Bring Them Back Next Year

Tip #1: Consistently have an excellent program

If your VBS is top-notch year after year, people will want to return. Who wants to come back to a disorganized, subpar VBS, especially when faced with the choice of vacation or VBS?

What does excellence look like when it comes to VBS?

• Proper safety and security measures
• Friendly and engaging staff/volunteers
• Clear communication
• Well organized
• Attention to detail (décor, classroom needs, etc.)
• Adequate budget and facilities
• Strong Bible emphasis

Tip #2: Plan your date well

You want families to be able to attend, and a good date is the first step toward that.

Know the important dates of events in your town and the summer schedule of your key volunteers. If you live in a factory town with a big summer shutdown where most workers go on vacation, that’s probably not the best week to host VBS. You want families to be able to attend, and a good date is the first step toward that.

Tip #3: Consider using the same week each year

Consider having your VBS in the same week each year, such as the second week of June or the fourth week of July. Doing so allows families and volunteers to block off those dates and consistently schedule well in advance. This is a tip I learned early on in ministry—having a locked-in VBS week has always been a win.

Tip #4: Have warm, smiling faces

The people often make the programs. When a child attends VBS and is welcomed by warm, smiling faces that are genuinely excited that they are there, that child wants to come back. Train your volunteers on engaging with the kids and ensure that each adult knows the importance of pouring out Jesus’ love to them. That warm and friendly atmosphere actually starts in the parking lot, so make sure the team directing traffic and standing at the doors (the first volunteers a family will see) are warm and smiling. (Bonus points if you have the same few volunteers greeting and engaging the kids year after year!)

Tip #5: Invite them

They say it takes eight times before a person remembers an announcement. So make sure you invite past VBS attendees back, but don’t stop at just one invite.

• Include a flyer for the next year’s VBS at the close of your current one.
• Invite attendees to join you for any special events and activities throughout the year, keeping that communication channel open.
• Send out the first VBS reminder (snail mail is great) after the first of the year.
• Post frequently on your church’s social media.
• Use yard signs and banners.
• Email past registrants.
• Send out registration postcards about two months before your VBS.

Your VBS program needs to be one people want to come back to.

Let past attendees know the details of VBS over and over again, and invite them to join you.

You want VBS attendees to come back year after year and love your VBS so much that they attend each year and invite friends to join them. Absolutely! For that to happen, your VBS program needs to be one people want to come back to. Is it?