Puzzle Annie, how long have you had VBS at your parish? Did you start it up?
I have very fond memories of VBS when I was growing up (Baptist). My mother used to run it. I didn’t realize that there was a Catholic VBS program. There has never been one in our parish but maybe this is something that could be implemented for next year. I’m just not quite sure how to go about it.
this is the 5th year, it gets bigger each year, and we learn more (boy were we dumb at the beginning).
goal of other lay leaders is to give a little more time to a specific narrow area of scripture than is possible during CCD, and to show kids learning can be fun, and to make it less like CCD.
my goal is to find a project to involve our teens since there is not much going on in the parish for them to give service.
my further goal is to recruit volunteers for CCD once they get their feet wet with VBS, 3 of our best catechists have come to us this way, including the VBS coordinator. She also teaches the bible study class for middle graders who have already made first communion and is simply superb at both tasks.
goal of everyone involved is to have fun.
we have an evaluation session the day after the program ends each year, and build on what we have learned.
I have no doubt we can write our own program now, but the rest feel more comfortable with a canned program, so we will continue to go that route. most of the major VBS programs have a Catholic version, but usually that just means changing the words of the Our Father and adding a saint worksheet each day.
if you really want to do it suggest it to the DRE before Christmas, and offer to be the coordinator. the budget and administrative stuff will probably have to go through her, but she may not be eager to run it. If you can show you have some committed volunteers she will be more supportive. Start small, keep good track of expenses, begin work on this about February, make sure to get on the parish calendar and reserve facilities you need, and start going after donations of supplies and resources. If the VBS begins Monday, make sure you have reserved the facility Saturday to decorate and set up, for instance. make sure the janitorial staff is aware of the program so bathrooms, cleaning gets done etc.
Begin meeting with volunteers at least 6 weeks before the program begins so everyone knows their task and is comfortable with it. If you have teens, have an adult supervising them, but give them ownership of the task, make sure the task is within their abilties and give them clear direction, but let them do it there way (within safety guidelines). Let them self-evaluate how “their way” worked out. Our teens excel at the games, music, skits, and surprisingly the actually story-telling that conveys the faith or biblical component of each day’s theme. They are also excellent at working with small children.
actually try out the suggested games, crafts and songs beforehand so you know what to do. be flexibe and have a plan B, as well as a plan C.
It was started in the diocese of Wichita, Ks and now is in many diosceses. Here is the website totustuusofwichita.org