Are you a church youth group leader excited to engage students this summer? You’re in the right place!
There’s never been a more important time to invest in the life of young people. Youth are the next generation of church leaders and deserve to be poured into wholeheartedly by their church. Yet many students often feel neglected or overlooked by adults, and are constantly distracted by their phones.
Rather than being shaped by the Church, they’re being shaped by their screens.
Which is why your church youth group is so important! This summer, you can engage your students with fun youth group games and memorable youth group summer activities that go beyond superficial entertainment.
Instead, you can connect with students in ways that will deepen their faith, build authentic community, and keep them excited to come back to church. Here are eight youth group ideas for summer activities and games for high schoolers to enjoy this summer.
8 Youth group summer activities & games for high schoolers
When you’re planning church youth group activities, it’s important to remember one thing: students don’t need more entertainment. At a time when entertainment is at every student’s fingertips twenty-four-seven, your few hours of church youth group every week can offer an escape from superficialities and become an oasis for authentic connections, building lifelong friendships, and faith-filled conversations.
That being said, high schoolers need to have fun too! Ultimately, youth group summer activities are perfect for when students are on summer vacation, feel more relaxed, and are looking for meaningful connections outside of school.
Each activity below offers a mix of both fun and meaningful connection, opening the door for conversations that lead to discipleship and biblical truth.
1. Sand volleyball
Sand volleyball is a favorite activity for many teenagers! Most cities have public parks or community centers with sand courts that are free or cheap to reserve. This is a low-barrier activity that gets students outside and moving without the pressure of a high-stakes competition.
Consider playing sand volleyball once a month in place of your regular Wednesday night meeting. Or, consider a weekend hangout event, encouraging students to bring their friends. However you choose, these outings can mix up cliques and encourage students to play on teams with people they don’t know well. It’s a simple way to foster teamwork and organic conversation during the breaks between sets. For extra fun, consider grilling out and providing food and beverages for everyone.
2. Twenty questions (about a Bible character)
Just about everyone’s familiar with the game of 20 questions. Play this game with a twist and make it about Bible characters!
One student picks a person from the Bible, and the rest of the group has 20 chances to guess who it is using only yes-or-no questions. It’s a fun, competitive way to reward students for their biblical knowledge.
You’ll be surprised how quickly they move from "Is it a man?" to "Did he live during the Babylonian exile?" For a friendly game of competition, break up students into groups and see who guesses the characters first!
3. Youth summer camp or weekend retreat
There is nothing quite like a dedicated time away to accelerate spiritual growth. Church summer camps and retreats pull students out of their daily rhythms and away from the digital noise of their phones—creating space for them to actually hear from God.
These "mountain top" experiences often lead to the most significant life-change and commitments to follow Jesus. While they require more planning, the discipleship payoff is immeasurable.
4. Thumball
Have you ever heard of “Thumball”? It’s perfect for church youth group activities! If you’ve never used a "Thumball," it is a game-changer for breaking the ice with quieter, introverted students.
Take a soft ball (like a large blow-up beach ball) and write a get-to-know-you question all over it. Gather the students into a circle and toss the ball at a student. When a student catches the ball, they have to answer a question their thumb is touching. Then they pass it across the room to another student.
It’s a lighthearted way to get everyone talking and sharing stories without anyone feeling like they’re being put on the spot, and everyone gets a turn!
5. Young adult talent show
Your students are incredibly gifted, and a talent show gives them a stage to share those God-given abilities with their peers. Encourage them to be as serious or as silly as they want—whether it’s playing a piano concerto or performing a "stupid human trick."
This interactive event builds a culture where students feel seen and celebrated for who they are. It’s also great for more introverted students too, and brings out all sorts of connections and conversations between students who might have otherwise felt like they didn’t have much in common. Your students will learn that the church is a place where they can bring their whole selves.
6. Student-made Bible character videos
Since most high schoolers are already comfortable with their phone cameras, why not use that creativity for the Kingdom?
Plan ahead and assign groups a character based on your summer sermon series. Divide your group into teams and give them a specific Bible story to recreate as a short video. They can use modern settings, humor, costumes, individual interpretations, and dramatic reenactments to bring the story to life.
Once their videos are finished, play a new one each Wednesday night over the summer for everyone to enjoy. The students will love the creative challenge and seeing themselves and their peers in the videos on the big screen. They’ll never forget it!
7. “At the Movies” summer series
At the Movies is a popular and fun series that happens at a lot of churches every summer. Instead of just making it for adults, make a special series for your youth!
Popular culture is constantly preaching a message, and your students are hearing it every day. A summer movie series is a great opportunity to watch a recent film together and then "deconstruct" it through a biblical lens. Your youth pastor can also preach based on a clip from the movie, using the scene as a unique launching pad for their sermon.
Since this is for high school students, select movies that are popular with their generation…. or show them clips from classics! Whatever you choose, students will look forward to movie nights at church. Don’t forget the popcorn and snacks every week!
8. Mission trips
Transitioning students from being served to serving others is a vital part of the discipleship journey. Whether you’re staying local to serve your own city or traveling across borders, summer mission trips often become a cornerstone in students’ faith, a transformative experience they literally remember for the rest of their lives.
Mission trips expand a student’s perspective on what God is doing in the world. Seeing the needs of others firsthand often breaks down apathy and fuels a lasting passion for ministry. It’s an experience that moves faith from their heads to their hands and feet. It also provides a lasting bond as young adults serve those in need together.
Simplify your summer event planning
Planning these activities is about more than just filling a calendar; it’s about creating an environment where discipleship happens naturally. When we step away from the routines of the school year, we find new ways to connect and grow together over the summer.
Your dedication to pouring into the next generation is what makes your church a true home for these students, and that investment will pay dividends for years to come.
At Subsplash, we’re honored to partner with you as you reach and engage your community. From keeping parents informed with push notifications to hosting your summer sermon series on your own church app, we want to help you focus on ministry instead of managing complicated technology. If you’re ready to see how our tools can help you know, engage, and grow your church, [.blog-contact-cta]connect with our team today[.blog-contact-cta]!
