This is our list of every Vacation Bible School theme we could find, by year, going back to 1983. We built it because our old year-by-year lists on this site stopped after the 2021 list, and people kept asking what came before and after.
Looking for a free VBS instead? Start with our list of seven free VBS programs.
Jump to a decade: 2027 · 2026 · 2025 · 2020s · 2010s · 2000s · 1990s · 1980s · Catholic VBS · Settings that keep coming back · Why this list exists
How to read these tables
- Each year has its own table, newest first. The 1990s and 1980s share one table per decade.
- In the 2027 table, each theme links to the publisher’s official page. In the older tables, “Our posts” links to what we wrote at the time: a first look when the theme was announced, or a starter-kit unboxing.
- A blank cell means we could not confirm it. We did not guess. A missing publisher in a given year means we have not found the record yet, not that the publisher skipped that year.
- The year is the summer the publisher sold the theme for. Where a theme was sold two summers in a row, the note says so.
2027 VBS themes (announced so far)
Publishers announce the next summer’s theme about a year ahead. Here is what has been announced for VBS 2027 so far. Our own program, Camp Courage VBS from The Sunday School Store, is in the table with everyone else. Orange had not announced a 2027 theme when this list was updated.
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spy U Uncovering Counterfeits, Discovering the One True God | Answers in Genesis | Psalm 86:10 | spy school | Publisher page |
| On the Boardwalk Where Friendship Starts with Jesus | Cokesbury | 1 John 4:7 | boardwalk / beach | Publisher page |
| Safari Expedition Exploring God’s Good Gifts | Concordia Publishing House | James 1:17 | safari | Publisher page |
| Crave | Group | Gospel of Luke | diner / food | Publisher page |
| Kingdom of David (Holy Land Adventure) · Polar Blast (Weekend) | Group (other lines) | Psalm 13:5 (Polar Blast) | Bible times · polar | |
| Take Flight Trusting God’s Faithfulness Above All | Lifeway | Psalm 100:5 | sky / aviation | Publisher page |
| Return to Camp Moose on the Loose Following Jesus on Life’s Rugged Trails | Regular Baptist Press | camping | Publisher page | |
| Camp Courage VBS Five-day VBS with elementary and preschool tracks | The Sunday School Store | Joshua 1:9 (elementary) · Psalm 56:3 (preschool); Esther, David and Goliath, the fiery furnace, Jesus the greatest rescue, Jericho | camping | Program page · How we made it |
We don’t sell any of these third-party Bible schools. We saw that churches needed a more affordable option that was more flexible for the way they run VBS, so we’re making VBSs now that are available for sale on the Sunday School Store. All-Access Pass members get Camp Courage as part of the Pass.
2020s VBS themes by year
2026 VBS themes
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerald Crossing | Answers in Genesis | Ireland / Celtic | ||
| Snowball Mountain Challenge | Cokesbury | winter mountain | ||
| Tropical Trek | Concordia Publishing House | jungle | ||
| Rainforest Falls | Group | the nature of God; rooted in relationship with God | rainforest | |
| Rome (Holy Land Adventure) · Galaxy (Weekend) | Group (other lines) | Bible times · space | ||
| Illumination Station | Lifeway | light | ||
| Kingdom Quest | Orange | castle / knights | ||
| Junkyard Redemption Offers Kids a Message of Hope in a Broken World | Regular Baptist Press | junkyard |
2025 VBS themes
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wonder Junction | Answers in Genesis | train junction | ||
| Road Trip | Cokesbury | road trip | ||
| Epic Australian Adventure | Concordia Publishing House | outback | ||
| True North | Group | camping / wilderness | ||
| Egypt (Holy Land Adventure) · Yee-Haw (Weekend) | Group (other lines) | Bible times · western | ||
| Magnified! | Lifeway | |||
| Live It Out | Orange | |||
| Rocket Racers | Regular Baptist Press | car racing / racetrack |
2024 VBS themes
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Great Jungle Journey | Answers in Genesis | jungle | ||
| Camp Firelight | Cokesbury | camping | ||
| Celebrate the Savior | Concordia Publishing House | |||
| Scuba | Group | ocean | ||
| Hometown Nazareth (Holy Land Adventure) · Outback Rock (Weekend) | Group (other lines) | Bible times · outback | ||
| Breaker Rock Beach | Lifeway | beach | ||
| Start the Party | Orange | party | ||
| WildLIVE! | Regular Baptist Press | jungle / wildlife | Starter-kit review |
2023 VBS themes
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keepers of the Kingdom | Answers in Genesis | Armor of God | castle / knights | |
| Hero Hotline | Cokesbury | superhero | ||
| God’s Living Water Covered in Jesus’ Grace | Concordia Publishing House | 1 Timothy 1:14 | water | |
| Stellar | Group | space | ||
| Babylon (Holy Land Adventure) · Pets Unleashed (Weekend) | Group (other lines) | Bible times · pets | ||
| Twists & Turns | Lifeway | |||
| Ready, Set, Move | Orange | sports |
2022 VBS themes
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoomerang | Answers in Genesis | Australia | ||
| Food Truck Party On a Roll with God! | Cokesbury | food truck | ||
| NORB-E | GO! Curriculum (BOLT VBS) | robot | ||
| Monumental | Group | southwest canyon | ||
| Jerusalem Marketplace (Holy Land Adventure) · HayDay (Weekend) | Group (other lines) | Bible times · farm | ||
| Spark Studios | Lifeway | art studio | ||
| Make Waves | Orange | ocean |
2021 VBS themes
This was the last of our old yearly roundups: the 2021 themes list.
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champions in Life | Abingdon Press | sports | ||
| Mystery Island Released for 2020 and carried into 2021; Answers in Genesis lists it as the 2021 theme. | Answers in Genesis | Attributes of God | island | |
| Lava Lava Luau | Children’s Ministry Deals | island (escape-room format) | ||
| Discovery on Adventure Island Also sold for the 2022 season. | Cokesbury | island | ||
| God’s Wonder Lab Jesus Does the Impossible Some retailers list it for 2022. | Concordia Publishing House | science lab | ||
| Totally 80’s | GO! Curriculum (BOLT VBS) | 1980s | First look | |
| Treasured Discovering You’re Priceless to God | Group | jungle ruins | ||
| Destination Dig | Lifeway | Archaeology in biblical Israel | archaeology dig | |
| Legendary | Mega Sports Camp | sports | ||
| Press Play Announced as “Fresh Play: Get in the Mix.” | Orange | Zacchaeus, the Lost Sheep | media | |
| Wonder World Funfest Amazed by Our Extraordinary Savior | Regular Baptist Press | carnival |
2020 VBS themes
Our most-read roundup was the 2020 list, with a first look at five of these programs.
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine Ascent Find Strength in God’s Word | Bogard Press | mountain | ||
| Knights of North Castle Quest for the King’s Armor | Cokesbury | Armor of God (Ephesians 6) | castle / knights | First look |
| Rainforest Explorers Jesus Leads the Way | Concordia Publishing House | rainforest | ||
| Rocky Railway Jesus has the power to pull us through! | Group | railway / mountain | First look | |
| Wilderness Escape (Holy Land Adventure) | Group (other lines) | Bible times | ||
| Concrete and Cranes Building our faith on the Cornerstone | Lifeway | Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20) | construction | First look |
| Heart of a Champion | Mega Sports Camp | sports | ||
| Focus | Orange | senses / optics | First look | |
| Big Fish Bay | Regular Baptist Press | ocean / fishing | First look |
The 2020s so far. Camping and jungle themes lead this decade. Western themes are rare now; Group’s Yee-Haw weekend program in 2025 is the only one in this decade’s tables. COVID scrambled the calendar too. Several publishers sold their 2020 theme again in 2021, so a few themes are noted under both years.
2010s VBS themes by year
2019 VBS themes
We reviewed the 2019 kits on our 2019 themes page.
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whoosh | Abingdon Press | Starter-kit review | ||
| The Incredible Race Explore God’s love for the Nations | Answers in Genesis | The nations / Babel | world race | |
| Farm Fresh Faith God’s Faithfulness to Joseph | Bogard Press | Joseph | farm | |
| To Mars & Beyond | Cokesbury | space | First look · Unboxing (with Whoosh) | |
| Miraculous Mission God with Us | Concordia Publishing House | space mission | ||
| Roar Get ready to ROAR! | Group | African savanna | ||
| Athens (Holy Land Adventure) | Group (other lines) | Bible times | ||
| In The Wild | Lifeway | jungle | Starter-kit review | |
| Power Up Raise Your Game | Orange | retro video game | ||
| GiddyUp Junction | Regular Baptist Press | western | First look |
2018 VBS themes
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time Lab | Answers in Genesis | time travel | ||
| Jungle River Adventure | Bogard Press | jungle | ||
| Rolling River Rampage | Cokesbury | river rafting | ||
| Splash Canyon | Concordia Publishing House | canyon / water | ||
| Shipwrecked | Group | island | ||
| Babylon (Holy Land Adventure) · Polar Blast | Group (other lines) | Bible times · polar | ||
| Game On! | Lifeway | sports | ||
| Team Spirit | Mega Sports Camp | sports | ||
| Amped Live Fully Alive! | Orange | music / concert | ||
| Camp Moose on the Loose | Regular Baptist Press | camping |
2017 VBS themes
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super God! Super Me! Super Possibility! | Abingdon Press | superhero | ||
| Operation Arctic | Answers in Genesis | arctic | ||
| The Redeemer | Bogard Press | |||
| Hero Central | Cokesbury | superhero | ||
| Mighty Fortress | Concordia Publishing House | castle / knights | ||
| Victory The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid | Go Fish Resources | Psalm 118:6 | pep rally / sports | |
| Maker Fun Factory | Group | factory / invention | ||
| Rome (Holy Land Adventure) · Passport to Peru | Group (other lines) | Bible times · Peru | ||
| Galactic Starveyors | Lifeway | space | ||
| Conquer the Day | Mega Sports Camp | sports | ||
| Gadgets & Gizmos | Orange | invention | ||
| Over the Moat | Regular Baptist Press | castle / knights |
2016 VBS themes
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joy In Jesus Everywhere! All The Time! | Abingdon Press | |||
| Ocean Commotion Diving Into Noah’s Flood | Answers in Genesis | Genesis flood | ocean | |
| The Conquerors | Bogard Press | |||
| Surf Shack Catch the Wave of God’s Amazing Love | Cokesbury | beach | ||
| Barnyard Roundup Jesus Gathers Us Together | Concordia Publishing House | farm | ||
| ¡Sorpresa! El Camino del Perdón | Concordia Publishing House (Spanish) | Forgiveness | ||
| Cave Quest Following Jesus, the Light of the World | Group | cave | ||
| Egypt: Joseph’s Journey (Holy Land Adventure) · Expedition Norway · Pets Unleashed | Group (other lines) | Bible times · Norway · pets | ||
| Tree House | Jeff Slaughter | |||
| Submerged Finding Truth Below the Surface | Lifeway | ocean | ||
| Jesus Is… | Lifeway (Zip for Kids) | |||
| Epic Moments | Mega Sports Camp | sports | ||
| PROOF Pirates Finding the Treasure of God’s Amazing Grace | New Growth Press / Sojourn Kids | pirate | First look | |
| Cow-A-Bungalow Farm Growin’ With Our Faithful God | Regular Baptist Press | farm | ||
| Deep Sea Discovery God is With Me Wherever I Go | Standard Publishing | ocean |
2015 VBS themes
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shining Star See the Jesus in Me | Abingdon Press | |||
| Camp Kilimanjaro An Epic Expedition Through Proverbs | Answers in Genesis | Proverbs | camping / safari | |
| Camp Courageous | Bogard Press | camping | ||
| G-Force God’s Love in Action | Cokesbury | |||
| Camp Discovery Jesus at Work Through Us | Concordia Publishing House | camping | ||
| Son Spark Labs Discovering God’s Plan 4U=Jesus! SonRise National Park was also offered again. | Gospel Light | science lab | ||
| Everest Conquering Challenges with God’s Mighty Power | Group | mountain | ||
| Thailand Trek (Cross Culture) · Outback Rock · Hometown Nazareth | Group (other lines) | Thailand · outback · Bible times | ||
| Run Run | Jeff Slaughter | |||
| Journey Off the Map Unknown To Us, Known To Him | Lifeway | jungle | ||
| I Am… | Lifeway (Zip for Kids) | |||
| Get Ready | Mega Sports Camp | sports | ||
| To The Edge Encounter the God of the Universe | Regular Baptist Press | |||
| Bible Blast to the Past Discover God’s Everlasting Love | Standard Publishing | time travel |
2014 VBS themes
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Spy Academy Agents for the One True God | Answers in Genesis | spy | ||
| Cross Canyon Trail | Bogard Press | western | ||
| Workshop of Wonders Imagine & Build with God | Cokesbury | construction | ||
| Gangway to Galileo Amazing Grace Adventures | Concordia Publishing House | Sea of Galilee | ||
| Shine God gets the glory, not us | Go Fish Resources | |||
| SonTreasure Island · SonWest Roundup (both offered again) | Gospel Light | island · western | ||
| Weird Animals Where Jesus’ Love Is One-of-a-Kind | Group | animals / jungle | ||
| Wilderness Escape (Holy Land Adventure) · Blast Off | Group (other lines) | Bible times · space | ||
| Scavenger Hunt | Jeff Slaughter | |||
| Agency D3 Discover. Decide. Defend. | Lifeway | detective | ||
| God Is… | Lifeway (Zip for Kids) | |||
| Game Plan | Mega Sports Camp | sports | ||
| Arrow Island Choosing God’s Way | Regular Baptist Press | island | ||
| Jungle Safari Where Kids Explore the Nature of God | Standard Publishing | jungle |
2013 VBS themes
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Kingdom Chronicles Standing Strong in the Battle for Truth | Answers in Genesis | castle / knights | ||
| Everywhere Fun Fair Where God’s World Comes Together | Cokesbury | world fair | ||
| SonWest Roundup | Gospel Light | western | ||
| Kingdom Rock | Group | castle / knights | ||
| Athens (Holy Land Adventure) · Hayday | Group (other lines) | Bible times · farm | ||
| Colossal Coaster World Facing Fear Trusting God | Lifeway | amusement park | ||
| God’s Backyard Bible Camp Under the Sun / Under the Stars | Standard Publishing | camping |
2012 VBS themes
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IncrediWorld Amazement Park | Answers in Genesis | amusement park | ||
| SonRise National Park | Gospel Light | camping | ||
| Sky | Group | sky | ||
| Babylon (Holy Land Adventure) | Group (other lines) | Bible times | ||
| Amazing Wonders Aviation Encountering God’s Awesome Power | Lifeway | aviation | ||
| Adventures on Promise Island Where Kids Discover God’s Lifesaving Love! | Standard Publishing | island | ||
| Kids of Courage | Voice of the Martyrs | The persecuted church | world missions | First look · Starter-kit review |
2011 VBS themes
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Rush | Answers in Genesis | gold mining / western | ||
| SonSurf Beach Bash | Gospel Light | beach | ||
| PandaMania | Group | animals / jungle | ||
| Hometown Nazareth (Holy Land Adventure) | Group (other lines) | Bible times | ||
| Big Apple Adventure Where Faith and Life Connect | Lifeway | city | ||
| Inside Out and Upside Down on Main Street | Standard Publishing | city |
2010 VBS themes
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Egypt File Decoding the Mystery of Life | Answers in Genesis | Egypt / mystery | ||
| SonQuest Rainforest | Gospel Light | rainforest | ||
| High Seas Expedition | Group | ocean | ||
| Egypt (Holy Land Adventure) | Group (other lines) | Bible times | ||
| Saddle Ridge Ranch Roundn’ Up Questions, Drivin’ Home Answers | Lifeway | western | ||
| Route 254 | Lifeway (Club VBS) | road | ||
| Hero Headquarters | Standard Publishing | superhero |
Go Fish Resources also sells four programs with no year on them: Gotta Move!, Praise, Backstage With The Bible, and Kickin’ It Old School.
The 2010s. Water won this decade. Islands, oceans, and beaches are everywhere in these tables. Superhero themes first show up in this list in 2010. By now Group was running three lines at once: a flagship theme, a Holy Land Adventure town, and a weekend program. Gospel Light and Standard Publishing both stopped making new VBS programs in the middle of the decade.
2000s VBS themes by year
2009 VBS themes
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operation Space | Answers in Genesis | space | ||
| SonRock Kids Camp | Gospel Light | camping | ||
| Crocodile Dock | Group | bayou | ||
| Rome (Holy Land Adventure) | Group (other lines) | Bible times | ||
| Boomerang Express It All Comes Back to Jesus | Lifeway | Australian outback | ||
| Truth Trek | Lifeway (Club VBS) | |||
| Studio Go! Game Show | Standard Publishing | game show |
2008 VBS themes
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Expedition | Answers in Genesis | jungle | ||
| Sonworld Adventure Park | Gospel Light | amusement park | ||
| Power Lab | Group | science lab | ||
| Jerusalem Marketplace (Holy Land Adventure) | Group (other lines) | Bible times | ||
| Outrigger Island Living God’s Unshakeable Truth | Lifeway | island | ||
| Cactus Canyon | Lifeway (Club VBS) | western | ||
| God’s Big Backyard | Standard Publishing | backyard |
2007 VBS themes
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Son Force Kids | Gospel Light | space | ||
| Avalanche Ranch | Group | western | ||
| Galilee By the Sea (Holy Land Adventure) | Group (other lines) | Bible times | ||
| Game Day Central Where Heroes are Made | Lifeway | sports | ||
| Jungle Jaunt | Lifeway (Club VBS) | jungle | ||
| Take the Plunge with Jesus | Standard Publishing | water |
2006 VBS themes
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SonTreasure Island | Gospel Light | island | ||
| Fiesta | Group | Latin America | ||
| Bethlehem Village (Holy Land Adventure) | Group (other lines) | Bible times | ||
| Arctic Edge Where Adventure Meets Courage | Lifeway | arctic | ||
| SpaceQuest | Lifeway (Club VBS) | space | ||
| Trading Places | Standard Publishing |
2005 VBS themes
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingdom of the Son (offered again) | Gospel Light | castle / knights | ||
| Serengeti Trek | Group | safari | ||
| Jerusalem Marketplace (Holy Land Adventure) | Group (other lines) | Bible times | ||
| Ramblin’ Road Trip Which Way Do I Go? | Lifeway | road trip | ||
| Beach Blast | Lifeway (Club VBS) | beach | ||
| Construction Zone Building Character Like Jesus | Standard Publishing | construction |
2004 VBS themes
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SonGames | Gospel Light | sports | ||
| Lava Lava Island | Group | island | ||
| Far-Out Far East Rickshaw Rally Racing to the Son Often shortened to “Rickshaw Rally.” See the note under the 2000s. | Lifeway | East Asia | ||
| Jesus Helps You Power Up | Standard Publishing |
2003 VBS themes
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SonHarvest | Gospel Light | farm | ||
| SCUBA | Group | ocean | ||
| The Great Kingdom Caper Cracking the Character Code | Lifeway | castle / knights | ||
| Treasures Of The Nile | Standard Publishing | Egypt |
2002 VBS themes
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SonCanyon River | Gospel Light | canyon | ||
| Bug Safari | Group | safari | ||
| Amazon Outfitters On Expedition With the One True God | Lifeway | jungle | ||
| Faith Mountain | Standard Publishing | mountain |
2001 VBS themes
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soncreek Junction | Gospel Light | |||
| Polar Expedition | Group | polar | ||
| Truth Trackers and the Secret of the Stone Tablets | Lifeway | Ten Commandments | detective | |
| Jesus To The Rescue | Standard Publishing | rescue |
2000 VBS themes
| Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SonZone | Gospel Light | science lab | ||
| HolyWord Studios | Group | film studio | ||
| The Fantastic Good News Ocean Odyssey Diving into the Depths of God’s Faithfulness | Lifeway | ocean | ||
| In The Race with Jesus | Standard Publishing | sports |
The 2000s. Spaceship themes are a lot of fun. They come and go with the movie cycle, or with whatever rockets the kids are obsessed with that year. Castles and knights are the steady one: a few every decade, never gone. There is a whole intersection between kids’ culture, pop culture, and the same handful of favorite VBS destinations.
One 2004 theme needs a note. Lifeway’s Far-Out Far East Rickshaw Rally drew objections from Asian-American Christians over its use of cultural stereotypes. On November 6, 2013, Lifeway’s president apologized publicly for it.
1990s VBS themes
| Year | Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | SonCastle Faire | Gospel Light | castle / knights | ||
| 1999 | Treasure Hunt Bible Adventure | Group | treasure hunt | ||
| 1999 | Mt. Extreme The Ultimate Good News Challenge | Lifeway | mountain / extreme sports | ||
| 1999 | We Shine For Jesus | Standard Publishing | |||
| 1998 | Sonlight Island | Gospel Light | island | ||
| 1998 | Space Mission Bible Camp | Group | space | ||
| 1998 | StarQuest A Galactic Good News Adventure | Lifeway | space | ||
| 1998 | Hooked On Jesus | Standard Publishing | fishing | ||
| 1997 | Sonrise | Gospel Light | |||
| 1997 | Wild Frontier | Group | western | ||
| 1997 | The Wild and Wonderful Good News Stampede Telling Others about Jesus | Lifeway | western | ||
| 1997 | Promise Builders | Standard Publishing | construction | ||
| 1996 | Kingdom of the Son | Gospel Light | castle / knights | ||
| 1996 | Vacation Bible Ship | Group | ship / ocean | ||
| 1996 | Go For the Goal Lifeway’s own archive spells it this way; one other source has “Go For the Gold.” | Lifeway | Philippians 3:14 | sports | |
| 1996 | Jesus’ Kids | Standard Publishing | |||
| 1995 | Sontown | Gospel Light | city | ||
| 1995 | Windows on the World | Lifeway | world cultures | ||
| 1994 | Son Farm | Gospel Light | farm | ||
| 1994 | Trail of Treasures | Lifeway | trail / treasure | ||
| 1993 | Amazing Journey to Bible Times | Gospel Light | Bible times | ||
| 1993 | Summershine | Lifeway | |||
| 1992 | Son Mountain | Gospel Light | mountain | ||
| 1992 | Fantastic Journey | Lifeway | |||
| 1991 | Sonward Ho! | Gospel Light | western | ||
| 1991 | Celebrate Jesus! | Lifeway | |||
| 1990 | Island in the Son | Gospel Light | island | ||
| 1990 | Share Hope Reach Through Vacation Bible School | Lifeway |
The 1990s. I remember a cowboy theme from Lifeway in the ’90s, from my years as a teenage VBS volunteer. That was 1997’s Good News Stampede. Group ran Wild Frontier the same summer. Two cowboy themes in one year. The same publishers don’t stray far from the half-dozen scripts of what a VBS destination should be.
1980s VBS themes
| Year | Theme | Publisher | Bible focus | Setting | Our posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | SonSeeker Safari | Gospel Light | safari | ||
| 1989 | Let’s Gather for Vacation Bible School | Lifeway | |||
| 1989 | Joy Trek A Journey with Jesus through time and space | Standard Publishing | space | ||
| 1988 | Wonderfaire | Gospel Light | fair | ||
| 1988 | Living For Jesus | Lifeway | |||
| 1987 | SonShine Patch | Gospel Light | farm | ||
| 1987 | The Bible, God’s Treasure Book Lifeway lists this as a Joint Service Theme. | Lifeway | |||
| 1986 | SonLight Mountain | Gospel Light | mountain | ||
| 1986 | Praising God for His Goodness Lifeway lists this as a Joint Service Theme. | Lifeway | |||
| 1985 | SonRise Island | Gospel Light | island | ||
| 1985 | Jesus, Our Example to Follow Lifeway lists this as a Joint Service Theme. | Lifeway | |||
| 1984 | Thanking God for His Love Lifeway lists this as a Joint Service Theme. | Lifeway | |||
| 1983 | Thanking God for the Bible Lifeway lists this as a Joint Service Theme. | Lifeway |
The 1980s. The oldest records we found are from Lifeway, Gospel Light, and Standard. In this list, most 1980s themes are titles, not destinations: “Living For Jesus,” “Thanking God for the Bible.” Lifeway labels its 1983 to 1987 entries Joint Service Themes. The destination-style theme shows up here by the late 1980s.
The VBS settings that keep coming back
Read enough of these tables and a pattern shows up. Most VBS programs pick from the same short list of favorite destinations. Six of them keep returning:
- Islands, oceans, and beaches: Outrigger Island (2008), Submerged (2016), Breaker Rock Beach (2024).
- Jungle, safari, and rainforest: Amazon Outfitters (2002), Roar (2019), Rainforest Falls (2026).
- Castles and knights: The Great Kingdom Caper (2003), Kingdom Rock (2013), Kingdom Quest (2026).
- Space: StarQuest (1998), Galactic Starveyors (2017), Stellar (2023).
- Camping and wilderness: SonRock Kids Camp (2009), Camp Firelight (2024), True North (2025).
- Western and cowboy: Good News Stampede (1997), Saddle Ridge Ranch (2010), Yee-Haw (2025).
Plenty of themes have no place at all: science labs, spy schools, game shows, food trucks. Those are the wild cards, and there are a lot of them.
How we used to review these kits
When publishers sent us starter kits, we did not rate them. We laid out where each publisher stands, then asked whether that fits your church. Two examples from kits we opened:
- Regular Baptist Press positions itself as an evangelism-first program. If those are your church’s values, it is a strong pick. If your church leaves decisions about a child’s faith with the family rather than the camp, plan on modifying it.
- Group runs rotating mixed-age crews instead of the traditional graded classes. If your volunteers like that structure, it fits. If your church expects age-graded rooms, plan on changes.
That is the whole method. We have not reviewed the newer themes, so you will find no verdicts on them here.
Catholic VBS programs
Catholic VBS comes two ways. Some publishers sell one program that stays the same or changes slowly. Others carry a new theme each year: Our Sunday Visitor’s Totally Catholic VBS is Rainforest Falls for 2026. We have not built a year table for them yet. These are the active Catholic VBS programs we found. Our older note on Catholic VBS curriculum is still up.
| Publisher | Program |
|---|---|
| Cat.Chat | Cat.Chat VBS |
| Growing with the Saints | Catholic Kidz Camp |
| Our Sunday Visitor | Totally Catholic VBS |
| Holy Heroes | Summer Faith Adventure |
| Loyola Press | Catholic Vacation Bible School |
| Vianney Vocations (“God is Good VBS”) | Discovery Mission |
Why this list exists
We started reviewing VBS kits on this site in 2008. Every winter the publishers sent starter kits. We posted a first look at each theme, then an unboxing, then a yearly roundup. The last of those roundups was the 2021 list.
In 2020, churches were taking time off from VBS, and the VBS publishers were trying to decide what to do. We decided to work on our own curriculum, so our focus changed too. We did not spend as much time reviewing VBS. Things have normalized now. This page backfills the missing years and pulls our old lists into one place.
I directed VBS ten years running at a small church, and I volunteered before and after that. Hundreds of kits crossed my desk for this blog. That is the whole credential behind this list.
Our old roundups are still up: 2019, 2020, and 2021. A separate post on VBS controversies and mistakes is coming. It will be linked here.
Sources and method
Themes come from the publishers’ own archives and announcements, from retailer rosters by year, and from our own review posts. The year is the summer the theme was sold for. Where sources disagreed on a year, we used the publisher’s own page and noted the other. Where we found nothing, the cell is blank.
Which theme did your church run the summer you remember best? Did we miss one? Tell me in the comments and I will add it.
VBS historical scrapbook
- Rainy River Mission Summer Bible School, 1953. Author/source institution: Mennonite Church USA Archives. Wikimedia Commons file and rights statement. Original archive photograph on Flickr. Archival reference: Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference Photographs; 1956 Gospel Evangel Photographs; HM4-136 Box 2a Folder 15a. The photograph’s title identifies 1953; the 2014 digital date is not the historical event date.
- Daily Vacation Bible School at Woodlawn Mennonite Church, undated. Author/source institution: Mennonite Church USA Archives. Wikimedia Commons file and rights statement. Original archive photograph on Flickr. Archival reference: Delton Franz Papers, 1952–2000; Photographs, n.d.; HM1-012 Box 2 Folder 30. The 2013 digital date must not be treated as the date of the scene.
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- Jesus, Joy for All songbook. Photo listed by ColsonsCollectibles. Etsy source listing. The 1982 date comes from the seller; the original publisher was not independently confirmed for this insert.
- Treasure Hunt Bible Adventure tin and kit contents. Two photos listed by Grizzly-Shoppe. Publisher: Group. eBay source listing. The 1999 date comes from the seller.
- Mixed Group VBS media collection. Photo listed by jayme-pie. eBay source listing. This is a mixed collection; the insert does not assign all objects to one year or one theme. A specific date is not claimed from the photograph.
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