VBS Planning Timeline

• Six months or more before VBS Week

  • Set dates for VBS
  • Publicize dates to congregation
  • Consider long-term craft preparation

• Four months before VBS

  • Open meeting of interested individuals for brain storming
  • Estimate attendance
  • Order materials

• Three months before VBS

  • Education congregation about staffing needs
  • Distribute teacher materials as received
  • Compile registration list

• Two months before VBS

  • Distribute registration forms
  • Create daily schedule for VBS week
  • Publicity to congregation
  • Publicity to community
  • Fill teaching staff positions
  • Staff training

• One month before VBS

  • Maintain list of registered students
  • Stay alert to needs for staffing adjustments

• One week before VBS

  • Final adjustment of space use
  • Check of student count with materials
  • Provide teachers with current info about their classes
  • Decorations
  • Prepare parent packets

• Last Day before VBS

  • Last-minute check of supplies (are the pencils sharpened?)
  • Final room preparation
  • Pray

• First Day of VBS

  • Arrive early -- take time for prayer
  • Celebrate the opportunities to witness
  • Watch for rough spots needed adjustment
  • After the children leave, brief staff meeting to catch loose ends

• Week after VBS

  • Thank yous to staff
  • Collect evaluations & suggestions from staff
  • Photo display for congregation (let them know what they missed)
  • List to Church School teachers, especially for families not affiliated with any church
  • Return unused materials
  • Financial summary