To create your own Vacation Bible School,
consider these questions:
Who should be on your core planning team?
Include parishioners from various parish ministries, not only catechetical ministers. They should reflect different family types, abilities, ages, etc. Include at least one parent and child who is willing to serve on the core team as an idea-contributing member. |
How to begin creating your own VBS:
Start big, with a broad picture of potential ideas and themes.
At the center of all brainstorming should be: * Reverence for the Word of God * Valuing the community experience of faith * Engagement of the whole person (body, mind, heart, creativity, and imagination) * Integration of the learned faith with the lived faith * Respect for all religious backgrounds (One of your Catholic participants is surely going to bring a friend without a church or a friend completely committed to his/her own church who wants to experience another VBS this year) |
Hone your way to a theme that interests and excites the most team members.
* Consider what your intended audience will be able to do and have fun doing. * Choose bible verses, bible stories, games, snacks, crafts, songs, and activities that excite the planning group. * Pay attention to copyright concerns (click here for fair use guidelines) |
Other considerations:
* Be creative in scheduling the VBS time. (It doesn't have to be five days. It doesn't have to be during the day.) * Develop a list of potential volunteers. Get them in compliance with the diocesan child protection policy. * Develop a list of resources, materials, and donations needed. Publicize the list in the parish. * Pray always in every meeting and throughout the planning. * Remind each other of your mission. * Inspire your core team and commission them as ambassadors of your VBS. * Inspire your whole volunteer team with your mission and thoroughly acquaint them with your theme and stories. * Support your volunteers with all they need to carry out what you ask of them. * Include your volunteers in your prayers and ask their prayers for you and all VBS participants. |
These resources from the Diocesan Library can help.
Catholic Vacation Bible School: 3 Themes of Faith-Filled Fun!
by Marian Bach Loyola Press, 2014 Turn your hot summer days into cool faith-filled experiences with Catholic Vacation Bible School. This program invites children to participate in fun and faith-filled activities by offering three exciting themes: Playing for God’s Team, Living in God's Kingdom, and Camping in God's Creation. Crafting Faith: 101 Crafts to Help Kids Grow in Their Faith
by Laurine M. Easton Loyola Press, 2008 Easy and exciting crafts that are explicitly connected to Scripture, liturgy, church year, and discipleship. Every craft includes specific bible verses or a faith-sharing opportunity that encourages spiritual thinking as kids cut and glue. |
Arts and Crafts from A to Z
by Mary Kathleen Glavich, SND. Twenty-Third Publications, 2013 This very useful and practical comprehensive resource is jam-packed with art and craft ideas that can bring faith to life. From simple to challenging, these projects can reinforce any faith lesson for any age group. |
Leading Young Catholics into Scripture: Fun and Creative Ways to Bring the Bible to Life
by Mary Kathleen Glavich Twenty-Third Publications, 2010 From dramatization to creating scriptural art, from playing Bible games to motions in response to Scripture, from choral reading to scriptural prayer, all the activities described here are easy to carry out, involve the whole child and nurture creativity as well as love for Scripture. |