Fifty-two young "Sky Scouts", 5 youth and 14 adult leaders from Cheshire United Methodist Church recently experienced high adventure and developed a stronger faith as they soared to new heights with God.

The church’s Vacation Bible School program, Lift Off! Soaring to New Heights with God, which ran July 30-August 3, included a daily visit from Skylar the Sky Squirrel, who, by the end of the five-day program, was known as Skylar the scampering, skimming, scholarly, skillful, and squealing Sky Squirrel.

Children from 4 years old through 6th grade learned all about the sport of hot air ballooning. Each day, via video, they visited Dr. Bartholomew Andrew Loon at his skyology lab inside the ballooniversity. Dr. B.A. Loon performed various science demonstrations relating to the launching, flying, and landing of hot air balloons. Most of the children observed that his experiments did more fizzling than flying. "He was crazy," according to Maggie, "but I liked him."

Activity centers included Bible story reenactments, arts and crafts, hot air balloon experiments, snacks, lively songs, and recreation.

Each Bible story illustrated a Flight Plan related to a key word for the day: follow, trust, listen, repent, and serve. Children learned about Abraham and his wife Sarah (Genesis 12-21), Joseph and his eleven brothers (Genesis 37-45), sisters Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42), the tax collector Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10), and Peter, the fisherman Jesus called to serve (John 21:1-17).

Children also memorized a daily Power Prayer from Psalms to fuel their journeys.

One of the major components of this year’s VBS was missions, as we practiced SERVING others. We raised about $300 for Heifer Project International, providing goats, cows, rabbits, trees, and sheep for people all over the world who are hungry.

Skylar the Sky Squirrel’s co-host for the five sessions, and the writer of this article, was a reporter from the Hot Air Ballyhoo, whose editor made the story assignment.

"I am truly blessed to have been part of Lift Off! Soaring to New Heights with God," said reporter and VBS enthusiast Scoop. "What a wonderful group of boys and girls, and what a fantastic Vacation Bible School adventure! I know I learned just as much as my young Sky Scout friends."

Photos taken by Scoop and the Ballyhoo staff are on display in the Connector.