Vacation Bible School

Zack (left) and Eden work with clay during craft time at the Peterson Vacation Bible School. This year’s VBS ran July 9-13 and was based on the scripture Phillipians 4:19. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lea Johnson)

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Vacation Bible School

Kids dance and sing during music time at Vacation Bible School, July 9-13. More than 90 children and 70 volunteers participated in this summer’s VBS. Each day kids rotated to four stations - music, crafts, games and Bible stories. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lea Johnson)

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VBS takes kids to the wild

Published July 31, 2012
By Lea Johnson
21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- More than 90 children and 70 volunteers gathered at the Peterson AFB Chapel July 9-13 for games, crafts and music, all while learning about scripture.

According to Amy Love, Peterson AFB Chapel Catholic religious education coordinator, this year's Vacation Bible School theme was "Into the Wild," and based on Philippians 4:19.

"We try to choose (a theme) so that any faith could come and enjoy themselves," Love said.

VBS is organized jointly by the Catholic education coordinator and the Protestant education coordinator, with the help of other Chapel employees.

The Chapel's VBS was also planned in coordination with Gospel Light's Sonrise National Park VBS. Love said this means in addition to the scripture theme, there was also a wildlife theme. Children were split up by age groups.

A week of VBS activities takes months of planning and preparation. The theme is usually chosen sometime in January. "We have parents calling just after the first of the year asking when Bible school will be," said Trish Mehner, Peterson AFB Chapel Protestant religious education coordinator. "People plan their vacations around this week."

Anyone with base access could send a child who is school-age, pre-kindergarten through fifth grade to VBS. Children who completed the fifth grade could sign up to be a volunteer.

Each day from 9 a.m. to noon, kids rotated through four different stations - Bible stories, games, crafts and music.

Love said that each day's activities focused on a different theme and scripture that are related to the over-all theme.

"We want to get the kids involved in the (Chapel) and in their faith. We want to get them excited about learning new things," Love said.