I recently discovered this site that will create PDF files that blow up pictures in to multiple page files.  It can take a regular pictures and make it in to to 16-100 page poster that you can simply tape together.  Of course, as a typical youth minister, I think ‘what possibilities!’  The site is called BlockPosters.

I am sure I will come up with several games from this but here is the first one I will use for our next big event.  I will be sure to let you know how it goes.

Make 5 or 6 of these files, all the same size, of different saints, volunteers, etc.  Cut them so they can be put together like a puzzle.  Mix them up and have a contest.  Each team will get a different stack of papers and must put together their puzzle first.  We plan on doing it like a relay where the kids will each get one piece of paper, they tape it to a grid in the wall.  Then they run back and the next person takes another piece of paper.  Once all of the pieces are up on the wall, they can now have each person run and switch two pieces and then run back.

We plan on doing saints, priests, etc and will give bonus points for who can tell us who their person is.

I set up a little teaser picture of one of our volunteers this past week.  It was kind of funny as one of the youth became pretty excited about taking a 5 foot picture of one of the volunteers home with them.  Actually sort of creepy.

I did a picture of the Divine Mercy for you to download and check it out.

You can create these files at www.blockposters.com.

Have fun!

We had this in our forum and just wanted to make sure everything still had access to the idea.   Last summer (2009) we started a new idea of making youth group trading cards.  Very simple concept.  We bought a cheap laminating machine (about $60) and lots of sheets.  We made our own photo which you just replace the picture of the person and change the words.  On the front we have their name, picture, a logo, and the web site.  On the back we include info on them like their favorite prayer, saint, their family members, and more.

Every time someone new comes to youth group we take their picture, have them fill out the info, and have their card thrown into the mix the next week.  Every week who ever is on time to youth group and stays until the end gets a random card.  If they have the card they can trade to others for one they do not have.

Every once in awhile we remind the kids that these can be used as prayer cards.  Bring them wherever you go, pray for their family members, through the favorite saints intercession, and say their favorite prayer for them.

The kids still love it and we have enough kids in the the group that no one has all of them yet.  Each week we add more to the mix.  Youth come back a second week just to see their card.  It is also good for the volunteers to be able to take them home and learn and remember names.

It does take some work, we are looking for ways to make the cards a bit easier to make, but it is well worth the investment.  There is always a volunteer to help with the crafty projects.

If anyone would like the editable file that we use, I can email it to you.  Please do two things:

1. Make sure you are our fan on Facebook.

2. Let me know you are in the comments of this post.

I will send you a .png file of a card along with some other things we have done to make the cards a bit fancier.  You will need software that can edit the file, but that is not too  hard to find.

God Bless!

Just like the prep, this is a great checklist to use after a program is done to make sure everything is taken care of.  Enjoy!

Open Event Program Eval

This is an example of a checklist that is used for each event.  Most youth leaders have a youth group, but they also put on lots of events that are not regular or are only a couple times a year.  This list will help you make sure that you have all of the ends of your ministry covered.

Open Program Prep

Printout (.pub)

What we use to keep track of attendance, replace with random question every week!

Use for drawings monthly or yearly.