What a gamechanger! A couple years ago we introduced Adopt-a-Prop as part of our VBS prep. Basically, we came up with a list of projects and the required materials and we invited our congregation to select something to work on at home. The response was phenomenal!
The obvious benefit was spreading out the projects among many people instead of relying on a handful of us to craft the projects. But something much bigger happened. When people became personally invested in creating a piece of our set, they became personally invested in the mission of Vacation Bible School. Want to ratchet up the enthusiasm for VBS? Give Adopt-a-Prop a try!
A few tips from our experience along the way:
- Have projects of varied skill levels. You want uber simple projects (like cutting out images)…fancy, complex projects (like building a sunken ship or submarine)…and everything in between. This allows folks to select a project that fits their interest level, ability level, and schedule.
- Use a variety of mediums—paint, fabric, paper, wood—allowing everyone a project in their comfort zone.
- Don’t pressure people!!! I cannot emphasize that enough. The quickest way to kill enthusiasm for your VBS ministry is to make people feel obligated to participate when that is not their heart’s desire. Remember, God has called some folks to other ministries besides our beloved VBS. Be OK with that.
- Consider whether or not to provide the supplies. For us, this varies by project. If I’ve asked people to cut out pictures, I need to provide the pictures. If I suggest they attach a loofah sponge to a skewer, it could go either way. In our case, we initially provided all the materials for every project. Then I discovered that many people were happy to find the materials themselves and add their own creative flare to their crafts. Now, I evaluate each project. If a crafting supply seems hard to find, I provide it automatically. Otherwise, I ask the volunteers to let me know which supplies they need from me. Many will need nothing…they’ll go buy the pool noodles and the tissue paper. They’ve got hot glue guns at home. They’ll dig through that box in their attic and find ribbons and tulle. Meanwhile, others will ask me to supply everything…NO problem! I’m happy to do that. For us, leaving it up to individuals has saved us some funds and time, and it has allowed for even more creative projects. You know your congregation. Many churches supply absolutely everything needed, and this is another great way to go. Consider your people, pray about it, and roll with whatever you think will work best for your setting. Next year you can always tweak it if need be.
- Be aware of projects that should have a hand-picked crafter/builder. The sunken ship for your main set. The giant coral reef that people will see as they enter your building. The whale that kids will sit in for their Bible Story. Not every project is best left up to any volunteer. You may find it best to personally ask skilled volunteers to complete projects that are the heart of your set or are more complicated. Not every project has to be included in Adopt-a-Prop.
- Invite people out to crafting days/evenings. Adopt-a-Prop does not have to entirely replace crafting together. Crafting events provide great fellowship and another opportunity for people to get excited about being a part of VBS. Consider an event for building the coral reefs by using the crafts made by the Adopt-a-Prop volunteers. Or having a paint day to splash paint on backdrops. And, of course, any of the Adopt-a-Prop projects could be shifted to a crafting evening instead.
Probably the most time-consuming component of Adopt-a-Prop is coming up with the direction sheets to give to the volunteers. So that we don’t all have to reinvent the wheel, I’ve made a bunch and am including them on this site in the “Directors” section. Please feel free to tweak them (especially easy if you’re a Canva user) and use any that will help you create your undersea adventure at your church.
If Adopt-a-Prop is already a part of your church tradition or if you opt to give it a try, please share your experiences in the Comments. We can all learn so much from each other!
One response to “Adopt-a-prop”
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I did this same concept this year. I just called them take home projects – we had them in our Narthex (foyer) as kits for people to take home. We purchased all of the supplies and make one sample and put the rest of the supplies in a bag. Often with just the link to a You-Tube video for someone to watch. That is how we made jellyfish, sea urchins, sea anemones, flower coral (from dollar store leis) and kelp from plastic table cloths). And we had schools of fish everywhere all over the campus – several volunteers cut out hundreds of fish silhouettes. One of our visitation team had the idea that they could take craft bags to some of our shut-in’s who are interested, so we are going to work that into our plans for next year. It was a great way to get more of the church involved in our VBS program.
Response
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I did this same concept this year. I just called them take home projects – we had them in our Narthex (foyer) as kits for people to take home. We purchased all of the supplies and make one sample and put the rest of the supplies in a bag. Often with just the link to a You-Tube video for someone to watch. That is how we made jellyfish, sea urchins, sea anemones, flower coral (from dollar store leis) and kelp from plastic table cloths). And we had schools of fish everywhere all over the campus – several volunteers cut out hundreds of fish silhouettes. One of our visitation team had the idea that they could take craft bags to some of our shut-in’s who are interested, so we are going to work that into our plans for next year. It was a great way to get more of the church involved in our VBS program.
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