6 Tips for Scheduling Evening VBS

Since more Bible schools are conducted in the evening (66%) than morning consider these options for making the best use of what is often a condensed schedule:

• Use recreation as an early arrival activity on the front lawn or as near the entrance as possible. Kids won’t want to miss the fun and will encourage their parents to get them to VBS early.
• Serve snacks in a central location before or after the official starting or ending times of the evening. Invite the entire family to join in – even the parents who are dropping off or picking up their kids.
• Schedule a longer opening session that includes the Bible story. Use the Bible study rotation for life-application activities. Connect every rotation activity – crafts, music, missions, and recreation – to the Bible story and central theme of the evening.
• Invite parents to join their kids for the opening session and then stay for a VBS class of their own.
• Use the final night as VBS Family Celebration by inviting parents to join their kids, using the final episode of the Worship Rally drama, and using the Day 5 Bible story. Choose one or two of the Grades 3-4 learning activities that can be tweaked and used with kids and parents.
• Hold VBS classes Sunday through Thursday then use Friday evening for a VBS Family Celebration.