VBS will take place Monday, July 11 through Thursday, July 13

All children from our community are invited to take part in this special week of music, mission, crafts, snacks, and games -- all designed to help reinforce simple Bible truths. To participate, children must be 4 years old by December 31 through rising 6th grade. Children who are in rising 6th grade can choose to be a volunteer if they would prefer.

Please review all the key information on this page!  We will continue to update this page. Please notify Ryan Giorgis at r.giorgis@christchurchrichmond.com if you are unable to attend so that we can invite others to participate. 

New this year!! One adult per family is required to sign up for at least a 3 hour volunteer shift. We have a lot of different volunteer jobs at many different times!  Please visit our volunteer link to sign up!  We welcome anyone who can sign up for crew leaders but we ask that you commit to at least 2 days so we have some consistency with the children.

Dates & Times
Monday, July 10– Thursday, July 13 from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM. Please try to arrive by 8:50 AM each day as we begin promptly at 9:00 AM. On Monday, you will need to check-in your child so he/she can be assigned a crew. It may take awhile to accommodate all our families, so please arrive early.

Age
Children who will be 4 years old by December 31 through rising 6th graders can participate in VBS. New this year, our Elementary program includes children who have completed Kindergarten through rising 6th graders.  If your child has NOT attended kindergarten, he/she will participate in our preschool program. Children will be grouped by ages and our curriculums are age appropriate. 

Preschool Arrival and Dismissal
On Monday, all parents must check in their children in at registration tables to receive their child's crew assignment. After this initial check-in, preschool children will go their classroom in the Education Building. In the classrooms, parents will find their child’s crew leader at a second sign-in station and will provide information on who will pick up the child. Tuesday – Thursday, preschool parents can take their children directly to classroom for sign-in with the crew leader.

Preschool children will travel within the preschool building for Bible lesson; arts and crafts; music and movement; and then to the playground for free play.  Preschool children may be picked up in the Education/Preschool building classroom where you dropped them off. Parents should go to their preschool child’s location and sign out with the crew leader. If the teachers do not recognize the person picking a child up, they may ask for an ID. 

Elementary Arrival and Dismissal
On Monday, all parents must check in their children at our registration tables for crew assignment. After this initial check-in, elementary children will go to the Sanctuary. In the Sanctuary, parents will find their child’s crew leader at a second sign-in step, including information on who will pick up the child. Tuesday – Thursday, parents can go directly to Sanctuary to drop children off with crew leaders.

Elementary children will start their day with an opening celebration including music, videos, and an overview of the day’s lesson. They move through campus to hear a Bible lesson, participate in games, learn music and movement, and have a snack.  Elementary children will be picked up in the Sanctuary where they were dropped off. Parents should enter the Sanctuary after the closing ceremony and find their child’s crew leader to check out their child. If the teachers do not recognize the person picking a child up, they may ask for an ID.

Attire
Children should wear sunscreen, comfortable clothing, and closed-toed shoes as they will be very active and playing outside. Water and snacks will be provided daily (goldfish, pretzels, or crackers, etc.)  Parents should bring a snack for their child if there is a medical need or a concern regarding snack.

Allergies/Medical
If your child has an allergy or medical condition that requires immediate response, please fill out the medical form and bring it and your child’s medicine on the first day of VBS. Please check in on the first day with the nurse with the medications for a brief review.  Both the form and medicine will be kept with your child’s crew leader should it be needed during their time with us and be returned on the last day. The  nurse can operate the Epipen.  If your child has allergies and needs to have an Epipen with them, you are welcome to bring one in and leave it with the nurse daily or throughout the week and it will be returned on the last day. 

Fee
There is no fee for VBS.  However, we have a suggested donation of $20 per child to help with expenses of VBS as well as the CD and tee shirt each child will receive. This can be paid via credit card during the online registration process. Cash and checks will be accepted at VBS drop off or they can be dropped off in the church office prior to VBS. Checks should be made payable to Christ Church Episcopal.

Mission Projects
Children will be working during the week on projects that go directly to missions within our community.  More information will be coming on selected missions.

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VOLUNTEER WITH US
We need lots of helping hands to make VBS successful for the children. We ask that each family participating in VBS commit to an adult volunteering for at least a 3 hour volunteer shift.  Additionally, we have many types of volunteer options available for anyone who is a rising 6th grader and above and can offer volunteer hours. Even if you are not able to participate the entire week, we can use any and all of the time you have to offer. Visit the volunteer link for all of our opportunities.