Peaceseeker Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 I am looking at creating a small teen club or coop (less than 10 teens) that can meet once a week to hang out and do a few different activities. Any ideas for what we can do? It is a creative group, and I think for part of the time we might do some skits and improv, but I need other ideas to fill out the rest of the time. Only a couple read for pleasure, so a book club wouldn't be popular. Possibly some crafty art projects. A few might do board games but some have no interest. I thought about setting up different areas and letting them migrate where they choose for the last hour or two to hang out. I am fine with just hanging out but some of the other parents might like more structure. Some of the kids might need a little more structure. Coming here for ideas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
................... Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 (edited) Craft art, probably isn’t going to fly...it’ll feel like you’re organizing a kindergarten club. :) Just have the teens do teen stuff: Movie nights with popcorn Bowling Board game night (fun ones like apples to apples and party games not intellectual ones so the non board game people are into it.) Trips to places like trampoline place, water park etc) They don’t like to be inside sitting still too much so some meet ups at fun venues like above is very important. :) You can also Look up “games for youth group†we did some fun ones for a birthday party and it was a blast. :) Migrating to difference stations will split them up awkwardly and also feel too planned. Generally there should be one plan for the evening, time to eat and talk. And that’s it :) Edited March 15, 2018 by Calming Tea 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldenecho Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 Some of that will come with finding out what the teens themselves are into. Like maybe have one week a month where a different teen (or they can work in partners) chooses the subject. I could see teens bringing in their lego mindstorms, teaching skateboarding, bringing in a game they love, teach a craft they know, etc. It could be more than once a month but maybe just monthly at first to give kids time to prepare and see how much interest there is in that. Something simple would be one activity, and one board game each week. Those who didn't want to do that activity could do the board game. I wouldn't have more than two things every week though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LAR Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 We formed a small teen group this past December. We had the teens put together a list of activities they wanted and the moms did the same thing. Both sides had many of the same ideas. Here's our list: Starbucks game nights Movie night at someone's house/office conference room (the kids had a blast at my husband's office) Dinner at Red Robin/movie Frisbee golf Miniature golf Painting pottery Chinese New Year Party (with paper lanterns, minute to win it games....fantastic time!) Murder mystery night Casino Night (this will be a larger event) Bonfire and games (this was very fun) Park days/nature hikes Indoor rock climbing (always a favorite) Zipline / adventure course Explore a local town (shops, museums, eateries) Horseback riding Busch Gardens (we live in Fl) Snorkeling Zoo MOSI Rent water bikes Attend local youth bands Room escapes Mall scavenger hunt Sailing lesson Camping Tampa Bay homeschool prom (for those 14 and older) Teach a skill (our daughters want to teach their friends to crochet) Jewelry making Pottery making on a wheel We were doing something every week at the beginning of the year and it was way too much. We're now at once a month....maybe twice. Hope this helps! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaceseeker Posted March 16, 2018 Author Share Posted March 16, 2018 (edited) These are great ideas thank you! We are looking at more of a weekly day meeting and doing something fun at night maybe once a month. We are rural and most of the more fun social activities will be 30-45 minute drive. Most of the kids have various evening sports and activities but they don't always get to see each other or any of their close friends in those activities. I was thinking more informal art than kindergarten crafts, lol... they have done a few art classes at co-op they enjoyed that were more informal. Some of the classes the teens enjoyed there were drama, board games, and art type classes like making mosaics or working with clay. So I was trying to figure out how to do something similar but on a much smaller scale in a much smaller space. We don't have a bunch of different classrooms, etc.. I am going to get input from all of the teens next week. Just looking for a few ideas to pitch to get the ball rolling. Edited March 16, 2018 by CaliforniaDreaming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaceseeker Posted March 16, 2018 Author Share Posted March 16, 2018 Hmm..now you have ideas churning. Maybe a separate larger teen group for a monthly meet up somewhere fun and a smaller group that meets every week or two and does skits and improv, etc.. Our space is small and I can't have too many people in the small group. But doing the larger group would allow us to invite any and all of our teen friends out once a month. I like this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaceseeker Posted March 16, 2018 Author Share Posted March 16, 2018 For these larger teen social nights, how do you handle supervision? Do people drop off their teens and expect them to be chaperoned? Or maybe at a certain age they don't care, but I have a younger group with lots of 12-14 year olds. Do parents stay? What about younger siblings? This is starting to sound difficult, lol... I don't want 50 teens being dropped off and their parents think they are supervised, you know? But if there are a bunch of younger siblings and parents hanging out, how is it really a teen night? Anyone been there and done that with advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldenecho Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 OK, some other ideas.... I think teens might enjoy crafts that were either useful to them or for a cause. On the second note, here are some: https://craftbits.com/charity-craft-links/ http://www.sewcraftyonline.co.uk/10-charity-craft-projects/ https://www.pinterest.com/favecrafts/craft-charities/ As for art...I think just bringing supplies and letting them do whatever is great. Paint, clay, box full of stuff for collages and such. But if you wanted to do something specific, I have a couple pinterest boards with art and craft ideas for myself, many of which I think teens might like.... https://www.pinterest.com/galel/art-to-create/ https://www.pinterest.com/galel/craft-ideas/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldenecho Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 Just one more thing to add...if it's close to mothers day or fathers day, find something (or a few things) they could make for that. Just cause they're teens doesn't mean they don't need a gift for mom or dad, and frankly, I wish more homeschool co-ops would do that. Also, though it might be a little late for this year, you could do easter egg decorating, and then give the eggs out to the homeless (though you said that you lived in a rural town, so maybe homelessness not such a big problem?). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AimeeM Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 For these larger teen social nights, how do you handle supervision? Do people drop off their teens and expect them to be chaperoned? Or maybe at a certain age they don't care, but I have a younger group with lots of 12-14 year olds. Do parents stay? What about younger siblings? This is starting to sound difficult, lol... I don't want 50 teens being dropped off and their parents think they are supervised, you know? But if there are a bunch of younger siblings and parents hanging out, how is it really a teen night? Anyone been there and done that with advice? Not a teen social circle specifically, but when I ran our local homeschool chess club, the teens were typically dropped off (unless they had younger siblings participating as well). The parents knew I wouldn't be supervising the teens the entire time (because they usually went upstairs to play chess and eat popcorn). My caveat is that the teens who participated were typically from other groups I belonged to -- I knew them and I knew their parents, which probably mattered :P Personally, my teen would not be inclined to participate in something advertised as a "teen social group" if there were younger siblings running around. She adores her much younger brothers, but a teen night would preferably be just teens. Any number of local co-ops offer the opportunity for socializing with multiple age groups so it wouldn't be something we'd be interested in, unless drop-off were an option, kwim? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaceseeker Posted March 16, 2018 Author Share Posted March 16, 2018 The drop off issue is what prevented another group I was in from ever doing anything with teens. I understand it can be an issue with larger families. I am just not sure how to handle that part. I mean, if they are ok with their teen being dropped off and picked up and not really supervised I am fine with it. I will be around but I can't be responsible for that many teens by myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2att Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 (edited) I've planned these sorts of things for our co-op, and for me, the level of supervision depends on the age and responsibility of the teens involved. For a group that skews young with a number of 13-14 year-old middle school teens involved, it's going to be necessary to have a parent or two around. When it's mostly older, late high school teens, I'm ok with drop offs, provided there is an older teen I can ask to be "in charge" and make sure things are going smoothly. When there is not going to be adult supervision, I've made that clear in the information that goes out, and asked parents to not drop their teens off unless they know they are capable of responsible behavior. IME the group will likely skew younger. The teen designation covers a lot of years, and often 17-year-old high school juniors aren't particularly interested in hanging out with 13-year-old 7th graders. Edited March 16, 2018 by mom2att 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daijobu Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 Maybe they can work on some sort of service project? Probably start with one-off or short term projects like assembling backpacks for back to school, or longer term projects like knitting blankets for family shelters or making things for animal shelters (fleece blankets, treats, etc.) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmrich Posted March 17, 2018 Share Posted March 17, 2018 Volunteer together. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athomeontheprairie Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 We do game night once a month. It's awesome. It's drop off, or stay. But there is an age limit. No little siblings. None. And I know it's hard. Im organizing ours, and I have three. It IS hard. But my older kids need and deserve time without littles running around. I don't mind watching teens, and I haven't had any problems.usually a couple parents are driving as far as I am and choose to stay, so I've never been the only adult. It's been good. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marthamom Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 Lots of good ideas. My personal preference results from my view of what I think most people [especially the young] need more of in this culture and that is time away from video screens and indoor activities. If I formed a teen group I would emphasize outdoor activities. Especially activities that take them away from urban and suburban environments. Into the mountains and deserts, to the rivers, lakes, oceans, forests, etc. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 On 3/15/2018 at 10:22 PM, CaliforniaDreamin said: The drop off issue is what prevented another group I was in from ever doing anything with teens. I understand it can be an issue with larger families. I am just not sure how to handle that part. I mean, if they are ok with their teen being dropped off and picked up and not really supervised I am fine with it. I will be around but I can't be responsible for that many teens by myself. Here’s how I handled it. I demanded rsvps. And surprisingly people were pretty good about it. I told moms that it was okay to drop off but I’d appreciate 2-3 parents being around to supervise. Usually there are several moms who will come on do this. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Targhee Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 BOArd games PBL units Career/College survey and preparedness Adulting 101 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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