Charge for Vacation Bible School?

[Chipmunk89]

This is the second year my DS8 has attended VBS. Both years there has been no fees. They request food donations for the local food bank. Last year the theme was SonForce spy kids, and this year was Jerusalem Marketplace. Wow! Those volunteers did alot. The children did crafts, snacks, and songs. And at the end they got to take home their costumes. DS8 had a wonderful time.

And I would happily pay for him to go.

 

[RitaE]

we do a School Supply collection, that is then donated to area schools.
I can't say every family donates, because we just set up bins and the supplies are dropped in - nobody keeps track.

But we collect tables and tables of stuff. I think most of the families do give.

 

[sha_lyn]

I've spent years working in churches and state office of denominations.

While most churches do not charge for VBS, some do. Of those that do, it is a very very small % who charge bec VBS is a 'big hoopla.' The vast majority of churches that charge do so for 2 reasons:

1. To pay for the program. Programs cost money. I am constantly amazed at how folks think that bec a program is from a church that there should be no cost. Why? Is God raining down paints, paper, felt, glue and sippy cups from heaven? Supplies cost money, food costs money. Sometimes you may have to get a rider on your insurance coverage, which costs money. Some churches may generally not have line item budgets for VBS bec (a) they decided to VBS after the budget was set or (b) their members/program users do not donate enough money to cover extras like VBS or bec in today's economic climate, chuches are suffering just like any other non-profit/business -- people are spending and donating less money. If you don't have the money, but want to provide a program, you're going to have to charge for it. Or not do it. Which would be preferable, no program or paying for the program you are choosing to use?

2. Experience has shown that people do not value that which they get for free and even the smallest fee can create a complete attitude change. If someone gets something for free, the reailty is that they will not show up or show up irregularly making planning difficult (esp staffing and food procurement). They will show up late for drop off or, bec they're using it as free day care -- worst of all they'll show up HOURS late for pick up. These same people also will not volunteer in order to keep the costs down. However, charge $5 or $10 and all of a sudden those same latecomers show up on time and take the program much more seriously.

Love your post and ITA with both points. I'm highlighting #2 because I see this all the time in youth activities, especially in girl scouts. It is the ones who never volunteer, never send in supply donations etc that always want to drop their kids off early and pick them up late.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

I to am surprised by the attitude towards the churches asking to people to pay. I don't know why one way has to be right and one has to be wrong.

It is possible to use VBS as an outreach and still charge. I completely agree that people value more what they pay for (particularly in the high income area our church is located, we see this a lot). But also we have people pay so that we can open the VBS up to MORE people in the community, without downgrading the experience at all. Because we asked for a fee per person (from those who want to and can pay only) we could not only serve over 2,000 kids, we were able to pay for busses, drivers, gas, etc to bring hundreds of kids from neighborhoods who otherwise never could have come (and those kids were never asked for any fee or donation). Sure we could take that money from another line item, but then which outreach do we cut back on?

The kids all took home a personalized photo album with highlights of their week, with all the bible verses and summaries of the lessons. They each got a bible and a cd of praise music, and a number of other things to... all tools to help in their growth, not hoopla. We also were able to provide daycare for all of the 1500 volunteer's kids who are to young for VBS (below the age of 3). And we offer a lot of fun training for the volunteers (almost a full mini-VBS for them). We get so many parents of kids who came to VBS the year previously, who want to now come and volunteer despite not attending church/being Christian etc, just because their kid had so much fun. So I really feel the extensive training time for the volunteers and providing daycare for the younger kids is really an outreach to those parents too as many of them are now regulars at our church.

Our church also runs free VBS's in Mexico for about 3000 kids (we bring around 1200 teenage volunteers to Mexico every Spring). The teens start getting trained for this as soon as they "age-out" of our summer VBS.

 

[jimmiej]

I belong to a medium-large Southern Baptist church. We do not charge charge. That's never been a consideration. It's considered a ministry to the children of our community.

It is expensive, but it's part of our general budget, which comes from tithes & offerings.

 

[Aimeedyan]

That's interesting. I don't think we've ever had much of a problem with not picking the kids up. We do get some kids that will miss days, but I really don't see that as a problem.

I mention every year that I am not a huge fan of those "programs" we buy. They all move in timed blocks from station to station and it seems like there is never enough time at any area. It is a week of 1/2 finished crafts, uneaten snacks, kids who don't know that day's song because they had the audacity to want to go pee when they were supposed to be singing. I cringe every year when the kids will be singing a song or something and somebody will say "Can we sing that again?" "NO! WE DON'T HAVE TIME!!!"

The whole thing is just run run run, no you are supposed to be here, we need to get STARTED NOW!!! I loved VBS as a kid, with my Dixie cup of Kool Aid and my 2 oreo cookies and just sitting in the Sanctuary with some Mom up front saying "ok, what should we sing now!" It's just one more thing in this world that has gone the way of bigger, better, and supposedly more glamorous.

Yep, which is why we threw out the prepackaged programs this year and created our own. It was getting a little too slick for me and forced. Ours starts Monday and I think it will be a lot more relaxed for the kids and the volunteers, plus it saves us a ton of money because we don't have to buy anyone's materials.

 

[tonilea]

I wish I could say that it suprises me that Christians are upset at other Christians over VBS, but one family left our church in a tiff about VBS. *sigh* It is really easy to judge people, but wouldn't it be better to be thrilled that people are working (however they choose to run VBS) for God?

It reminds me of baby showers for unwed mothers. Yes, that is not behavior we want to glorify, but what better way to show Jesus' mercy and grace.

 

[noodleknitter]

Yep, which is why we threw out the prepackaged programs this year and created our own. It was getting a little too slick for me and forced. Ours starts Monday and I think it will be a lot more relaxed for the kids and the volunteers, plus it saves us a ton of money because we don't have to buy anyone's materials.

Our church is small without a building. So, we just have a full day "VBS" on our property. As far as I see it, it might as well be daycare, if people are paying for it.

 

[RitaE]

I'm not so much against charging, I've just never heard of it so I find it surprising. I think our Church in particular has a very funny habit of rushing to support far flung causes without a thought, and then neglecting people that are in our own area with lots of judgment calls of whether or not they are "worthy" of our assistance.

I hear the free daycare argument every year and I really just see it as an extension of the never ending WOHM, SAHM debate. At least in our church, most of the daytime volunteers are SAHMs, although we do get some people that will take vacation days to help out.

Yes, we are watching the children of working mothers. But I really don't see that as a bad thing. Finding affordable childcare during school breaks is hard. So we for one week, are nice and kind and we help them out and we are doing it without asking for anything in return. Things like that are kind of one of the reasons I joined a Church to begin with.

 

[Buckalew11]

I
It reminds me of baby showers for unwed mothers. Yes, that is not behavior we want to glorify, but what better way to show Jesus' mercy and grace.

Totally agree. If you are going to preach against abortion then show support when the decision is made to keep the baby.

 

[Ilovemylife]

I'm not so much against charging, I've just never heard of it so I find it surprising. I think our Church in particular has a very funny habit of rushing to support far flung causes without a thought, and then neglecting people that are in our own area with lots of judgment calls of whether or not they are "worthy" of our assistance.

I hear the free daycare argument every year and I really just see it as an extension of the never ending WOHM, SAHM debate. At least in our church, most of the daytime volunteers are SAHMs, although we do get some people that will take vacation days to help out.

Yes, we are watching the children of working mothers. But I really don't see that as a bad thing. Finding affordable childcare during school breaks is hard. So we for one week, are nice and kind and we help them out and we are doing it without asking for anything in return. Things like that are kind of one of the reasons I joined a Church to begin with.

Our VBS is in the evening.

 

[summerrluvv]

I paid $30 for my 9 year old DS's VBS, this is his first year attending. It was five days from 9-12. It was the Power Lab VBS. I honestly thought that was a deal! I guess I'm in the minority! He finished his last day today and he had sooo much fun and learned a lot! We don't attend church at all, and he has now expressed an interest in attending Sunday School so we just might go on Sunday He came home with a CD full of songs which are pretty good I must say. We have been listening to it all week!

ETA: I just looked at the website that sells the VBS supplies and wow that stuff really adds up!

 

[RitaE]

Our VBS is in the evening.

We run two sessions - one in the morning and one in the evening. I've never attended an evening session to see what it is like. But boy can the daytime crew gossip and gripe with the best of them. I do know that there is a ton of fighting amongst the Craft/Art ladies over who used more than their fair share of Art Supplies and who doesn't clean up properly that breaks out every year in planning meetings.

Last year one Lady brought in her own little Storage tub with a big sign on it that said "Morning VBS ONLY!!!!!" Every day she would put all "her" craft supplies in it and then hide it in a closet. Heaven help the poor soul who touched her glitter without authorization.

 

[noodleknitter]

We run two sessions - one in the morning and one in the evening. I've never attended an evening session to see what it is like. But boy can the daytime crew gossip and gripe with the best of them. I do know that there is a ton of fighting amongst the Craft/Art ladies over who used more than their fair share of Art Supplies and who doesn't clean up properly that breaks out every year in planning meetings.

Last year one Lady brought in her own little Storage tub with a big sign on it that said "Morning VBS ONLY!!!!!" Every day she would put all "her" craft supplies in it and then hide it in a closet. Heaven help the poor soul who touched her glitter without authorization.

Didn't you just want to go mess with it?

 

[lvanleer]

I belong to a local Baptist church and our VBS is going on this week in the evening and ours is free to children from age 3 through grade 12 and all adults. Ours is a budgeted item each year although we do request donations of supplies and snack items prior to the event.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Our church does not charge. We had about 60 kids this year. We do send home a letter and envelope only 1 day during the week asking for a free will offering if they want to give, if not , that is o.k. too. The only thing we asked the kids to bring in this year and last year was a white t shirt that they were using for crafts. If they forgot or didnt have one we provided it. Our church is in really bad financial shape due to the economy and they asked the church members to contribute the lemondae mix this year. The crafts were cute but pretty cheap and last year we gave the kids some souveniers etc. This year all we could afford was a few lollipops each. There are some churches in the area that do charge. We also take a collection up each day. It kind of ends up like a contest for the kids. Each year they pick a mission project. This year the money went to a camp for physically disabled kids.

 

[SydneyBristow]

I belong to a medium-large Southern Baptist church. We do not charge charge. That's never been a consideration. It's considered a ministry to the children of our community.

It is expensive, but it's part of our general budget, which comes from tithes & offerings.

That's how our church does it, we're a medium size Southern Baptist church. We also do an offering each day of VBS (boys-vs-girls contest) and the entire weeks offering goes to a local food bank charity.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I paid $30 for my 9 year old DS's VBS, this is his first year attending. It was five days from 9-12. It was the Power Lab VBS. I honestly thought that was a deal! I guess I'm in the minority! He finished his last day today and he had sooo much fun and learned a lot! We don't attend church at all, and he has now expressed an interest in attending Sunday School so we just might go on Sunday He came home with a CD full of songs which are pretty good I must say. We have been listening to it all week!

ETA: I just looked at the website that sells the VBS supplies and wow that stuff really adds up!

Heah Summer, where did you go if I am not being too nosy asking? Was it the Methodist church on Old Town? I know alot of people there. Our is free and you can send Nicholas to ours too next year, personal invite from me!! Just head up Jayne Blvd. after 4th of July, this year was the 7-11. Its 9-12:30. And of course its FREE!!

 

[summerrluvv]

Heah Summer, where did you go if I am not being too nosy asking? Was it the Methodist church on Old Town? I know alot of people there. Our is free and you can send Nicholas to ours too next year, personal invite from me!! Just head up Jayne Blvd. after 4th of July, this year was the 7-11. Its 9-12:30. And of course its FREE!!

No but I saw their sign! I think theirs is at the end of August. It was Full Gospel on Old Town Road just a minute away from there. I'll remember that for next year, thanks!

 

[ZuZugal]

Has anyone ever heard of a church charging for vacation bible school? There is a church about 2 miles away from my house, and I have been meaning to check it out for about a year now. I like my church about 20 minutes away, but it doesn't have a lot of kid programs and with an 8, 7, and 4 year old that is a big concern of mine. I figured, Vacation Bible School might be a good time to start! Well, I went to register the kids, and it's $15 a kid for VBS! That would be $45 for my kids! Wow! I know VBS is a costly venture..but I always thought of it as a community outreach type of thing. Thoughts? Has anyone else heard of this? Makes me kind of not want to visit the church..charging for the kid programs doesn't really suit too well with me.. I don't know.

What doesn't sit too well with you? That you're not getting something for nothing?
Did you volunteer your time to the program when you signed up? Offer to donate supplies? Teach the kids some of the VBS songs?
How much would you pay a sitter for the 4 hours or so a day that your children would be attending?

I just don't understand why people equate church with free programs. Some churches are able to fund these types of programs and others are just not. It does not make it a more undesirable church because they charge a fee for VBS.

"The church" is the congregation. The people decide. Maybe you should join that church and offer to chair the VBS program next summer.