Vacation Bible School

In a world filled with worry and confusion, kids need to know there’s a God
who cares for them. This summer at Emerald Crossing VBS, children will
journey through Ireland’s lush landscapes as they explore the powerful
truths of Psalm 23. Along the way, they’ll learn about the shepherd-king
David and discover how to move from worry to peace, fear to faith, and
uncertainty to confidence in God’s Word through a relationship with the
Good Shepherd.

Pre-Register Your Child

Volunteer To Help

Inquire about Pre-K Registration

Below you will find the answers to several frequently asked questions about VBS. If you need more details, or if you have additional questions, contact our pastor overseeing VBS (Pastor Brad Harris) by email ([email protected]) or by calling the church office (740-369-3557).

FAQ

Who can attend VBS?

All children entering Kindergarten – Grade 6 are invited to join us.

Why is it important for me to pre-register for VBS?

Pre-registering helps us plan; in particular, it gives our volunteers and church family a projection of how many children will be joining us on Day 1. We encourage all families to pre-register their children to help us plan well and to help check-in and registration of newcomers go smoothly on Day 1.

What should children wear?

Casual attire that children can be active in is best—so we suggest t-shirts and shorts, with closed-toe shoes (tennis shoes preferred). Game time will be held outside each day, so we encourage you to put sunscreen on your children if you feel that it’s appropriate. On Wednesday of that week (July 21), children will be encouraged to come dressed in gear that represents an islander, a pirate, or a treasure hunter, but what they wear should still allow them to be active at game time.

What should children bring?

As little as possible. Please bring any medications that they may need during the morning and drop them off at the first-aid station. Volunteer nurses will be on site throughout the week to administer any necessary medications, but only with signed permission from a parent. Each day, we will have an offering project that students will be encouraged to give money towards. All money collected will be used to provide children’s Bibles to children in Suriname.

Does it cost anything to come to VBS?

No! VBS is completely free to all children. T-shirts will be available for $10, and CDs that include all of the songs for the week will be available for $2, while supplies last.

What types of snacks will you serve?

Prepackaged snacks (including Goldfish crackers and fruit snacks), as well as a theme snack, will be available each day. On Friday, we like to celebrate with cookies during snack time. Gluten-free options will be available for children each day. We do not serve any snacks that contain nuts.

How do I know what group/class each child will be in?

Each child’s class will be determined mainly by what grade the child will be entering in the upcoming school year. Pre-registered children will be told their group when they check in on Day 1. Children who arrive without having pre-registered will be assigned to a group once the registration paperwork has been completed.

What time should children arrive?

Registrars will be available beginning at 8:30 a.m. We recommend that you arrive and check in 15–20 minutes before the Opening Rally (that is, 8:40–8:45 a.m.) each day to beat the last-minute rush.

Where will I pick up my child(ren) at the end of the morning?

Pick-up locations vary by grade:

Children in the Pre-K classes will be picked up in their classrooms.
Children in the Grades K–3 classes will be picked up in the Auditorium.
Children in the Grades 4–7 classes will be picked up in the Gym.

A child can be signed out only by the adult on record, beginning at 12:00 p.m.

What happened to the Pre-K VBS program?

Due to the large number of volunteers needed to staff a VBS Pre-K class and the limited number of volunteers available, Pre-K VBS will now be available only to church families and families of VBS volunteers.

Will there be a closing program this year?

Yes! This year’s closing program will be on Friday morning from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. We understand that this program may fall during your lunch hour, so we will serve complimentary pizza after the program.