Greatest Hits VBS 2015

The Core team met yesterday to solidify the plans.  Despite a year of preparation, there are always details to address.  The Core team is deliberately small; this group helps trouble-shoot issues, matches jobs to volunteers, and weighs in.  VBS is three weeks away; yesterday, we went over the final plans. Two teens were present and their input is invaluable.  I like to bounce craft, game, and song ideas off them.  The teens will tell me if the idea is lame or not and have terrific ideas.  We decided to make simple draped tunics for each participant the children can color or add stickers, etc.  The two teens are going to used ribbon, felt, beads, and broken jewelry (bid by the pound from Good Will, incidently is where I bid on most of the fabric, too) to create belts to tie around the tunics.  We debated making customized belts at VBS; the issue is time invested making 50-75 belts.  A small VBS could allow participants to select fabrics for their tunics and create the belts during start-up or crafts.

I just held Boot Camp VBS at Holy Redeemer two weeks ago.  One issue is that the children need to be active, even during Prayer.  We are making an adjustment.  The kids are going to work on a prayer journal while John talks during Prayer, which for us is also Catechesis.  For example, while John talks about symbols in the day's Bible story, the kids are going to make stampers, paste stickers, draw, color, in their prayer journals.

I field-tested a photo booth at Holy Redeemer, which we are adding to our VBS.  I covered a free-standing clothes rack with camo fabric and a flag.  We had Army props available.  None of the kids were inclined to dress up.  A volunteer acted as photographer and we developed the prints using a Canon Selphy printer, also bid from Goodwill.  I am going to set up a simple photo booth outside the hall.  The kids will make props during start-up.  We will see if they like the idea!  In any case, I am dragging all of my materials to Church, Sunday to set up the staging area so we can plan the props.  My friend, Marisa, is a genius with design.