VBS: Write Thank-you Letters!

 Thank-you letters are something I take for granted.  My husband, Rob, and I led Faith Camp.  We had the children write letters to Fr. Will for his help during Camp.  (It was a form of a spiritual bouquet, too.  We prayed for him right before we wrote letters and made a large tissue flower.)  Before we moved to the Quantico area, we were members of a church in West Virginia.  We solicited donations for VBS.  The children wrote thank-you letters and drew pictures for our benefactors every year.  I think thank-you letters are a type of mini service project for kids.  Make tissue flowers to go along with the letters!

VBS: Saint Guessing Jars

 Have you heard of Saint Guessing Jars?  Kids guess the number of treats in the container.  Here, here, and here are links for labels and guessing sheets.  We folded up guesses.  There were over 90 children attending VBS this past June at our church.  We gave away two jars each day.  The kids made their guesses during Snack.  I used Fruit Loops for halos, pretzels for St. Bernadette’s, animal crackers for St. Francis, gold fish for St. Andrew, little bear cookies for St. Gall and alphabet cookies for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.  I didn’t use candy.  I was afraid a jar of candy would cause hard feelings in way cookies, cereal or crackers won’t.  

Initially, we counted all of the Fruit Loop halos in the jar.  The problem was that there were 587.  Instead, we used the nutritional information for the count.  A bag of Goldfish has six servings with 55 pieces in a serving, the total is 330.  Done.  The guessing jars were a big hit!

VBS: What do you give the children?

 I help with VBS at our church.  The children get a t-shirt with the logo.  Additionally, they get bags and travel mugs from Dollar Tree.  The kids can design the insert.  Last year I commissioned a young friend, who is a graphic artist, to design the insert for the mug.  

The bags vary.  For years, I sewed simple drawstring bags.  Dollar Tree has drawstring bags.  I order the travel mugs well in advance and have them shipped to the local store to avoid shipping fees.  Temu has the same bags for about $1 each, with more choice in colors. You can buy large quantities for even less, in one color.

Otherwise, the kids take home prayer cards and things they make.  Next year, we are doing a sport’s themed VBS; we might give them wrist bands.  Evaluate the crafts or activities.  Don’t subtract from the program, but add.  Sometimes the craft seem too flimsy, such as coloring a paper band for a water bottle.  Add a craft.  Last year the kids painted peg dolls.  This past June the made wooden plaques.  The children at the Faith Camp made tiny Mass kits and painted wooden frames to make icons.  These crafts are costlier but have more substance.  The kids can tell the difference.   The kids almost expect a bag and t-shirt, which is fine.  Avoid trinkets and invest in crafts.  

What about props for VBS or Faith Camps?

 I think a few props go a long way.  During VBS and Faith Camp, I used a large red bin for skits.  The bin was a most, a boat, and a mountain.  We waved a large, colorful beach towel to simulate waves. The altar is a box in the classroom.  I bought a doll, covered her in tulle, and added a cross, rosary, tea candle, and holy water bottle.  All the flowers are from the dollar store.

 I sewed miniature vestments; Rob fashioned a stand from a piece of scrap wood, tape, and PVC pipe.  

My costumes were similarly simple.  I bought a set of Angel wings and a halo on clearance after Halloween.  The gown is a yard of white cloth with a hole for the neck, tied with a piece of tulle.  Every single, little girl needed a change to be an Angel.  I bought a tiara at the same Halloween clearance.  I use two pieces of blue fabric with a Tull strip to fashion the Blessed Mother. The kids dressed up; we prayed the Angel of God and Hail Mary prayers.

We watched VeggieTales during Snack every day during Faith Camp.  I bought used figures and play sets.  The kids rearranged the toys often.  

The kids colored Saint Banners, which we hung, the first two mornings.  These looked festive both weeks.  Kids like to see their own art as decorations.  I will tape craft samples to the whiteboard, too.   But, otherwise, I set up the perimeter of the room with boxes of materials.  Function was more important than fancy props.  It’s the content of the program that comes through more than expensive props.

Day Ten: Joyful!

 Ten joyful children completed Faith Camp.  Today, we all went to Mass, prayed, talked about Blessed Carlo Acutis and his website, Eucharistic Miracles.  The children painted wooden frames and modge-podged calendar images inside.  We saved a box of religious calendars left over after January.  Volunteer confirmandi cut out images.  The children finished paining more little saints.  I gave the kids little saint dolls, and we played Saint Bingo.  We also knocked down Goliath.  I am so grateful for two weeks of joyful instruction.

Day Nine

 Today was all about the Blessed Mother.  I was inspired by the Paint by Sticker series.  Instead I used different colors of painter’s tape.  We sewed little pocket shrines, wrote a letter with a spiritual bouquet for Fr. Will, and painted saints.   Here is an inspiration photo for the pocket shrine.  The kids just sew a running stitch around the edge, decorate the outside with Gen stickers, and pin religious medals to felt. We used these instructions  to make tissue paper flowers.  Even the boys liked the flowers and sewing. Take a look!

Day Eight: David and so much more!

 Today was jam packed.  Two of the teens led lessons on David and Armor of God.  We had a few props! Armor of God is here.  My neighbor made me the dress for the Assumption.  It was such a wonderful gesture.

The kids made shields.  The shields are cardboard.  I type verses and titles into labels to print.  It’s easier for the kids to do crafts with simple stickers.

 

 The kids made shields catapults instead of slingshots.  Catapults are always a hit.  They shot ping pong balls down the hall.

We did Stations, went to Confession and were enrolled in the Brown scapular.  We came back and finished their grottos.  We did do a little review of Lourdes.  I showed the kids a special dress many people across Africa wear for pilgrimages or special occasions.  The kids want me to wear the dress.  I plan to wear it to Mass on Friday.  We had such a wonderful morning.  BTW I baked the Sculpey clay Marian figures yesterday.  Water soluble markers work well on clay.  There is no need for tempera paint.