30 Local Mission Trip Ideas for Youth Groups

Art Classes - Offer creative classes to a low-income neighborhood or partner with a school or Boys and Girls Club to provide art, dance, crafting or other areas in which your group is skilled. Low-income populations often don't have access to arts classes, but that doesn't mean that they don't have amazing skills waiting to be honed. For example, the famous dancer Misty Copeland was introduced to ballet through a Boys and Girls Club, and she went on to become the first African American female principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre.
Nutrition Classes - Host a nutritionist to discuss healthy eating habits and demonstrate how to cook simple recipes. Have several basic recipes printed and available for participants utilizing readily available ingredients that can be purchased with food stamps and coupons. Students can help prepare example dishes ahead of time, organize ingredients, or deliver donated groceries to participants.
Chess Classes - Provide a chess camp over the summer or teach classes after school or on the weekends to at-risk boys and girls. If you have seen the movie or read the book The Queen of Katwe, you know the power of chess in teaching critical thinking and strategy.
Chess Buddy - In a similar vein, have your youth become chess or checkers buddies with an elderly friend at a local nursing home. This is good for the older generation to keep their minds sharp, and it is good for the youth to learn from elders. This creates time and space for friendships and mutual learning and understanding. One idea is to have your youth group spend a year paired up with their buddy, and then plan a tournament at the end of the year.
Skills Training Workshop - Vocational training is a tremendous need. People need employable skills, especially in areas with large refugee or low-income populations. Consider training others in areas such as: barista, mechanic, food prep, waitress, and customer service. Your youth group can do the necessary research, teach workshops themselves if they have food service or retail experience, or recruit outside experts as needed.