Author: Carol Hulbert

Welcome back to PandaMania!

If you’d like to see past daily postings about our Vacation Bible Camp (VBC) experience at FUMC in Ann Arbor, click here.

Take a look at a slideshow with lots of pictures from VBC here.

Important stuff for parents/guardians:

• Grad group: Thursday’s project will involve food prep – please bring along a hat (a baseball cap works).
• We will be singing two songs during worship this Sunday, so please join us at 9:30 and wear your VBC T-shirt!
• Keep those school supplies and backpacks coming! Why? We are trying to deliver backpacks full of school supplies to families in Ann Arbor who are in economic crisis. Look here for more info about where these supplies will be going.
• Be on the look-out for “God Sightings.” (Perhaps wear your God Sightings braclet?) When kids were asked today, what was a God Sighting, one child volunteered: “A God Sighting is when you see God in something.” Exactly! (The beauty of “God Sightings” is, once you start noticing, you see God a lot more!)

So, what happened today? Our morning started at Party Time Sing & Play. Panda Patty made her daily appearance. She had binoculars and was watching all of the pandas at PandaMania. Unfortunately, Panda Patty wasn’t watching where she was going, and she seemed awfully clumsy! Everyone concluded that Panda Patty needed someone to watch over her.

On the subject of being watched over, we were introduced to today’s Bible point:

God Watches Over You!

Our key Bible verse is from Psalm 139:12

Even in darkness I cannot hide from you.

We were introduced to Boomer, today’s Bible Buddy. Boomer is black and white. The colors of Boomer’s fur reminds us of darkness and light – and whether it’s dark or it’s light out – God watches over you!

God watched over Jonah. He’s who our Bible story is about. (Jonah has his own book in the Bible; read about it in Jonah 1-3). Jonah needed watching over. He tried to run away from God! All because he didn’t want to do what God had asked him to do. I’m sure that kids have felt the same way. I wonder how the story will turn out?

Amidst all of this activity we also learned a new song: Watching Over You, and sang some songs that we are quickly coming to learn. We had a great time singing and dancing!

What happened next? First up, the Grad Group report. They traveled to Alpha House, where today’s project was to do a much-needed clean-up of a storage room. They restocked shelves, organized toys, and pulled out items that were no longer useful and packaged them for donation. They also took the donations to Share House. All reports were that the group worked very well together and worked very hard!

The preschoolers went off to their special rooms and did the following:

• Bible Adventures – First, they looked for Jonah. He was a bit difficult to find! But it wasn’t hard for God to watch out for Jonah. God even gave Jonah a second chance! The kids acted out the story, which included getting a little bit wet, climbing into a pretend whale, and noticing the stinky fish smell. They got the full effect!
• Bible Buddies – They discussed times when they were scared but were reminded that even in those scary times, God is watching over them. They used hand motions when reciting the key verse. Finally they wrote/drew their God Sightings… people who take care of them.
  
• Crafts – They made a “Jonah in the fish” craft, out of paper plates and a plastic spoon (with a face) to represent Jonah.
• Games – They played a “Jonah and the fish” game.  The kids sat in a circle and they were the fish.  One child was Jonah in the middle of the circle and he/she had to try to get out of the circle (fish).

Meanwhile elementary kids visited the following stations:

• Bamboo Blast Games – Kids played several games to remind them that God watches over you. They started out by playing Panda Tag. The person carrying a panda could untag or save the other players. The panda also meant you were safe from being tagged yourself, just like you are always safe in God’s presence.

  Then there was a very tricky game that required lots of watching out and being very careful… the game “Water Fall.” Crews learned to be careful with each other, just as God is careful with us and never lets us down. It wasn’t easy! One brave crew member had to lay on the ground holding a paper cup on his or her forehead. Then, each of their crew members had to pour water into the cup!! Or at least try!

  The last game was “Panda Popcorn” where all the crews had to bounce a bunch of pandas in a parachute without letting them fall off. The message here? God is powerful enough to watch over all of us!! Thank you God!

• Chadder’s Theatre – In today’s segment of The Mystery of the Missing Pandas, we learned that Chadder thought that Pops watches out for him. But Pops can’t be everywhere at once, and that’s kind of causing a problem right now for Chadder. That’s why we’re so glad that God watches over us! In their “knee to knee” time in darkness and with flashlights, the kids talked about times when they might have wanted to hide from God. Also, for the God Sightings posters, kids were asked to write an instance of when they felt like God was watching over them.
• Crazy Crafts – Whenever kids have had a bit of left over time in the Crafts station this week, they have working on a mural called “God’s Creation.” Today they started off reflecting on all of the creations they had drawn so far. Then, it was onto the craft of the day – a “Magnificent Magna-Scope” – a perfect reminder that God watches over you.
  The children were asked to decorate their scopes with places or ways where God watches over them or over someone else.
  
• Wild Bible Adventures – Today, in total darkness, kids watched (and participated in) the story of Jonah and his attempt to escape from God. This station was completely hands-on and stimulated the senses. Some examples include: feeling the water from the stormy seas, climbing into the belly of a giant fish that really smelled like fish, and then burping themselves out.

After that experience, whose ready for snack? Today we enjoyed “Fish Food.” Don’t those grapes look just like bubbles? The next time you serve your kids grapes, remind them of the story of Jonah.

Back at Rowdy Wrapup there was the customary singing. Do you find your kids are humming these tunes at home?

Our Rowdy Wrapup Leader Kelly, built yet another strange device. (She’s done this every day!) Today’s creation was a “24/7 Watch-o-Meter.”

It seemed to work pretty well. She could watch us all right. But whose is that hiding behind her? I think her Watch-o-Meter doesn’t work that well. I’d have to say, only God watches over everything!

Once again we started off in Party Time Sing & Play, mixing up the singing of songs with other fun activities such as a visit from Panda Patty. (She is still on a quest to become a panda! Today she was trying to make noise like a panda, only she didn’t know how a panda sounded! I wonder if she ever listened long enough to hear!)

There were “old” songs sung (from yesterday!) and new songs, like Sing, Sing, Sing and God is Listening. In fact, listening was a theme for the day! Our Bible point was:

God Listens To You!

We were able to find, thanks to help from the kids, our daily clue about today’s Bible story:

Elijah prayed to the one true God and God listened to him!

An example from the Bible of a time when God listened! I wonder what happened? (At this point, if your kids are near by, read to them the above clue and ask them to tell you what happened.)

It turns out that our Bible story was about Elijah and his run-in with some people who believed in a false god named Baal (pronounced: BAY-uhl). You can read this story in 1 Kings 18:16-39. However, parents, you may not want to read this story to your children as it reads in the Bible. It contains blood and guts, and even some bathroom humor! (Yes. In the Bible!) This is not the way it was told today at VBC! For more info, see individual notes below under “Bible Adventure” for preschool and for elementary. (Our Bible story is told every day in a smaller group setting; it is introduced, with a clue or two, in our opening time.)

Next, it was off to different stations! The preschoolers went to…

• Bible Adventures – They acted out our story, which for this group, was presented as an altar build of stones with sticks laid on top. (No mention of sacrifices!) Then each group (Elijah vs. the Baal-followers) called out for their God to send fire to burn the wood. Whichever God listened to their pleas, that was the God to follow!

  The Baal-followers got very loud, but no fire happened for them. Elijah said a simple prayer, and a fire burned so hot it melted the stones! I wonder why, before he talked to God, Elijah made it really hard for the fire to burn by soaking the sticks with water! (Provided by the kids with squirt bottles.) Elijah really wanted the people to know that God listens to our prayers.

  The kids also discussed how God understands every language in the world. They also pondered questions such as: Do you have to be in church for God to hear you? How can God hear us when we pray quietly? How can God hear us when we are all praying at the same time? God is truly amazing! (For another resource on prayer for your family, visit this post.)

• Bible Buddies – Our puppet friend, Skyler the squirrel, taught the children that sometimes we have trouble listening to each other, but nothing will stop God from listening to us. Kids posted “God Sightings” on our God Sighting wall,

  and they also got to meet the Bible buddy, Amanda the Red Panda. Her cute little ears are perfect for listening!

• Crafts – They made panda face shakers. I loved seeing them enjoy the noise these made, as I’m sure that you do as well, right? 🙂



• Games – Kids played “London Bridge” but sang “God will listen when I call, when I call, when I call…”.  Also played was a variation of Duck, Duck Goose, which used a pretend fire on a stick and gently tapping while saying, “Elijah, Elijah…” and then “Fire” (instead of “Duck, Duck, Goose”). There was time for free-play as well.

Meanwhile elementary kids visited the following stations:

• Bamboo Blast Games – Kids played a game where the smallest member of a crew was selected as the “primary panda.” The rest of the crew put on blindfolds, locked arms, and carried the primary panda and moved according to his or her directions (as he/she was the only member of the crew who could see!). They had to listen carefully. The primary panda also had a water bottle that he used to squirt other panda teams!

  In the Bamboo Balance game, kids formed a circle and balanced a pool noodle upright in front of them and when the game leaders said “GO!” they quickly moved to the left or right and caught the next noodle before it toppled to the ground. Lots of smiles and giggles here.

• Chadder’s Theatre – This is the station to record God Sightings. Our wall is quickly being covered! Then, it was on to the video to see if Chadder Chipmunk found any missing pandas! Silliness, confusion, lost glasses, and a deliberately cut phone line ensued, and Chadder was even locked in an office! Fortunately, when a door gets locked, God opens a window! Chadder was able to escape. But will Chadder become snack for a Panda? Stay tuned for tomorrow!

  After the video, kids listened to different sounds and discussed “knee-to-knee” how those sounds make them feel.
  They were reminded that God doesn’t just listen to us but also feels emotions right along with us! On the way out, the children received the Bible buddy for the day, Amanda, a Red Panda with cute little ears reminding us that God listens to you.
  

• Crazy Crafts – Kids creatively designed their very own “Dizzy Drum” using markers, gems, and their imaginations. The designs were colorful, intricate, and the kids totally liked the noise that these devices were able to generate.
• Wild Bible Adventure – Today’s Wild Bible Adventure started in the hallway! Before they went into the station kids were asked to identify some fake characters – Sponge Bob was called out! This was to make sure they understood the concept of a “fake god.” They heard that in Bible times, many people believed in fake gods. One fake god was named Baal (pronounced: BAY-uhl). The prophet Elijah, was given the task of telling people Baal was not worth following! How would they believe this? There was a showdown! It was a real test: whose God could light a fire on a mountain; a fire that was prepared to sacrifice a bull?

  The children then accompanied Elijah to the “mountaintop” (inside the station). There they all helped build an altar (by laying stones) and prepared for the sacrifice – burning something precious – not a bull (as in Bible times) but a yummy chocolate bar! Do you know how hard that was for them? Oh to yield perfectly good chocolate! Was the fire lit? And why all of the water? I think I’ll let your children tell you the rest of what happened on our Bible Adventure!

The Grad Group (our older elementary kids) went on a field trip today to carry out their mission project. They went to Food Gatherers. They worked all morning on preparing signage for Food Gatherers’ food drive barrels. Tomorrow’s trip: to Alpha House. (Wear sneakers or other closed-toe shoes.)

At our mid-way-through-VBC snack time at Treetop Treats our snack was Elijah’s Altar Cupcakes. The frosting really was blue. I wonder why? Yum!

As we brought VBC Day Two to a close, everyone gathered together for Rowdy Wrap Up. Here we watched a slide presentation of photos of our kids helping to re-tell our Bible story. What fun! There was more singing and making noise with our craft creations. And testing out another creation made by one of our fearless leaders. Did it work?

What a day packed-full of fun!

Important stuff for parents/guardians:

• Grad Group: Please be sure that the kids wear sneakers or other closed-toe shoes.
• Some school supplies and backpacks have been slowly arriving! We are collecting backpacks and school supplies for kids who would otherwise go to school this fall without the basics. This program is run through the Bryant Community Center in Ann Arbor. There are some great sales going on around town this week: Staples has a 1 cent sale on packages of eraser caps and pencils, and on bottles of school glue! One cent!
  (Note: We receive no compensation from Staples for mentioning them in this post!)

See you for another day tomorrow!
The FUMC VBC Team

We all started off in Party Time Sing & Play, learning our song of the week: Wild About Us! and several other catchy tunes.

Crews (groups of kids) spent time getting to know each other. They also met Fez, our Bible Buddy for the day (that’s him above) and Panda Patty, the girl who wants to be a panda! Imagine that?

Here’s a shot of Panda Patty. She’ll be around all week. I wonder what she’ll be up to tomorrow?

We also heard about the day’s Bible story, about how God created our great, big, beautiful world! That story is in Genesis 1. (You can click on any of these highlighted words to be taken to a link, in this case one where you can read our Bible story.)

What happened next? The preschoolers went off to their special rooms and did the following:

• Games – The kids especially enjoyed catching floating feathers in their hands and bouncing balls in the parachute and hiding out underneath it.
• Bible Adventures -The kids used their senses to explore the incredible things that God created including using glow in the dark stars and making animal noises.
• Bible Buddies – The kids met the puppet, Sklyer, who loves pandas! They wrote/drew about things that God made (AKA: God Sightings) and discussed things that God made that are loved. They also got to meet the Bible buddy, Fez!
• Crafts – The kids created a miniature plastic/magnetic version of themselves as they thought about how they are God’s wonderful creation.

Meanwhile elementary kids visited the following stations:

• Bamboo Blast Games – Kids played “What animal am I?” – they had animal labels stuck to their foreheads and had to ask others questions to discover which animal they were! Things I heard at this station: Am I a mammal? Am I green? Do I run fast? Do I have fur? So does a gorilla have a tail or not???
  Ask your child what other games they played!
• Bible Adventure – In this station kids get to hear our Bible story in a special way. Today they helped tell the story of creation! (I think they were all stars!)
• Chadder’s Theatre – Chadder is a puppet who stars in a video. Today Chadder went to Pop’s Panda Paradise to try to help answer the question: Why are all the pandas disappering? Chadder helped capture someone (or something?) but we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see who/what it is!
  Also at Chadder’s Theatre, kids have time to write or draw “God Sightings.” Some collected were: animals, this church, my brother, and the sunrise this morning. Kids got a special wristband to help them remember to look for God. “God Sightings” will be noted all week.
• Crazy Crafts – Kids got to decorate a clip to collect all of their Bible buddies. They made miniature versions of themselves! God made each one of them with special love.

Our “older” elementary kids in our Grad Group are working every day this week on a mission project. Today they decorated thank you cards to be used at Alpha House. They also created school supply kits that will be distributed via the Bryant Community Center. Our grads also helped lead us in singing.

Mid-way through our time this morning we all gathered at Treetop Treats. Our snack was called “Maker Mix.” See if your kids can tell you what each element in the snack represented.

At the end of our morning everyone gathered together for Rowdy Wrap Up.

There was more singing (with motions!) Ask your kids about what else hapened – Something about a rocket lauching device and pandas??

Important stuff for parents/guardians:

• When picking up your child please wait for a runner to bring your child to your car.
• If your child will be picked up by someone else, you must tell us in writing ahead of time.
• Each year we choose a mission to support during our VBC week. This year we are collecting backpacks and school supplies for children in our community that can’t afford these essential items. Send in supplies so that no kid gets left out this fall!

Finally… Everyday we’ve got a special Bible verse. Today’s was from Psalm 139:14…

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!

And, we were always on the listen for a special Bible point for the day…

God Made You!

See you tomorrow!
The VBC Team

Are you ready for Vacation Bible Camp?

It’s this week, July 11-15. I’ll be reporting every day. If you’d like to receive an email of my posts, sign up on the right hand column (if you are at the Family Faith Companion site).

The Panda Bears are waiting!

After church this morning, the crew got to work. Setting up sets…

And installing lots of bamboo…

There was even a panda peeking out of a Panera bag!

More than 80 volunteers (both youth and adults) are looking forward to hosting almost 130 kids!

I hope to see you there!