VBS Volunteer Information

July 19-23, 2015

Bearden United Methodist Church

Grab your Bible

and get ready for a wild ride!

THANK YOU

for volunteering!

This presentation

contains information about VBS

volunteer roles and responsibilities.

It will give you an overview of what

to expect during VBS.

Schedules and other materials will be

provided, no need to memorize

Thanks for watching!

Important Bearden UMC is a Safe Sanctuary Church

GUIDELINES TO REMEMBER

- Children & Youth (under 18) should NEVER be

unattended in or around the church building

- 2 unrelated leaders should accompany kids,

preferably female & male; Never 1 on 1

- “Leaders” must be 5 years older than their

“followers”

- Immediately report any inappropriate behavior or

suspicious activity to the Pastor or church staff

Dates & Times Sunday, July 19, 3:30-6:30 p.m.

Kick Off Pool Party @ Westside YMCA

Bring finger food to share, and drinks for your family

*Leaders are encouraged to attend to meet your kids and their parents*

Monday -Thursday, July 20-23

At Bearden UMC

6:00 p.m. Family Dinner

6:30 p.m. Opening Assembly

8:00 p.m. Pre School Closing & Check Out

8:30 p.m. School Age Closing & Check Out

VBS Theme: An Epic Expedition

Through Proverbs Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is like taking a fast trip from the equator to

the North Pole because of the five distinct climate zones. We’ll trek through

the savanna grasslands and desert of the fellowship center, through the

rainforest and moorland for Bible Study, to the arctic roof for arts & crafts.

Bible Verse: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own

understanding. In all your ways

acknowledge Him, and He will direct

your path.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Mission! Food for Kids – Second Harvest Food Bank

Food for Kids is a collaborative effort between Second Harvest and an ever-increasing

number of public schools within the food bank’s 18-county service area. The program is

designed to provide healthy, easily-prepared food to some of the most vulnerable

children in our community – children who may be missing meals on a regular basis.

Teachers at each school compile a list of kids in their classroom who they feel are at risk

of hunger. In addition to simply telling their teachers they are going hungry, many kids

are observed hoarding food from the lunchroom, taking food from other children’s trays,

and even taking food from trashcans in order to have something to eat after school and

over the weekends.

These children are discreetly given a backpack full of food for themselves (and any

siblings they may have at home) every Friday throughout the school year. Reports of

improved self-esteem, behavior and concentration among Food for Kids participants are

common.

Let’s build a mountain of food for hungry kids!

Nightly Schedule 5:30-6:00 Registration in the fellowship center.

*Registration volunteers please arrive at 5:00 pm!

6:00-6:30 Solid Rock Café - Supper in the Fellowship Center –

FREE (donations are welcome, no expectation)

Please help children get their food so we can begin on time.

6:30-6:45 Savanna Sounds opening assembly– everyone attends!

6:50 Activity Stations

7:50-8:00 Pre School Closing / Check-out in the Sanctuary

8:15-8:30 School Age Closing / Check-out in the Sanctuary

Avoid Dinner Mayhem! Help your own children – and others to get their food and get

settled. Especially watch out for kids whose parents are not present.

(Photo from Care-nival, not VBS… But, it makes me laugh.

Cotton candy covered Pam. Ha!)

General Info… Kids are divided into groups/tribes. Typically:

Toddlers Kindergarten & First Grade

Threes Second & Third Grades

Fours & Pre-K Fourth & Fifth Grades

*OR the best balance depending on the numbers registered

Youth may serve as co-leaders

Each tribe is assigned a color (dots on nametags and tribe gear)

Pre-registered kids - check in at registration then go to dinner with

parents.

Parents & other VBS staff assist children with dinner.

Groups / Tribes

Purple – All pre school

Red – Kindergarten & First Graders

Orange – Second & Third Graders

Green – Fourth & Fifth Graders

Stations & Locations

Station

Rainforest

Reflection

Bible Study

Grassland

Games

Adventure

Arts

Pre School

Room 208 Fellowship Forum

Room 217 Shepherds of the Word

Room 223 2nd-3rd Classroom

School Age

Room 206 Searchers

Fellowship

Center

Top Floor

Youth Café

*Locations are subject to change.

Printed schedules will be available for everyone

Station Timing FYI… Station Allotment

Pre-K 15 min

School Age 25 min

Travel time: 5 min

Staggered schedule & closing

Pre-K Check Out 8:00 pm

School Age Check Out 8:30 pm

Safari Style Let the kids know how fun you are by dressing up for VBS.

We have a safari hat for everyone, just to top off the fun!

Monday Yellow / Crazy Hair Day

Tuesday Red / Inside Out Day

Wednesday Blue / Silly socks & shoes Day

Thursday Green / Pajama Day

Job Specifics

Station Leaders & Assistants

Tribe Leaders (Shepherds)

Station Leaders Responsibilities:

Get curriculum from Lindsey.

Submit supply request ASAP so Lindsey can gather

materials

Set up your room/station BEFORE VBS.

Set up Sunday, July 19 after Sunday school or Monday

before VBS Opening Session at 6:30 p.m.

Lead activity, giving directions to kids and adults.

Need something? Let Lindsey know!

Station Leaders Avoid the last minute “crazies!”

Allow plenty of time to set up your station.

Station Leaders (cont’d)

Arrival:

Arrive in time for opening at 6:30 p.m.

(6:00 p.m. if you want to eat dinner)

Station Leaders and Assistants will be dismissed from

Opening Assembly before the kids.

During your Session:

Include discussion points and questions.

Make connections to the proverb!

Station Leaders (cont’d)

After your Session: Clean up each night! (tidy, put supplies away, bag up trash

and set outside classroom door, set up for tomorrow)

Thursday night – clean up station – put extra supplies

together, clean counters, remove signs, bag up trash, etc.

Decorations and supplies can be taken to the Kid’s Choir

Room (on the Bible study hallway)

Station Leaders (cont’d)

Station Assistants:

Extra adults or youth assigned to each station.

1- 2 Assistants at each station.

Be familiar with the activity.

Provide hands-on help to groups.

Tribe leaders should assist their children.

Important!

Take home projects!

Tribe Leaders label with first and last name.

Between groups - store projects in youth classrooms

(school age) or in the atrium (pre school) – keep color

groups’ projects together.

Each child will have a “project bag” to take home on

Thursday. Kids will pick them up at check out!

Tribe Leaders (Shepherds) Responsibilities:

Assigned to a group of kids, designated by color

Childcare kiddos will have a wrist band

Your tribe will have an assigned meeting spot in

the gym

Keep up with your Tribe Roster (found in your

leader bag) for attendance & emergency info

Get to know the kids, call them by name

Assist kids during their activities

Tribe Leaders (cont’d) Arrival/Dinner

Arrive at 6:15.

Pick up tote with materials at your meeting spot.

Divide your group - each Crew Leader is responsible for 4-

5 children for entire night – through dismissal!

Assist children with dinner

Watch out for kids/visiting families who are sitting alone

When your entire group has finished dinner and gathered

at your assigned spot, you may go to the sanctuary for

opening assembly

Tribe Leaders (cont’d)

Opening Assembly:

Each group has an assigned pew

Block the ends of the pew with a group leader/asst. leader

on each end

Get a HEAD COUNT & count your group before leaving

any area

Get to know the kids. This week is all about building

relationships!

Play “what’s your favorite…” Be sure to introduce new

kids throughout the week

Tribe Leaders (cont’d)

Travel Time:

Make travel time count – choose a break where you’ll stop by the

bathroom as you change stations

Review Theme –

HEART – Trust in the Lord

EARS – Listen for God’s Wisdom

TONGUE – Honor God with Your Words

HANDS – Get to work, for the Lord

FEET – Walk with the wise

Review Verse (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Have fun and build relationships!

YOU are the hands, feet (ears, tongue…) and HEART of Jesus to kids!

Tribe Leaders (cont’d)

Stations:

Stay with assigned kids all night.

Assist kids with activities

Encourage discussion (using questions Station

Leader asks).

Help your kids listen.

Help them complete their projects.

Get involved in activities!

Tribe Leaders (cont’d) Avoid these notorious pitfalls…

Texting and cell phone

use during activities!

Talking to other adults

instead of the kids

Not participating

Tribe Leaders (cont’d)

TUESDAY is Group Photo Night!

BEFORE going to Games, your group will visit the

sanctuary and have a GROUP photo taken.

Assemble for your photo, then proceed to

Grassland Games quickly.

Tribe Leaders (cont’d)

Dismissal – Pre K @ 8:00 pm

School Age @ 8:30 pm

Sit in your assigned pew with a group leader on each end.

Collect the kids’ nametags each night and leave them on your

group table in the Fellowship Center, after Closing

Have each parent sign their child out. If you do not know the

parent, ask to see their ID.

Check off children’s names from your roster.

DO NOT LEAVE until all children are with parents.

Thank you for volunteering!

See you July 19-23 at…

That’s it! If you have any questions, ask Lindsey!