5 Ways to Make the Most of the Road Trip

So you’ve got your mission trip planned, forms filled out properly and turned in, team bonding already taking place, the trip prayed over and parents feeling secure about their teenagers life being in your hands for the next week. There is nothing between your youth group and serving and learning along side some wonderful folks in Oklahoma… well… there is just that one thing… there is that one small detail… It seems that you may have forgotten about the fact that 12 teenagers are about to be in a van with you for the next ten hours.

 

We’ve all been there. It can get ugly fast.

 

But have no fear. We’ve got your back. Here are our five best ideas for how to make that ten hour car drive go by in a snap!

 

 

Get Creative With Your Playlist

The all important playlist. It can be the single most unifying or conflict enduring element to every road trip. Here are some ideas that are sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Rotate the DJ. This is a simple one. Choose a new “DJ of the Hour” by holding a quick rock paper scissors tournament.

Play a dance song of the hour. No matter what is happening in the van, at the top of the hour, everyone MUST DANCE! But only for one song.

Have themed hours. 80s themed, guilty pleasure themed, slow dance themed, Disney themed… the list goes on.

 

Quiet Car Games

Here are a few games you could pull out of your pocket in that moment when you feel like your head is going to explode.

Car telephone. Start with a simple sentence and let the sentence circulate through the car telephone style until it arrives back to the front. It’s classic. It’s enjoyable. It’s quiet.

Picture stories. Pick one story teller and have everyone draw one picture around a theme, like… super heroes or a dinner party. Give all the pictures to the story teller and have them tell a story that using the pictures as a base for the story.

 

Meaningful Moments

Depending on the vibe of the car ride, you might have students take some time in the car to discuss what they are most looking forward to about the trip and some of the things that they have some concerns about. You could also ask everyone to bring along journals and ask them to spend 30 mins journaling around that topic (although some might get car sick from this…)

 

Make the Most out of Rest Stops

Rest stops can go in one of two directions. There are the timed sprint stops…and the marathon stops. Both are necessary at times. If you have time for a marathon stop, think about doing an all van stretch session. Pick a van stretch leader who will lead the group. See who can put together the most creative snack for under three dollars. Get creative with rest stops… they can be a real re-energizer and breath new life into a mission trip.

 

Treat Yourself

This might be the most important part. Make sure to take good care of yourself. As a leader it’s easy to treat yourself like a sacrificial lamb on road trips but remember that everyone needs you to be the best version of you for the rest of the week. Pack your favorite snack and maybe some Starbucks via packs. Bring allow your most comfortable pillow and be selfish about where you sit in the van if you’re not driving. Take a stop when you need to. I’d even say that you’re not above bringing ear plugs :). Take care of yourself. Nobody wants to start off a week long mission trip on the wrong foot.

 

 

We’re looking forward to greeting thousands of leaders and teenagers this summer and hope that these simple tricks will make the space between your church parking lot and the place where we’ll greet you as enjoyable an experience as possible.