Frequently asked questions

Recent surveys show that nearly 70% of “Christian” kids grow up and walk away from the church. One of the main reasons is because they have not been taught basic apologetics. Answers VBS programs are designed to answer the key questions that cause so many young people to walk away from the Lord. With Answers VBS programs, kids learn how we can know that the Bible is truly God’s Word.

Answers VBS programs use the New King James Version (NKJV). We also offer a King James Version (KJV) option for some of the materials.

You’ll want to begin your VBS planning with a Starter Kit or a Super Starter Kit (if you want the Music Pack, sample promotional items, and samples of the various “extras” we offer, go with the Super Starter Kit). After you receive your kit, read through the Director’s Guide, which will walk you through the decisions you’ll need to make and help you decide what else you’ll need to order.

• How many of each site do you need? How many staffers do you want to have at each station? (This will determine the number of extra leader guides you’ll need to order.)
• How much do you want to publicize your VBS? (This will determine how many publicity items you’ll need to order.)
• How much do you want to give to the kids who attend—T-shirts, music CDs, bookmarks, trinkets?

We suggest that you begin by ordering either a Starter Kit or a Super Starter Kit (if you want the Music Pack, sample promotional items, and samples of the various “extras” we offer, go with the Super Starter Kit). For churches with fewer than 100 kids, the Super Starter contains most of what you’ll need to efficiently run your VBS without having to purchase many extra items—you’ll have one of every leader guide, plus the sheet music, song motions DVD, leader music CD, and access to the VBS manager, which will make registering kids and volunteers a breeze!
After you receive your kit, read through the Director’s Guide, which will walk you through the decisions you’ll need to make and help you decide what else you’ll need to order. 

• How many of each site do you need? How many staffers do you want to have at each station? (This will determine the number of extra leader guides you’ll need to order.)
• How much do you want to publicize your VBS? (This will determine how many publicity items you’ll need to order.)
• How much do you want to give to the kids who attend—T-shirts, music CDs, bookmarks, trinkets?

The cost for your VBS depends on a variety of factors: how much you want to publicize it, how many leaders and students you have, how much is donated toward your craft and snack times, how many “extras” you want to purchase, etc. With that in mind, we have found that the cost per child runs between $10–15 (this total doesn't include T-shirts and student music CDs). Again, however, this will depend on how elaborate you would like your VBS to be.

We endeavored to put together a VBS that even the most budget-conscious church could afford. For example, the craft, game, and snack ideas are all comprised of relatively common, inexpensive materials (i.e., there are no elaborate craft kits that you'll need to purchase); and the director's resource CD-ROM contains printable promotional materials.

Answers VBS programs feature a site-rotation format where teams of kids travel from site to site during the day (from crafts to games to lesson, etc.), so that each volunteer is responsible for a specific section. The rotation sites are Crafts, Snacks, Games, and Bible Lessons. The day starts and ends with everyone together in the Opening and Closing Assemblies.

Within this format, the teams are divided by age groups so that the material in the Bible lesson time is age specific and appropriate (ages 2–4 (Toddlers), 4–6 (Pre-Primary), 6–9 (Primary), 9–12 (Junior)). It is also possible to use Answers VBS programs with multi-age teams (i.e., teams consisting of children ranging in ages from 5–12). In this case, we suggest using the Primary teaching materials and modifying as necessary.

Yes! We’ve had reports from people who have used this VBS with backyard clubs and other non-VBS situations with great success. We encourage you to check our VBS program out for yourself by ordering a Starter Kit or Super Starter Kit without risk since we offer a 30-day, money-back guarantee on the kits!

Yes! We field tested Answers VBS programs with churches, ranging in size from 100 kids to 1,200 kids, and it worked well in each situation!

Yes, the Assembly Guide offers scripts for daily skits. We suggest performing your skit during the daily Closing Assembly; however the skits can also be used during your opening assembly. Each day's skit continues the storyline from the previous day.

At this time, we’re not able to offer a DVD version of the daily drama (see the Assembly Guide for scripts); however we look forward to providing this option in future VBS programs. We’ve found that many churches have enjoyed performing the live drama—the teens at one of our pilot churches (their VBS program hosted about 100 kids) were so excited about doing the drama that they had to hold tryouts this year! Get your teens involved with your VBS program by including them in the daily drama!

Each Bible lesson time features an introductory time that captures the attention with fun-filled activities, a lesson time that features the Bible and apologetics material told in various hands-on ways, and a review time during which the kids learn the daily verse and go over their student guides.

Each Answers VBS program also offers fun and content-filled music, with most songs written especially for our VBS. Kids learn and sing the songs during the Opening and Closing Assemblies. They also rotate through craft, game, and snack sites.  We also feature an Assembly Guide with scripts for a daily drama, suggestions for daily contests, and more!

Answers VBS programs feature age-appropriate teaching material for four age groups: Toddlers (ages 2–4); Pre-Primary (ages 4–6); Primary (ages 6–9); Junior (ages 9–12).

Each Teacher Guide is filled with age-appropriate information that enables your kids to connect the Bible to the real world. While the information presented to each age is basically the same, the Teacher Guides differ in presentation and activities geared toward reaching the target age.

If you choose to teach all ages together, we suggest using the Primary Teacher Guide.

Puppet scripts are featured in the Teacher Guides for the younger age groups—there are several days that the Teacher Guides suggest using a puppet to help tell the lesson during the Bible lesson time.

Check your Director’s Resource CD-ROM, which is included in both starter kits, for color and black-and-white versions of our logo and clip art.

Yes! We’re pleased to offer the a song motions video with your Answers VBS program.

There is a 30-day return policy on VBS Starter and Super Starter Kits. Any starter kits may be returned to Answers in Genesis within 30 days of placing your order.

Unused VBS products in their original, unopened packaging may be returned by October 1 of the year in which the VBS was purchased (we cannot accept returns of partial products or used DVDs and CDs). You may wish to use your already opened products as special prizes for other church programs.

These items are designed so that each child receives his own colorful copy; they are not able to be reproduced. In some circumstances, we may provide permission to copy the student guides. If the following conditions are not met for the guides you wish to copy, you may request permission from AiG via email.

1. The material is currently for sale. If it is available, you may purchase the desired number of copies by ordering online or by calling 800-350-3232.
2. There are no other reproducible materials available that provide the information you need.

You may make copies of portions of the VBS guides if:

• You (or someone in your organization) are the original purchaser.
• You are using the copies for a noncommercial purpose within your church or organization.
• You follow the instructions provided in the guides.

Permission to make photocopies of or to reproduce by any other mechanical or electronic means in whole or in part any designated page, illustration, or activity in the guide is granted only to the original purchaser and is intended for noncommercial use within a church or other Christian organization.

None of the VBS materials may be reproduced for any commercial promotion, advertising, or sale of a product or service or to share with any other persons, churches, or organizations.

If you wish to obtain another copy of a particular guide, please contact our customer service representatives for ordering information.

Sharing of VBS products with other churches or organizations not owned or controlled by the original purchaser is prohibited under copyright law.

You may, however, share unopened, unused VBS products with other churches rather than returning the products to Answers in Genesis.

We look forward to providing quality music for our VBS programs, music with lyrics that enable children to easily grasp the concepts taught. The agreement we have with our lyricists and musicians enables AiG to distribute copies of the work they provide for our VBS program. Under copyright laws, we are unable to extend that agreement to anyone else.

AiG’s videos are protected under copyright law and are not able to be reproduced. Please contact our customer service representatives to order the additional quantities that you need.

You may make copies of pages in our sheet music for ease-of-use in page turning; however copying entire songs or the entire book is not permitted.