As we explore several ways of approaching Vacation Bible School (VBS) in the world of COVID-19, the most familiar approach will be a traditional VBS.
If restrictions on large group gatherings have been lifted and it is considered safe to gather, VBS could be implemented in similar ways you have used in previous years.
Children will be incredibly excited to get out of the house, see their friends and have some face-to-face interaction. Here are some things to consider when planning your traditional VBS in light of the impact of COVID-19.
Scheduling
Consider choosing calendar dates later in the summer that allow additional time for planning, registration, training and preparation. Minimizing your decorations and rethinking your volunteer training can utilize the “less is more” concept.
Registration
You may find it helpful for planning purposes to have parents register their children for VBS. KidEvent Pro by LifeWay is a useful tool that can ease the registration process. Online registrations will also assist you in ongoing communications with participating families.
Health and safety
Developing health and cleanliness protocols for all attendees, classrooms and meeting spaces is vital. Communicating your sanitizing protocols is crucial to help ease parental apprehension regarding their child’s health and safety during VBS.
Promotion
After you have planned, created and scheduled your VBS details, make sure you actively promote your VBS. Emails, social media posts, phone calls and encouraging families to invite friends will help your community know that your VBS is still going to take place.
As things slowly return to normal in the near future, your church may be able to use a traditional approach that’s familiar to you. The traditional approach may need some modifications, but you can still say yes to VBS!
EDITOR’S NOTE: A traditional approach to VBS is one of four possible strategies suggested by LifeWay. The others are an at-home approach, a neighborhood approach and an alternative approach. These approaches are summarized in a free e-book titled “4 VBS Strategies for This Summer” that is available for download by clicking here.
