This manual is your logistics map and your skit book. The Group handouts cover what you teach; this covers how the day runs - where to be, who you are with, and what each role does - plus the full optional daily skit scripts. Read Section 4 (everyone) plus your own station section, and keep this at your post.
Our theme this week is the nature of God - who he is. Each day reveals one part of his character: he is our creator, he is love, he is forever. "Wow, God!" is not the theme; it is our shared daily response. Whenever a leader says the day's Bible point, the kids fling both hands open like fireworks and shout it back.
Day 4 breaks the rotation: worship, big-group games, face paint, a closing celebration, and a family-style BBQ hosted by Jake and Annie. Full breakdown in the Thursday section.
| Time | What is happening | Where / who |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30-9:00 | Volunteer arrival & briefing (adults); Monday: family check-in runs outdoors 8:30-9:00 | Briefing Room / entrance |
| 8:30-9:00 | Monday only: family check-in - outdoors at the entrance; kit handout | Building entrance turf |
| 9:00-9:50 | Opening worship & optional skit - song (Sing & Play Tune Lagoon), group game, and the optional daily skit | Sanctuary · worship + optional skit |
| 9:55-12:00 | Station rotations - 5 blocks; each group rotates through all 5 stations | Station leads + group leaders |
| 12:05-1:00 | Lunch & Canopy Closing - eat, then celebrate, review, daily wow experience, pray, dismiss; led by Jake & Annie | Sanctuary |
| Block | Station | Room | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening | Worship (Sing & Play Tune Lagoon) | Sanctuary | All-group worship, song & motions that open and close every day |
| 1 | Games (Wild About God) | Outside Area | Active, cooperative outdoor games tied to the day's point |
| 2 | Crafts (Creation Station) | Elementary Area | Theme craft / take-home project at structured tables |
| 3 | Snack (Snack Shack) | Kitchen + outside | Snack, water, allergy checks, calm reset |
| 4 | Bible (Under the Waterfall) | MPR Room | Bible teaching - the day's story and who God is |
| 5 | Scripture (Verse Vines) | Tots Room | Learn and lock in the day's memory verse |
Used for: final director review before Day One.
VBS days
Monday to Thursday, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Kid groups
Tree Frogs, Toucans, Monkeys, Parrots, Tigers.
Rotation stations
Monday to Wednesday only.
Worship (Sing & Play Tune Lagoon) gathers everyone in the Sanctuary at opening and again at closing, led by the worship team. Support spaces: the Nursery for the youngest and for quiet resets, and the Briefing Room for check-in, supplies, and floaters, plus the Face Paint Room and BBQ area on Thursday.
Used for: Sunday volunteer walk-through and the 8:40 AM daily pre-brief.
| Day | Theme / Bible point | Bible story | Verse | Daily emphasis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, Day One | God is our creator | God creates the world, Genesis 1 | Psalm 103:22 | Wonder, purpose, value, and the shared response: Wow, God! |
| Tuesday, Day Two | God is love | Jesus dies and comes back to life, Luke 22:39 to 24:12 | Psalm 136:1 | Speak with warmth. Keep the cross and resurrection clear, simple, and not graphic. |
| Wednesday, Day Three | God is forever | John sees God’s forever home, Revelation 7:17 and 21 to 22 | Psalm 115:18 | Teach hope with care. Be sensitive to grief, heaven, death, and sadness questions. |
| Thursday, Fun Day + Family BBQ | Week recap | God made us, loves us, and is with us forever | Week recap | Welcome parents, keep kids grouped, maintain pickup verification, and finish with joy. |
Thursday keeps the same safety and pickup rules, but replaces normal rotations with worship recap, outside games, face paint, final celebration, and Family BBQ.
Used for: Sunday volunteer walk-through, Monday morning check-in setup, daily pre-brief reminders, and pickup teams.
Greet family outside at the entrance turf. Confirm child name and registration.
Confirm allergies, emergency notes, family contact, and pickup code.
Give shirt, lanyard/name tag, wristband, drawstring bag, and group color.
Walk or direct the child to the Sanctuary group area by color.
Leader greets child, checks them onto the group list, and keeps them with the group.
Release the child to the adult, mark pickup complete, and keep the line moving.
Do not release the child. Keep the child with the group and call Jake or Annie.
No exceptions because someone is in a hurry, knows the child, or is present at BBQ.
| Area | Required procedure | Escalate to |
|---|---|---|
| Head counts | Count before leaving a room, after arriving, before lunch, before closing, and before pickup. | Group leader, then Jake or Annie if a child is missing. |
| Allergies | Check allergy notes before snack, lunch, face paint, and BBQ. Do not guess on ingredients. | Snack lead, Jake, or Annie. |
| Bathroom trips | Use the buddy/leader system. A group should never be left without adult coverage. | Group leader or floater. |
| Injury or illness | Bring child to first aid or call for help. Keep calm and document what happened. | Jake or Annie. |
| Behavior concerns | Use calm, clear language. Keep the child and group safe. Do not shame or argue. | Jake or Annie if behavior continues or safety is affected. |
| Parent access | Parents stay outside child areas unless directed by Jake or Annie. Thursday parent presence does not change pickup rules. | Jake or Annie. |
| Walkies | Keep messages short: who, where, what is needed. Return and charge at end of day. | Jake or Annie. |
Kids are divided into five groups by age band, each with a name, a lanyard color, and assigned group leaders. Groups stay together (aim for about 8 to 12 kids each) and travel through every station as a unit, so all five stations run full every block.
| Group | Color | Ages | Group leaders |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tree Frogs | Red | 3-4 | Gabriela Kish |
| Toucans | Orange | 5 | JoLayne E. & Kimberly |
| Monkeys | Yellow | 6-7 | Grace K. & Eva |
| Parrots | Green | 8-9 | Hailey S. & Stacy G. |
| Tigers | Blue | 10-12 | Elisabeth M. & Isaiah Liptac |
Red = Tree Frogs, Orange = Toucans, Yellow = Monkeys, Green = Parrots, Blue = Tigers, and Purple = Station Leaders. A child's lanyard color tells any volunteer at a glance which group they belong to.
Four roles make the day run. Most volunteers are group leaders or station leads. Know your lane.
Jake & Annie run the day. They open and close, set the day focus in the 8:30 briefing, handle escalations, allergies, security, and pickup decisions, and answer any "I am not sure" question. Find them in the Sanctuary or Briefing Room.
Own one room all week. Set up before kids arrive, lead the activity, keep the rotation on time, and reset between groups. They teach the content; group leaders manage the kids.
Shepherd one group through the whole morning. Stay with your kids at every station, learn names, help them participate, keep them together and safe, and handle bathroom trips per policy. You are the constant; stations change around you.
Fill gaps: extra hands at busy stations, bathroom escorts, supply runs, line control, covering breaks. Staged from the Briefing Room; the directors deploy them where needed.
Roves between stations to keep the daily content and age-level notes on track and helps any team that falls behind.
Runs sound, media, slides, and the Spotlight show for opening and closing. Your go-to for any tech or A/V need.
Group leaders move with their kids; station leads stay put. When a rotation ends, the station lead thanks the group and points them to the next room - the group leader walks them there and checks in with the next lead. Kids are never between rooms without their group leader.
Station leaders use countdown clocks at their station so every block ends on time. Group leaders keep a timer on their phone as a backup and to pace bathroom trips. Jake and Annie float all morning to keep transitions crisp - if a hallway is jamming up or a room is running long, they will help move it along.
Whatever station you serve, these are the shared mechanics. Learn them once and you can plug in anywhere.
Each station block runs about 20 to 25 minutes. Station leads aim for this shape so groups arrive and leave on time.
Used at every station, all week. Say the Bible point and the kids fling both hands open like fireworks and shout "Wow, God!" It is our response to the day's truth about God's nature.
Adopt one team-wide so it works in any room. Suggested: a leader calls "Rainforest..." and kids answer "...READY!", freeze, eyes up, voices off. Always wait for full quiet before giving directions.
For any bathroom, allergy, injury, or security concern, pause and get Jake, Annie, or Jake or Annie.
Disclosures of harm or abuse: thank the child, stay calm, involve a director now. No secrecy, no investigating.
Faith or salvation questions: affirm them, do not pressure, and loop in a pastoral leader after.
This is the Monday to Wednesday plan (the daily theme changes; the movement pattern stays the same). Everyone worships together at opening, then the five groups rotate through the five stations, one station per block, with every room full every block.
| Time | Activity | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30-9:00 | Volunteer arrival & briefing (adults only); Monday: family check-in 8:30-9:00 outdoors | Briefing Room / entrance |
| 9:00-9:50 | Opening - Canopy worship & skit - song, group game, optional daily skit (Jake & Annie lead) | Sanctuary |
| 9:55-10:15 | Rotation Block 1 | 5 stations |
| 10:20-10:40 | Rotation Block 2 | 5 stations |
| 10:45-11:05 | Rotation Block 3 | 5 stations |
| 11:10-11:30 | Rotation Block 4 | 5 stations |
| 11:35-12:00 | Rotation Block 5 | 5 stations |
| 12:05-1:00 | Lunch & Canopy Closing - eat, then celebrate & dismiss (Jake & Annie lead) | Sanctuary |
The top row is all-group worship at opening. Below it, rows = stations and columns = the five 20-minute blocks. Each cell shows the group in that room that block (in its lanyard color) and its age. With five groups and five stations, every station is full every block. Read your station's row to see who is coming; follow a group's color across the columns to track it all morning.
| Station / Room | Block 1 9:55-10:15 |
Block 2 10:20-10:40 |
Block 3 10:45-11:05 |
Block 4 11:10-11:30 |
Block 5 11:35-12:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Worship Tune Lagoon · Sanctuary | ALL groups together · 9:00-9:50 (Jake & Annie lead; before rotations begin) | ||||
| Games Wild About God · Outside |
Tree Frogs age 3-4 |
Tigers age 10-12 |
Parrots age 8-9 |
Monkeys age 6-7 |
Toucans age 5 |
| Crafts Creation Station · Elementary |
Toucans age 5 |
Tree Frogs age 3-4 |
Tigers age 10-12 |
Parrots age 8-9 |
Monkeys age 6-7 |
| Snack Snack Shack · Cave Room |
Monkeys age 6-7 |
Toucans age 5 |
Tree Frogs age 3-4 |
Tigers age 10-12 |
Parrots age 8-9 |
| Bible Under the Waterfall · MPR |
Parrots age 8-9 |
Monkeys age 6-7 |
Toucans age 5 |
Tree Frogs age 3-4 |
Tigers age 10-12 |
| Scripture Verse Vines · Tots |
Tigers age 10-12 |
Parrots age 8-9 |
Monkeys age 6-7 |
Toucans age 5 |
Tree Frogs age 3-4 |
Tree Frogs follow the board order exactly: Games, Crafts, Snack, Bible, Scripture. Each other group starts one station further along and rotates the same direction, so the rooms never collide.
Worship together first, then your group color is your map. At 9:55 go to your Block 1 station, then move one row down the grid each block (wrapping from Scripture back to Games). You stay with the kids the whole time; the rooms change around you.
Read your row left to right: that is the order of groups you receive. Tree Frogs are youngest, Tigers are oldest - plan your pacing and difficulty for whoever is next.
On Monday the building entrance is our check-in. Set up on the smaller turf area to the side as you face the building, so the whole arrival happens outdoors and feels like the start of an adventure. Kendra leads a team of two to three volunteers at the table. They sign each child in for the entire week, hand over the child's drawstring bag, and direct families inside. Aim to have every child checked in by 9:00 so opening can start clean at 9:00 sharp.
Bags are pre-stuffed and pre-sorted alphabetically so the line never stalls. Each contains:
The drawstring bag is theirs for the week. Lanyard color = group color, so any volunteer can tell at a glance where a child belongs.
Hand each family the schedule for the week, an invitation to the Thursday Family BBQ, and their custom pickup code (used to verify pickup all week). If a family's registration is not paid, Kendra or a director quietly lets them know the amount due and how to pay - discreetly, away from the child and out of earshot of other families. Note the family, share it kindly, keep the line moving.
First impressions set the tone for the whole week. Have upbeat worship/theme music playing at the table, greeters calling kids by name with high-fives or a quick "welcome tunnel," and a loud, happy "Welcome to the rainforest!" for every family. Cheer when a group color shows up ("Reds in the house - Tree Frogs, let's go!"). Smiles, sunglasses, fun hats - make the turf feel like the front door of an adventure, not a paperwork desk.
Runs the table, owns the roster and the alphabetical bag layout, handles payment conversations, and keeps the line moving so everyone is in by 9:00 and into the Sanctuary.
Sign kids in, hand out bags, give parents the schedule and BBQ invite, and walk kids into the Sanctuary.
Available for any payment, registration, or pickup question Kendra flags - handled quietly.
Receive kids inside the Sanctuary, gather your group by its color sign, and keep them together until opening.
Drop-off and pickup follow a Sunday-style check-in flow. At drop-off each family receives a custom pickup code. At pickup, a child is released only to an adult who gives the matching code. Never release a child to anyone without the code - any doubt goes to a director.
No tables of bags and no packets. Kids are dropped off and go straight into the Sanctuary to be with their group. A greeter at the door keeps it warm and quick; group leaders gather kids inside by color.
All kids and leaders begin in the Sanctuary for worship songs, daily Bible point, memory verse, Buddy, God Sightings, optional skit or extra songs, and group release by color.
If the optional skit is not staffed, do not force it. Continue with worship and dance, add one or two Forest Frank songs or familiar sing-alongs, then move directly into the Bible point, verse, Buddy, God Sightings, and group release.
The Sanctuary is set as a rainforest with a waterfall installation by the stage. Chairs are pushed to the back all week for open movement space. Each group gathers and is dismissed at its color sign (Red Tree Frogs, Orange Toucans, Yellow Monkeys, Green Parrots, Blue Tigers). A God Sightings Celebration Spot (a marked wall or stage section) holds the banner and the cutouts groups add each day. The day's Bible Point Poster stands up front, and the screen shows the Bible Memory Buddy intro and the closing Spotlight photos.
Every time a leader says the day's Bible point, kids fling their fingers wide like fireworks and shout "Wow, God!" Teach it slowly on Monday; it should be automatic by Wednesday. It is used at every station, all week.
Host the whole opening: welcome, Bible point, verse, Buddy intro, God Sightings, announcements, prayer, and the timed release to stations.
Lead songs and motions from the stage and the sides; model the energy and the "Wow, God!" response.
Perform the day's skit (Ranger Rio). See the scripts section.
Sit with your group at its color sign, do every motion, lead God Sightings sharing, keep kids together, and listen for your release cue. Kids follow your lead.
| Day | Bible point | Verse | Buddy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | God is our creator | Psalm 103:22 | Tango |
| Tue | God is love | Psalm 136:1 | Tia |
| Wed | God is forever | Psalm 115:18 | Howie |
| Thu | Celebrate it all (Fun Day) | Review | All three |
Songs come from the Rainforest Falls set ("God Is," "Majestic," "All Creatures of Our God and King," and more). God Sightings sharing begins Tuesday; on Monday, opening focuses on teaching the response and orienting groups.
The optional skit is the storytelling heartbeat of opening. The same characters return each day so kids stay invested across the week, and each day the characters hit a problem that the day's truth about God answers. It happens on the main stage during opening, right after the group game and just before the Bible point, so the optional skit sets up the point the leaders then say out loud.
Use the skit only if the volunteer team is staffed and ready. If not, keep opening simple: worship, the daily Bible point, memory verse, Buddy, God Sightings, and extra songs. Forest Frank songs or familiar sing-alongs can fill that time without disrupting the schedule.
The steady, warm host who frames each scene and lands the day's truth. Off book, high energy. Same actor all week.
The lovable, over-enthusiastic rainforest ranger who has the problem or question each day. Big, kid-friendly expressions; the character the kids root for.
A toucan puppet sidekick for comic relief, operated by a helper. Lines are optional - cut Coco if you only have two actors.
Mics, music stings, lights, and props. Cues the start and the close.
The optional skit needs the same GUIDE and RANGER RIO (plus optional COCO and a tech) all four days for continuity. Pull them from the volunteer roster and confirm at the Monday 8:30 briefing. Actors rehearse all four short scripts before Day 1 and keep a printed copy at the sound table.
Keep it under 8 minutes. Funny is good; silliness that buries the point is not. Use gentle language around the cross on Day 2 and no graphic detail. If a puppet or costume is used, the handler stays with it the whole scene. If tech fails, the Guide performs it live with no mics - keep going.
Keep the recurring props in a labeled bin at the sound table so the optional skit team can grab and reset fast between days.
Full scripts for the optional skit team. Each runs 5 to 8 minutes on the Sanctuary stage during opening. Lines are a strong guide, not a cage - stay in character, keep the energy up, and always land the day's truth before handing back to the opening leader. Bracketed italics are stage directions. Cut COCO's lines if you only have two actors.
Use the skit only if the volunteer team is staffed and ready. If not, keep opening simple: worship, the daily Bible point, memory verse, Buddy, God Sightings, and extra songs. Forest Frank songs or familiar sing-alongs can fill that time without disrupting the schedule.
Cast: GUIDE (host), RANGER RIO (recurring), COCO the toucan puppet (optional), TECH (offstage). Set: the rainforest stage with the waterfall backdrop. Props kept onstage: Rio's oversized explorer backpack and a clipboard. Recurring runner: Rio always enters from the same side with the same music sting so kids cheer when they hear it. End every skit by handing to the opening leader for the Bible point and the "Wow, God!" response.
Set the boundary, pick the activity, explain it in 20 seconds or less, watch for rough play, call water breaks, and adapt to age and weather.
Play alongside kids, keep the group together, hold the boundary line, stop rough play early, and include quieter kids.
Play, cooperate, listen quickly, stay inside the boundary, and follow safety rules.
Extra eyes for boundaries, water, bathroom escorts, and team balancing.
Fast directions, quick rounds, loud encouragement, water breaks, and clear boundaries. Celebrate teamwork more than winning.
Prep supplies before kids arrive, show the sample, demo one step at a time, keep supplies controlled, and run cleanup.
Distribute and refill supplies, help at tables, manage the cleanup bin, and protect the take-home pile.
Help kids follow steps, encourage kids whose work looks different, and keep take-home items with the group.
Make, experiment, personalize, clean up, and keep supplies safe.
Short directions, prepared supplies, quick encouragement, and clear cleanup. Celebrate effort and originality, not neatness.
The fuel-and-settle station. Kids get a themed snack and water while the team runs strict allergy checks and keeps a calm pace. A short conversation connects the snack to the day's point. (This is the mid-morning snack in the Cave Room; the full lunch is downstairs in the elementary area at the end of the day.)
Snack runs in the Cave Room this year, led by Savannah E. and Brooke. The gray cave-themed room is calm and contained, which makes it a good place for kids to sit, refuel, and reset. Prep can stage from the kitchen, but kids eat their snack here. This room also doubles as the quiet reset spot if a child needs a short break.
Run the serving line, own the allergy list, plate safely, keep portions and pace steady, and manage cleanup.
Refill water, hand out, wipe tables, manage trash, and prep the next group's serving.
Confirm each child's allergy status before food, keep kids seated, lead the snack conversation, and help with cleanup.
Sit, eat, hydrate, answer the connection question, and clean up their spot.
Snack is the calmer, settle station - aim for warm energy, not wild. Do a fun snack-name reveal ("Today we are eating... JUNGLE TRAIL MIX!"), a quick table cheer, and friendly leader conversation. Keep voices up and positive while bodies stay seated.
The Bible teaching station. Kids hear and step into the day's story (creation / Jesus' death and resurrection / John's vision of heaven) using the Group content, props, and discussion.
The hallway entrance feels like walking beneath a waterfall (hanging tinsel foil curtains). Blue paper walls, sea animals, coral, rocks, and fishing nets. The goal is calm and captivating so kids settle and focus.
Know the story cold before kids arrive, teaches in short scenes, keeps the Bible open and visible, asks application questions, and manages pacing.
Handles props, helps assign acting roles, manages lights and visuals, and watches the door.
Sit with your group, help kids act safely and listen, keep it reverent in quiet moments, and draw out answers.
Listen, take simple roles, respond to questions, and connect the story to their own lives.
Reverent does not mean flat. Use a storyteller voice with suspense and volume changes, sound effects, and quick participation ("everybody be the wind... GO!"). Pause on the big moments. Pull kids in with questions so they lean forward. Captivated beats calm-and-bored every time.
A focused station where kids work the day's memory verse into their heads with motions, call-and-response, and the Group memory-verse activity. This is the "Scripture" block on the schedule.
Existing animal wall paintings keep decor minimal - hanging vines and greenery give the Verse Vines feel. Cozy and contained, which is good for focus.
Introduces the verse, leads the motions, runs the activity, and keeps repetition fun rather than a drill.
Help non-readers repeat after the leader, keep turns fair, and prevent the activity from becoming a competition.
Say the verse, do the motions, and take turns; non-readers repeat after a leader.
Step in when a group needs extra adult support, help with bathroom trips, transitions, and room flow.
Turn the verse into a movement chant with a motion for each phrase. Run speed rounds (say it slow, medium, super fast), volume rounds (whisper, then shout), and boy-vs-girl or leader-vs-kids call-backs. Big celebration when they nail it - make memorizing feel like winning.
The day ends back where it started - in the Sanctuary, hosted by Jake and Annie. Groups eat lunch together, then gather for Canopy Closing: a celebration that reviews the day's Bible point, shows the day's Spotlight photos, runs a hands-on "wow" experience tied to the theme, shares God Sightings, and sends everyone off on a high before pickup. Same room as opening, so the worship set, God Sightings Celebration Spot, and Bible Point Poster are already in place.
Use the Sanctuary with chairs still to the back and groups at their color signs. You will need the screen/projector for the Spotlight photo show, the microphone/sound system, the God Sightings Celebration Spot, and a clear front-center space (with a tarp) for the daily "wow" experience. Lunch is served in the eating area just before, so plan the flow from tables back into the Sanctuary.
Host the whole closing: Spotlight, review, the wow experience, God Sightings, prayer, and the release to pickup.
Lead the closing songs and keep energy up between segments.
Run the wow-experience props, manage the lunch line, and staff the pickup table.
Eat with your group, keep them together, lead God Sightings, collect badges/Buddies into the group bag, and follow dismissal cues exactly.
Lunch is served downstairs in the elementary area (the Creation Station space flipped for lunch). Jake and Annie lead the transition from the Sanctuary: groups are dismissed by age group, and group leaders line up their kids and walk them downstairs. Mikai leads the lunch setup transition (Isaac supports), and station leaders help flip the space. Keep the same allergy rules from snack at lunch.
A hands-on object lesson Jake & Annie run from the front, matched to the day's truth. Props and full step-by-step are in the Group leader manual; the summaries below are for planning. Practice each one beforehand.
| Day & theme | Experience (in brief) | Main props |
|---|---|---|
| Mon - God is our creator | A "Creation Catapult" (a leaf blower fitted with cardboard tubes) launches plush Rainforest Flyers across the room; with each launch, celebrate a part of God's creation and shout the point. | Leaf blower, wye joint, painted mailing tubes, plush flyers, paper plate, duct tape |
| Tue - God is love | Groups color a cloth heart and tell ways they show love, then dip it in water so the marker smudges (our love is imperfect). The cloths are draped on a cross, and "Jesus" reveals a clean heart - God's perfect, lasting love. | Large cross, tarp, bin of water, white sheet cut into hearts, washable markers, optional Jesus costume |
| Wed - God is forever | Rocket Balloons zip along a fishing-line zip line, going farther each time but always running out of air - a vivid picture that everything here ends, but only God is forever. | Rocket Balloons, balloon pumps, fishing line, drinking straws, tape, clothespins |
| Thu - Fun Day | Celebration recap of all three truths leading into the family BBQ (see the Thursday section). | See Thursday section |
Kids learn about God Sightings (everyday evidence of God at work) at Day 1 closing and receive a Watch for God wristband to wear all week. From Tuesday on, groups share God Sightings at opening and add cutouts to the Celebration Spot. Group leaders keep the sharing warm and quick.
Spike the energy for the celebration, then deliberately bring the room down for the Bible-point recap and prayer so the truth lands quietly before the loud send-off. High, then low, then one last cheer into dismissal.
Pickup follows the Sunday-style flow: release each child only to an adult who gives the family’s custom pickup code. Give one direction at a time: "Group leaders stand," then "Groups line up," then "Walk to pickup." Keep kids with their group leader until the code is verified. The last five minutes shape parent confidence - end with calm authority.
Thursday breaks the pattern. Instead of timed station rotations, stations run loose and kids flow between big-group games, face paint, and building to a closing celebration and a family BBQ hosted by Jake and Annie. Floaters carry the day - bathroom trips, line control, face paint, food setup, transitions.
| Time | What is happening | Where / who |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30-9:00 | Setup & BBQ prep meeting - confirm Fun Day boundaries, BBQ assignments, allergy labels | Briefing Room · all leads + BBQ team |
| 9:00-9:25 | Drop-off & gathering - kids go straight into the Sanctuary by group (no Monday-style check-in) | Sanctuary |
| 9:25-9:50 | Fun Day opening - welcome, prayer, explain the flow and safety boundaries | Sanctuary · Jake, Annie, worship |
| 9:55-10:30 | Worship celebration - high-energy songs, dance, recap of the week | Sanctuary · worship team |
| 10:30-11:15 | Big-group games + Face paint - games outside; face paint as a small rotating line | Outside + Face Paint Room |
| 11:15-11:45 | Games, face paint, and open play - keep kids moving toward lunch and parent connection | Sanctuary / Outside / BBQ area |
| 11:45-12:00 | Final celebration + BBQ transition - final songs, thank volunteers, recap, prayer | Sanctuary; BBQ setup begins |
| 12:00-1:00 | Family BBQ - family lunch, parent connection, pickup flow, cleanup | BBQ / Fellowship Area · all hands |
Run opening and the final celebration, set Fun Day boundaries, and host the family BBQ - serving line, welcome, parent connection, and pickup.
Support Jake and Annie: set the serving line, drinks, allergy labels, trash, and seating; help run family lunch and cleanup.
Stay with kids through the looser flow, keep track of your group across open stations, and help at BBQ pickup.
Bathroom trips, line control, face paint (washable, allergy-aware, with a no-paint alternative), food setup, and transitions.
Adults only in the food-prep zone. Keep allergy labels on every dish. Supervised games stay near the eating area. Maintain the same pickup verification as the rotation days - parents arriving for food does not loosen pickup checks.
Your path moves one station up the grid each block, wrapping from Scripture back to Games. Need to step a child out to reset? Hand the rest of your group to a co-leader or floater first.
Child will not participate: stay warm, offer a small job, let them watch. Never shame. Group too loud: move close, lower your voice, give one clear direction. Kids excluding another: re-pair and say "in this group, everyone is included." Overly active child: stand near, give a helper role, praise good choices. Disclosure of harm: thank them, stay calm, get a director now. Unsure about anything: ask a director; never guess about safety, allergies, or pickup.
Print this page and post it at every station.
| Role | Who | Find them |
|---|---|---|
| Safety leads | Jake & Annie | Primary point people for check-in questions, pickup questions, injuries, parent concerns, and emergency decisions. |
| Directors / Team leads | Jake & Annie | Sanctuary or Briefing Room |
| Worship / Dance (Opening & Closing) | Grace, Eva, Mya | Sanctuary |
| Production / A-V | Ian | Sanctuary booth |
| Content / station support | Drea | Roving |
| Bible - Under the Waterfall | Ray & Isaias | MPR Room |
| Memory Verse - Verse Vines | Danielle & Gaby B. | Tots Room |
| Crafts - Creation Station | Sarah L. & Kathy L. | Elementary Area |
| Games - Wild About God | Mikai, Isaac, Selah | Outside Area |
| Snack | Savannah E. & Brooke | Cave Room |
| Group: Tree Frogs (3-4) | Gabriela Kish | Red lanyards |
| Group: Toucans (5) | JoLayne E. & Kimberly | Orange lanyards |
| Group: Monkeys (6-7) | Grace K. & Eva | Yellow lanyards |
| Group: Parrots (8-9) | Hailey S. & Stacy G. | Green lanyards |
| Group: Tigers (10-12) | Elisabeth M. & Isaiah Liptac | Blue lanyards |
| Check-in lead | Kendra (+2-3 volunteers) | Entrance turf (Monday) |
| Family BBQ (Thursday) | Jake & Annie | BBQ / Fellowship Area |
Whatever your station, every group should hear the Bible point, do the activity, answer one question, and leave knowing exactly where to go next, with their group leader, on time. Wow, God!
HOUSE Kids VBS 2026 · Rainforest Falls · Volunteer Manual · Mon to Thu