Hey VBS Directors! Our favorite time of year is coming up! Of course, we all know that this amazing ministry is also nothing less than incredibly time consuming. I am working to pull 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. Keep checking back as most items will be posted in late winter/early spring. 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.
Here you’ll find instruction sheets for 20 different projects (more coming!) that volunteers can do at home. 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 are a couple flyer ideas to get you started. The Canva template can be edited with your info and Group clipart if you’d like it included. I’ve included the black-and-white printer-friendly version for those of you who want to avoid all that pricey ink. This can simply be printed on colored paper. Both of these are sized for a half sheet with a 1/4″ border.
The horizontal version below keeps it simple if you just want to put out the teaser without all the details. The Canva template won’t have the Group logo (so we can honor their copyright rules), but you can easily insert it if you’re a Canva user.
You can download the True North Logo here (just below the description of the content for all 5 days):
Here’s one more for ya! If you slit this one just above and below the bear’s paw, you can insert a lollipop (or any candy on a stick) for a fun little giveaway. Or skip the lollipop and just use the flyer as is. I’ve sized these 2 ways so choose the Canva Link that works best for you
This one is 8″ x 5″ (or 2 to a letter-size page with a 1/4″ border around each flyer)
This one is 5″ x 3.75″ (or 4 to a letter-size page with a 1/4″ border around each flyer)
NOT A CANVA USER? Here’s another option. Download this png or the Word Document below and you can edit right over the top of the image.
These are super handy for your trainings and to give out to volunteers for the week of VBS. Since we need to honor Group’s copyright by limiting our use of their clipart to our own churches, I’ve provided the Canva template for you to add in the Bible Buddies and logo on your own. The rest of the work is done for you.
Not a Canva user? Download the jpg below and then use your own program to insert Group’s clipart.
VOLUNTEER THANK YOU CARD
These cards are a lovely gift to hand out to your VBS volunteers. We like to give them out at our VBS training, but they also would work as a thank you when a new volunteer signs up or as a little gift during your VBS week. I love the scripture encouragement on them! Feel free to use the Canva Template to edit with Scriptures of your choice, the actual Group True North logo, etc.
This version is my favorite! Amazon has wood branch pens (or pencils if you need a cheaper option) that are just the right size to attach these cards. Just print them out on cardstock, use a couple glue dots, and you’ve got a lovely gift for the volunteers who are pouring their time into the kiddos in your church and community.
Of course, I had trouble deciding on a design, so I’ve posted a bunch of them here so you can choose what works best for you. The Canva file and the pdf have all the versions (with and without space for a pen/pencil so the card can be used whether or not you choose to add the gift).
This pen makes a great addition to any of these cards and is also a cute little gift for the volunteers. I love that it works well for both men and women as well as the teens.
Gullor 10PCS Vintage Handmade Wooden Ballpoint Pen, School Supplies, Stationery Gift
Here’s a little motivator for your recruitment table. There are SO many reasons that it’s worthwhile to volunteer for VBS! This just lists a few…enough to spell out “TRUE NORTH.”
Use the Canva Link or download a blank image if you’d like to add Group’s official logo. Or you can just download one of the versions without it.
If you want a little giveaway to go with the card, a multi-colored pen (think “Northern Lights” or a compass with a scripture on the back make nice options. But the card can also stand alone. No purchase necessary, for sure!
Here are a couple gift options if you like the idea of a giveaway with the page.
These compasses have scriptures engraved on the back. You can just punch a hole in the Volunteer page and tie them on with a little bow (best to print on cardstock if you do this).
36 Pcs Engraved Bible Verses Compass in Bulk,Christian Gifts for Easter, Fathers Day,Religious Hiking Compasses,Vintage Church Keepsakes for Men Women Sunday School,First Communion
What’s VBS without some great puns? And what better use for them than thanking your volunteers. This year I made two different style cards, so you can take your pick!
We have done these cards a couple different ways. For a couple years we gave a “punny” card and treat to each volunteer every day during VBS. We made them in advance so they were all ready to go. The volunteers enjoyed the simple token of our appreciation.
Another year we didn’t have someone who could be dedicated to handing out treats each day, so we added them to our volunteer snack room. I bought a couple document frames at Dollar Tree, and each day, we changed out a couple of these posters and the corresponding treats. If your VBS is like ours, volunteers don’t have much (if any) “free” time once the day gets rolling, but they still enjoy knowing there are treats ready for them before and after VBS.
Scroll below to download a pdf file with the cards 4-to-a-page or the 8.5 x 11 posters.
Here are some store-bought treat ideas that will work with the cards (either shop your local stores or use the Amazon links below). Of course, you can also get creative with homemade snacks too (bear claws, s’mores snack mix, ice cream bar, etc.)
Here’s the Canva Template Link for the cards in case you’d like to modify any of these. The pdf file with 4 cards on each page is below.
Here’s the Canva Template Link for the posters (same designs, just sized to fit the full 8.5″ x 11″ page). Feel free to add your own touches to make it your own! Or you can simply download the pdf file below.
When buying the snacks, I always check the price at Costco, BJ’s and/or Sams Club and watch for sales at other stores, but sometimes Amazon is still the best buy (plus I must admit that I love to click “Buy it now” and check it off my list!). Here are some links if you want to check out any of the snacks on Amazon.
Classic Rock Candy Sticks, Sugar Rock Crystal Lollipops, Individually Wrapped (Pack of 12, Frozen Ice (Blue, White & Light Blue))
Sparkling Ice, Cherry Limeade Sparkling Water, Zero Sugar Flavored Water, with Vitamins and Antioxidants, Low Calorie Beverage, 17 fl oz Bottles (Pack of 12)
Many churches set aside time to pray over their VBS volunteers before the week begins. Depending on your church tradition, your pastor may prefer a spontaneous prayer, a written prayer, or a responsive format. Below, you’ll find both a written and a responsive prayer option. Feel free to download and use them as they are…or customize the Word document to best fit the needs and style of your congregation.
There’s no better way to end each day of VBS than by pausing to pray. And what a beautiful moment it is when one of the kids gets to lead that prayer! Some children may feel confident praying in their own words—and that’s a wonderful, meaningful option. Others might appreciate having a written prayer to read aloud, which can be just as heartfelt and sincere.
Below, you’ll find a simple prayer for each day of the week, along with a special one for VBS Sunday. These are designed for children to lead and can be used just as they are or adjusted to fit your group.
Use the Canva Template link to easily customize the prayers, or simply download the ready-to-print PDF version below.
Whether it’s to use during VBS or as a send-home page, these Chat & Pray pages are simply designed to recap the main idea of the idea and guide kids (and families) in further applying these truths to their lives. The prayer is essentially the same prayers as I posted above. These pages go home with our kiddos and I always home that at least some of the families will take time to pray them together.
The Canva link is here if you’d like to change the wording or images.
Each year during VBS we partner with our local Title 1 school by collecting school supplies. Our goal is to help students kick off the year with brand-new backpacks filled with everything they need for their new school year.
To promote this mission, we’re sharing this special flyer with our VBS kids and church family. Our fun donation display—including two camping tents (one for boys, one for girls) is ready to be filled with generous gifts of school supplies!
You are welcome to edit this flyer to make it fit whatever you support for your VBS mission. Just click the pink box for the Canva Template.
Here is a similar template for those doing cereal drives (or other food drives).
DAILY SLIDES
If you haven’t taken a look at Group’s True North Social Media Pack, you need to! It’s got graphics, videos, countdowns, and templates that simply make directing VBS easier. For $13, I personally think it’s worth every penny. This year they added already-formatted PowerPoint and ProPresenter slides too. Here’s the link if you want to check it out.
If you are simply looking for PowerPoint slides, I’ve also got some that you are welcome to download. I made some that are simple images, and also some fun, animated slides of real animals. See below for all the details and downloads.
DAILY SLIDES WITH WILDLIFE ANIMATION
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 also drop in Group’s clipart. Click below to see all 5 videos and download the PowerPoint that’s ready to roll on VBS Day 1!
Need a quick template for sending home info each day to parents? This format can be used to printed take-home paper … OR you can use this format for an email to send home. As always, I have not included any Group clipart. Thus, I’ve given two versions: one has alternate clipart and another has blank space for you to enter Group clipart on your own. If you use Canva, you can use the Canva Template link to do the editing there.
Here is the Canva template that can be edited to better meet the needs of your church. Or you can download the Word document below to add your text and/or images right in Word. The text boxes are already there for you to type right into. (Did I just end a sentence with a preposition? Yep, I guess I did!)
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 banners that can be edited in Canva. For those who aren’t Canva users, drop below and you’ll see some banner starter images that you can download as a jpg and use in whatever program works best for you (InDesign, Publisher, Word, etc.).
Note: To honor Group’s copyright rules, I do not share any of Group’s clipart in my designs. If you are a Canva user, you can easily swap out my images/logo for Group’s official images. Once the Bible Buddies are released, they add a nice splash to banners!
BANNER STARTERS
Don’t have Canva? No worries! You can still use these banner starters as a background for your own designs. As png files, they can be inserted into the program that works best for you. Then you can just add text and/or images to them. Just click on the image you want, then right click on the enlarged version and choose “Save Image As” to download it to your own computer.
I’m still including the Canva link to the right for you Canva users out there who might want one of these backgrounds.
Here is another little banner I created to highlight the learning that will take place all week. It is designed for a 2′ x 6′ banner, which will fit perfectly on a standard door. And on a Walgreens or CVS deal week, they are SO affordable! |
The first image is for inspiration only! As you know, in honoring Group’s copyright, we cannot share their images with one another. However, there are 3 easy ways you can make these banners work for you:
You are welcome to use the Canva link to add Group’s clipart from your own files.
You can use the version I created with shareable clipart.
You can download the backgrounds below that have no clipart at all. Then you can use them in any program of your own to add Group’s (or your own) clipart. If you use the free version of Canva, here’s a great hack: Instead of using my template link, upload the background image with no clipart to your Canva file. Then add Group’s clipart. Doing it that way will avoid the watermark image that you’ll get if you open my template link.
Want to place a quick order with Walgreens or CVS? Download the sideways version below and it is ready to upload to their site and pop right into a banner design.
BANNER BEARS!
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.
VBS budgets can be tight! (Understatement, right?) Since we all look for ways to save a buck, one option is to make a vinyl banner that can be reused from year to year. These designs for 2′ x 8′ banners can be used for a sign-up table for volunteers and/or a registration table for the kiddos. Adding some adhesive Velcro to the banner will make it easy to attach and detach the details from this year’s VBS so you can reuse it again next year. Remember to watch for the 60% and 70% off banner sales at Walgreens and CVS! (Just click on the image you want and then right click the larger version to download it in a full-resolution png file.) The Canva link is to the left for those who want to change it up!
STATION SIGNS
Since we don’t want to lose anyone as they trek through our Alaskan adventure, station signs come in handy! Group makes some lovely Station Signs that you can purchase. In the past, they have been on nice, poster-quality paper (I haven’t seen this year’s version). Sometimes, however, our budgets don’t allow us to purchase every bell and whistle (and poster). For us, Station Signs aren’t a necessity since we can print our own in house. Here are the 11″ x 17″ signs I made for this year. You are welcome to download the images or pdf below or access the Canva link to change them up.
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. There are so many possibilities with these! The Canva link here has the designs minus Group’s clipart. You can easily insert the Bible Buddy/logo clipart and/or further customize these to make them fit your needs.
Water Bottles: Give each kiddo a bottle on the first day and let them add a new sticker every day of VBS. This serves dual purpose: Easily keep the kiddos hydrated all week, while also giving them a fabulous VBS keepsake and scripture reminder!
Passport: Fold half sheets of paper and staple in the middle to create a simple “passport” for kids to carry with them throughout VBS. Adding their sticker each day will be a highlight. If you want to get really fancy, let crew leaders give them a special stamp during their visit to each station each day.
Bookmark: Cut strips of cardstock wider than your circle stickers. As kids receive their daily sticker, they can add it to the bookmark that they use in their Gospel of Matthew books.
Circle Buttons or Keychains: Do you have a button maker? You can use these designs to make kids a button for each day or a keychain for each day. What a fun keepsake!
Stickers: Don’t rule out the idea of just handing kids a sticker each day that they can take home and put wherever they choose (hopefully not on their grandmother’s antique buffet!). Kids of all ages enjoy adding stickers to their own “stuff”!
Don’t have Canva? You can use the images below to create your own stickers. Right click on the blank ones (with no animals) if you’d like to add Group’s clipart in your own program (Word, InDesign, Publisher, etc.)…or you could also just use the stickers with the alternate clipart below. Although they aren’t the Bible Buddies, they’re still some awfully cute little friends!
For one of the least expensive options, here are some plain white printable stickers. Note: There are 1200 labels in this pack!
Colemoly Round Labels – 100 Sheets 2.5″(12 UP) Mailing Circle Sticker Paper for Laser/Inkjet Printer 1200 Blank White Matte Adhesive
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
Like the idea of giving a water bottle to each child? These have pretty good reviews for a bulk option. They come in several different colors. Note: Don’t let the description fool you…There are 24 bottles in this pack.
50 Strong Bulk Water Bottles | 24 Pack Sports Bottle | 22 oz. BPA-Free Easy Open with Pull Top Cap | Made in USA | Reusable Plastic Water Bottles for Adults & Kids | Top Rack Dishwasher Safe
How about a keychain? If you have a button maker, these are on option that don’t require an additional purchase of Band-Aids for pin pokes (if you’ve used the circle buttons with pins, you get what I’m saying!). Do read the reviews on these before purchasing…they are a bit mixed. This set makes 50 keychains.
Button Maker Keychains Supplies, 200 PCS 58mm/2.25 inch Pin Making Kit for Button Maker Machine,Metal Button Badge Sets with Metal Shell Back Cover, Transparent Film and Chain Head
Don’t wanna bother with a button maker? These work with a heat press OR just as a blank that stickers could be attached to. Just make sure to get the right size sticker!
Modacraft Sublimation Keychain Blanks Bulk, 120Pcs Sublimation Keychain Blanks Set with 2 Inch Round Sublimation Blanks, Tassels, Keychain Rings, Jump Rings for DIY Crafting Sublimation Blanks
Kids love recognition that they’ve accomplished something. These little passports can be printed and stapled into a fun keepsake. The kiddos can carry them to each station where their crew leader can use a designated stamp or sticker to show they were there. One version has a spot where True North circle stickers can be added as a keepsake to remember the point/verse for each day. The 2nd version is even simpler. The Canva link will allow you to access either version and make whatever changes you like. Just keep in mind that for a booklet, you want to keep the number of pages in multiples of four.
Here’s a sample of a what the passport could look like (hopefully with some more color from the kiddos own coloring!):
OR here’s a simpler version that doesn’t have a specific spot for stickers.
If you print the file below 2-sided and then fold it vertically (hot-dog style), you can cut it in half and you’ll have 2 passport booklets.
These stampers are a great option for the passport pages. Just choose a different stamp for each station.
Cinrobiye 24 Pcs Happy Camper Party Stampers for Boys Girls,Camping Adventure Birthday Party Supplies Favors, Classroom Rewards Carnival Prizes, Goodie Bag Pinata Fillers for Camping Party
Prefer stickers? Most the sticker rolls have stickers a bit too large for the passport pages, but these would work. I’d recommend having crew leaders keep sections of the sticker roll in their bags so they can easily pull off the sticker that applies to each station.
Geyoga 1000 Pcs Travel Camping Stickers for Kids I Love Camp Stickers Camper Tent Bonfire Themed Self Adhesive Decals for Birthday Gifts Bag Party Supplies School Activity Reward
Truth Trek: Decode the Verse, Discover the Truth! Here’s a fun way to review the daily verses with the kids! Take kids on a fun-filled “trek” through God’s Word with these rebus puzzles! Each slide highlights the Daily Bible Verse in a visual way. I’m hoping we can squeeze these in during the arrival time in the morning, before we officially kick-off each day. These are sized as presentation slides, which are also on a downloadable PowerPoint below.
Prefer a printable version? Click below for the 8.5″ x 11″ puzzle page that you can hand out to each crew or child. It’s a great addition to your crew bags!
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.
Looking for an option that doesn’t need to be customized? Here are a few that can be printed as-is onto your favorite color shirt…
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. (Note: These can also be used in conjunction with VBS t-shirts. No reason kids can’t have fun with some themes too!)
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!)
Since not everyone loves Canva like I do, here are some shareable flyers that you can download and use without the need to edit them. If these themes work for you, feel free to take the easy route and use these as is.
Take your pick! Certificates in full color or black and white to print on colored paper. Here’s an easy little memento to give to the kids at the end of your VBS week. Use the Canva link to add your church name, official VBS clipart, etc….OR just download the pdf below and print as is.
Looking for something fun to break the ice at your training meeting? Here is a True North version of the classic Signature Scavenger Hunt game. Give everyone a copy of the download below, 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.
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 page 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.
Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to share the love of Jesus AND to send out a Save-the-Date for VBS! Click on the images below for Valentine printables and Canva links.
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13 responses to “Director Resources”
Tina Marie Bentley
The link for Amazon True North Picks says page not foumd
Last year you created bookmarks that my volunteers found to be so helpful. Are you planning to do these again this year? You make an impact all across the country by sharing your expertise with us. 🙂
These resources are wonderful! I’m taking note of some of the ideas, not just for VBS but for the Bible Camp my husband is the director of as well!
I especially liked the water bottle sticker idea. And I bought the exact product you recommended. But mine aren’t sticking very well. Did you have any trouble with yours?
Thanks for your kind comments. I’m so happy you can use some of these resources! But what a bummer about the vinyl stickers. I have only ordered them once, and they worked well for me. However, I see now that a lot of people have since added negative reviews on Amazon. I think I’ll look for a better brand. Avery has some with pretty good reviews. They cost more, but sometimes we get what we pay for. I sure hope you can return the ones you ordered and get something that works better.
Very thankful for this resource. It’s filled with so many great ideas and helpful links. Thank you so much for sharing what is going to be a huge blessing to so many VBS directors.
Sure! Can you tell me a little more about what you’d like to see on the compass button? Do you just want it to look like a compass? Or are you looking for a compass design with your church name, “True North,” etc.? Or something else? Compasses are such a perfect fit for True North!
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