I love to win. I am of the mindset that if you’re going to do something, do it well. So, of course, when it comes to Kids’ Ministry, that is a top priority for me. Winning doesn’t mean the biggest budget or over-the-top décor. Winning means planning, being strategic in my efforts, and doing whatever we do, big or small, with excellence. I am doing all that I can to lead a team of volunteers to give kids not just a great week but the Very Best Summer!

If you are like me, I am guessing you want to win big with kids and families in the summer of 2025, too. I’ve made a list of things to help you get started.

1. Pray. As ministry leaders, we often have to remind ourselves that God is in control. Before you do anything, commit your plans to him. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…” Commit your plans to him and work as if you’re working for him.
   
2. Set clear goals. Define what you want to achieve with VBS.  Is your goal community outreach to unchurched families? Is your goal to strengthen and build relationships between kids in your church and their year-round small group leaders? Is your goal to provide a safe place for kids or working parents to come in the summer so that you can share the gospel in a fun environment? Whatever your goal, define it clearly for yourself and your volunteers.
   
3. Choose a VBS. Select a VBS that aligns with your goals, has a fun theme, and is engaging for your target age group. Ensure that it is fun! That’s a kid’s love language. Make sure it has excellent large group lessons that present the gospel in a clear, age-appropriate way, along with small group lessons, crafts, games, snacks, and great music.
   
4. Build a team. Our favorite word around here is delegate. You cannot do this alone, nor should you. Recruit dedicated volunteers to help with the planning and execution of your VBS. Delegate what you need them to do. Trust that they will do it. We suggest you first create a leadership team. Give these people specific roles, asking them to lead each area of your VBS. For example, Large Group Producer, Small Group Team Lead, Games Director, Snack Coordinator, etc. What would you add to that list?
   
5. Create a budget. Determine your budget for materials, decorations, and other expenses. Your budget will drive what activities you choose, the décor you invest in, and more. It will also help you determine if you need to consider asking for donations, borrowing items, or sharing with other churches in your community. Creating a budget also lets you know where to lean into your volunteer team. If you plan early, you can ask them for help gathering supplies. They know people you do not know and have connections you do not have. Share your needs and ask who can help meet them.
   
6. Promote the event. I know you didn’t get into Kids Ministry to be a marketer, but we are in marketing whether we like it or not. It’s essential to look at every aspect of how you will communicate within and outside of your church regarding your VBS. Some ways you can do this: social media, print pieces like flyers you can pass out on Sundays, on screen in your church, emails to parents, asking if you may share at schools before the end of the year, invite cards for families in your neighborhoods, yard signs, outdoor banner on the street outside your church, ask local businesses if they can put posters in their windows, and of course good old word of mouth. Talk with kids about inviting their friends to join them!
   
7. Prepare materials. I love a good supply list. Since you’ve already delegated each part of VBS to a volunteer team lead (right?), the next step is to ask them to go through their section of the materials and create a plan for each day. That plan will naturally lead to a list of needed supplies and items to prepare. Some VBS kits include supply lists to help you create a shopping list. After you’ve shopped, purchase what is required at least a month or two in advance so you have time to sort, count, and prep anything that involves work ahead of time. Preparation also gives you time to return anything that may not work.
   
8. Train volunteers. Hold training sessions to ensure everyone understands their roles and the overall strategy for your VBS week. We recommend holding an initial meeting with your leadership team starting in January. They may need to plan smaller meetings to connect with their specific teams in the weeks and months leading up to VBS. I will include a sample training schedule attached at the end of this article.
   
9. Organize registration. Set up a system for registering participants. We recommend doing registration online when possible. Encourage everyone to register ahead of time to help you in your planning. What reward can you offer to those who register early?  Think through this. A free VBS shirt, button, or frisbee? A chance to pick up their day one nametag ahead of time, so they don’t have to wait in any lines the first day.
   
   Also, think through ways to make registration as smooth as possible. How many people must work registration tables to avoid long lines? What questions might they encounter that you can answer ahead of time? Where have you had roadblocks in the past, and what can you do to fix them before VBS 2025?
   
10. Appreciation, Evaluations, and Invitations. I always wanted to go on an extended vacation after the VBS week. It’s excellent work and hard work, all at the same time. Planning the things that need to be done post-VBS well in advance will save you so much time and energy. First, plan what you will do to thank your volunteers. It can be as simple as a thank you card or as elaborate as a gift. But, if you plan that and work on it in January rather than midnight, the night before VBS ends, you’ll be a happier leader. You also want to gather feedback from volunteers and families attending VBS to assess what went well and what could be improved. Feedback forms can be included with a post-VBS email. Be sure to tell the families visiting how much you loved having their kids, and give them a few dates of other fun things your church is offering for families in the future—maybe a Fall Festival or a Back to School Bash. Then, ask them if they would take a moment to give you feedback.
    
11. Think summer strategy. At Orange, we like to say VBS stands for Very Best Summer. We don’t want to give kids a great week but a great summer! Strategize so your summer theme for Sundays aligns with your VBS theme. This allows you to extend your décor beyond the week of the program. A strategy also enables you to invite volunteers, kids, and their families back to help you keep the VBS energy going all summer.
    

What else would you add to this list? Start planning now so you can have the Very Best Summer, too!

We have a free resource hub and It includes Budgeting Sheets, Surveys, a planner, and more. The resources are compatible with any VBS program.