Vacation Bible School Camp
July 20-25, 2008


     Zion Lutheran Church did its first vacation Bible school in a number of years using counselors from Camp Dixie. Attendance varied from 16 to 20 and the day camp format served the first through sixth grades. Children appreciated their counselors and the program.

Click each photo to enlarge.

Day 1. Children stand to sing. "Flash," "Greek," and "Pirate," just three of Elberta's "Camp Dixie's Traveling Day-Camp Counselors" (l to r), brought song, skit, crafts, and the Gospel in a five day program named "Called".
Day 2. Our three Camp Dixie counselors, "Flash," "Pirate," and "Greek" had the children standing and singing between teaching activities and supervised playground games.
Day 3. The children hiked six blocks one day to the Silverhill park playground. A bright yellow rope served as a mechanism to keep the kids together. Yes, the VBS kids were "strung out," but they never "reached the end of their rope."

     Camp Dixie's Traveling Day-Camp Counselors brought song, skit, crafts, and the Gospel in a five day program named "Called" to the children. The six-hour daily vacation Bible school in day-camp wrappings began on Monday and concluded Friday. The counselors spent a summer doing multiple day-camps at various chruches.

     The Mack Gibbs and the Steve Vaskos hosted the counselors each evening during the event.

Click each photo to enlarge.

Day 4. With all the activities of a six hour daily program, lunch time was a bit quiet at times. Children brought bag lunches, but the church provided a morning and afternoon snack.
On Thursday evening about one third of the campers came to a parent night program. They sang and demonstrated some of their learning.


Click here to listen to the VBS kids sing "I Want To Be A Sheep".
mp3 file


Vacation Bible School Camp Announcement

     "It started as an idea after Hurricane Katrina. We had churches and municipalities on the Gulf Coast that were severely damaged by the Hurricane. The issue they were dealing with was this: How do you do a Vacation Bible School (VBS) for children when your facility is wiped out, people are gone, and you just have a parking lot and a few porta-potties? Camp Director Marty Miller of Elberta's Camp Dixie was approached to develop a day-camp program to address that need, i.e., to bring a VBS to a specific place and not rely on any support structure," Pastor Dave Johnson of Silverhill's Zion Lutheran Church explains. "What resulted is Camp Dixie's traveling VBS program using a day-camp format. We are pleased that it is now available to area churches. (And yes, in our case, we have 'facilities' and not 'porta-potties.') This program comes to a church community with fully-trained counselors and a Bible-based, character-building emphasis."

Day-Camp VBS Counselors
     Elberta's Camp Dixie will provide Day-Camp VBS Counselors for Zion Lutheran Church's 9 AM-3 PM "Day-Camp Vacation Bible School," July 21-25 in Silverhill. Counselors are Red Cross-certified in First-Aid and CPR, have been through 10 days of training on leadership, programming, and troubleshooting a summer camp/Traveling VBS program. The week's theme is "Called."


     "A camp experience builds character, responsibility, and social skills," Pastor Dave notes. He has a background that embraces nine years in various camping venues and was a member of the American Camping Association. "Children love activity and camping keeps children moving and gives direction. When you add the VBS focus, children grow both mentally and spiritually. Zion Lutheran Church wants to build children up in Silverhill and has been involved in community support of Silverhill School to accomplish the building of positive character. And of course, we want the world to know Jesus Christ and the Bible--hence our program."

     The day-camp will utilize Camp Dixie Traveling VBS on-site counselors at Zion Lutheran Church in Silverhill, July 21 to 25. All counselors, Red Cross-certified in First-Aid and CPR, have been through 10 days of training on leadership, programming, and troubleshooting a summer camp/Traveling VBS program. This one-week-session day-camp will begin with an orientation on Sunday evening on July 20 for campers and parents at 6:30 to 7:30 PM. The actual camp will run 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Monday through Thursday. Thursday evening there will be a family-oriented program with campers with refreshments, 7 PM to 8 PM. A short Friday morning concluding program will run from 9 AM to Noon.

     Who can come? Any child in the community entering the first to the sixth grade, but there are only 50 places for children, so registration is first come, first enrolled. Enrollment stops at 50. Zion Lutheran Church is pleased to welcome all registered children in the first to sixth grades and will provide materials needed for activities in conjunction with Camp Dixie. Every child will need transportation to and from Zion's day camp and will need a bag lunch for noon. Zion will provide a morning and afternoon snack for each child.

     Registration forms and information may be requested at 945-5209. Zion has circulated many registration forms, but parents have been advised that this is a limited enrollment program. To reserve a place for any youngster, Zion must receive the form ASAP by mail. Parents will be notified whether registrations have been received in time (i.e., before the 50-camper cut-off level).

     The focus for Zion's Day Camp program with Camp Dixie's Traveling VBS is entitled "Called," a program working on character development, a community focus of Silverhill School. As a church Zion will be using Ephesians 4:11-12 as a theme verse. It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. The curriculum will focus on character-building activities which build skills in cooperation, encouragement, purpose, direction, and accomplishment.

     Each day will have a special emphasis. Monday's emphasis is "Called to be Loved" (Luke 15:11-24), Character Focus is Personal Value. Tuesday's emphasis is "Called to Praise" (John 6:1-15), Character Focus is Recognizing Value in Others. Wednesday's emphasis is "Called to Faith" (Mark 10:46-52), Character Focus is Recognizing God. Thursday's emphasis is "Called to Love" (Matthew 5:38-48), Character Focus is Honoring Others.


     Here’s an outline of our schedule:

  • Sunday, July 20
    • Orientation for campers and parents ~ 6:30 - 7:30 PM

  • Monday, July 21
    • VBS Camp ~ 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
    • "Called to be Loved" (Luke 15:11-24)
    • Character Focus is Personal Value.

  • Tuesday, July 22
    • VBS Camp ~ 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
    • "Called to Praise" (John 6:1-15)
    • Character Focus is Recognizing Value in Others.

  • Wednesday, July 23
    • VBS Camp ~ 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
    • "Called to Faith" (Mark 10:46-52)
    • Character Focus is Recognizing God.

  • Thursday, July 24
    • VBS Camp ~ 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
    • "Called to Love" (Matthew 5:38-48)
    • Character Focus is Honoring Others.
    • VBS Program - Family, Campers, and refreshments ~ 6:30 - 7:30 PM

  • Friday, July 25
    • VBS Camp Conclusion ~ 9 AM - Noon