VBS Volunteer Appreciation Ideas

Here are some easy ways to show your VBS volunteers how much you appreciate them.
Duplicate the green and purple cards below onto poster board or card stock and cut them into fourths. Tape a chocolate crunch bar over the word CRUNCH on each card. Prepare the cards before your VBS week so they are ready to hand out  to your volunteers during the week. Make a few extras in case you have last-minute helpers. Have students hand out the cards to your adult volunteers.

Also print the thank-you cards below. Cut them in half between the Thanks! signs. Then fold each card in half so the Thanks! image is on the outside. Print the cards before your VBS week. You may want to write a personal note or Scripture verse inside. Hand the cards out to your volunteers on the last day of your VBS (or the Sunday after your VBS) along with a personal word of thanks. If you don't mind paying postage, you can also mail the cards using small, note-size envelopes. Feel free to edit the wording as you wish.

May God help you encourage your volunteers this summer.

Click on the images above for a larger view.

Group's 2011 Nazareth VBS

New for 2011, Hometown Nazareth VBS helps kids walk with Jesus. It's the Bible in motion! Welcome kids into the ultimate VBS Bible-times experience. They'll visit with Mary, Jesus' mom, and hear about Jesus' childhood adventures. Everyone will learn Bible truths that they can't wait to apply to their lives and share with others.

Nazareth VBS teaches kids to love God and His Word . . . like you do.
Hometown Nazareth VBS Starter Kit: $119.99

Take a look at the  Hometown Nazareth VBS course overview. Click on the image below for a larger version. Check back for VBS updates each week. Visit Shop VBS to see all of the 2011 VBS programs and special offers.

Paint-Your-Own VBS T-Shirts

Here's a great way to let your students make their own personalized VBS T-shirts. Ask each child attending your VBS and each volunteer helper to pre-register so you can collect their shirt sizes. Order inexpensive cotton blend T-shirts, all in the same light color. Pre-washed shirts work best. You may want to charge a small registration fee to help cover the cost of your shirts.

Collect paper grocery bags and lunch-size paper bags so you have one for each child. Lunch-size bags are for your XS shirts. Provide fabric paints and fabric markers. (Tip: Fabric markers work fine with older kids, but younger ones may have difficulty getting them to make dark enough colors.)

Make the shirts on your first day of VBS so the children have time to take them home and wash them (if you wish). They can wear their shirts on the last day of VBS or for your closing program or Sunday service. Cover your work areas with plastic tablecloths. Tape or clip the tablecloths so they won't move as the children work. Place a paper sack between the front and back of each T-shirt so the paint won't bleed through and cause the fabric to stick together.

Copy the designs below and cut the sheets in half so every two children can have a design sheet. These are for inspiration only. Encourage your students to be creative! Let each child create a design (preschoolers can create squiggles, shapes, or line art) and paint or draw it on his shirt. Have older children help younger ones so the paint doesn't puddle or clump. You may want to provide paint brushes so younger children can spread the paint around if it comes out too quickly.

Provide wet wipes and paper towels for clean up. Make sure each child's name is on his T-shirt. Set the shirts aside to dry overnight. Then send them home so the children can wear them at the end of the week. We would love to see photos of your VBS T-shirt creations. Have fun!

Sample T-Shirt Designs & Logos (copy and cut in half):

Click on the image above to download the design page.

VBS Memory Verse Coloring Pages

Here are some coloring pages we’ve created for the 2010 VBS programs.

For each program, there is a coloring page for every day of VBS—a total of five pages. Each coloring page has the daily memory verse and the Bible theme. You can feel free to shorten the verse by whiting out the final phrase before copying the coloring page. Each coloring page shows a picture to complement the Bible memory verse for that day. The coloring pages come in sets of five pages for just $1.99 per set. The best part is, you can make as many copies as you need!

For Egypt, there is a set of coloring pages for the New Living Translation and a separate set for the New International Version. (The NLT is the version used on the Bible memory makers.) On most pages, we included the entire NIV verse. 

 

(Click on the images above to go to the download pages—NLT is on the left and NIV is on the right.)

For your sea-themed VBS, there is a set of coloring pages for the New Living Translation and a separate set for the  New International Version. (The NLT is the version used on the Bible memory posters.) 

(Click on the images above to download the pages—

NLT is on the left and NIV is on the right)

For the Heroes VBS, every coloring page has a portion of the daily memory verse, I Timothy 4:12. Each day we've added a few more words to the verse so by Day 5 the entire verse is shown. There is a set of coloring pages for the New International Version and a separate set for the King James Version. (These are the versions used on the Bible memory posters.) 

 

(Click the images above to download the pages—

KJV is on the left and the NIV is on the right)

For the Rainforest VBS, each coloring page has the daily memory verse (in the New International Version). Some of the verses are shortened for easier memorizing. 

(Click image above to download the Rainforest coloring pages)

For your safari VBS, there is a set of coloring pages for the New International Version and a separate set for the King James Version. (The King James Version is used on the teaching visuals, bookmarks, and other Kingdom of the Son printed materials.) In addition, Gospel Light has a Coloring Poster you can print and copy for your students. It has a place for them to put their name and age and it features the Kingdom of the Son logo. You may want to make a coloring booklet for each child with the Coloring Poster on top, followed by the coloring pages for each day. 

(Click on the images above to download the

safari-themed pages—

 KJV is on the left and NIV is on the right)

For your Kids Camp VBS, there is a set of coloring pages for the New International Version and a separate set for the King James Version. Each coloring page has the daily memory verse and the lesson focus. In addition, Gospel Light has a Coloring Poster you can print and copy for your students. It has a place for them to put their name and age and it features the SonRock logo. You may want to make a coloring booklet for each child with the Coloring Poster on top, followed by the coloring pages for each day. At the end of your VBS week, your students will have a booklet with all five of the memory verses—a fun keepsake reminder of their week at vacation Bible school.

 

(Click on the images above to download the pages—

KJV is on the left and NIV is on the right)

If you’d like to take a look at any of these VBS Starter Kits, visit Shop VBS for more information and to order your starter kits. Also check out the coupons and additional VBS downloads.

Preschool Joseph in Egypt VBS

Use this new Joseph in Egypt Preschool VBS from Christian Ed. Publishers to supplement your elementary  Egypt VBS program this summer. Written especially for 2- to 5-year-olds, this five-day preschool VBS program from Christian Ed Publishers includes Bible stories, snacks, crafts, and games with reproducible student sheets and colorful visuals on CD-ROM. Your little ones can travel to the Marketplace before the older children but can also enjoy the stories of Joseph (from prison to palace) written at their own level. Crafts and games in the Preschool Leader’s Guide are preschool-friendly.

The preschool VBS program is completely flexible and makes a wonderful supplement to your elementary program. So if you want to have your preschoolers play some of the “Pyramid Playground” games planned for the elementary children, they can! (The Pyramid Playground Leader Manual and the Shopkeeper Leader Manual for the Marketplace are sold separately.) Joseph in Egypt Preschool VBS is a great way to include your younger children with activities written just for them.

The Preschool VBS Leader’s Guide includes decorating ideas, tips for working with preschoolers, a suggested rotation schedule, and a reproducible preschool sign-in sheet. The CD-ROM contains separate job descriptions for your Snack Leader, Bible Story Leader, Games Leader, and Crafts Leader. You can print instructions for the leaders each day of your VBS so they can collect any needed supplies and decide which options to use. The CD-ROM also includes registration cards, safety tips, a course overview, coloring pages with NLT and NIV memory verses, “How to Lead a Child to Christ,” storytelling tips, recruiting ideas, and lots more.

Preview samples and take a look at the contents of this VBS written especially for preschoolers. Joseph in Egypt Preschool VBS from Christian Ed. Publishers includes a Preschool Leader’s Guide plus CD-ROM...all for only $24.95! Or, if you need it tomorrow, order the download version. Bring the feel of ancient Egypt to your preschool VBS this summer, and help your little ones understand that God loves and cares for them. May God bless you as you begin your VBS adventure and teach children (and families) about God's constant care!