ASchul189:
We have just restarted it, so the group is still small. I could poll them, but the thing is I don’t even have any ideas to poll for. The meeting of the leaders is in about two weeks, realize we are all about 16-17 years old. There we give the ideas we made up, and discuss which would be the best.
I meant to ask them cold what they might like to talk about.
In that case, I’d poll a good number of adults who know your group, come up with about twice as many ideas as you could ever use, and ask your 16-17 year olds which interest them the most, with at least two or three blank spaces for “other.”
Other Ideas:
Conflict management: present scenarios and discuss
Dealing with difficult people–methods and opportunities: present scenarios and discuss
The choice of friends and the use of time: ask their biggest challenges and how they deal with them. Discuss.
How do you collect yourself for prayer? Ideas.
You can also use “interview questions”
What was the best homily you ever heard, and why?
How do you identify and use your strengths?
How do you identify and work around your weaknesses? (Realizing that no one can possibly be strong in every area.)
What is your vision of what this organization does? What do you see yourself bringing to it? What do you think it will do for you?
What are the special difficulties and opportunities for Catholic teens in our times, compared to our parents and grandparents?
Describe the best marriage you know, and why you think it is the best. At the end ask: have you ever talked to this married couple, to find out if your perceptions are correct? Consider doing so.
Describe the best teacher you know… etc.
Describe the most effective parent you know… etc.
Describe the professional person that you know personally whom you admire most… etc.
Think of the single person outside of your parents who has made an impact on who you are today. Describe what they did and how it changed you. At the end: pray for thanks or forgiveness for that person and other people who made an impact that were not mentioned.
Or open some real cans of worms…
How are men and women different?
If you were gay or your best friend or closest sibling were gay, how would you deal with that? How would it change your life? What advice would you give to others who met them/you?
