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Wintercarnival- This activity will only work for northern groups because you need a frozen lake to do it on but the idea is a "wintercarnival" during the dulldrums of winter to get outside and have some fun and laughs. The idea of a "carnival" is not really what most people would think... we have a softball tournament for the older kids and adults, and a kickball tounament for the younger kids all on the frozen lake - just watching everyone trying to play either one on snow and ice is quite humorous. We also do a cook-out along with it and make a day out of it. This project is not to raise money - we just try to break-even - but a wonderful idea for fellowship in the middle of winter.

From the ELS Young Branches Magazine
Video-Have the kids video tape a commercial for your church - we did that and the kids had a ball! The final version along with bloopers will be put on our website soon.

T-shirts- Create hand painted T-shirts to send to a mission in their own language.

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Hope Lutheran Church, Salt Lake City, Utah

Splash Party-Find a local dive shop and have them put on a scuba experience for the kids. In Salt Lake they strap on a tank and swim around in the shallow end of the pool. We ended up taking an underwater picture of the group. It hung on the wall at church for years
Movie Night-We go to a show and or arcade, or we just rent videos at someones home. It's cheap and can be fun.
Take a Tour -e.g. A local TV station, Fire Station, the FAA even allows groups to tour a Control Tower at an airport, Capital Buildings, Museums, etc...
Public Service- Have the group visit a retirement center, humane society or animal shelter, adopt a highway program, etc.)
Miscellaneous Ideas-Nature walks, horseback riding, challenge other churches to a bowling tournament or golf/miniture golf or basketball or baseball...
Host a Neighboring Youth Group-Invite a youth group from a neighboring city or state to come and visit. (Our Youth Group hosted the Youth Group from Family of God in Arizona in 2005)

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