The school year is quickly coming to a close which means summer is around the corner!

Here’s six things you should have ready (or be finishing up) as we head into May:

1. Your Summer Calendar

Obviously the bigger events of your summer (conferences, mission trips, etc) are already scheduled, booked, and hopefully full, but what about the rest of the summer: Are you continuing your regular weekly programs?  Are you doing any single day adventures?  Are you setting aside time every week to just hang out with your students?  Get it all finalized and into the hands of your students and parents as soon as possible.  And while you’re at it, print up some cool posters.

2. Important Fall Dates

I know this school year isn’t even over yet, but have you finalized important dates for the Fall?  When does your program kick off?  When is your fall retreat?  Once you break for summer, there’s some families you won’t see again until the Fall, so make sure you get all the important information and dates in their hands before they head off on vacation.

3. A Transition Plan

Summer is a time of transition: elementary students into middle school, middle school into high school, high school into college. What are you doing to help with those transitions?  Do you have something in place to welcome new middle school students into your middle school program?  Have you invited eighth graders to plug into your high school ministry yet?  Are you honoring, equipping and loving on your seniors before they head off to college?  Maybe even spending extra time with them this summer?  If you don’t have a plan for those things yet, get on it.

4. College Student Programs

Whether college-age ministry officially falls under your job description or not, make sure you’ve got something planned for your college students who will be home for the summer.  Having them help with other programs you’re running is a great start, but make sure to set aside time for just them.  Even if it’s casual and totally unprogrammed: go to dinner, grab coffee, school them in mini golf, etc.  Let them share with you about their experience this past semester, especially if it was their first year away from home.

5. Adult Leader Training

The summer is a perfect time to spend equipping and training your adults (and new volunteers) for the summer.  Retreats, workshops, conferences – whatever is the best format for your team.  And make sure you schedule in time to just hang out with them, pray with them and build community.

6. Family Vacation (or Stay-Cation) Plans

Summertime in ministry can get super busy, so make sure you’ve got stuff planned for you and your family.  It’s not good enough to just have “ideas” of what you want to do with them – figure out a plan, get it on your calendar, and plan everything else AROUND those plans.

Anything else you’re spending time on going into May (besides looking up old N’Sync videos)?