Summer is (almost!) here and it’s always a crazy time for youth ministry. Whether you plan things to be wild, take the summer off, or take some form of in-between, summer usually looks a little different than normal ministry.

It’s so important to communicate the changes in ways that students and parents will know what’s going on. They’ve got a lot on their plate too!

You can do three easy things to make sure everyone knows what’s going on. Plus it’ll help when the senior pastor gets an angry email from a parent saying they weren’t informed about summer camp. You’ll have receipts.

Send an email

It’s nice to have everything in one place. An email as summer begins with the overall plan is such a blessing. Dates, times, locations, the whole bit. This can be super plain and just text. Most phones will even try to make dates and events happen on phone that gets this email so it’s a big help.

Also, this is the email you add your senior pastor (or just boss) onto so they know you communicated everything ahead of time.

And, as an added bonus, typing it all out like this will help you find those last minute changes you need to make. Like scheduling your vacation during VBS again. Whoops!

Post on social

Canva can be your hero here. Choose a theme and a background and run with it all summer. Just change the text and a picture and you’re golden.

You can also make something that has the “Summer at a glance” story for your page as well. Think of an image that has the “big events” and maybe a follow up with the smaller pop up stuff.

Either way, post to social and make sure it’s the one your students follow you on. No sense posting to myspace if only boomers hang out there.

Print a calendar

This doesn’t have to be fancy (but DYM will hook you up if you need to look like a hero). Print something out at the beginning of the summer. It can be a full sheet or a half sheet or paper, whatever works for you and the church office printer.

I love a printed calendar because it usually goes up on the fridge at home and is a constant youth ministry reminder all summer long. Plus you can put it up in your office for when a parent or student texts and asks “When is the Nerf Gun Battle?”

Real life saver!

Need a calendar? This one from DYM is crazy easy to adapt!

What are you doing to promote your summer and let everyone know what’s going on? I’d love to know!