Fall break for any budget

Fall break is right around the corner (or maybe even this week) for many of you. What are your plans?

Never fear if you don't have any! We've broken it down into three budget levels and each level gives suggestions on how you can relax, have fun, connect with God, and serve others while school is out of session.

Budget Level #1:
Flat broke, going nowhere
It’s not as bad as it sounds, and you’re definitely not alone. Plan well and throw in a lot of creativity, and you’ll never know your wallet was empty. Try to:

• Chill out by going for a long walk every morning and evening. Yes, exercise does help you to relax! Plus, it’s even more fun when you’re joined by a ­family member or friend!

• Have a blast by learning something new. Learn how to solve a Rubik’s Cube, perform some magic tricks, or cook something extraordinary. Ideas on all kinds of feats to amaze your friends are available online and are not too difficult if you take time to practice.

• Connect with God by planning a day of prayer for you and some of your friends. Meet at one house, choose a few passages of Scripture (the psalms are great), and only talk at meal times.

• Serve others by volunteering for a local church’s ministry or mission outreach to people in need. Ministries can always use help sorting donations, cleaning, folding, scrubbing, and ­delivering. And don’t forget—it doesn’t take any money to go through your own stuff and give it to someone in need.

Budget Level #2:
$100 bucks and my mom will drive
You may not have tons of funds, but you’ve got a little money plus reliable transportation. Why don’t you:

• Chill out by heading to the closest body of water to camp. Take a tent, a few books, and enough trail mix to keep you full. Fall is a great time to camp because most of the creepy-crawlies are gone.

• Have a blast by spending a day at an indoor water park. Yes, you really can find your swimsuit in October. Though it’s not cheap, it’s not too bad when you invite a few friends.

• Connect with God by updating your Christian library. Get some new books, download some new sermons or devotional thoughts to your MP3 player, or buy some new Bible-searching software. But don’t let all this cool stuff just sit on the shelf or the computer; use it to study God’s Word more deeply!

• Serve others by using your money to buy some much-needed items for families in your neighborhood. Do their kids need toys or clothes? Do the parents need some groceries? Help the family without letting them know it was from you.

Budget Level #3:
Ready to blow my vacation fund
You’ve really been saving, and you (or maybe your parents) have the cash for a never-to-be-forgotten fall break. You can:

• Chill out by heading to Ocracoke Island, North Carolina. At the tip of the Outer Banks, you can’t even get there except by ferry or plane. You’ll love the locally-owned ­everything (not a single fast food place!) and the beach-bum attitude.

• Have a blast by going to Disney theme parks. Yes, it was fun as a little kid, but there is stuff for teens, too! Check out the American Film Institute Showcase at Hollywood Studios, where you can look at costumes, props, and sets from some of your favorite movies and TV shows.

• Connect with God by concert-hopping. Look up your favorite Christian bands online and see if you can make up your own concert tour by hitting a few big concerts in a few days. As you travel between events, compare the lyrics of your favorite songs to God’s Word!

• Serve others by going on a short-term mission trip. Get your pastor or another staff member to put you in touch with someone from your church or community who is serving overseas and see if you can stay with them as you work for Jesus.


It goes without saying, but be sure to take pictures or videos and make a journal of what you do. Fall break is there for a reason—so take advantage of your time off!





From the October 2010 issue of ec. Written by Leslie Hudson, p. 54.