Five Hidden Gems in Your Director Guide

After I pray and submit the entire situation to God, I pull out my Director Guide. I often find many of my questions answered, and new ideas spark.

Here are five hidden gems (and how to use them) in your Director Guide:

1. The Course Overview: These pages give a great day-by-day snapshot of all the various lessons, rotation themes, and memory verses. If you need details on the crafts, look at that leader guide for instructions and more ideas. I reference these pages often so I can see the “big picture.”
2. In the Overview Section, there are terrific tidbits, jokes, and A–Z vocabulary words. There are many uses for these. I print out a daily sheet for my team guides so they have different points to connect with the children. By the end of the VBS week, all the kids are using the vocabulary they learned throughout the week.
3. Resource USB: One of the first things you should do is look at these pages as you navigate the USB (or download link) the first time. These pages in the Director Guide are your road map as to where items on your Resource USB are located. I am positive you will find new things and uses for some of the standard resources.
4. Sample Schedules and Rotation Placements: If you are a first-time director, this is a tool you will often reference until you get your own schedules and rotations set up. They are great to help wrap your mind around all the wonderful things you can do and offer different examples of how to fit things into your time frame and schedule. Can you change things? Absolutely! Does it need to match what the book says? NOPE! As the VBS director, you can change the order and times to what works with YOUR church.
5. The Procedure Section: The Procedure Section is located toward the back of the book. This is your “cliff notes” version of the various leader guides. This portion helps guide you as the director through the day—from arrival and dismissal suggestions to the overview of each rotation. It includes comprehensive supply lists for items needed for snacks, games, crafts, and science each day (if you are not modifying anything).

Remember, like all the great resources Answers in Genesis provides with VBS, the Director Guide is designed to be flexible; it is a lavish road map chock-full of resources. The content is strong, so the hard part is already done for you. Enjoy discovering these hidden gems!