All things VBS (Full Version)

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zoebob -> All things VBS (6/8/2008 10:40:48 PM)

Now that summer is coming close I thought it would be nice to have a thread to discuss all things VBS: plans, excitement, questions, etc.



zoebob -> RE: All things VBS (6/8/2008 10:44:23 PM)

I've got a question for some of you. For the second year now we will be holding a "Kidz Fun Kamp" at the local park. Last year it was a wonderful program and we reached many unchurched kids (judging by their knowledge of basic Bibls stories at least half). The biggest problem was dismissal time. The kids all signed in on sheets by age group. Those sheets then got delivered to the group leader for each age group. At the end the group leader collected the kids' name tags, gave them anything to go home and the parents were supposed to physically sign the kids out. The hardest part was that a kid would see their mom picking up other sibling and run off to them and never get signed out. Because we weren't in a classroom where we could physically block door ways it was difficult to keep this from happening. Any suggestions on controlling that chaos and making sure to get kids properly signed out.

Not giving them their take homes, etc wouldn't solve the problem because the kid would just wait till the next day to get their stuff.



small_creation -> RE: All things VBS (6/9/2008 8:53:19 AM)

How about if you keep the kids centralized in an activity hall or the sanctuary or even a gym (depending upon your space) until an adult comes to get them.

Don't allow the kids to see the outside parking lot or entryway so they're forced to wait for someone to pick them up.

We are pretty informal at our VBS. When the time comes to leave we pretty much say goodbye and hold the door open for the rush.

j



zoebob -> RE: All things VBS (6/9/2008 9:19:10 AM)

I think you missed that we are at a park. There is no enclosed central place to keep them if they see their parents and take off because we can't literally hold on to every child.

I did suggest maybe having the parents wait somewhere a distance away and call us with two way radios and walk over the children whose parents were there. Haven't heard back from that one.

Here's another intersting idea we could use brain storms for. Because we are outside and it is hot we give all the kids a cold bottle of water when they arrive. We need a good idea to keep their names on the bottles. we tried stickers, sharpies etc and everything falls off or washes away when condensation starts forming on the bottles.



small_creation -> RE: All things VBS (6/9/2008 11:14:28 AM)

Yup, missed it.

Tie them to the teeter-totters?!?!

j



colliefan -> RE: All things VBS (6/9/2008 11:57:50 PM)

At our 300 member church, we are going to have about 200 kids at VBS. A good number will be unchured kids.



loveleee -> RE: All things VBS (6/10/2008 12:49:34 AM)

Well this will be my first time being a teacher for VBS. I have been to my area training program but I am still a little nervous but extremely excited. We have the Outrigger theme which I think is totally fun and will get the kids excited and hopefully open them up to a learning experience that they will hold on to.



hjemerson -> RE: All things VBS (6/10/2008 10:21:46 AM)

For the name on bottle try sharpes ! Or craft paint for plastics. As for the sign out If you could have somthing Like a color Rubber Backlet and talk it up on you must turn this in when parent comes, (Young kids like to thinks of things as a ticket to get somthing or go some where) Also could color code them to the age group and could put name etc on them with ink pen or sharped Them after all is gone you can do a double check in who was here for the day and let the way to double check you enrollment I would really be concerned if a child left with some one not suppose to. Maybe reward them for leaving the correct way I was thining of the little cheap frezz pop as they go home! Sticker/hand stamps/ I try a group activity at Dimissed time like Circle time in age group or sit down puppits or song time and then as the parent come up behine the group you touch the child on the head.shoulder to let them know time to go!! All this has to be explain in the begain of the week and enforced durning the week. I know as the time near the end of the activies all is ready to go worker/and childern to. Maybe have a few that hav not been out in the heat etc do the closing !A grand parent reading or telling a story/Puppites/ You will also need to let the people picking the children up, the way you plan on doing this for the SAFETY of the children. I worked with a lot of Inter city park and a large AWANS bus kids and if you let them know and keep thing pretty silmply they will go with the ideals. God Bless as you go in to this wonderful activity!! You will never =know who lives you may touch!! Praise God!



zoebob -> RE: All things VBS (6/10/2008 4:46:19 PM)

We tried sharpies on the water bottles: it washed off. They get new bottles every day. I think craft paint might take a while to label 200 bottles since we wait till they sign in to label their bottles.

We already have them in color coded groups. They have a name badge that is the color of their groups and they are supposed to turn it in every day and get it back the next day. There was always a few kids who slipped out though.

I know if nothing else they are going to make a bigger deal enforcing the sign out. Most of the families do it right. There are always a few though and it feels very chaotic for the workers. The parents never felt that way though.



PrincessDonna -> RE: All things VBS (6/10/2008 4:49:12 PM)

quote:

Here's another intersting idea we could use brain storms for. Because we are outside and it is hot we give all the kids a cold bottle of water when they arrive. We need a good idea to keep their names on the bottles. we tried stickers, sharpies etc and everything falls off or washes away when condensation starts forming on the bottles.


There's not much room on the top, but I've found you can sharpie on the top of the bottle and it doesn't come off. Maybe initials at least?



Roberta_ -> RE: All things VBS (6/10/2008 5:02:13 PM)

VBS is so much fun!!

My nieces will be attending for the first time this year. They are 8 and 10.



PrincessDonna -> RE: All things VBS (6/10/2008 5:03:32 PM)

I'm the registration coordinator for our VBS this year. Last year's coordinator came over and went over what needs to be done when. She's so awesome...she gave me a whole typed out list that I can just go through and check off![:D]



crankius -> RE: All things VBS (6/10/2008 5:06:58 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: PrincessDonna

quote:

Here's another intersting idea we could use brain storms for. Because we are outside and it is hot we give all the kids a cold bottle of water when they arrive. We need a good idea to keep their names on the bottles. we tried stickers, sharpies etc and everything falls off or washes away when condensation starts forming on the bottles.


There's not much room on the top, but I've found you can sharpie on the top of the bottle and it doesn't come off. Maybe initials at least?

Initials on the lid maybe?



zoebob -> RE: All things VBS (6/10/2008 5:07:38 PM)

Last year we used the little dot stickers and wrote their names and put them on the lids. I think they are trying to find something different then marking the lids because they can get lost/switched/etc



PrincessDonna -> RE: All things VBS (6/10/2008 5:11:07 PM)

I don't think there is a better option, sadly.[&o]



lightshineon -> RE: All things VBS (6/10/2008 10:20:52 PM)

Crafts again doing Gods Big BackYard.[:)]



hjemerson -> RE: All things VBS (6/12/2008 4:46:36 PM)

One of the big helps is a lot of people helping out and all on the same page as in what to do, more the better if all infromed on the plans . I found out the teen form youth groups are great to help out at dimiss time to. Maybe the bottom of the bottle ,May would not rub off as fast? God Bless you all!



buckifn -> RE: All things VBS (6/13/2008 11:38:23 PM)

I would skip the water bottles altogether and just have water cooler stations with a volunteer staffing that station only to help dispense cups of water..if your vbs is only 2 hours and includes a snacktime 1 extra water break should be sufficient.



kernsfamily -> RE: All things VBS (6/16/2008 10:49:45 AM)

Our church's VBS started "bright and early" this morning, for a 9am start.......with 5,000+ kids invading church.....

Our VBS program for this year is called "Power XPlosion"....

I would say that more than half, perhaps 60% or so, would be kids that are "unchurched"....



buckifn -> RE: All things VBS (6/17/2008 5:47:02 PM)

"Bigger" is not always better....I have found out that having children divided into smaller groups often gives more opportunities for impact and follow-up than larger numbers.

I've come to the conclusion the amount of budget has very little to do with the success or failure of VBS.



kernsfamily -> RE: All things VBS (6/17/2008 5:58:41 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: buckifn

"Bigger" is not always better....I have found out that having children divided into smaller groups often gives more opportunities for impact and follow-up than larger numbers.

I've come to the conclusion the amount of budget has very little to do with the success or failure of VBS.


never said "bigger was automatically better".....just made mention about how many kids we were expecting, just like many others did.....

we cap all classes with a MAXIMUM of 20 kids (some fewer depending on age group)....with at least 3-5 adult teachers/volunteers for each class.....

we just don't see how we can turn anyone away who signs up and wants to come...(how do you say, "sorry, but we have no more room for you"???)

iam sure there are churches who don't do "large" ones well....and, churches who don't even do "small" ones well....

but, ours has an enormous impact every year.....and, always results in "unchurched" families "discovering" the church, and getting involved with it.....and, MANY children AND adults accepting Christ....

quote:

I've come to the conclusion the amount of budget has very little to do with the success or failure of VBS.


you're right....it all has to do on how well it's run....and organized....absolutely.....



PrincessDonna -> RE: All things VBS (6/17/2008 6:06:38 PM)

I really like how Group sets their VBS up...with crew leaders that are with their 4-8 kids the entire time and they go around from station to station. It allows for a closer interaction with the leader while also getting quality at each station, since the station leader is ONLY doing that one part.

Question for those doing VBS...do you have a system where the kids earn points and the high earners win prizes at the end? This is how I grew up with VBS being done, but now that I am a parent, I don't like it at all. The emphasis is not on learning about God and having fun...it's all a big competition. Naturally, the churched kids will do better in the competition because they are more familiar with the way things work and the Bible in general. This leaves a bad taste in the unchurched kids and families' mouths. Even in my own! When you have a kid who is not good at memorizing large quantities of verses and comes home crying from VBS because he can never win...you have to wonder what they are teaching them, KWIM?



zoebob -> RE: All things VBS (6/17/2008 6:22:35 PM)

I agree with you Donna. Our church doesn't do that. We do go over a verse but there is never an expectation that each child say it on their own. The lesson leader has the verse on a poster and we read it through several times but I don't think we ever try to say it without looking at it. We don't give any "homework" or take an offering either.



thorkraki -> RE: All things VBS (6/17/2008 6:26:23 PM)

Hi! I am new to Crosswalk, and am not American, although I live sometimes in the USA. I am not sure what VBS is? It seems like it is an organization for children of some sort? I have three sons and am interested in hearing more, if you have any advice! Ciao! -Thor



zoebob -> RE: All things VBS (6/17/2008 6:37:53 PM)

VBS stands for Vacation Bible School. It is generally speaking a program that a church will put on for children for a week. It generally runs fro 2-3 hrs either in the morning or evening. The basic format is:
opening ceremony
then rotate between the following stations:
snack
games
lesson
craft
back for a closing ceremony at the end.

It is generally for kids between 4 and finishing 5th or 6th grade. You can purchase curriculums from several companies that offer everything: lesson, craft ideas, take home materials, sometimes even brief videos for the opening or closing time or you can create your own.

At the end of the week there's usually a closing ceremony where the parents come and hear the kids sing the songs they've learned, hear a little about the lessons and then have a snack time and mingle with the church people.



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