What to Do During VBS Week

Here’s what to do during VBS to maximize your opportunities to connect with your volunteers, the kids and their families.

1. Pray. Ask leaders and volunteers to meet 10 minutes early each day to pray for the kids and parents who will be introduced to Jesus through your VBS program.
2. Be a part of the opening announcements. Let the kids get to know who you are.
3. Help out at each station at least once throughout the week. This shows your volunteers you appreciate the work they do, and also gives you a chance to hang out with the kids.
4. Get daily feedback. You’re likely planning to survey leaders and/or parents after the week is complete, but you can also check in with leaders at the end of each day and make small adjustments before the next day. Additionally, you can be present as parents leave with their kids and briefly ask, “How’s it going? Everything going smoothly? Need us to change anything?”
5. Connect daily with parents. There are a lot of different ways you can communicate with moms and dads during VBS. Be available as they drop off or pick up their kids, and introduce yourself. Each day, you can send them an email giving a quick rundown of what happened that day. Be sure to embed a few pictures and remind them of what’s happening the next day. You can text them a link to a fun photo gallery of the day. 
6. Update your event’s Facebook and/or Instagram page. If you’ve created a Facebook or Instagram page specifically for your VBS, keep this fresh with new videos and pics each day. You can even ask questions to garner engagement: “What was your kid’s favorite part of today?” or “Which game did they like better: tag or tug-of-war?”

7. Share the excitement. Keeping the congregation up-to-date on what is happening is a great way to introduce the power of VBS with those who may not otherwise hear about it—and perhaps spark interest in them for volunteering next year.