100 LDS Youth Activity Ideas for Ward and Stake Leaders
LDS youth activities are weekday gatherings for young men and young women ages 12 to 18 in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, planned by youth leaders with adult support. Strong activities balance spiritual, social, physical, and intellectual growth. Below are 100 ideas, sorted by those four areas, plus service and stake-level options.
Skip to the category you need. Ideas are numbered so a presidency can say "let's do 47" in a meeting, and every section ends with something that costs nothing.
Who plans these activities?
Youth presidencies choose and lead activities, and adults support them. For the structure, the age rules, and the safety policies behind every idea on this page, see our LDS youth activities guide. This page sticks to ideas.
What are some spiritual youth activity ideas (1 to 20)?
- Temple trip to perform proxy baptisms (coordinate with the temple and bishopric).
- Family history indexing night with a leaderboard.
- Missionary prep night with returned missionaries.
- Scripture escape room built around a Book of Mormon story.
- Hymn history night: youth share the story behind a hymn.
- Come, Follow Me Pictionary.
- Testimony hike with a short devotional at the top.
- "Ask the bishopric" Q&A night with questions submitted ahead.
- Patriarchal blessing preparation discussion (with bishopric guidance).
- Christlike attribute service challenge for the week.
- For the Strength of Youth scenarios: small groups discuss real-life choices.
- Sacrament meeting talk workshop.
- Personal revelation journaling night.
- Gospel art walk: study paintings of the Savior and share impressions.
- Ministering visits with adult leaders.
- Plan-a-devotional night where each youth prepares a 3-minute thought.
- Scripture memorization relay.
- Temple grounds clean-up (where permitted) and testimony sharing.
- Write letters to missionaries from the ward.
- Youth-and-parents goal night near the beginning of the year (the handbook describes this annual meeting).
What are some social youth activity ideas (21 to 45)?
- Progressive dinner with two adults at every stop.
- Board game tournament.
- Minute to Win It night.
- Murder-mystery-style dinner (keep it clean and silly).
- Cardboard boat design (build only, race at a pool later with permission).
- Karaoke night with standards-friendly songs.
- Ice cream sundae bar and card games.
- Outdoor movie night.
- Dutch oven cook-off.
- Glow-in-the-dark capture the flag.
- Swing dance lesson.
- Talent show.
- Cultural food night: youth bring a dish from their heritage.
- Bring-a-friend game night.
- Photo scavenger hunt around town (with adult drivers).
- Cupcake Wars.
- Mock Shark Tank with service-project pitches.
- Card-making for the ward.
- "Get to know you" bingo for new move-ins.
- Gingerbread house contest.
- Pumpkin carving or painting.
- Ward youth breakfast before school.
- Spa night or barbershop night (separate young women and young men).
- Puzzle race.
- Water balloon volleyball.
What are some physical youth activity ideas (46 to 65)?
- Ultimate frisbee.
- Pickleball.
- Dodgeball tournament (soft balls).
- Hike with an easy grade.
- Bike ride with a sweep adult at the back.
- Rock climbing gym (written permission needed).
- Kayaking or canoeing (written permission and water safety).
- Obstacle course.
- Flag football.
- Basketball skills night.
- Volleyball.
- Geocaching.
- Snow tubing (written permission and safety plan).
- Roller skating.
- Yoga or stretching.
- Bowling.
- Trail-running relay.
- Sports clinics taught by local coaches.
- Camp skills preparation for an upcoming camp.
- Soccer under the lights.
What are some intellectual and life-skills ideas (66 to 85)?
- Car care basics.
- Budgeting simulation.
- Cooking basics: five meals under $10.
- CPR and first aid basics with a certified instructor.
- Resume and mock interviews.
- College and trade school panel.
- Sewing and mending.
- Home repair basics.
- Photography walk.
- Public speaking night.
- Emergency preparedness kits.
- Coding or robotics demo.
- Learn to change a tire.
- Etiquette dinner.
- Gardening night.
- Debate night on light topics.
- Investing basics.
- Map and compass orienteering.
- Learn a mission-language phrase.
- Art night with a local artist.
What are some service youth activity ideas (86 to 95)?
- Yard work for widows or older members (with permission).
- Care kits for shelters.
- Food bank shift (check age requirements).
- Thank-you notes for first responders.
- Church grounds beautification.
- Babysitting night so young parents can attend the temple.
- Fleece blankets for a children's hospital.
- Neighborhood clean-up.
- Teach a skill to Primary children (with Primary leaders present).
- Find a project on JustServe.
For more, see LDS youth service project ideas.
What are some stake-level youth activity ideas (96 to 100)?
- Stake youth dance. See our stake dance guide.
- Stake or ward youth conference. See LDS youth conference ideas.
- Pioneer trek. See our LDS trek planning guide.
- Multi-ward service day.
- Stake youth sports night.
How can youth leaders plan better activities?
Youth-led planning is the goal, but it works best with a simple process:
- Counsel in presidency meetings about the needs of each youth.
- Plan a month or quarter at a time using the Church's Sample Service and Activity Planner.
- Assign one youth owner and one adult support person for each activity.
- Personally invite every youth, especially those who have not come recently.
- Reflect briefly afterward: what helped youth feel closer to the Savior and to each other?
Which youth activities need permission forms?
| Activity | Written consent? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Board game night at church | No | Ordinary risk, local |
| Kayaking, climbing, snow tubing | Yes | Higher than ordinary risk |
| Youth conference or camp | Yes | Overnight |
| Temple trip several hours away | Yes | Lengthy travel |
| Stake dance | Depends on local direction | Ages 14 and up only |
The General Handbook requires written consent through the Church's Permission and Medical Release form for activities with "an overnight stay, lengthy travel, or higher than ordinary risks" (General Handbook 20.7.4).
For the yes rows in that table, you need a signature from every parent. You can text parents one Ward Waivers link. They read the details and sign on their phone, and you see who still needs to sign. It does not replace any official form your bishop or stake president asks you to use. Set up your activity.
How do you choose the right activity for your group?
A list of 100 ideas is only useful if you pick the right one for the youth you actually have. Before choosing, ask:
- Who are we trying to reach? If a few youth haven't come in months, choose something low-pressure they would enjoy, and have a friend invite them.
- What does our group need? A class with new 12-year-olds might need a social activity to build friendships. Older youth might need life skills or mission prep.
- What did we do recently? If the last three activities were games, schedule service or a spiritual activity.
- What are our resources? Budget, space, drivers, and leaders available that night.
- Is it safe and approved? Higher-risk activities need extra planning, approval, and written permission.
What are the best low-cost youth activities?
The General Handbook says most activities "should be simple and have little or no cost." Many of the most memorable youth nights cost almost nothing:
- Capture the flag or ultimate frisbee at the church field
- Scripture escape rooms built from printed clues
- Family history indexing on phones
- Service projects with donated supplies
- Board game tournaments with games from home
- Testimony hikes on local trails
- Mock interviews with ward members
- Cookie delivery to neighbors (with permission)
Sample month of youth activities
| Week | Activity | Area of growth | Combined or separate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Family history indexing night | Spiritual | Combined |
| 2 | Cooking basics (YW) / Car care (YM) | Intellectual | Separate |
| 3 | Care kits for a local shelter | Service / social | Combined |
| 4 | Ultimate frisbee and pizza | Physical / social | Combined |
This kind of rotation keeps youth engaged and makes it easy to see whether the calendar is balanced.
How can youth invite friends to activities?
Activities are one of the easiest ways for youth to share the gospel. Encourage youth to invite friends to activities that are fun and easy to join, like service projects, game nights, and dances. Make guests feel welcome with introductions, simple explanations, and a follow-up invitation to the next activity.
What should you do after an activity?
Take two minutes at the next presidency meeting to ask what went well, who wasn't there, and who should be personally invited next time. Write down anything worth repeating next year. Small follow-ups like a thank-you text to a guest speaker or a "we missed you" message to a youth who didn't come often matter more than the activity itself.
How do you adapt ideas for a small branch or ward?
Many units have only a handful of youth. Combine young men and young women more often, invite youth from a neighboring ward for occasional activities, choose games that work with small groups (board games, cooking, hikes), and involve parents as both helpers and participants. The handbook notes that youth "can benefit from socializing in larger groups," so occasional multi-ward or stake activities are especially valuable for small units.
How much do these youth activities cost?
The handbook says most activities "should be simple and have little or no cost." These are estimates for a group of about 15 youth in the United States. Prices vary a lot by area, so check locally before you ask the bishopric for budget.
| Activity type | Example ideas | Estimate for 15 youth |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Ministering card writing, scripture chase, family history indexing, board games | $0 to $15 |
| Low cost | Pizza and game night, service kits, cookie delivery | $40 to $90 |
| Moderate | Bowling, trampoline park, climbing gym | $150 to $300 |
| Higher cost (needs early approval) | Temple trip with bus, overnight camp | $300 and up |
Any expense must be approved in advance by the bishopric or stake presidency. If an activity would cost members money, choose a cheaper one instead.
What is the backup plan if weather cancels an outdoor activity?
Pick the backup when you plan the activity, not an hour before. Keep one indoor box ready in the youth closet.
| Planned outdoor activity | Indoor swap at the meetinghouse |
|---|---|
| Capture the flag or ultimate frisbee | Dodgeball or four square in the cultural hall |
| Park service project | Hygiene kit or card assembly line |
| Hike with a devotional | Hallway "trail" with scripture stations |
| Outdoor cooking | Indoor no-bake cooking contest |
| Night games | Glow-stick hide and seek in the gym, lights low, two adults in the room |
Text families by a set time (for example, 3:00 p.m.) whether you are on plan A or plan B, so nobody shows up in the wrong clothes.
Frequently asked questions
What are good LDS youth activity ideas?
Good ideas balance spiritual, social, physical, and intellectual growth. Examples include temple trips, family history indexing, game tournaments, hikes, cooking classes, car care, and service projects through JustServe.
Is "Mutual" still used in the Church?
Many members still use "Mutual" as a nickname for weekly youth activities. The General Handbook simply calls them youth activities, held usually weekly on a day other than Sunday or Monday evening.
How old do youth have to be to attend youth activities?
Youth begin attending Young Women and Aaronic Priesthood quorum activities in January of the year they turn 12. They may attend dances, youth conferences, and FSY conferences beginning in January of the year they turn 14.
Who plans youth activities in a ward?
Young Women class presidencies and Aaronic Priesthood quorum presidencies plan activities with support from adult leaders and the bishopric. The ward youth council helps coordinate.
How many adults must attend a youth activity?
At least two responsible adults should be present at all youth activities. Every adult working with youth must complete the Church's children and youth protection training.
How often should youth activities be held?
Usually weekly. Where distance, safety, or other factors make weekly activities impractical, they should generally be held at least monthly.
Can youth activities be held on Sunday?
Generally no. Youth activities are held at times other than Sundays or Monday evenings. No camps, sports, or recreational events should be scheduled on Sunday.
What are good low-cost LDS youth activities?
Capture the flag, scripture escape rooms with printed clues, family history indexing, board game tournaments, testimony hikes, and service projects with donated supplies all cost little or nothing and are popular with youth.
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