Vacation Bible School Themes 2011

Are you researching VBS themes for 2011? This page helps you compare the different curricula and choose the right one for your church’s Vacation Bible School.  Below you will find links to the official publishers websites and our reviews as they starter kits ship. We also have dozens of articles to help you plan your Vacation Bible School.

Update: We have launched our coverage of the 2012 VBS curriculum and themes. This is the perfect place to start your research in choosing next years program for Bible School.

In January, our readers voted on the ”Most Appealing 2011 VBS Theme.”

Group VBS 2011Group VBS 2011 | my video preview | our review | music samples | starter kit unboxing | Choose from two different options for your church’s Vacation Bible School program. Read our coverage of the Group 2011 VBS Theme announcement or visit their official website to learn more. We hope to review this theme on our website in late December.  For more information see Group’s Facebook Page and YouTube Channel

LifeWay VBS 2011 | preview the starter kit
You can also pick from 2 VBS theme options from LifeWay. Their main program for 2011 is called Big Apple Adventure and is a New York City themed Vacation Bible School. We plan to write an in-depth review in early December, but for now you can visit the official website to learn more.  Learn more about both programs from their community website or VBS blog. One church plant in NYC is even willing to parter with your kids for a missions offering, click here to learn more.

Kickin’ It Old School | preview the starter kit | my podcast with Go Fish | The Go Fish Guys have released their second Vacation Bible School theme. It’s a project where they update classic hymns for a new generation of kids and families to love. This is only their second VBS program, but they’re off to a great start. Download samples at their website and Facebook page.

Son Surf VBS logo clip artGospel Light VBS 2011
The curriculum that features “Jesus Every Day” has a new theme for next summer called Son Surf Beach Bash VBS. This is something of a safe concept, since most publishers have tried a beach theme for their Vacation Bible School materials. I’ve looked through the initial information and we will post a full review once we see the curriculum first hand. Check out their official website for more details and to hear the theme song.

Cokesbury VBS 2011 | preview the starter kit
I really like the creative direction for Cokesbury this year. Their new 2011 VBS theme is built around chefs and cooking. It’s called “Shake It Up Café: Where Kids Carry Out God’s Recipe.” The daily Bible recipes are based on biblical feasts and the principles they teach about following God’s plan. If you want something very original for a Bible school program, you should give this one a closer look. Check out the official website to learn more.

Regular Baptist Press | preview the starter kit | our review | Rev It Up! Full Throttle for God is a NASCAR themed VBS for 2011. This may have strong tie-in with boys who love stock car racing, or next Summer’s big movie “Cars 2.” Learn more at their official website.

mission to MARSMission to MARS | read our review
This is the 2011 VBS theme from WordAction Publishing.  This is one of the few space themed choices this year. MARS stands for “meet a risen Savior.” For ordering information visit the official website or Facebook page.

Beach Blast VBS | read our review | preview the starter kit | This is the simplified Vacation Bible School program from LifeWay that is designed for smaller churches.  It’s scaled back to include only 3 rotations and fit within a 2 hour time frame. The Bible lessons are broadly graded. To learn more and hear music samples, you can visit their official website.

10/40 Expedition: Quest for the Lost Window is a unique new VBS program that’s all about missions education. It’s produced by a mission organization called “Advancing Native Missions.” To learn more, read our review or visit their official website. This is their first year offering, but this one is worth looking over for any church that wants to education kids about missions among unreached areas of the world.

Other VBS Themes for 2011

Standard Publishing

Group Holy Land Adventure

Answers In Genesis VBS

Abingdon Press

reThink Group // Orange Curriculum

Great Commission Publications

Concordia House

Voice of the Martyrs

Next Generation for Christ

Urban Ministries Inc.

Augsburg Fortress

  • has updated the “reNew Green VBS” from their Spark House division, click here to read Glen’s review or visit the official website

Bogard Press

VBS Reachout Adventures

David C. Cook

  • no new VBS theme announced for 2011, older programs still available on their website

Apostle’s Publishing

  • no news about a 2011 VBS theme

Non-Dated Bible School Curriculum

There are also several smaller publishers who produce VBS materials that can be used any year. Here are a few that might interest you. This often double as Backyard Bible Club curriculum.

Catholic Vacation Bible School Curriculum

Most everything on our site is written from an Evangelical Protestant perspective, but here are a few links for our Catholic friends who put up with us. Check out these VBS programs written especially for Roman Catholic Churches.

Need More Help?: Vacation Bible School tips | VBS 2010| VBS 2009 | VBS 2008 | news about 2011 VBS | ask questions in our VBS forums. You might also enjoy VBS reviews from Lynda Freeman. Here’s the link for future Vacation Bible School 2012 theme reviews

VBS Activities & Tips

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  4. Comparison Chart Of Vacation Bible School Programs
  5. Help For Cash Short Vacation Bible School

{ 64 comments… read them below or add one }

Jennifer Perrow January 11, 2011 at 2:29 pm

VBS Reachout Adventures has a strong service component to all of their programs. Kids are encouraged at VBS each day to serve at home, at VBS, and in their communities. Churches also select one big service/missions/outreach project for the week. Kids help collect funds and at the end of the week they can see how all of their contributions add up to make a big impact. Great curriculum—in-depth Bible lessons, clear Gospel presentation, engaging service projects, and lots of fun!

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Cherise January 10, 2011 at 6:49 pm

Hi Tony, do you ship VBS material to the Caribbean. In my case Trinidad. There are some really exciting themes and I know the children at our church Children’s Ministry will love it. I just have to meet with our teaching staff and decide which one they love.

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Tony Kummer January 10, 2011 at 7:46 pm

You should check with the different publishers, we don’t sell anything on our site.

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annie January 9, 2011 at 2:48 pm

@Susie, I haven’t looked this year, but he last 2 or 3 years Standard has been strong in the area of service. We did theirs 2 years ago and loved it.

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SUsie January 8, 2011 at 1:25 pm

We are looking for a curriculum that emphasizes service/mission work (ie – serving others). Does anyone know of one?

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Julie February 12, 2011 at 3:29 pm

Standard has a daily mission craft project. We used this curriculum last year and did two of the service projects. It was well recieved by all! They follow the same format this year as well.

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Matt January 6, 2011 at 9:02 pm

I have narrowed it down to the Answers in Genesis’ “Gold Rush” and Gospel Light’s “SonSurf.”

A lot of the others have solid Biblical truths, but not the ones that are most pertinent to non-Christians.

These two both talk about sin and why we NEED Jesus to save us from our sins. I don’t have the full curriculum for any of them, but these two both mentioned that we need a savior. I didn’t see anything about sin in the others.

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Sharon Jones January 4, 2011 at 9:21 pm

I’m wanting to do a western theme this year but cant find any Saddle Ridge Ranch material, thinking of creating my own.
The Nazereth by Group looks good, I would love to hear from Tim Taylor on your Christmas program listed.

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Tim Taylor January 4, 2011 at 3:33 pm

Group has a VBS theme on “Growing Up In Nazareth With Jesus” I just recieved a flyer about it in the mail, I thought it look really good, as it would follow our “Breakfast In Bethleham” program just before Christmas. The children see Jesus bborn and now they can see him growing as a young child.

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Melanie January 4, 2011 at 9:04 am

I saw a comment requesting VBS literature using the KJV. I have found that RBP’s “Rev It Up” is KJV. The one I plan to use this year is TruthQuest’s “DRIVE!”. The TruthQuest curriculum is undated and is available in six bible translations. Hope this helps

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Tony Kummer January 4, 2011 at 10:07 am

@Melanie: Thanks for the info!

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Jessica January 3, 2011 at 11:53 am

http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/DynamicContent.aspx?id=185&pageid=808

I found this one in Cokesbury’s “VBS Spotlight 2011.” It’s Jesus Truth Seekers. Was wondering if you know anything about it? I don’t see it on your list. Although I may have missed it?

Thanks!

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Tony Kummer January 3, 2011 at 2:52 pm

@Jessica: Thanks for the tip, that one is new to me but I can track it down.

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Nathan Gast December 15, 2010 at 3:03 pm

I was watching your video North, Central, and South. We used to play this game with Upper Deck, Middle Deck, and Lower Deck for boat themes. :) It was fun!

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