Youth Group Online - A Sample Outline
We are moving into a time where the online and virtual platforms are an essential tool to connect with the Youth and Young Adults in our ministries. It is imperative that we stay connected to our youth in one way or another so that we can continue their journey with Christ and to remind them that they are never alone.  
Here are a few steps and suggestions when thinking about hosting Youth Group online. I have also included a sample outline of a Youth Group online gathering.  
Helpful suggestions:  

• Think about what type of online/virtual platform you are going to use to host this event. There are quite a few out there and we suggest Zoom for its ease of use and stability.  If you need to know more about Zoom and how to use it, participate in one of the free training seminars put on by the Pacific Mountain Regional Council Leadershift.  The information is HERE.  You can make a free account at https://zoom.us/signup, it is a great platform where you can have multiple people on a call at the same time with video and audio, all live.  Ensure the safety of all participants, as a leader it is your responsibility.  There is information about hosting Safe Online Gatherings here.   
• Pick one day of the week that your event will happen on, preferably the day of the week that your Youth Group usually happens on so that your youth can relax and know that things are as they were just in a different format and presentation.  
• It is important to set out some guidelines for the youth prior to hosting a Youth Group online. Some of these guidelines might include things you do when you are in person; not having their phones on during the event, figuring out how the “circle” works, how people will know it is their time to speak and how to listen carefully to one another, to name a few. Remind everyone that youth group will not be recorded for any reason.     
• One of the key elements to any youth group is the connection and support that the group gives to one another.  For your check in time - ask a check in question and unmute each person’s microphone which will be their signal to talk or do it by invitation – one person goes first and then invites the response from someone else and so on. 
• Think about how you would like the youth to interact with your online youth group. If the event is hosted live on Zoom for instance, there can be discussion questions related to an activity or a video link featured, by sharing your screen and showing the video.   Perhaps youth could participate in some tasks or activities to complete during the week before the next event and then report back with their findings or results.  

Once you have worked out the details and theme of your event, you will be ready to host it! We would love to hear from you on how your online Youth Group go over the next couple weeks.  

Sarah Prestwich
Regional Minister, Youth and Young Adults
Vancouver Island