New ideas for VBS 2008?

[Christy]

What new things are you thinking about doing this year for VBS?

Here are a couple of ideas from our VBS editors:

Have a center where kids can design their own theme park
A new mission project
Coffee cart where parents are welcomed every day
Hold a preview event to build enthusiasm

Click here (http://www.box.net/shared/lfe43w04k8) to download more information on holding a Preview Event - including ideas for activities and snacks!
And as a bonus, click here (http://www.box.net/shared/9b7j1zmgck) to download a modifiable version of the Preview Event Pass from the SonWorld Adventure Director's Guide CDROM!

[jruckman]

We've been talking about setting up a "Lost parents" booth (like at the amusement park) for parents who drop kids off, but are either reluctant to leave for some reason or simply have nothing else to do for the morning and are not already involved in the production of VBS. We're talking about having it somewhere on grounds yet not where the kids will see the parents when the kids are moving between activities. We hope to have some of our evangelism team "staff" the booth to welcome parents with beverages and snacks and (hopefully) provide a greater reach out to some families who are not already part of our family.

We're also doing the skit live this year for the first time. The cast members are soooooo excited! Their enthusiasm is enormously contagious.

Thanks everyone for the loads of great ideas!
Janet

[lavrn]

I would love to hear ideas for a SonHarvest preview event-- we have never done one in the past, and want to this year to build interest and get more kids-- thanks!
Lisa

[michele b]

Here are some ideas that have been successful for us. We have a store in the snack area each year. Of course this year it will be the General Store. We have toys, religious items and knick knacks for the kids to buy throughout the week. They can buy a 7, 12, 17, or 23 point gift. They get a point from each teacher (Music, crafts, games, Bible1 and Bible 2) each day for being respectful to their teacher and others and for participating in class. Monday they look and plan how they will spend their points. Sometimes during the day on Tues. they have enough points to buy a 7pt gift if they would like. I'm surprised to see how many kids take the chance on the 23 pt gifts since there are only 7 gifts in that level and it is first come first serve. Everyone seems happy with there choices.
We try to have a special person or event each year during VBS. For Son Treasure Island we had a hula dancer come and teach a dance to the kids in the music room one day. For Kingdom of the Son (Safari) we had an expert balloon designer make each child the animal of their choice. Last year we had a water slide as our game (it is usually 104 degrees here in Tucson when we have VBS). The kids loved it. This year we are having a cowboy come and show rope tricks for the kids.
We love Gospellights curriculum. We use it every year. Thanks GL.
michele b

[Judy N.]

One of the new things we are doing this year is during our "opening time" in our santcuary. We will rearrange our pew chairs and create a center aisle. Then each day we will start off with a promenade down the grand concourse (center aisle) to Celebration Square for our opening singing and skit time. It will be like the park is opening for the day. We will use some youth helpers the first day and then recruit a different class to lead the way each day. I purchased sets of 2 per pack pompoms in multiple colors at Dollar Tree and we also have some wands and flags kids can wave. We will march in on the "Choose Jesus" song. I found a couple of light-up snare drums that will add extra excitement.

[AGHnurse]

I am new to the VBS directing world this year, and we are doing SonWorld Adventure Park. One of the new things I am doing this year is the preview event, which we are calling Adventure Park Kick-Off. I am having the bouncy moonwalk, big slide, ski ball, ring toss, cotton candy booth, popcorn booth, and shaved ice booth. (Kind of like going to an amusement park) I am very excited because we are a small church, and this is something different for us. Please pray for me in my new endeavor that it is a success for all.

[firstassembly08]

This is my first year as VBS director after being the the music teacher for 15 years plus, and I would like to thank Gospel Light and all of you for the wonderful suggestions and downloads, may god bless you, our VBS Kickoff is tonight 6/15, please pray that our church and community kids....."Choose Jesus"

[AGHnurse]

Hope your Kick-off goes great. Let this other new director know how it goes; ours is next Sunday, the 22nd. We are also doing SonWorld! Any ideas would be wonderful.

[firstassembly08]

Hey, our "Kickoff" was great...we have served supper each night this week, so on Sunday at our Kickoff, we asked our church family to donate any type of finger foods, chips, etc, the church supplied a ice cream sundae bar...it went great, we had so much food. The kids had a great time, this week has been a blast, tonight is pizza night. Tommorow night is commencement with a "Sonworld" Carnival afterwards, we have had 400 hotdogs donated, God is a good, all the time. Hope your kickoff is great!!!