FREE SonRock VBS Website Template

[poulon3140]

Last year I created a SonWorld Adventure Park VBS website template since Gospel Light did away with myvbs.com a couple of years ago. Mainly because of all of the problems I had with SonForce Kids version I just created my own vbs web site and eventually turned it into a template so other churches could use it.

Well I am back for another year sharing the template. Some of you have already sent me messages asking about it. Sorry... it took me a little longer than expected to get around to working on VBS this year.

If you used last years template (which from what I could tell was about 50+ churches throughout the world) this years version is nearly identical. There are some minor improvements but nothing major. I am making it available for FREE to anyone as usual. The reason I share this template is so you can have another tool to help kids and parents discover your VBS which in turn can lead to others Christ. I pray that it can be a valuable tool for your church.

The website offers online registration for both children and volunteers. A photo gallery and a fun 4 kids page where they can print off coloring pages among other items. 90% of the web site can be customized to your church with just basic word processing skills. The other 10% requires someone with decent computer skills or preferablly someone with some web editing experience.

I created the site using Microsoft FrontPage... if you are familiar or even remotely familiar with FrontPage editing the 10% of hyperlinks, email addresses and form properties are very simple.


If you would like to see the VBS site running live you can visit www.ccfhaz.com/vbs before your download the template.


Go to www.ccfhaz.com/pdfs/vbswebinstructions.pdf to download instructions on how to edit the site. If you have a "computer guy/gal" they can probably handle it.


You can download the template at www.ccfhaz.com/vbs/vbs.zip. (32MB)


If you do use the web site or any portion of the site please let me know by replying to this post. I would like to see how you end up using it.:)

1 Peter 4:10-11
10 God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God's generosity can flow through you. 11 Are you called to be a speaker? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then God will be given glory in everything through Jesus Christ. All glory and power belong to him forever and ever. Amen.
NLT

[poulon3140]

You may have noticed your VBS Radio on your SonWorld site is now playing the music for SonRock. There was a little bit of HTML code (that I missed before I published the original template) that tells your music player to get the music from my web site (www.ccfhaz.com). I just updated my VBS website... hence your music player is now playing the new music. No worries... you can update with the new template or just delete the radio from the SonWorld site.

This is one of the things I corrected in this year's version so this will not happen next year.

Again... ENJOY the template.

[TrinityJen]

The website looks great and I LOVE the header image. How did you make it?

Way to go!

[poulon3140]

I just took a bunch of the images from the Clipart CD and put them all together. The main background is from the "Wallpaper" folder.

The website looks great and I LOVE the header image. How did you make it?

Way to go!

[TrinityJen]

Super cute. I like who you added all the animals and the tents!

[Mari-Jo]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Our website is now up! www.stpeterknights.com/vbs09 (http://www.stpeterknights.com/vbs09) . I noticed last weekend the change in music on last years site before I read your posting. After a little investigation, I found and changed the html code and all is well. The archive is intact! Check out our site! Thank you for the template!

[poulon3140]

you're welcome.

[CEmom]

I'm so excited. We used your site last year and was hoping that you would do all that amazing work again. Last week I asked someone to do it but hadn't heard back but thanks to you we will have a site this year. I'll post it when we have it up and running but thank you for sharing.

Alissa

[poulon3140]

keep me posted...

[Robert Porter]

Dear user "poulon..."

I have made the major edits and published to our web site, http://fbcoakhill.org
I did not modify it too much, mostly specific info relevant to our church and dates.

I'm having trouble getting the music to play & I have to change the background color
of the forms to make the text readable. I also got an error on a selection field so I have to fix that as well. I should have it mostly debugged by the end of this week.

If you have a suggestion about the music player I would appreciate the help.

I did use my web host's "recalculate" feature to make sure the forms would submit properly, as I had discovered that requirement last year. When we start placing photos on the site I will have to enable our web password controls for that area or the site.


Regards,
Robert Porter
mailto:staff@fbcoakhill.org

[poulon3140]

Hi Robert,

Regarding the music player... This is one issue I had to correct from last year because everyone's music player was using the files from my web site. So this year version I made sure you would have to properly update the playlist.xml file to make sure the music files are playing from your site...

Check the playlist.xml file located in the music folder... make sure you are using the following path for each song... http://fbcoakhill.org/vbs_2009/music/

That should take care of it... If that does not work then let me know... you can email me directly.

[poulon3140]

What was the error on the selction field. Is that the same one as last year on the volunteer page? If so let me know so I can correct it in the template.

[Robert Porter]

I had forgotten to uncheck the disallow first selection (since I had reduced to only one option, I deleted also the "select one" field.)
Regards,
Robert

[Mari-Jo]

poulon3140- Check out our website again- I updated it with numbers that match our theme instead of the round ones from SonForce Kids! http://stpeterknights.com/vbs09

[poulon3140]

OK... If you could identify the numbers were from SonForce... then it's official. You are a VBS junkie! That was too funny. The web site looks really good.

Nice upgrades to the site! I like the memory verse and the music download page. I might have to use those ideas in next years version.

Great Job!

[Mari-Jo]

:-) This is my fifth year with VBS. I attended only ONE Vbs as a child! I love VBS, I guess I am a junkie! Thanks for your comments regarding the web site. Thank you again for creating the template!

[Home_mom_3]

Thank you for the awesome template! You saved us so much time and money:-) You can check out our page at www.mvbible.org VBS tab.

Sincerly,
Heidi Hurtado
Magic Valley Bible Church Twin Falls Idaho

[poulon3140]

Thanks for the link. It looks great. I always enjoy seeing how others end up using it!

If there are more of you out their using the site please be sure to post a link.

[pastoramy]

We are planning on using the website.

Quick Question:
When they do register (volunteers or kids), how do we get that information. We tried a couple practice ones and can't figure out where it comes out at.
Any help would be appreciated.

[Mari-Jo]

You can set up your web site to have the results emailed to you, if your hosting server supports this. Mine does not. If you yours does NOT support emailing results, open your private folder. The results should be in there. This can be customized to be put into an excel file or a text. I do this through Frontpage.

[poulon3140]

This answer is assuming you are using FrontPage to edit the site.

Before you follow the steps below... Make sure you have "FrontPage Server Extensions" installed on your web site. If you don't the email feature will not work. You can call the company who hosts your web site and they can install the extension for you or if you can access your web sites control panel there usually is a feature where you can use to install them yourself.

OK once the "FrontPage Server Extensions" are installed do the following...

1. Open the web site using FrontPage.
2. Open the 'register.html' page.
3. Right-click anywhere on the form and select 'Form Properties'
4. Make sure the 'Send To' option is selected then add the email address where you want the result to be sent.
5. Click the 'Options' button.
6. Select the 'Email Results' tab.
7. Type in the same email address as before. (you have to put it in 2 spots)
8. Click OK
9. Click OK again on the Form Properties box.
10. You may get a dialog box that says a whole bunch of stuff but at the end it says "Would you like to remove the e-mail recipient?". Be sure to click NO.

And that is the step by step process. Also see Mari-Jo's answer... she is correct too... just another option but you use the same steps as above you just specify the file information.

You will also need to use the steps above for the 'volunteer.html' page if you plan on using it.


Mari Jo... You are becoming an expert at this web site stuff. Maybe I should cut you in to this deal. I'll give you half of whatever I make. But since it is FREE don't expect too much.

You can set up your web site to have the results emailed to you, if your hosting server supports this. Mine does not. If you yours does NOT support emailing results, open your private folder. The results should be in there. This can be customized to be put into an excel file or a text. I do this through Frontpage.

[Mari-Jo]

You are so funny! For what it is worth, I have frontpage extensions installed but for some reason, my hosting provider is unable (maybe doesn't know how) to have the emails sent to me. I can set all the parameters in Frontpage to send it to an email address, but then an error box comes up telling me there is a problem. I had to call the hosting provider and that was my answer. I was bummed. Poulon3140- do you know a cheap hosting provider that has no problem with the emailing of form results?

[poulon3140]

Call Scott at SonServers.com (located in Nebraska). They have been hosting our web site for a LONG time... long before I got here. They only host christian web sites. Prices are very reasonable. They are a smaller company so it's nice to call and have someone actually pick up the phone. I HATE HAVING TO PUSH TEN BUTTONS JUST TO TALK TO ONE PERSON!

Tell him Chad at Christ's Church of Fountain Hills sent you... www.ccfhaz.com

Scott
www.sonservers.com
info@sonservers.com
(877) 560-1890


You are so funny! For what it is worth, I have frontpage extensions installed but for some reason, my hosting provider is unable (maybe doesn't know how) to have the emails sent to me. I can set all the parameters in Frontpage to send it to an email address, but then an error box comes up telling me there is a problem. I had to call the hosting provider and that was my answer. I was bummed. Poulon3140- do you know a cheap hosting provider that has no problem with the emailing of form results?

[poulon3140]

FYI... Mari-Jo... I am looking to upgrade to Microsoft Expression and be done with FrontPage for next years VBS web site. This will make the site not dependant on FrontPage. You can still edit it with FP but you will be able to edit with any web editing software. The site will not be exclusive to any specific web editing software.

At least that's the idea.

[Robert Porter]

You are so funny! For what it is worth, I have frontpage extensions installed but for some reason, my hosting provider is unable (maybe doesn't know how) to have the emails sent to me. I can set all the parameters in Frontpage to send it to an email address, but then an error box comes up telling me there is a problem. I had to call the hosting provider and that was my answer. I was bummed. Poulon3140- do you know a cheap hosting provider that has no problem with the emailing of form results?

I had a similar problem and talked to my web host. I had to "re-calculate" the web using some tools on my web host. Your host may be set up to do this for you, or you may need to learn how to logon and perform your own site maintenance.;)

Regards, Robert

[Mari-Jo]

You'll have to let me know how much of a learning curve there is with the new software. I have Macromedia Dreamweaver but I never use it because I can never sit long enough to learn it on my own. I can't afford to take classes to learn! If it is similar to FP, I might upgrade too!


FYI... Mari-Jo... I am looking to upgrade to Microsoft Expression and be done with FrontPage for next years VBS web site. This will make the site not dependant on FrontPage. You can still edit it with FP but you will be able to edit with any web editing software. The site will not be exclusive to any specific web editing software.

At least that's the idea.

[poulon3140]

It's different... not so much you could not figure it out. The plan is to make the site even easier to edit.

[connie313]

Hi Poulon!

Thank you so much the website, it looks great. I appreciate you allowing us to borrow your design. I had to make some minor adjustments since I used DreamWeaver to edit the site. I also changed the registration form design a little and used a software program I have to create the forms instead of the FrontPage formmail code.

Here's a link
www.mvconline.org/vbs09

[poulon3140]

Great Job with the site. I like some the changes you made to the form. Being able to add multiple children on a single form is nice. Thanks for posting your link.

[TrinityJen]

I still don't think I can use this templet, but I am going to use the design and wording. Thanks!

[Niki]

Thanks so much for the template. I opened the home page and there's a problem I don't know how to fix. There's a gap between the banner and the navigation bar. I opened in firefox and IE, both had the same gap.

Also, the page background color was different its #d6cdbb a tan color rather than the grey but I know how to fix that.

Any help would be much appreciated thanks.

I use NVU and also have GoLive. We can't afford anything other than free programs.

[poulon3140]

Can you send me link to the site so I can see what you are talking about?



Thanks so much for the template. I opened the home page and there's a problem I don't know how to fix. There's a gap between the banner and the navigation bar. I opened in firefox and IE, both had the same gap.

Also, the page background color was different its #d6cdbb a tan color rather than the grey but I know how to fix that.

Any help would be much appreciated thanks.

I use NVU and also have GoLive. We can't afford anything other than free programs.

[Niki]

I published the original file you offered. The gap has been removed, not really sure what happened there. The background color is still different. I kept the files in their own folder so to not get the style sheets confused.

I've read in many places that you should keep the inner pages of a website similar. I'm going to set up our kids camp pages using some of your work and some of the existing site. Once I get all the details for the camp I'll publish the pages.

Thanks again
Niki

EDIT - took the link off the site so deleted it here.

[poulon3140]

Thanks for the link. Sometimes it's better to see what is going on than reading about it.

OK... reagrding the background... from what I can tell is the original background in the template has been changed to a new color. The only issue with changing the background is... the space around the header image will not change. the reason is because the white space around the header is part of the header image. I hope that makes sense.

If you want the background around the header image to match the background you have chosen then you will need to edit the image using a program such as photoshop and change the image so the background of the image matches the background of the page.

If you open the header image in some type of photo editing software you will see the space around the image I am talking about.

The easist solution is to change the background back to the original setting. The other option is to edit the image so the space around the header image matches the your selected background.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you need anything else.




VBS Test (http://www.fbcholland.com/test/index.html)

I published the original file you offered. The gap has been removed, not really sure what happened there. The background color is still different. I kept the files in their own folder so to not get the style sheets confused.

I've read in many places that you should keep the inner pages of a website similar. I'm going to set up our kids camp pages using some of your work and some of the existing site. Once I get all the details for the camp I'll publish the pages.

Thanks again
Niki

[Niki]

I think I figured out what went wrong. On my computer I have a folder "Websites" for all the website stuff. Each site has their own folder inside. I was tweaking the style of the church's site so I moved a master copy of the style to "Websites". When I moved the VBS folder into Websites somehow the style in the Websites was being used. I placed VBS on my desktop and it worked fine, no inch gap between the banner and the navigation and the background was the correct color.

I can't find the style sheet inside the VBS folder. I didn't delete the zip file because I used that as the master copy. I looked in there and there's no style sheet.

I'm guessing because the pages have links to a style sheet it defaulted to the parent folder Websites for the style.css

It's odd, hope I explained it well.

[clintonkatie]

I can't find the style sheet (style.css) in the VBS.zip folder. Could you please either update it to include it or post it somewhere?

Thanks,

Katie

PS once our site is up I will post the link!

[poulon3140]

There is not style sheet for this site. All of the coding for style is directly in the HTML. There may be a reference in the code for a style sheet but it was probably automatically put in by the FrontPage editor. Although FrontPage does support CCS it wasn't one of its strong suits so I never spent the time to put one together.

Next years version of the site... I will be using microsoft expression web to create the site so there will be a style sheet and much better compliant coding. This should help "clean up" the coding and make it where the features, such as the forms, can be more universal and not dependent on FrontPage server extentions, etc...

I can't find the style sheet (style.css) in the VBS.zip folder. Could you please either update it to include it or post it somewhere?

Thanks,

Katie

PS once our site is up I will post the link!

[TrinityJen]

OK - This is what I have done to my existing site! I still have work to do and I need to see what I can do w/ Joomla and the extras.

http://trinitymilford.org/vacation-bible-school

Thanks!

[Niki]

Thanks for your help. You saved me a lot of time in doing all of this. I wanted to keep the same background color as the main site so it doesn't look like you're leaving the site. Does that even make sense? I should be in bed now..lol

Website (http://www.fbcholland.com/vbs/kids-welcome.html)

[SummerStreet]

FYI... Mari-Jo... I am looking to upgrade to Microsoft Expression and be done with FrontPage for next years VBS web site. This will make the site not dependant on FrontPage. You can still edit it with FP but you will be able to edit with any web editing software. The site will not be exclusive to any specific web editing software.

At least that's the idea.


Have you upgraded yet to Microsoft Expression. Our church is looking for a way to edit our web page from any computer without spending an arm and a leg. Does Microsoft Expression require you use them as your web host?

Thanks,

SummerStreet

[Niki]

Our church uses a free editor. It's nice because you don't need to be an expert with html to use it. Nvu. It's not perfect but its free. Just save your work often and keep originals of the files.

Here's the link (http://www.net2.com/nvu/)

If you need any help with your website let me know.

[poulon3140]

Yes we have moved to Expression Web... for all of our web development which includes our main site (www.ccfhaz.com). So next years version of the site will not be dependant on any specific web editing software. At least that is the idea.

We purchased a non-profit version of Expression Web from Genesis Technologies. You just have to send them a copy of your IRS 501(c)3 Certification Letter to show your church is a non profit.

Here is a link to Expression Web 2.0...
http://www.genesis-technologies.com/pubdetails.asp?ProductID=457041

This is a 5 license copy for basically the price of what anyone else would pay for one copy of the software. This way you can load up to as many as 5 computers. We also recently upgraded all of our PC's to MS Office 2007 and saved literally thousands by purchasing the non profit version.

If you are a church this is the only way to go when purchasing software.

Regarding your question about web hosting and expression web... You can post your site to ANY web host using expression web. If you do not have a web host for your church site or if you are looking for a new web host I would highly suggest www.sonservers.com. They specifically only work with Christian organizations.


Have you upgraded yet to Microsoft Expression. Our church is looking for a way to edit our web page from any computer without spending an arm and a leg. Does Microsoft Expression require you use them as your web host?

Thanks,

SummerStreet

[Tmblweed]

Hi poulon,

Thanks again for your awesome work! I recommended your programming skills to our webmaster at our church, and he used it for our VBS site last year:

2008 VBS Page (http://www.wlacbc.org/vbs2008/register.php)

Most likely, I'll recommend the same thing to him, as well. Once we get the enrollment up and running, I'll let you know and post a link!

Thanks again for your great work!

[poulon3140]

Your very welcome...

I was wondering if your webmaster would be willing to send me a zip file of your web site. I am looking to move away from the FrontPage Server Extensions for next years version of the VBS web site. I would like to look over the code and script files your webmaster used for your site. I was considering using php for the registration.

Hi poulon,

Thanks again for your awesome work! I recommended your programming skills to our webmaster at our church, and he used it for our VBS site last year:

2008 VBS Page (http://www.wlacbc.org/vbs2008/register.php)

Most likely, I'll recommend the same thing to him, as well. Once we get the enrollment up and running, I'll let you know and post a link!

Thanks again for your great work!

[Tmblweed]

Sure, no problem! Let me fire an e-mail to him. =)

[cskmac]

Thanks again for the wonderful, delightful website you have created!!
Thanks for sharing it with us for free and for making it so simple to use and to modify!!
I use Dreamweaver for web design and updates (okay, I don't design, I update and make tables....but).

Here's the link to the VBS section of our website..

http://www.resurrection-oakforest.org/vbs-2009/index.html

Pictures will be added later ... we still have 2 weeks until our VBS camp begins on July 13.
Thanks again.

Cathy (cskmac)

[poulon3140]

Thanks to all of you who have posted the web address for your VBS website. If there is anyone else out there using the site. I sure would like to hear from you.

In His Service,

Chad

[Mommylili]

Hello. I would like to try your template, but I'm having trouble downloading it. It is downloading as an unknow file type and I can't open it. Is that a problem on my computer? Or a bad file?

Thanks,
Mommylili

[poulon3140]

Hi. The web site is downloaded in a "zip" file. You need to unzip aka extract the "vbs.zip" file. This will copy the website onto your computer. If you are using windows xp or vista you can right click on the file and select "extract all". If you still cannot unzip the file you can go to www.download.com and download a free unzip software. That should take care of it.




Hello. I would like to try your template, but I'm having trouble downloading it. It is downloading as an unknow file type and I can't open it. Is that a problem on my computer? Or a bad file?

Thanks,
Mommylili

[jruckman]

Hi, Chad,
I PM'd you the other day to tell you we used your SRKC template because I doubted that everyone would care, but what I do want to publicly say is this: we've had over half of our registrations come in on this new website, many many of them from kids we've not seen before, and many of them kids whose "home church" designation on their registration indicates "none". Your website design has helped us reach new kids/ new families.
Stars in your crown.
Janet

[poulon3140]

Reading your message was like having a flashback. We expreinced the same results the first year we used the website.

The second year we saw a large increase in online registrations and overall registrations. Nearly 90% of the registrations were online.

We are now in our 4th year using the site and we see about 175 kids. Maybe 5-10 of our registrations are via the paper process and those are usually people who show up the morning of VBS. The first day of VBS used to be crazy trying to get all the late registrations organized.

You have really touched on the reasons I share the site. If it can be a tool to help share the message of Christ then it has served it's purpose.


Hi, Chad,
I PM'd you the other day to tell you we used your SRKC template because I doubted that everyone would care, but what I do want to publicly say is this: we've had over half of our registrations come in on this new website, many many of them from kids we've not seen before, and many of them kids whose "home church" designation on their registration indicates "none". Your website design has helped us reach new kids/ new families.
Stars in your crown.
Janet

[poulon3140]

Hi Everyone,

Just and FYI... If you want a copy of the VBS template you better get it now.

The template will no longer be available for downloading after July 12th, 2009.

The plan is to make some MAJOR improvements to next years template for 2010 SonQuest Rainforest VBS. So stay tuned...

I should have it up around late December to early January of next year.

[oscarchu]

Thanks for the VBS template!
Here's the link for my church's vbs website: http://www.truthchinesechurch.org/vbs2009/

I added a counter and a photo album of our VBS 2008. The registration page was changed to get the info my church wanted.

[momtoAAA]

I JUST "ACCIDENTALLY" STUMBLED ON THIS WEBSITE WHEN I WAS DOING A GOOGLE SEARCH - (WE ALL KNOW IT WASN'T BY COINCIDENCE - BECAUSE WITH GOD THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A COINCIDENCE). THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR VOLUNTEERING AND I LOVE ALL THE THINGS I HAVE READ.

I AM ACTUALLY THE FOOD COORDINATOR OF OUR CHURCH - SOUNDS FANCY, REALLY I AM IN CHARGE OF RECRUITING LOCAL STORES ASKING FOR DONATIONS SO WE CAN FEED THE CHILDREN DINNER (AND THIER PARENTS) 5 NIGHTS. HOWEVER, I DID OFFER TO VOLUNTEER WITH PUBLICITY. WE HAVE PROMOTED OUR VBS A GREAT DEAL (MORE THAN OTHER YEARS I WAS TOLD) - THE THING IS I WANTED PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO REGISTER ONLINE.

I DID NOT GET ON THE MESSAGE BOARDS UNTIL THE END OF JULY. I GUESS THE TEMPLATE FOR SONROCK KIDS CAMP WAS ONLY UP TO JULY 12TH.

ANYONE HAVE THE FILE THEY CAN EMAIL ME OR PM ME.

I DESPERATELY WOULD LOVE THIS FOR OUR CHURCH. OUR WEBPAGE IS VERY LIMITED (TAKE A LOOK) www.warwickAOG.com

Please, registering and having people look online what SonRock is all about is so much better. (I looked on other churches links - they are awesome).

My email is: prettyblueiizs@yahoo.com

or pm me and I will email you. You help in this matter is SO GREATLY APPRECIATED. And now that I know one will be coming out for next year, I will be looking for that too.

Have a blessed day!
Susan

[poulon3140]

Ok... let me just say... "I'm retarded"... :eek:

Each year I have to deleted the VBS template from our website during July because that is when we have our own VBS and our website gets a ton of traffic.

In doing so I did not realize my ONLY copy of the template was on our website. I thought I had a backup on our network but apparently I didn't. So now I do not have a copy my own template. :eek:

So please contact me ASAP if you still have a copy of the "vbs.zip" file you downloaded from my website and I can arrange with you to send it back to me.

I would like to begin working on a new template for next year and need I need a copy of my template to begin.

Thanks for your help!

[poulon3140]

Thanks to TrinityJen I got my file back... :D

woo hoo!

[momtoAAA]

We just started out VBS this week. Today is day 4. We do ours at night and this year feeding the children meals and their parents. Let me say, that in alone is a huge task. We fed 101 people yesterday and still had enough for another 2 nights. (baked macaroni). The problem is not having pre-registration.

This is my 2nd year ever attending a VBS with my kids, and last year I just jumped in and helped and this year, I felt that the Lord was leading me to do the Food Coordinating. I did not get onto VBS message boards until late July (not even knowing there were message boards). Now I am here to stay. LOL

However, I would love to get the online link for SonQuest. I know our VBS is not over, and we will be having discussions as to what worked, what didn't work and I can tell you that not knowing how many to cook for is the hurdle we need to work on. Your link will help us. Our Pastor doesn't get involved in the nitty and gritty of all the VBS (like meetings and such). He is available all week and does the skits with the VBS leader. So, when it comes to the days we are having VBS, he doesn't know the chaos at the registration tables. Having pre-registration would help tremendously.

So, with that said, I will be scouring the message boards for your link. And let me say, what a blessing and a tremendous help everyone has been on Gospel Light forums.

Thank you all who have helped me as well as others.

May you have a blessed day!
Susan