If you’ve not already had your final club for this school year, the end is in sight. It’s become a tradition in many Young Life areas to end the year with “Senior Club,” giving the graduating seniors a chance to lead club and share about their experiences. Below are a few tips to help make the night a success.
Senior Ownership
This could be your highest attendance club of this semester. If the seniors take ownership of it, they will get people there.
Personal Invites
Even if seniors have “checked out” of YL this is a club they will come back for… if personally invited. Not just a mass text, or an Instagram announcement, but a face to face invite or phone call. I’ve watched many kids come to a Senior Club that have never been to YL before. It’s an easy invite because it’s the last club of the year and the seniors are speaking. Work hard to get first timers there! Who knows, they might even sign up for camp. It’s happened many times!
8th Graders
This is a great club to invite current 8th graders, and give them a taste of what’s to come in the fall when they become freshmen. Get parents and middle school teachers help in promoting that this club is open to 8th graders. If there is WyldLife in your area, connect with the WyldLife leaders and get their help in bringing their middle school friends.
Also, offer prizes for the high schoolers who brings the most 8th graders. We typically give away “Lunch With A Leader” or bring kids lunch from their favorite restaurant to school.
Alumni
If scheduled in May, often college students alumni are back home and would love to come back and visit club.
Time
If not carefully monitored, this club could run too long. Consider starting 30 minutes earlier than usual. You could also do a cookout, grill hotdogs, and start at 6:37 instead of 7:37. Check the sports schedule and make sure to not conflict with a big home game.
Content
Will the seniors run music, games, skits? If so, help them prepare. They can do classic YL skits, make fun of leaders, pick their favorite classic songs to sing, and make videos to show at club. It’s also fun to play a ‘Guess that Senior’ game using baby pics.
Videos
It’s a fun opportunity for the seniors to film a video together. Check out this video from the seniors at Overton Young Life in Nashville.
Senior Share
Allow enough time for every senior that wants to share to have a turn. Coach the seniors ahead of time on WHAT to share. If they know Christ, ask them to speak clearly of what He has done in their life. If they’ve been to camp or plugged into Campaigners, ask them to share of those experiences. Their words will carry much weight with the underclassmen. Although it is fun as leaders to hear kids tell us how great we are, encourage them to use this time to tell how great Jesus is instead.
Coach the seniors ahead of time on HOW LONG to share. If you have 15 seniors that each talk for 4 minutes, that will take an hour. Consider warning them ahead of time that after a certain predetermined length of time you will raise a sign in the back letting them know to wrap it up. Set the seniors up for success.
Celebration
Think outside the box about ways to make this evening special. Will you have a time when the leaders pray for the seniors? Will you give the seniors any gifts, notes, etc…Will you have a special surprise 24-ft long Gutter Ice Cream Sundae waiting for the kids out back when the night ends? If so, ask some parents to help prepare it so its ready and still frozen when everyone runs outside. Also, prepare to get sticky. Ice Cream fights are inevitable.
What other ideas have you seen work well? Comment below or email ushere.
