Looking for an inexpensive summer theme for a VBS, kids’ event or Sunday School? You can easily put together a summer Sunday camp with items from around your home. Kids love this playful theme and it works for day and night! If you can get your hands on one, a star projector works great at a “camp in.” Flip off the lights and let the stars shine. A good verse to use is Psalm 33:6, “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.”
Set up some tents. I raided my linen closet and gathered several flat sheets. (You won’t need the fitted kind.) My volunteers and I installed a few hooks in the walls and hung the sheets, tent-style around the stage area. (This made a nice background for a shadow puppet story about a few birds that wanted to hear the gospel!)
Set up cool camp in lighting. I found a neat craft on Pinterest that worked great. I broke up a yellow glow-in-the-dark bracelet and placed it in a Mason jar. After I put the lid on, I shook the jar to spread the paint around. When the lights when it out during story time, these jars lit up the room like fireflies. I also kept flashlights handy for use during our worship service!
S’mores for snacks! What’s a better summer food than s’mores? We brought a small microwave into our food area, kids assembled their s’mores and we microwaved them for 10 seconds each. Ooey gooey goodness! All you need are paper plates, towels, graham crackers, marshmallows and mini Hershey bars.
Brown bag goodies: Before the event, fill brown paper lunch bags with summery items like plastic ants, a red and white bandana and packs of Kool-Aid lemonade. If you know the names of all the children that plan to attend you could write their names on the bags.
Backpack object lesson: Tell kids you brought a first aid kit for your hike. Tell them that you have everything you need to survive right in the backpack. Inside the pack should be a Bible, a bottle of water and a snack bar. Explain to kids that the water is the Holy Spirit, He’s there to refresh us when we need it. Show them the snack bar. Tell kids that the treat will only fill you up for a short time but the Word of God (pull out the Bible) will feed you forever. Next take out a cell phone. Remind kids that like a hiker who gets in trouble, you can call for emergency services anytime. Call on God through prayer.
Have fun with these summer camp in!
"Summer Sunday Camp" Theme Idea
