I’m so excited that Group went with Alaska for our setting this year. What an amazingly beautiful state! And the wildlife that surrounds you everywhere you turn makes for an exciting adventure. I can hardly wait to set the scene for the kiddos during VBS! I’m envisioning mountains and rivers, moose and bears, eagles and sea planes…and we can’t forget the Northern Lights! While many decorating items can’t be shared in a “file,” I’m doing my best to share my ideas and any files that I have here on this site.
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.
NEED TIME SAVERS? CLICK BELOW TO SEE SOME THEMED OPTIONS FROM AMAZON.
Silhouettes are an easy way to provide some bang for buck. Dollar Tree has some tablecloths that look suprisingly like the Northern Lights. My plan is to line the walls of one of our hallways with the tablecloths. Then I’ll create the scene with silhouettes. The nice part of this decor is that all the silhouettes can be made in advance by volunteers. We’ll tape up some black paper, use a projector to enlarge the silhouettes, and simply trace and cut.
These are just some samples of the images in the pdf file below. There are more than 40 pages of images for you to choose from if silhouettes are in your decor plans. You are welcome to the pdf file or you can feel free to access the Canva Template Link above to add more of your own silhouettes.
This is the paper I am ordering for the silhouettes. It’s more than I’ll need, but black paper comes in handy for so many other uses. For animals that are larger than 36 inches, I’ll just tape 2 sheets of paper together.
Full Disclosure: I don’t charge for anything on this site, but as an Amazon Associate, I may earn commission from qualifying purchases.
This is the Dollar Tree mylar tablecloth that I’ll be using for my backdrop. I ordered a case of 24 from the Dollar Tree website, but if your Dollar Tree carries them, you can also pick up the exact number that you need.
I love Group’s big Bible verse posters! They are printed on good quality paper with vibrant colors. We always order at least one set for our VBS. However, we also love to have the Bible verses up in our common areas and in every classroom to keep Scripture in front of the kids. Since it isn’t in the budget to buy multiple sets from Group, I always make some posters that can be printed on 11″ x 17″ paper. We are blessed to have a fabulous printer at our church, so I am able to print multiple sets to have around the building. The Canva Template Link and pdf file are available here to anyone who finds them helpful.
FYI: I made 2 different styles below (both are in the pdf and Canva link). One year I tried to add more pizzazz to the posters with a variety of fonts and unusual spacing…BUT…I discovered that the younger kiddos had trouble reading the verse. That pretty much defeats the purpose, right? So, I’m keeping the posters pretty simple this year and using one easy-to-read font. Of course, if you prefer to jazz them up, by all means hop on Canva and make them your own!
When Walgreens and CVS run their 70% off poster deals, you can get a 6′ banner for under $10. This is another printing option for posters on photo quality paper that are around 22″ x 14″ (versus printing on 17″ x 11″ paper). Here’s a high-quality png image that will work for banner printing (just click to enlarge it on your screen and then right click to save it as a png on your computer).
GROUP’S TRUE NORTH BIBLE VERSE POSTERS
Group’s Bible verse posters are 22″ x 34″ and are gorgeous! $14.99 really seems like a great price. I don’t know of anywhere I can have such large posters printed for $3 each. Click the image to go straight to their order form.
BIBLE POINT POSTERS
Nothing beats Group’s beautiful and colorful Bible Point posters, but our budget only allows us to buy one or two sets. We print these 11″ x 17″ posters to fill up space in hallways, stairwells, and even the restrooms! As always, I will honor Group’s copyright rules and only share files with their clipart removed. But if you are a Canva user, you can just pop those buddies in to make a poster of your own. For non-Canva users, I’ve provided the background as a jpg file below so that you can use any design program to add the buddies.
Here’s the Canva Template Link for the posters. You can simply add the Bible Buddies or get creative and further embellish the posters to make them your own!
Not a Canva user? Here are the jpg images that you can use in any design program. Just click to enlarge them on your device and then right click to save them as a full-resolution jpg image.
Need something even simpler to use? You are also welcome to use these posters that have alternate clipart. You can introduce these guys as Kody and Bruce’s cousins!
Here’s the Canva Template Link for all of these posters. They are sized for 11″ x 17″ but you can change the size and/or swap out the clip art for Group’s official Bible Buddies if you have the digital files.
BIBLE STORY POSTERS
Group makes big, beautiful Bible story posters that I encourage you to buy if it’s in your budget. Their artwork is gorgeous! If you purchased the digital resources and/or clipart CD, you have access to this same beautiful artwork for each Bible story. This enables you to make additional posters or pages for the kids with the same artwork that Group uses on their official posters.
On the Activities Resources page of this website, I have posted some Bible Story coloring pages. Here, I’m providing very similar pages that are in full color for posting (these are 8.5″ x 11″). I’m also posting some 17″ x 11″ posters that highlight the Bible story using those same images. Feel free to download or edit them in Canva.
Here’s the Canva Template Link for the color version of the 8.5″ x 11″ coloring pages.
So we have fallen into a tradition of alliterated crew names. I know, it’s pretty corny, but the kids actually seem to like it. For crew signs, I like to make something that adds to the decor without taking me a ridiculous amount of time to put together. Here’s what I’ve come up with this year. There are 30 animals in all. Like the idea, but not my adjectives? Need more than 30? No problem! The Canva Template links enable you to fully edit them, add to them, change pictures, etc. OR…you can simply download one of the pdf files below and use the ones that you need.
Our crews are divided into 4 colored groups that travel together throughout the day. Their crew number and color will be on the back of their crew sign.
For us, one set of the signs will be stationery in our sanctuary, marking where each crew sits for Sing & Play Peak and Compass Closing. My plan is to print the animal on one sheet of cardstock and print the crew number on another sheet of cardstock. I will tape a dowel to the back of the animal. Then I will glue the numbered cardstock over the dowel so that I have a back-to-back sign with the animal on one side and the crew number on the other. I expect it to take a volunteer about 5 minutes per sign to get them ready. That’s my kind of project!
We like our crews to carry a sign with them as well. For this I’ll ask Walmart or Home Depot to donate paint sticks (in the past, they’ve always been willing to give us enough). I’ll follow the same procedure with paint sticks between the two sheets of cardstock. This creates a nice, handheld sign for the crews to carry with them.
This Canva Template has all of the images in black and white so that you can print them on colored paper.
This Canva Template has a goldenrod background so that the pages can be printed in full color.
There are 2 pdf files available below. The first is designed for colored printing. The second is intended for black-and-white printing on colored paper (which is what I plan to do). Choose the file that works best for your needs.
Anna Vest came up with the brilliant idea of printing these smaller and attaching them back-to-back to a jumbo craft stick to have in her crew baskets. This file has the signs resized to print 4″ x 6″ in case you too would like a smaller version.
Here is a nice, multi-color pack that has enough colors for our elementary and preschool groups (we use 7 colors). I’ll save the black for something else since printing won’t show on it.
When we visited Alaska last summer, the absolute highlight for my daughter was meeting the sled dogs of one of the Iditarod winners and going on a summer “sled” ride. I just had to find a way to include sled dogs in our VBS plans for this year. With the preschool being Juneau’s Puppy Playhouse, this created the perfect place for more sweet puppies! I actually researched different types of sled dogs in Alaska and then selected one for each crew. Inspired by places and landmarks in Alaska, I gave each puppy an Alaskan name. If your preschool has 9 or fewer crews, you can feel free to use these crew names and signs for your Puppy Playhouse. After all, Juneau needs some friends, right? (I have plans for some dog sledding decor to add to the preschool area, so I’ll share more about that when I have it together.)
Just like our elementary crews, our preschool crews travel in groups by color. We give them the primary colors. Their crew signs will have their puppy on one side and their crew number/color on the other side (see the description on how I make the signs in the elementary crew sign section above). Note that the tent next to each puppy also matches the color of their VBS Group. If you prefer, you can print the black-and-white version of the crew numbers directly onto colored cardstock. Both versions are on the Canva link and the pdf below.
Feel free to make changes that work for you using the Canva Template Link to the left, or simply download the pdf file below.
Here’s are some printables to add an easy pop to your decor. These National-Park-style signs can be attached to a wall or, if you want to get fancy, mounted to make-shift posts around your building. There are 60 designs in all (although some of them just have the arrow reversed, so really more like 40+). The pdf and Canva Template Links are both available here.
More easy printables! These are made to print on 11″ x 17″ paper for some easy decor. There are 5 styles to choose from. 2 of them (Styles 4 & 5) are intentionally rectangular to save the step of cutting them out if you need something especially quick. The Canva Link has all the styles in case you want to change up any of the designs or add more of your own. There is a separate pdf file for each style available below.
You are welcome to download the pdf or access the Canva files for these silly Caution signs. There are 16 different designs. You may print them in full color, or I have also provided the blacklines with a white background so that you can simply print them on yellow paper or cardstock. The files come in 2 sizes: 8.5″ x 11″ and 11″ x 17″ (for larger signs). Both the Canva Template Links and the pdf files are below…
Use this Canva Template Link for 11″ x 17″ designs.
Use this Canva Template Link for 8.5″ x 11″ designs.
Sometimes we just need a bit of filler when we are decorating. Something easy, but fun. Here are some Fun Facts posters each highlighting an Alaskan animal. I’m not sure where all I will put them right now, but I plan to use them to fill in empty spaces. Maybe even in the restrooms! You are welcome to download the jpg (click the image to enlarge it and then right click to save it to your computer), the pdf (11″ x 17″ or 8.5″ x 11″), or access the Canva link to make your own edits.
I have found that the kiddos connect way better with all the animals in our themes than they do with the lovely flowers, pine trees, etc. Here are the same Fun Facts as the above posters in some coloring pages for the kids. These can also serve as an alternative to the posters above. If you don’t have access to an affordable way to print in color, print these posters and let the kids in your church color them. They will love seeing their own handiwork on the walls!
Who doesn’t love a good dad joke? VBS just wouldn’t be the same without some pun-filled fun! While these jokes may not have deep spiritual meaning, they do bring a whole lot of laughter and lightheartedness to the day. We love posting them around the building for everyone to enjoy. We also include them in our take-home booklets. Crews often flip to this page during snack time—it’s easily one of the kids’ favorite pages in our books!
During our amazing trip to Alaska last summer, I saw the coolest Trail Cam. A museum simply had the monitor set up and we could watch clips of the animals from a variety of cameras set up throughout the area. My mind went wild with the possibilities for VBS. What an easy piece to add to the decor! Our church has portable TV’s on carts (like the picture below). We plan to set one up in our entrance area near the Registration. Kids pass through there throughout the day. To cover the cart, I’m simply covering 3 sides of a box with a stone tablecloth and taping a “Trail Cam” sign to it. A laptop will run a loop of the 7-minute video I made in Canva that has all kinds of different Alaskan animals in the wild. So fun and SO easy! Here’s what our basic set-up will look like:
You can watch the video below. If you’d like to use it, just click the orange “Download” button below. You can also access it from Canva by clicking the template link. As always, feel free to edit it as needed! Note: The video is a huge file, so make sure you have a good internet signal when you download it.
I made this simple 11″ x 17″ sign to tape below the TV. We’re using the name of our church in ours, but “True North” is another great way to go. You are welcome to download it below or use the Canva Template Link to add your own church name.
Need tablecloths? Amazon has some great deals on these stone versions. Note: These are sized for 6 ft tables, but that’s a perfect size for covering the cardboard and/or covering boxes for some stone in other places. National Parks always have stone walls around! At the time of posting, these are less than $1 each! (You can also choose a smaller pack with fewer tablecloths.)
Wanna go with the wood look to be consistent with your Alaskan forest decor? You could cover your TV cart with these tablecloths for another cool look.
When Walgreens runs their 60% and 70% off sales, I love to think outside the box with banners. A 2′ x 6′ poster banner is often less than $15. I am ordering some “banner bears” that I can mount on cardboard with spray adhesive. This will be an inexpensive way to add some dimension with some free-standing bears that have some height to them. But they can also be used as is and incorporated into whatever backdrops and/or decor you are planning.
OK, so this one’s not a bear, but what an easy way to make a giant eagle to soar up high!
For easy uploading to Walgreens or CVS, click on the image of your choice below. Then right click on the larger image that appears and select “Save Image As” to save it to your computer. When you upload this “sideways” version to the Walgreens or CVS site, it will be sized correctly for a 2′ x 6′ banner. If you plan to use spray adhesive to mount it to cardboard or foam board, choose the “photo banner” option, which is a nice, heavy paper that glues well. Printing on vinyl isn’t necessary unless you plan to keep them for future years.
Here is the Canva Link that includes these images. You can always do an image search of your own to see if there are other images you like better. If you want some smaller bears or cubs, you can also put two images in one design and cut the banner in half after it’s printed. Gotta love bang for buck!
Cardboard People Brown Bear Life Size Cardboard Cutout Standup
If you’ve got the budget for it, this guy is heads and shoulders above my little banner idea (Literally! He is 87″ tall by 37″ wide!)
All the thematic decorating is so much fun! But in the end, what really matters is that our VBS week leads children closer in their relationship with Jesus. These posters can be printed and hung in multiple places throughout the building. I designed them with the idea that they could each stand alone, separate from the 2nd poster…OR you could hang them together for a coordinated look. There is also a handout size available if you’d like to include them in bags for the kiddos or, as we do, in a booklet you put together for each child (I like that the 2 sides of the pages look like they fit together).
Note: Depending on your region and your church’s personal preference, the color black is often replaced with purple. I have provided both options in the files below. Likewise, I’ve provided the Canva Template Link so that you can change the wording and/or add an additional color (like blue) if you prefer to present the plan of salvation differently. There are so many great ways to share Jesus!
The images below are sized for 16 x 20 posters. CVS and Walgreens sometimes run those on fabulous sales. To use them for uploading to a site like theirs, just click on the image to enlarge it. Then right click the large image and choose “save as” to save the png to your computer. This large file is high resolution so that it will print beautifully.
The images below are sized for 11″ x 17″ posters. We are blessed to have a fabulous printer at our church, so we can print these inhouse on a dime. They can also be printed at local printers or places like Staples and Office Depot. The pdf is below the images.
Kugliwa 1400 Pcs Plan of Salvation Bracelet Bulk Religious Craft Kit Wordless Faith Bracelet Clear Red Black Green Yellow White Beads for Christian Bible Teaching
THANK YOU beyond words!!! I am only paid for a few hours at our church, but spend WAY more time prepping for VBS! You have just saved me HOURS of work! THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing what you have done!
I can’t agree more with the previous comments! We are all so blessed by your generosity to share your work with the rest of us! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
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