Often you will find helps on which VBS curriculum to choose but not much seems to be written about when to choose it so I want to begin with that.
 

– WHEN TO CHOOSE VBS CURRICULUM –

Normally by the end of summer or beginning of autumn, most of the major curriculum companies announce the next year’s theme.  While you usually cannot order the material at that time, you can start comparing what is going to be available.

It used to be I would go to the local Christian bookstore when the curriculum was in stock and spend a number of hours checking out the various programs.  Now, with the Internet, you can do much of the research online and much earlier.

The earlier you begin the process, the more potential for your “creative juices” to start flowing to imagine the possibilities of what you could do with the various themes.

The earlier you decide, the sooner you can start praying more specifically and even dropping hints to build excitement.

– WHICH CURRICULUM TO CHOOSE –

In choosing VBS curriculum, pray for God’s guidance as you ask yourself the following questions:

How does it meet the basics?  Take into consideration factors vital to choosing any kind of curriculum. 

You need to look at where is is coming from doctrinally.  Don’t let a theme sway you into compromising.

You need to make sure it follows a sound teaching-learning process.  VBS is more than fun and games.  Bible lessons need to promote changed lives, moving from head knowledge to seeing the implications of truth to their lives, culminating in application.

You need to check age level development issues.  It’s easy when trying to develop a spectacular theme with all the bells and whistles to move too far into the abstract, making it fun but not right where students are at in the various age levels.

How does it fit our setting?  Take into consideration the following elements as you check out the various curriculum possibilities.

- Culture of the Community (how a theme might be perceived)

- Primary Target (i.e., saved vs. unsaved; urban vs. rural)

- Facilities & Property (the potential what is available yields)

- Budget (cost of workbooks, extra teacher’s manuals, craft kits, decorations, publicity, etc.)

- Number of workers or teachers available to implement it

- Level of skill, knowledge, and time required by leaders, teachers, & workers to successfully implement it in comparison to what our people can offer

How will it interest our people?  Take into consideration the level of appeal not just of the theme but of the materials.

Will people find the theme exciting?

Will people find the music, games, & crafts engaging?

Will leaders & teachers find the material easy to use?

Will the unchurched attendees be able to connect and will the churched be challenged?

How will it provide support for successful implementation of the program?  Putting together an effective Vacation Bible School is a lot of work.  What does the curriculum provide for you?

- publicity materials (Is the logo and other clip art available to you if you cannot afford their printed materials?)

- online forums (Click here for links to some of the available VBS forums to get an idea of what they are like.)

- training tools (What comes with the kit?  What is online?)

- music tracks (Does it provide you with good quality music?)

- decorating ideas (Does it suggest ideas for decorating, some of which will be low cost alternatives if needed?)

- supplemental or alternative ideas (Does it provide possible suggestions for what to do if the ideal doesn’t work in your setting?  Does it give ways to shorten or lengthen the agenda to accommodate your time table?)

You might not find a Vacation Bible School curriculum that aligns perfectly as a good fit for you in all these areas.  Make sure, however, that it at least measures up in the basics and then do your best to make it work in your setting, trusting God to use it to His glory.  Remember, the earlier you choose your curriculum the more time you will have to tweak it to make it a better fit.

The title of this post is inaccurate.  Vacation Bible School is never over.  Well, perhaps the actual program is, but the “follow-up” that ought to be taking place, keeps it going.   Various kinds of follow-up can be implemented to help make this year’s VBS even more spiritually successful as well as set the stage for the next VBS.   While everything is fresh in people’s mind, it’s time to start planning for the next year.

Here are some follow-up ideas:

1. Take Home Follow-up:  This could be information sent home the last day to inform parents of what other opportunities are available for their children and for them as well.  But, even better, is to send something home recapping what was learned and something they can do to enhance its effect (the next steps).
2. Contact Follow-up:   This is communication in writing or through a personal visit to thank them for coming, to inform them of other church ministries, and to welcome them to come again.
3. Outreach Follow-up:  This is for those who attended the VBS to have an opportunity to do some sort of service project a short time after VBS to do something with what they learned.  Click here for a good idea.
4. Prayer Follow-up:  This is a time of prayer for those who attended that the Spirit would continue to work in their lives.
5. Report Follow-up:  This is a report given to the total church body a week or two after VBS to inform them of what God did this year and to invite them to pray about their participation for next year.
6. Evaluation Follow-up:  This is when leaders, teachers, and all workers come together to discuss and learn for the next year, the good and the bad.  Or, rather than pull the whole team together, people could be surveyed, perhaps even those who attended.
7. Projecting Forward Follow-up:  This is casting the vision for the next year at the end of this year while the spiritual victories are still fresh.
8. Reunion Follow-up:  This is a special event a month or two down the road wherein everyone who attended is invited to come back and revisit some of the favorite moments or activities.  If a video or pictures were taken, a media presentation could be part of it.

If your VBS program is long over and you haven’t done any follow-up, you can still implement some of these ideas.