Theme park/carnival theme

[Tina]

As I work with the SunWorld Adventure Park theme, I've been pondering the folowing: The promotional materials show rollercoasters and other fun theme park activities, none of which will be at Vacation Bible School! Children take things so literally, I wonder if any of the children will feel let down when they get there and see it's not a theme park after all.. just a theme park "theme." We're planning spectacular decorations and really fun games, and a great Bible story time along with all other activities, but, really, it's not going to be anything like an amusement park.

On the other hand, I know children have great imaginations. I just wanted to know if anyone else has pondered this issue.

[MissElle]

Our kids really seemed to enjoy the theme. Their imaginations helped with setting the stage. Our kids particularly enjoyed the kickoff, when they got to sit in the "roller coaster car" made from cardboard and take pictures in front of the sky/track backdrop. It was really cute, and ended up being one of the highlights of the week.

It turned out great for us. By including elements such as prize tickets, carnival themed treats, etc., the kids won't be disappointed. They'll enjoy the elements of the theme you were able to bring in, and be that much more open to the messages we are trying to get across.

[brutgers]

yep......I've already fielded somequestions from some very disappointed kids when they found out that there wasnt really going to be a rollercoaster....at least not for them to ride... but that said we do have an outdoor waterpark with bounce house, snow cones, popcorn, & cotton candy...so hopefully they won't be too disappointed

[Tina]

and they confirmed they would be very disappointed to find there is no real roller coaster, etc... so I'm working on ways to do some really fun things in spite of not having a real theme park at our church! Thankfully, kids have great imaginations and we will have fun together.

Speaking of imagination, one thing I was thinking of doing during our opening assembly is asking them all to close their eyes and imagine they are on a ride (a different one each day - roller coaster, carousel, spinning teacups, etc) and guide them through it as they imagine it... for instance, "as the rollercoaster car starts moving, you hear it go clackety-clack, clackety-clack, and it's going up and up and up... and now it's getting slower, as it reaches the top, and now - throw your hands up in the air and scream - you're going wa-a-a-a-ay down, down, down, and then you're upside down, and your tummy lurches and you think you might be sick, but then you don't get sick and suddenly you're back on the ground and it's over! And you made it and you weren't even scared!" Something like that. And emphasize how this kind of rollercoaster is great because you can get on it even if you're scared of real rollercoasters, or even if you're not tall enough to get on the rollercoasters at other places you've been, and at the end your tummy doesn't feel sick at all, etc.

I noticed the reproducible music CD has sound effects on it. I'm waiting to get mine in the mail and am excited to see what it has on it - perhaps a roller coaster sound, a merry-go-round type song, etc.? I hope so.

[Teresa Peters]

Tina,
You have a great imagination yourself! I would love to hear the explaination on the other rides!!!!

[Josh1]

I don't know about this. I think it was a great idea of Gospel Light to have an Amusement Park theme but if any kid was used to VBS they would know that there wouldn't be roller coasters. If your VBS budget allows maybe you could have an inflatable or something like that. When I was a kid at VBS, they had an inflatable every year.
God Bless,
Josh

[Mari-Jo]

Unfortunately, inflatables cost around 300 dollars to rent- for the day in my area. Or you could buy one for more! I wish we had VBS Fairy Godparents to wave magic wands!

[kimbak]

Last year there were some boys who were excited to come because they thought they would play spy all day. Even thoout we really didn't have many actual "secret Agent" activities, they had a blast. I think it will be the same with any theme you do.

[kidsmatter]

I'm not much into theme parks, so I was disappointed when I saw this year's theme. But the stories, daily choices, and memory verses were all so great I didn't want to go with any of the other VBS options out there.

I coordinate VBS's across my province, and have had as many as 24 VBS's in one summer. This year we're doing less than half of that, and I'm wondering if the theme has something to do with it. It's unfortunate though, because the theme is just a tool to help us teach kids God's Word. I remember having a ton of fun at VBS and learning many great things, but I couldn't tell you what the themes were. I wonder if the themes are more for the adults - to help us get excited about VBS and help us have fun teaching the kids ;) Anyhow, I'm really looking forward to seeing next year's curriculum. The theme looks great!

[houseparent]

This thread gave me the idea that if you can't have a real roller coaster, how about a simulator like they have at malls. Although you can't have the hydraulics that make it move, you can create a basic simulator for almost nothing.

Here is my idea:

borrow a projector, the kind that connects to a computer that people use for presentations, a large screen, a computer, and speakers.

Get a copy of "No Limits Roller Coaster Simulation" (http://www.nolimitscoaster.com/100php/index.php?source=ch) http://www.nolimitscoaster.com/100php/index.php?source=ch I got the full version, but the have a free demo version.

Find a small room that can be darkened or use tarps to build a booth, set up a few rows of chairs like they are a coaster car. and put a set of rope lights or a night light or two to give a little light inside the room.

You could then bring in small groups of children, close the door, turn down the lights, and run the simulation.

(I have spent the last three days, trying to figure out a way to make this work. I have searched for down-loadable Roller Coaster Videos, Dvds, I even got Roller Coaster Tycoon 3, and spent 4 hours messing with it's video function trying to get a simulation I could use. I got great video but NO sound. This morning I found "No Limits Simulator" and I think it will work best.

I think the kids will really have a blast with this.

[Alison from Australia]

Houseparent, this is great. It will be really easy to set up. Thanks for sharing this idea.