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Youngstars’ activities are based on seven values: Christ-centeredness, fostering fellowship, responsiveness to needs, drawing on experience, growth, and connection with the church and society.

 Youngstars seeks to support young people on their journey of personal growth, focusing on God, creation, and people.

This is achieved through seven core values of ministry:

CHRIST-CENTEREDNESS

At the heart of Youngstars’ work is the belief that Jesus Christ alone saves us from sin and grants us new life. Young people are encouraged to live in communion with Jesus Christ.

FOSTERING FELLOWSHIP

Youngstars’ activities are based on positive interaction. Children and teenagers should feel accepted and valued. Leaders and children work as a team in which everyone complements and supports one another. 

RESPECTING INDIVIDUAL NEEDS

 All activities are organized to reflect the characteristics of each age group, be relevant to their experiences, and be diverse and creative. The questions, needs, and individual characteristics of children and adolescents are taken seriously and treated with respect.

 COMPREHENSIVENESS AND EXPERIENCE-BASED APPROACH

The goal is for children and adolescents not only to gain knowledge from the Bible, but also to have their understanding of biblical truths and other relevant topics fostered through their personal experiences and activities.

GROWTH (PERSONAL MATURITY?)

Children and teenagers are encouraged to take on responsibility. The good example set by leaders, spiritual disciplines (worship, prayer), social activities, and participation in church life help young people not to shy away from responsibility. Leaders are trained through practical ministry within the team and during courses. The goal is for them to carry out their work willingly and competently.

CONNECTION TO THE CHURCH

 Every Youngstars group is part of a specific Christian community. Youngstars belongs to the universal Body of Christ and seeks to share its experiences with others. Youngstars is a tool for active church ministry (??).

RELATIONSHIP WITH SOCIETY

Youngstars’ activities also enrich society. The benefits to society include meaningful and beneficial activities, integration, as well as the prevention of alcohol, drug, and violence-related issues. Children and teenagers receive support on their personal journey toward maturity and have opportunities to develop their social skills and everyday abilities.

This document gives you a little insight into child development, specifically competencies. We often expect too much from our children, or overtax them. Even in the Jungschar work, where we do not see the children every day, it is important to know their level of development.

Chess—a great board game!

This ancient game has now been transformed into an action- and tactics-packed nighttime outdoor game!

Just like in the original game, the goal is to capture the opponent’s king. Each player is assigned a character with different specializations—just like in chess.

Eight afternoon plans prepared by main leaders - only 6 left

(Unfortunately 2 plans out of 8 have been lost) We are counting on your creativity and experience so that you can create these 2 afternoon plans yourselves)

Sorry, a lot of it is in Swiss German, but I hope you will still benefit from it.

This article contains the swimming, river and ice rules of the SLRG.

You can find out how to plan a water activity here.

The children will be divided into two teams.

Each team designates 2 members. Of these, one will be blindfolded and the other will guide. At a distance of about 2-3 m will be placed different obstacles and two balloons (of different colors) containing the words of a Bible verse. The child, blindfolded and guided by the partner, will have to cover the distance, find the team's balloon and bring it back. The team will break it, reconstruct the Bible verse word by word and stick it on a piece of paper. The team that finishes first wins.

Extended, the activity can be organized to serve as a review game for a series of verses.

A crazy game of getting to know each other in which the person on the right is addressed by name and asked for a specific shoe size. The shoe size gets bigger and bigger ;-)

How well do you know the people of the Bible and in what circumstances and situations they lived? Find out here in a playful way.

A good memory is very helpful in this game. The aim is to find out which player is behind which name in order to win them over to your side.

Which group will be the first to escape from the prison with the self-knotted rescue rope? This is a movement-intensive terrain game in which you collect, buy and run for all you're worth.

An easy game and perfect as an Ice Breaker at the start of some activity.

Tinkering with quarterly programs

Detailed information from Horst Reder (Wels, Austria), who has been offering candle-making workshops to the public and in schools for years. It’s a powerful form of public outreach. In Austria, it has been offered during the Advent season and at Christmas markets, and the proceeds are often donated to a social project (e.g., for a guide dog...).

Materials needed: 1 harness, carabiner, rope, tarp/blanket—if there are many participants, you can double the materials to save time

Depending on the number of participants, two teams are formed.

One at a time, each participant will be fitted with the harness; the team’s task is to use physical strength to support the volunteer, lowering him gradually—without jerking him—until his nose touches the blanket, after which they lift him back up.

The volunteer is allowed to give commands such as “stop,” “slower,” “faster,” etc. Team members line up behind the volunteer and work together as a team.

For more information, see the accompanying images.

In this fun game of hide-and-seek, the goal is to avoid being found, because there’s no way to escape once you’re caught. Find the perfect hiding spot!

Explore your city and set out to discover its hidden nooks and crannies!

Be well prepared for emergencies in the youth group. Unfortunately, even we are not immune to accidents, illnesses, or tick bites. This document is intended to help you prepare for these scenarios.

to search for checkpoints in a maze in the snow