With vacation bible school season quickly approaching, it’s important to take a thoughtful approach to how this important program will look this year. Over the past couple of years, many churches have had to make alternative plans for their VBS programs. Even though we are all hopeful for a return to more traditional plans for VBS this year, we understand you may continue to need a variety of options to creatively and safely make this program work for your church. We've outlined three approaches that offer some options for consideration when planning your church VBS this year.
We also have several VBS theme ideas to bring fun to whatever approach you choose. Plus, check back here as we'll be adding more ideas soon! Check out the crafts, activities, snacks and decor ideas below, and start planning a VBS season to remember!
This is the ‘VBS as usual’ approach. Approach your VBS outreach as you have done in the past. If restrictions and social distancing guidelines are lifted in your community, go all out and have group fellowship, lessons, and activities. If you have a fast-approaching date, you may want to consider moving to later in the summer. The great thing is that VBS can still happen as planned. With what is currently happening in our world, you may experience greater attendance, a rainbow after the storm!
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Small group VBS may be conducted in different ways. If we are able to meet in smaller groups of 10-20, keep in mind that this number includes kids and volunteers. VBS lessons and activities can occur as originally planned, just in smaller numbers. Groups would need to keep their distance from other groups and not participate in group fellowship or activities. With the smaller groups, additional volunteers may be needed so an additional training session will need to be scheduled.
Depending on your community, small group VBS could also be planned with neighborhood hosts. Church-member VBS volunteers could host small groups in their homes, driveways, front porches, or backyards. A plan will need to be made to train the additional volunteers and for the hosts to pick up all needed materials from the church.
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Serving VBS in a home setting might work best for your church community. Parents and guardians can be supplied curriculum-related materials, crafts, games and additional internet resources to provide a fun VBS at home. At-Home Faith Kits provide valuable resources in one convenient package to provide faith-based lesson plans and fun for multiple children. There are kits for popular bible stories along with the popular VBS themes such as Sports, Construction and Railroad.
There are multiple ways to put Vacation Bible School on the Go to work for your children’s ministry team. Your team could share the Bible stories, lesson plans, and any other curriculum-related materials with parents or guardians. Parents or guardians will need additional support with questions, games, and activities that can easily be done at home. If possible, equip parents or guardians with music, videos, and internet resources to enhance lessons. Your children’s ministry team could create lesson and activity bags for each week, organize a church drive-thru or pickup area, and set a time for parents to collect the activity bags for their children.
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All aboard for a VBS filled with faith, fun and adventure! Snacks are always a must at any VBS so create a railroad themed snack station with loads of treats and snacks that fit in perfect with this theme. Gear up for loads of railroad themed activities including games, snack recipes and a free coloring page.
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The VBS Construction Theme creates an engaging atmosphere where kids are encouraged to learn and grow in faith. Create your own snack station that fits in perfectly with the construction theme by getting creative with the display of snacks. Keep kids busy during the week with fun construction themed activities, games and snacks that coordinate with your VBS curriculum.
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Take your VBS back to a time of knights and swords, castles and dragons with these medieval themed activities for kids. Full of medieval crafts, activities and snack ideas kids are sure to have fun with this VBS theme.
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Fun awaits you in the jungle in this vacation bible school theme! Use our unique ideas to create a safari adventure. We have snack ideas, activities and more!
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Go on a wild encounter for VBS this year! This year kids will focus on real-life encounters with Jesus through scripture! Get ready to have a personal encounter with Jesus! Use our snack ideas and activities.
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Teach kids how to work as a team with a sports themed VBS. Utilize the God's Team VBS Kit as a companion to your VBS Sports Theme. They can learn lifelong skills by the implemented communications skills and team building activities in this theme. See different bible verses that you can incorporate in your VBS day that we've included in our God's Team Curriculum Ideas. We have fun and easy ideas for you to create a sports arena. Show kids what it means to be on God's team with sports themed decor and snacks!
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You can never go wrong with this classic theme! Students will have the opportunity to learn about the ancient Romans, their culture and the role they played in the bible. Check out the snacks and activities.
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Explore the never-ending range of God's love with this western theme! Ride along side the great VBS theme!
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God's Galaxy VBS theme is out of this world with large DIY rockets, planets and stars! This VBS theme teaches VBS students God's love is infinite and that He created everything we see and everything we cannot see. Kids will need to be fueled with good snacks and we have the perfect space snack ideas here! We have crafty DIYs that will help you create God's Galaxy in your very own church.
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Build believers through a science lab theme. This theme teaches students that God has a purpose for them! Fill your VBS with bright and bold imagery that students can interact with to really make the lesson click! Find the delicious and on theme snacks to go with your science lab theme!
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This theme is the perfect beginning for a fun and faith-filled summer! This theme allows kids to truly explore their faith. Get your little island adventurers excited with a DIY waterfall, faux campfire and a tent! Don't forget the snacks! Kids will be hungry after a day of adventures, feed them with island themed snacks.
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