Hey VBS Directors! Kudos to you for taking on this amazing (and incredibly time consuming) ministry! I’ve pulled together a few resources that some of you may find helpful. Peruse below to see if you find anything on this page that will make your job a bit easier. Each of the resources below is available for download as a pdf file and/or image. In many cases, I have also provided the Canva Template Link so that you may edit the file to make it better meet your needs.
Please give me feedback regarding any issues with these resources as well as any additional resources you would find helpful.
ADOPT-A-PROP
Here you’ll find instruction sheets for 30 different projects that volunteers can do at home. Many include step-by-step instructions, while others invite the volunteers to use their own creativity to come up with the plan for their project. A Canva Template Link is available so you can make changes, add new ideas, etc. If you’d like to read my post about Adopt-a-Prop, click here.
Here’s an option for a simple flyer template that can be sent home each day. There are several versions, including options to drop in Group’s clipart in either Canva or your own design program. Each day has its own template with the Bible Point, Bible Verse, and Bible Story.
These daily slides give kids a taste of God’s amazing creation with videos of real-life Bible Buddies. If you use the Canva link, you can drop in Group’s clipart of Tad, Finnley, Fisher, Waylon, or Octavia too! Click below to see all 5 videos and download the PowerPoint that’s ready to roll on VBS Day 1!
These are designed to give the parents (or crew leaders) some meaningful conversation starters regarding the daily point and teachings. They can be emailed, handed to parents during pick-up, or sent home with the kiddos. We are including these in a booklet we put together that has some activities for each day.
Here are a bunch of underwater-themed nametags. Different strokes for different folks, so a variety of styles.
Use the PDF file below if you would like to print the labels and then write in the names. Nametags are sized for Avery 5395 labels, but they can also be printed on cardstock and cut apart.
Use the Word file below if you’d like to type in the names of your kiddos before printing. All of the nametag styles are included. Nametags are sized for Avery 5395 labels, but they can also be printed on cardstock and cut apart.
This is a box of 200 sticker labels, enough for 40 kids for the week. These labels work with the Avery 5396 templates above.
Adhesive Name Tag Stickers, 8 Labels per Sheet, 3 3/8″ x 2 1/3″ – 25 Sheets / 200 Labels – White Matte Finish Printable Badges for Inkjet/Laser Printers
Full Disclosure: While I am committed to keep everything on this site completely free, as an Amazon associate, I earn a commission on qualifying purchases.
As much as I love Canva, I get that it is not everyone’s cup of tea. Here are some flyer “backgrounds” that you can use in Word to simply add text for announcements, save-the-date etc. You can use them as-is or drop in the clipart that comes with your VBS program.
In case a Canva user wants to edit any of these, here’s the template link:
Download the Word document below to start editing.
Here is the Canva Template Link for all the black-and-white flyers with a vertical orientation.
SCUBA BIBLE BUDDY CARDS
Looking for an easy printable option for something to hand out each day? These business-size cards can be hole punched and added to a lanyard or carabiner. To honor Group’s copyright rules, this item is only available as a Canva Template since it wouldn’t be of much use without the Bible Buddy images. The story images on the back reinforce the Bible story as well. Winnie is a bonus with the ABC plan of salvation on the back.
Need a carabiner? Amazon has these 24-packs for $8. They also come in single color packs if you want to color code each group. Full Disclosure: While I am committed to keep everything on this site completely free, as an Amazon associate, I earn a commission on qualifying purchases.
Need lanyards? These are currently (as of posting) only $12 for 50. Nametags can be added as well as Bible Buddy cards (or School Life tags) if you decide to use them. Full Disclosure: While I am committed to keep everything on this site completely free, as an Amazon associate, I earn a commission on qualifying purchases.
If it’s in your budget, Group’s Bible Buddies are an adorable take-home item that you can give out during Sticky Scriptures each day. Some churches look for other options that are a bit more budget friendly. If you are a Canva user, circle buttons or circle stickers are one easy option. The Canva link here has the designs minus Group’s clipart. You can easily insert the Bible Buddy clipart and logo and/or further customize these to make them fit your needs.
For the least expensive option, here are some plain white printable stickers.
NextDayLabels – 2.5 Inch Round Labels – Round Sticker Labels for Printer – Matte White Blank Laser/Inkjet Printer Labels – Circle Stickers Printable Labels (25 Sheets, 12 Per Sheet, 300 Labels)
Vinyl stickers are the rage with kids these days. Another option is to give kids these stickers which are waterproof and can be used on their water bottles, school binders, etc.
120 Circle Stickers 3″ Round Labels 20 Sheets Waterproof Matte White Round Stickers Vinyl Sticker Paper Dries Quickly for Inkjet Printer
Full Disclosure: While I am committed to keep everything on this site completely free, as an Amazon associate, I earn a commission on qualifying purchases.
CREW SIGNS
We love to name our crews something fun and thematic. On top of that, we kinda have a tradition of alliterated names. Four or five crews travel together in a color-coded group. The colors are nice because we can spot right away that the crews are in the right place. We also assign each crew a number, which makes it easier to identify crews on paper (Dazzling Dolphins is a fun name, but Crew #4 is way easier on paper!).
For this year we are keeping our signs super simple. There will be a sign in our sanctuary that shows where that crew sits. Then each crew will have a sign to care with them, made simply by printing the posters below on card stock and then attaching the number side and the name side back-to-back on a painted paint stick.
Here’s the Canva Template Link if you’d like to modify the crew signs to better meet your needs.
FOLLOW-UP PHOTO FRAME
So how do we follow up with the kids from the community who come to VBS? That deserves a post in and of itself! I’d love to hear all of your ideas on that! One idea I have is to send the kids a postcard at the end of summer to invite them to come to our fall kickoff. How much better if we can make that an undersea-themed event! And better yet if the postcard bring back all the memories of the amazing fun the kids had at VBS. So I designed these postcards with that in mind. If we can make sure to get pictures of each crew so that every child is represented, I’d like to make these postcards on Canva so that each child will receive a picture with their own crew. The pictures below show where I’m headed with our postcards. I also made a different back to it in case we decide to hand them out to the kids instead of mailing them (although I’m really a big fan of snail mail for kids!):
Here’s the Canva Template Link if you’d like to drop in Group Publisher’s clipart and make these your own before dropping in pics of your crews.
If you’re not a Canva fan, I made another option for you. For these frames, you can just attach the 4″ x 6″ photo to the front after they are printed. If you plan to mail them, be sure to glue the photo down securely.
The png files below can be dropped into any Word processing or design program as your background (just click on the image you want so it appears large on your screen and then right click to choose “save image as”). Text boxes work great to add text over the top of an image…OR…even better…you (or the crew leaders) could hand write a little note to each child! I know, that requires a high bandwidth, but it would be unbelievably meaningful if you could pull it off!
Here’s a downloadable pdf file if you’d like to just print and write on the cards:
There are so many different directions to go with what kids wear during VBS! Our church has a tradition of matching t-shirts, but I also love the option of having crazy dress-up days for fun. Group sells cute t-shirts, but we like to have our church name on ours. We’ve had good success with Shirtwell.com (shirts for around $5 each and we were happy with the quality). Here are some designs we’ve played with.
Here’s the Canva Template Link where you can customize designs to have your church name. Be sure to download designs in png format and check the box for the transparent background.
Prefer to have a more generic design…maybe even one that can be reused year after year? Here are some other ideas (also in the Canva file above):
DRESS-UP DAYS IDEAS
Not every church is up for getting t-shirts for all the kids. As fun as matching shirts can be, they are a big expense. Another option is to go with themed dress-up days. As a mom, I always prefer that dress-up days are kept relatively simple so we’re not running to Target at 10 p.m. the night before a camp day! And, of course, the simple themes should enhance the kids’ experience rather than distract them from what’s important. Here is a sample with some ideas.
Feel free to use the Canva Template Link to make it your own and change the dress up to the themes that work best in your context! (You can update the clipart to Group’s Bible Buddies and logo while you’re at it!)
PRESCHOOL READINESS FORM What is the youngest age we should allow to come to VBS? That’s a question many a director has grappled with…prayed about…discussed with their team and pastor…and then grappled with some more! We love our little ones and want them to be exposed to the message of Jesus as young as possible. We also know that families with multiple children want their preschoolers to be able to participate. Yet volunteer force and resources are a barrier for some churches to be able to provide VBS to younger children. Further, we all know that kids that aren’t ready physically, emotionally, or socially will struggle at VBS and can also hinder other children from learning. Bottom line…there is clearly no right or wrong answer to this question. Pray…consider…pray…discuss…pray some more…decide. You’ve got your answer for what’s right for your church!
For those of us who do run a preschool VBS—especially those of us who allow 3-year-olds to come—here is a form you might consider using or modifying. This kindly sets the standards for parents, making it clear what the expectations are in terms of a child’s social and physical readiness to come to VBS. Feel free to download it as is, access the Canva Template to change it, or simply to retype what works for you, changing what doesn’t. Helping parents to think through their child’s readiness can be a win-win for everyone.
VOLUNTEER ICEBREAKER Looking for something fun to break the ice at your training meeting? Here is a Scuba version of the classic Signature Scavenger Hunt game. Give everyone a sheet of paper, set at timer (based on your schedule), and watch everyone mix and mingle as they try to find 12 people who have done something on their list. Have fewer than 12 people? No biggie! Just let people sign the sheet twice. There’s a fun, colorful version as well as a more printer-friendly version.
Need to make edits to fit your context and your volunteers? Here’s the Canva Template Link for you. Like it as is? The pdf is downloadable below.
Banners make a great splash for a small buck! We have one at the road (4′ x 8′) but we also use them inside for our registration area and sometimes elements of our decor. Walgreens and CVS (no, I’m not an affiliate) run unbelievable deals on 2′ x 6′ and 2′ x 8′ vinyl banners. Most weeks a sale is running, usually ranging from 40% off to 70% off. The 70% sales are few and far between, but it’s pretty common to catch 50% or 60% off. Depending on which size you want and which sale you catch, you can typically get a banner for $15 to $25. The vinyl isn’t as thick as some of the other companies offer, but lots of churches have shared that they use the vinyl banners outside for long periods of time with great success. Here are some sample banners that you can easily put together in Canva, Publisher, InDesign, etc.
Here’s some help starting a 2′ x 6′ banner. You can use the images below for a backdrop in any designing program. If you’re a Canva user, you are welcome to use the Template Link as a starting point and then you can make it your own!
Prefer a 2′ x 8′ banner? Here are a few starter backdrops for those as well.
Here was a fun little banner I did to highlight the learning that will take place all week. These pictures are for inspiration! You are also welcome to use the Canva Template Link if you’d like a starter to recreate something similar.
This one can be used as a starter if you’d like to recreate something in another design program.
CREW LEADER RECRUITMENT BANNER
With volunteers signing up a bit slower this year, we created this visual to help our congregation to see how each crew leader volunteer enables even more kids to come to VBS. Sometimes people think they need a special skill set to serve as a crew leader. Our desire is to show them that absolutely anyone who knows how to be nice to kiddos can serve to direct them through the teaching stations. The concept of this banner is that each time a new crew leader volunteers, they will add 5 more fish to our banner. We’re hoping some enthusiasm builds as we watch our registration number cap increase with each new volunteer! Download the jpg files below. By the way, if you aren’t aware, both Walgreens and CVS regularly run incredible sales on their 2′ x 6′ banners (sometimes 70% off)…you might want to check it out!
Need to change something up or add the Group Scuba logo or buddy clipart? Here’s the Canva Template Link for the banner.
Prefer a different look for your fishies? Here’s the Canva Template Link for the fish.
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