Youth camps. Concerts. Conferences. Theme parks. Large event gatherings with so many like-minded people can be meaningful and exciting. Yes, even when parts of the trip go wrong—like getting caught in a torrential rainstorm with over 500 students and leaders or being stuck on a 17-hour bus ride in the Arizona summer heat with 50 smelly teenagers and no air conditioning. If you know, you know.
Yet, despite the highs and lows, we share these stories with our friends and family, conveying the feelings we experienced, sharing inside jokes, and ending with, “You just had to be there.”
Most young people love going to large events, but they can also sometimes be overwhelming. Large crowds, unfamiliar faces, loud rooms, high-emotional and spiritual moments, and schedule changes can be a lot to process and experience all at once…and let’s be honest, even for adults. Add in lack of sleep, dehydration, and hormones, and you have the perfect concoction for a young person (or adult!) to shut down. They withdraw from the group, become attached to their cell phone, have an outburst of intense emotion, or suddenly run out in the middle of an activity, leaving you wondering, “What just happened?”
Well, I’m here to say, you are not alone. As ministry leaders, this is part of the complex, emotionally charged journey we share with the people we embrace. Here are five ways you can prepare for your next large event to support your students’ emotional well-being.
1. Be Aware of Your Own Emotions and Needs
The best way to care for others is to first care for your own needs. Why? Because “in order to give consistent, responsive, and empathetic care to [young people], you must be regulated and be able to remain regulated in interactions.” The goal is not perfection but to model a less anxious presence while being fully available to others. Before your event, identify stressful emotional triggers and practice self-regulation behaviors such as deep breathing, positive self-talk, or prayer.
…in order to give consistent, responsive, and empathetic care to [young people], you must be regulated and be able to remain regulated in interactions.
Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development
2. Cultivate Trust Before the Event
Building relational trust with your students before a large event can foster emotional safety, helping teenagers advocate for themselves during the trip. The book Faith Beyond Youth Group defines trust as “teenagers’ confidence that when they offer something personally important to a leader, that leader will act in their best interests.” Knowing your students’ current life situations will help you positively approach their emotional reactions.
…teenagers’ confidence that when they offer something personally important to a leader, that leader will act in their best interests.
Faith Beyond Youth Group: 5 Ways to Form Character and Cultivate Lifelong Discipleship
3. Be a Facilitator, Not a Fixer
All behavior expresses a need. Our tendency is to try to fix behaviors rather than understand the underlying need. When a student withdraws, expresses big emotions, or dissociates, we have the opportunity to be present, exercise patience, and wisely help him or her feel heard and validated to move forward.
When tensions and emotions are high and the environment is overwhelming, it requires creativity and patience to get beneath the surface. Hold back on bailing students out, be present, and see their process through.
4. Create Margin for Rest within Your Event Schedule
Faith Beyond Youth Group emphasizes the importance of cultivating holistic practices in our work with young people. “Research shows that no matter who we are, our initial physiological response to a stimulus is embodied and emotional. This reality is even more pronounced for teens who have experienced trauma.” This generation of young people is more attuned to a lifestyle of self-care, wellness, and mindfulness. If we know this about our students, how can we orient our events to meet these needs?
Research shows that no matter who we are, our initial physiological response to a stimulus is embodied and emotional. This reality is even more pronounced for teens who have experienced trauma.
Faith Beyond Youth Group: 5 Ways to Form Character and Cultivate Lifelong Discipleship
Creating boundaries in our schedules gives teenagers options to use their free time. Offering simple options such as taking a nap, getting a snack and water, journaling, debriefing the day’s events as a group, or having a meaningful conversation with a leader or friend can help us stay present and engaged throughout the event.
5. Practice the Ministry of Presence
Large events can leave teenagers feeling ignored. And as leaders, we can become overwhelmed managing schedules and keeping track of everyone’s needs simultaneously. Not to mention the countless questions we funnel about what’s next, what’s for lunch, when we are going back to the hotel, bathroom breaks, or why we are having donuts and cheese for breakfast…it never stops. In such stressful situations, we might miss an opportunity to be fully present.
What students need are adults who are consistently and intentionally present, modeling how to navigate difficult emotions and let go of expectations. Do your part in preparation but not at the expense of relationships.
And if you are not successful—take it easy, have fun, enjoy the experience with them at their level of engagement. Your presence is the most powerful witness of Jesus and support for students.
- 5 Ways to Support Students’ Emotional Health at Large Events - March 24, 2026