forget utensils like paper plates, forks, spoons, napkins and cups.
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Have a meeting with the parents and tell them what the lock-in will entail. Be prepared to answer questions about schedule, activities, safety, medical action plan, emergency plan and rules. Collect permission slips from the parents. Make sure the permission slips contain names, medications and emergency contact information. Give each parent a sheet of paper with the lock-in rules, expectations and a list stating what the kids will need to bring to the lock-in. Recommend that the kids leave electronics at home.
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Run through the details of the lock-in with the committee and the volunteers at least one week before the date of the lock-in. Make sure you have collected a permission slip for each child. Everyone should have an idea of the schedule, group size and emergency action plan. Release contact information for the local fire, medical and police department. Assign each volunteer a specific age group and make sure everyone understands the rules of the lock-in.
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Run through your equipment, supply and food inventory, making sure you have every item you need to run the event.
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The night of the lock-in, prepare your area before the first kid arrives. Every volunteer should be on-hand to help set up. This will also help everyone get to know each other before the kids arrive. Use this time to go over any last minute changes. Each youth worker should have a schedule and a communication device to contact others in case of emergency.
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Tips & Warnings
As the kids arrive, usher them into an ice breaker activity. Schedule a group assembly to go over rules, expectations, questions and disciplinary plan. Divide the kids into their appropriate age group and have fun.
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