With the dawn of the school year upon us, this may be a great time to start thinking about a larger, more elaborate gathering, allowing the group time to mix and mingle and get used to the “new group”. Try this idea.

Type/Purpose: High Tech, Mixer, Off-Site, Scavenger Hunt

In this activity, groups will go on a scavenger hunt of sorts, using digital cameras to capture different “scenes.”

Materials: Access to numerous digital cameras (most have access to cameras on their smartphones).

Set-Up:

  • Identify a common place that the group will either meet at or travel to (Mall, Park, Active Neighborhood, etc.)
  • Identify how many participants will attend this activity, and try to have 1 chaperone per every 5 or 6 participants.
  • Create a list of about 20 things for the groups to take pictures of. Below are some ideas:
    • Something over 6 feet tall
    • A Green Scene
    • Colors of the Rainbow
    • Spaghetti Sauce
    • Home on the Range
    • Sea Food
    • Sweet Home Chicago
    • School Mascot

Play:

  • Give each group the photo list and send them out to capture as many of these scenes as possible.
  • Encourage groups to be as creative or literal as they want (for example, for Home on the Range, they might find a toy house to set on top of an oven).
  • Give each group a time limit of 30-45 minutes, depending on playing area, time, etc.
  • When the groups meet back, organize all the photos, and have a “slide show” of each group.

Extra Ideas:

  • If planning on using this as “competitive,” give out points for each scene captured.
  • Have the group vote on “most creative scene” or “best picture”.

Teachable Moment: For Bible Study Opener, consider discussion on “God as Creator,” and compare and contrast “our creations” to what God does with creation.