Community Builders
A few of our favorite community-building activities
Helping youth feel valued & connected – and comfortable to share their voices!
Community builders build community
Different types of
community builders
Mindful moments | To settle, quiet the mind, focus and /or just get present |
Icebreakers | Literally breaks the ice, helps folks get to know each other and connect |
Energizers | Increases the energy in the group with fun |
Chill time | Sometimes just connecting without working on something is helpful to build community |
Affirmations | Taking time to express appreciation benefits the person giving the affirmation and the person receiving it! |
Youth voice is present here - as young people take meaningful roles in planning and leading each of these types of activities – and as young people participate and feel more comfortable to speak up even more …
Mindful Moments
5 senses
Breathe in/out
5-finger breath
Tighten & release
01
03
02
04
Trace the fingers of one hand, breathing in as you trace up each finger, and out as you trace down the finger.
Share 1 thing you can see,
1 thing you can hear,
1 thing you can taste,
1 thing you smell, &
1 thing you can feel/touch
Breathe in something you want to cultivate today; breathe out something you want to release. See an example in this video.
Tighten your muscles (face, fists, whole body) - squeeze & release. Take a breath!
Today’s Top 3 Icebreakers
Meet Me in the Middle - Someone enters the circle and shares something that is true about them that you can’t see from the outside. If it’s true for you, too, meet in the middle. High five! (Virtual option = “meet me on camera…”)
Name game* with movement - Share your name and an original movement. Everyone repeats “Hi ___(name)___ and does the movement together. *Variation - introductions with name and personal (made up) hashtags.
60-second Scavenger Hunt - Share something from your space (or bag) that is … special to you, representative of you or of something related to the topic of the day, etc. (This works well virtually, too!)
A Few Favorite Energizers
Snowball - Also a great icebreaker! Everyone writes 3 facts about themselves on a piece of paper & then crumble the papers into balls and throw them around the room. Everyone picks up a “snowball” and tries to find the person that matches the facts on the paper.
Zip! Zap! Zop! - Funny and focusing. In a circle, participants “send” energy to each other with the words “Zip!” “Zap!” & “Zop!” �Hand motions & eye contact help directing the energy & keep the group connecting. (video example here.)
Instant Recess- Participants act out something they loved to do during recess as a child. Ask a few participants to model / mime their activity one at a time. All participants mime that participant’s activity (e.g. if Jessica liked to hoolahoop, we all hoola hoop for a few seconds. If Caleb liked kickball, we all motion to kick the ball and run in place to the bases.)
Another fun game: over-under with hula hoops
Chill Time Ideas from Youth
Music or ‘zine party
Vision boards
Movie day
Co-create playlists, share favorite tunes; or co-create a ‘zine* around the group’s topic of interest
Create collages that represent aspirations and hopes
for one’s future
Support youth in planning a movie day/night
A few Affirmations
A Pat on the back - Tape a piece of paper with a handprint on everyone’s back. Using washable markers everyone writes one thing they appreciate about that person on the paper.
Envelope of notes - Decorate big envelopes and hang them on the program wall with the opening facing out. (We use identity icebergs or collages!) During the course of a program (week, month, summer, etc.) make time for participants to write something they appreciated about each other & slip it into the envelopes for enjoying at the end of the program.
Thank you that’s so true - At the end of the day, the group sits in a circle, and everyone says something they appreciate about the person to their right. The person receiving the affirmation focuses on receiving it and says, thank you!
Thanks!
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Helping youth feel valued & connected – and comfortable to share their voices!
Community builders build community
CREDITS: This presentation template was created by Slidesgo, and includes icons by Flaticon and infographics & images by Freepik
Youth voice builds community
Helping youth feel valued & connected – and comfortable to share their voices
Community builders build community