Youth Groups Activities for Boys

Segregating the genders is no longer a popular choice for youth groups, as part of the point of the youth group is to provide an atmosphere where children can learn to socialise with a wider range of people. However, an occasional event where boys are allowed to divulge themselves of all their excess testosterone is advisable - and it can be great fun into the bargain. Here are some ideas for activity sessions or events you can hold for the boys in your youth group.

Movie Night

Whether this means going out to the local cinema or having your house invaded by a bunch of boisterous boys, the movie night is a sure-fire favourite. Of course, before you do anything along these lines, you need to make sure that you have the parents of every child involved completely on board. If you're going down the latter route, with the youth group coming to your own house or that of another leader, you may want to impose a 'shoes off at the door' policy to keep your living area looking at least relatively clean, if not tidy.

After that, it's a simple matter of getting the film - it should either involve lots of action, lots of comedy, or both - and the food. The food can be junk such as a barbecue, hot dogs, pizza, or even chips 'n' dips, but try to encourage the boys not to indulge themselves too much, as often their normal diet will not be as healthy as it should be. Make sure that all those attending have a way of getting home, too. This is a great way for boys to bond with their peers in a relaxed, comfortable environment.

The Big Day Out

Another great way to arrange activities for boys is to go on a big day out. Depending on budget, there are various options: you can just take the youth group to a big open space and play lots of active games, or you can book in to do some sort of group activity such as the following:

• Paintballing - This is a great game for a group of boys to play. The major downside is that it can be quite expensive, so you'll need to make this a very rare treat - perhaps an annual outing. Boys tend to love this game as it offers the chance to pretend you are in the army, fighting a dangerous enemy, and the thrill of seeing your 'bullet' explode in bright colours on an enemy is almost unsurpassed.

  However, as well as being fun, it does teach the important skills of teamwork and strategy, and it can even encourage boys to be very selfless in ways that they may not have shown before. It's also very energetic, and an excellent work-out for anyone.

• Activity Parks - there are increasing numbers of these now, and they make excellent outings for youth groups. With very strict safety regulations, there is little to no risk to the boys, so parents won't have much too worry about them, but you'll need to make sure that the responsibility does not lie with you nonetheless.

  However, there is no competitive element to many of these places: usually it is about facing your fears, with the help and encouragement of your friends, and having great fun into the bargain. The sheer terror of walking in the tree-tops is trumped by the breathless exhilaration of rope swings, zip-wires and much more! This can also be one of the best activities to do for youth groups on a tighter budget.

• Go-Karting - here's an opportunity for the boys to satisfy their need for speed. Again, this can be quite expensive, but there are also cheaper options available. This is a good, fun activity which teaches the principles of driving in a very simple way!

Hopefully these activities for boys will prove to work very well with your youth group. Enjoy giving the boys a chance to be men!