Here's a fun decorating idea for your PandaMania VBS program. Have a creative member of your church or community paint a large mural backdrop. This one is from the San Diego Zoo. Then use the backdrop as a background for group photos during your VBS week.
Bible Memory Buddies are definitely must-haves for your VBS week. Each child receives one buddy each day during your PandaMania VBS. You might give them out each day after the children attempt to say the daily memory verse. Kids love the fun shapes and bright colors of the buddies, plus the day's Bible verse helps them hide God's Word in their hearts. They often keep the buddies for years to come. The memory verse is included on the colorful Bible Memory Buddy, giving the children a Scripture reminder of what they learned during the day. The memory makers can be strung on a chenille stem half (pipe cleaner) so they can be taken home as a keepsake at the end of your VBS week.
Here are some fun snacks you can make for your PandaMania VBS.
The Bible Point for Day 3 of PandaMania VBS is "God watches over you." The Bible story is about Jonah trying to run from God. Prepare your snack in clear plastic cups. Use blue gelatin and fill the cup about half way. Let the gelatin sit for 10-20 minutes. Then add gummy fish and cover with the rest of the gelatin. After the gelatin sets, serve the snacks. You may want to add a few goldfish crackers on top. Add a dollop of whipped cream on top for any children who would like their snack to look like the stormy waves in the water before Jonah was tossed overboard. Talk about the story of Jonah and the big fish as the children enjoy their snack.
For another fun snack, make your favorite cupcakes. Use green muffin liners, if you have them. Let the cupcakes cool completely. Then decorate them with green frosting. Place the frosting in a plastic bag, snip off the end, let out most of the air, and seal (or almost seal) the bag. Pipe onto the cupcake, lifting straight up to form grass-like strands of frosting. To make a Panda face, place a large marshmallow on top of the cupcake. Use white frosting to add two chocolate chips (upside down) for eyes and two pieces of a chocolate cookie for ears. Combine this sweet snack with pretzel sticks or fruit.
