My church charges $25 for the whole week, mainly because the other programs they run during the summer charges $25 and they like to be the same.  The first think I would do it read everything in the Starter Kit and get familiar with the program.  Next, find out how many kids you will need to plan for, and order all the supplies you need. (Group can have many items on backorder when they get into the rush of VBS season.)  Then get volunteers and do registration!

It might not be a bad idea to get people to help you.  I know some people around here have someone who is in charge of a certain part of VBS, so one person orders the crafts, finds volunteers, etc.. 

Hold off on decorations until you've got everything else planned for.   Decorations, while cool, are probably the least important part in your case.

Hope this helps you!

God Bless,

Matt

As far as charging...that seems to be a regional thing from what I've noticed over the years.  It seems like in some areas it is accepted and normal but in other areas it is atypical.  You could survey what other local churches in your area are doing.


VBS Board Moderator

1. Pray and establish your budget or find out from your church treasurer/CE Director.
2. Set up a free site at the Web Toybox and start getting kids registered.
3. Get information out into your community (put the Toybox info on there! or link to it from your church's homepage!)  If possible, delegate this task to someone else.
4. Pray and find a core team of people who you can count on to help you lead the stations.  Most of us have 6-7 people.
5. Pray and guesstimate how many children you think will be there.  Decide with your core team if you want to do preschool or only elementary ages.
6. Allow the core team to pick their stations and turn them loose to get their own supplies.
7. Pick your crafts and any other supplies you'll need from Group based on the budget and what you like and get those ordered ASAP or supplies purchased elsewhere.
8. Get a supply list for your snacks going right away and farm that out to your congregation for them to donate.
9. Start recruiting crew leaders.  Teens are great.  Crew leaders don't have to prepare a lesson, so this is usually one of the last tasks I accomplish.

YOU CAN DO THIS WITH GOD'S HELP!!!!

I'm no director, but I'd suggest that you start by deligating jobs. Find a volunteer for teaching the Bible adventure and let that person be in charge of rounding up what they need. The same for crafts and games, snacks & opening. Just make sure to continue checking with them on their progress, so that they don't get too far behind. Don't feel like you're hasseling them, because it is your responsibility to make sure they are coming through. If they reassure you that they can get it done, then I wouldn't revoke any of their duties, but I'd begin offering to help them more. My director helped round up most of the supplies that I needed for teaching Bible blast, because she had them readily available, which was very nice, but I took care of the rest. We didn't decorate very much at all, this year, but we did put up a few little things. It's O.K. to keep it simple.

List return instructions on the back (return by...contact me at xxx-xxxx with any questions).  I print this on a mailing label so I don't have to write it 200 times.  List any specifics (brand name if necessary).

We learned to number each card and ask people to put down their first name, phone #, and card numbers on a list so we can contact them if items are late (or changed).  We put a box under the registration table for drop off and check daily near the delivery date.

I spent about $16 for 4 note pads (200 sheets).  Donations of Mentos alone covered that cost!  All of our snack items were donated along with most of our supplies.  The only thing I had to buy was program-specific items.