Get your railroad VBS off to a great start with a fun, welcoming check-in table! This VBS check-in idea can be used each day as children arrive, between activities or at the end of the day as children leave. Kids will love the consistency aspect, and the fun railroad theme just makes it even more fun!
This railroad themed VBS check-in station is super simple to set up but makes a HUGE impact at your church's VBS. To make the station, set up a large 8 foot folding table and cover the sides with Cobble Stone Plastic Tablecloth Roll. Add a couple of Canvas Vintage America Buntings for a vintage railroad vibe.
Next, use Black Duck Tape® Duct Tape to cover the red stripes on the Big Tabletop Tent canvas. Now build the Big Tabletop Tent frame and attach the black and white striped canvas. We used two tabletop tents for our 8-foot table, but you can use as many as you need. To give the tabletop tent a more finished look, tape the frames together in the middle and wrap the middle and outside of the frames in Brick Wall Backdrop, so it ends up looking like a train station ticket booth. If you have a wall behind your check-in station, you could also hang the brick wall backdrop on the wall for a finished look.
Creating signs for the VBS check-in station is a snap! Simply cut out pieces of white foam core to the size you need and attach Black Bulletin Board Letters using hot glue. Use a ruler and permanent marker to add detail around the outside of the frame. Use ribbon to hang the signs on the tabletop tent frame.
We used just one Railroad VBS Ticket booth Tabletop Photo Op Stand-up, but if you're expecting a lots of kiddos at your VBS, use more than one and organize the lines by having the kids line up according to their last name. Simply create signs to attach to the top of the mini ticket booths that say 'A-F', 'G-R', 'S-Z', etc.
Let the kids get their Railroad VBS Tickets punched at the beginning of each day at the check-in booth. You may even want to give the kids a name badge, goody bag, and sticker book. You can have your volunteers keep track and check-in your little guests in train station style with these Railroad VBS Message Pens. Remember to have a hole punch on hand to punch those tickets!
Placing the Railroad VBS Sticker Books in a Black or Gold Mini Suitcase is the perfect way to display the take-away. The Railroad VBS Sticker Books are great to use as incentives to return to VBS each day. Have the kids collect stamps from each of the stations every day. At the end of VBS, those who have completed their books can collect a special goody bag filled with railroad themed surprises to take home!
Flank the sides of your check-in station with Railroad VBS Suitcase Cardboard Standups to round out the look (and to hide cords, extra supplies, etc.) and add some fun ambiance. See more railroad VBS ideas to make it the best VBS yet! Get inspired with railroad activities and VBS game ideas, plus fun snack station and craft station ideas.
