The Yes No game is a fun activity for your youth group or youth ministry meeting. It can be tied in with teaching by reminding us that we need to say "Yes" to God. It also works well with a meeting focused on our Blessed Mother, whose "Fiat" ("let it be done") in answer to the Angel Gabriel at the Annunciation was an affirmation in her complete trust in the Lord.

Getting to Know You Bingo (Youth Group or VBS Game)

Getting to Know You Bingo works well as a VBS game or a youth group game. This set of 20 bingo cards can be used with youth group or Vacation Bible School.

Printable Ten Commandments Cryptogram

Today's activity from Young Catholics is a printable puzzle of the Ten Commandments. A key is also provided, in case you are not an expert in cryptography. 🙂

St. Patrick’s Breastplate

St. Patrick's Breastplate is a prayer for protection and guidance. Christ is always with us providing us strength and wisdom.

Make an Origami Dove

Pentecost is right around the corner. Since the dove is often used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit, making origami doves can be a fun craft for kids on this holy day.

The Fruits of the Spirit Song (Video)

This video is pure silliness, but the teens in our youth group love it. It is a cross between the Muppets and Veggie Tales. 🙂 It will add some fun to any meeting focused on the Holy Spirit.

Ten Commandments Activity

This simple Ten Commandments activity will help children who already have some knowledge of the Ten Commandments learn how to order them correctly.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit (Printable)

This prayer to the Holy Spirit, which is attributed to St. Augustine, is one of my favorite prayers. It is all about the call to holiness, which our Holy Father recently focused on. Download a printable copy of this prayer.

Water Transfer Team Building Game

Water Transfer is a wet silly game for VBS or youth ministry. It also builds team spirit because group members need to work together to determine the best strategy to move their water. It would work well for middle school Vacation Bible School, as a camp game, or as a youth group icebreaker.

How the Boy Scout Law Relates to the Ten Commandments

In the Ad Altare Dei religious emblem program for Boy Scouts, one of the exercises is to compare the Ten Commandments to the Boy Scout Law.

Human Knot Game (For Youth Ministry or VBS)

You might know that Pope Francis has promoted devotion to Mary "Our Lady Untier of Knots". The Human Knot game is a fun activity to add into a teaching about this devotion. Since it is a cooperative game also makes a fun team building activity.

Prayer to Be My True Self

This is a prayer inspired by Psalm 139. Use it for your youth ministry meeting or youth group activity focused on authenticity and being your true self. This is a good lesson for teens who are feeling overwhelmed by the need to be popular.

Prayer of St. Francis

The Prayer of St. Francis is a beautiful prayer of peace and abandonment of our own purpose to God's will. "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace."

GLOW Dodgeball Game (for Youth Ministry or Youth Group)

GLOW dodge ball puts a fun twist on your traditional dodge ball game. It is a glow in the dark version of traditional dodgeball. Play it at night or if you can darken your gym you can play in any time. This is a great game for an open gym night with your teens.

Paper Toss Game (Youth Ministry or VBS Game)

This is an easy game for your youth group or Vacation Bible School. It is fun but also provides a lesson about the Holy Spirit. See the reflection questions and scripture passage at the end of the game for how to turn this game into a teaching experience.

Guardian Angel Prayer

The traditional guardian angel prayer is something we teach young children, but it is a wonderful prayer for Christians of all ages. Praying it connects us with our guardian angel who is always with us, watching over us. October 2 is the Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels.

Printable Beatitudes Cryptogram Puzzle

Are you studying the Beatitudes in youth ministry, Vacation Bible School, or Children's Liturgy of the Word? This printable cryptogram gives the eight beatitudes in random order. Children can figure out the key and substitute the letters to solve the puzzle and complete the beatitudes.

Paper Plate Dove Craft

April 26 is the birthday of John James Audubon. He is famous for his drawings of birds. In honor of his birthday, make your own bird art. This paper plate dove craft is simple enough for your Vacation Bible School or Children's Liturgy of the Word.

Walk the Plank Game (VBS or Youth Ministry Game)

Walk the Plank is a game for Vacation Bible School or a youth ministry meeting. This will be difficult for younger children but it would be appropriate for middle school VBS or youth group. It has a problem solving and team building aspect to it which tweens and teens will enjoy.

Youth Group Game: Shoe Sort Icebreaker

Shoe Sort is a fun youth group game where people try to match shoes with their owners. It makes a great icebreaker or team building game.

Ships and Sailors (VBS Game or Youth Ministry Game)

Ships and Sailors is game where one player gives commands and the others must follow them. A little like Simon Says or Chicken on a Hut or Jackrabbit, except with a nautical theme.

Prayer for an End to Racism

The sin of racism has been on my mind lately. Our communities are so divided. We don't understand or listen to each other. We seem unable to make the sacrifices necessary to even the playing field for all of God's children.

Fake You Out: A Lesson Plan on Popularity and Authenticity

This simple lesson plan is for a youth ministry meeting focused on the problem of hiding yourself to seek popularity. Letting our true selves shine will allow us to be the people God created us to be and will lead us to true joy in Christ.

Christ Has No Body – St. Teresa of Avila

Christ has no body but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes with which he looks with compassion on this world

Make a Prayer Rock (VBS or Youth Ministry Activity)

A prayer rock is a simple way to remember to pray each day. Parents can lay them on their children's pillows so they remember to pray. Teens can keep them in their backpacks or lockers. Anyone can put them on a desk or carry a small one in a pocket or purse.

Ship Wreck Action Game (for VBS or Youth Group)

Ship Wreck is a running game. The game requires a combination of speed, teamwork, and listening skills. So this is one of those games that is not necessarily won by the most athletic team. Some teamwork strategy can really even the odds.

Make a Rosary Slide Bracelet or Key-Chain

A rosary slide bracelet or keychain is a nice craft to remind children and teens to pray. I like making the key-chain which can actually be used for keys for teenagers. Or if they don't need a key chain they can hang it on their backpack or just keep it in their pocket to remind them to pray.

Turkey Hunt Thanksgiving Game

This is a Thanksgiving game for your youth group. You will need an open area, but it can be played indoors. The best part is that it doesn't require any materials, so you can use it as a bonus game or time filler without any preparation.

Fun Awards to Recognize Your Volunteers and Core Team

Do you have some volunteers for your youth ministry, youth group, or Vacation Bible School (VBS) who you'd like to recognize? It doesn't always mean you have to get them an expensive gift. Most people just appreciate being recognized. So here are some funny ways to recognize those people you can't do without.

Shipwrecked Word Search Puzzle

Do you need a quick and easy activity for your Shipwrecked VBS? This word search puzzle is a good way to keep everyone busy while gathering or to fill some unexpected free time.

The Daily Examen in Six Simple Steps

This graphic from Busted Halo shows how to pray the Daily Examen. The Examen is a spiritual excercise from St. Ignatius of Loyola - the founder of the Jesuits.

Water Balloon Relay (Game for VBS or Church Camp)

Water Balloon Relay is a fun wet game for your Vacation Bible School or church camp. Have plenty of water balloons on hand! Your VBS kids will want to play this over and over again.

Pass It On (Youth Group Game or VBS Game)

Pass It On is a simple game for VBS or youth group. It only requires some rolls of toilet paper and can be played indoors or outdoors. This makes it a good option if you have to suddenly change plans due to rain or other circumstances beyond your control.

A Student’s Prayer to St. Jude Thaddeus

St. Jude is the patron saint of hope and of impossible causes. That makes him a good saints for students when they feel overwhelmed by studies and other demands on their time.

Bail the Ship (VBS or Youth Group Game)

Bail the Ship is a fun large group game. It pits two groups against each other and burns off a lot of energy. I have seen it played at Vacation Bible School and at camp. It's always a lot of fun!

Glow in the Dark Twister (Game for Youth Group, VBS, or Youth Ministry)

I am offering two options here for the play area. One uses glow in the dark sidewalk chalk. For the other option, you can make the mat from a purchased Twister game and glow in the dark paint.

The Boat is Sinking Icebreaker Game

This is a really simple icebreaker for youth group, youth ministry, or middle school VBS. It would also work well for your Vacation Bible School teen leaders. It is super easy to play and requires no materials, making it a good filler activity.

Prayer of Teilhard de Chardin – Patient Trust

This prayer is about waiting patiently for God. It is especially good for high school students and young adults who are discerning a vocation or possible career. We can be impatient about wanting an answer from God during the discernment process and this prayer is a good way to help trust that God will eventually show us where we are supposed to head.

St. Michael the Archangel Prayer

St. Michael the Archangel is a warrior who fights evil. He is a protector. Children can understand St. Michael as a spiritual superhero whose nemesis is Satan. He is often depicted dressed in armor, but maybe a cape would be more representative of St. Michael's role to today's youth. The feast day of the archangels is September 29.

Pope Francis’ Five Finger Prayer

Pope Francis' Five Finger Prayer is a way to remember who to pray for. Download a printable PDF of this prayer aid.

Fox and Chickens Tag (Game for Youth Ministry or VBS)

This is a variation on tag which the person who is it tries to tag the last person in line. The people at the front of the line try to protect the last person. This game could be used with a theme of how God protects us and loves us even better than a mother hen protects her chicks. Or it could be used for a social justice theme about protecting the marginalized.

A Christian Is Like a Jack O Lantern

Here is a cute story about why being a Christian is like being a Jack O Lantern. Share it with your children while you are carving a pumpkin for your own Jack O Lantern. Little children will be especially excited to share this with their friends.

Homemade Model Magic Recipe

I have made homemade play-dough before, but it tends to be kind of crumbly and a little messy for our carpeted youth ministry room. So I decided to try making model magic type dough instead. I like model magic, but it tends to be kind of expensive if you buy it at the store. #YouthMinistry #YouthGroup #VBS

Treasure Hunt (For VBS or Youth Group)

Treasure Hunt is a really easy activity to do either indoors or outdoors. And your older VBS or youth ministry students will enjoy it as much as the younger ones.

Assumption Activity: Assumption Shortcakes Recipe

This dessert recipe is an Assumption activity to celebrate the Assumption of Mary. Each part of the recipe represents something about the feast. You can use your favorite shortcake recipe. Or use the simple recipe below which uses biscuit mix as a shortcut. This can be a fun group activity and a tasty way to celebrate the Assumption of Mary. Use the time while the shortcakes are cooling to talk about why we celebrate this day.

Paper Airplane Prayer (for Youth Ministry or VBS)

Paper airplane prayers are a way to offer prayers in a group setting. It works well for Vacation Bible School or youth group. It would also be appropriate for Children's Liturgy of the Word. It can be done indoors or outdoors.

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

This feast day on September 14 celebrates the cross as a sign of Christ's victory over sin for us. It is also called the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross. The cross is not a sign of defeat, but a sign of redemption.

Make a Good Deeds Chain

A good deeds chain is a simple paper chain, but you must do a good deed for each piece of paper you add. Make a long chain this advent!

Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God

January 1 is the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. This feast day celebrates the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as the mother of our Lord Jesus.

Have a Birthday Party for the Church (Youth Ministry Meeting Plan)

Pentecost is just around the corner and it is, of course, the birthday of the Church. Introduce this idea at your youth ministry meeting by having a birthday party for the church. Then use the reflection questions to help your teens go deeper into the idea of how they are sent to share the good news, just like the disciples. #Pentecost #HolySpirit