2026 VBS Showcase: Emerald Crossing

Emerald Crossing Showcase Event

January

2026

to Jan 31

Williamstown, KY

Ark Encounter, Answers Center

Top o’ the morning to ya! Gather your team and get ready for a grand time at the 2026 Emerald Crossing Showcase! Join us January 30–31, 2026 (with a bonus day at the Creation Museum on January 29), at the Ark Encounter for a weekend of VBS fun. On Friday, you’ll get in-depth teaching that will equip and encourage your team members. On Saturday, you’ll explore Emerald Crossing in detail—crafts, snacks, science, lessons, music, and more! Register today to take advantage of the early bird deal and make plans to join over a thousand other excited VBSers!

Parking for all three days is included with registration
Free tumbler for unlimited refills (excludes coffee)

Registration

Event Cost

Price: $139

Early Bird Price: $99

Available until December 25, 2025 by 11:59 p.m.

Schedule

Thursday, January 29
All Day		Enjoy the Creation Museum!
Friday, January 30
9:00 a.m		Animal Encounter
10:00 a.m.		The Flood, Babel, and Ireland \| Bryan Osborne
11:15 a.m.		St. Patrick, the Clover, and the Trinity \| Dr. Tim Chaffey
12:30 p.m.		Lunch/VBS Mixer (pick up your preordered box lunch and sit down with some new friends in the Answers Center)
1:30–4:00 p.m.		Enjoy the Ark Encounter!
2:00 p.m.		If you’ve already been through the Ark Encounter, these afternoon sessions are for you! Main Auditorium: Design Tips from Experienced Fabricators Area A: Science Experiments/Crafts (repeated Saturday) Area B: Digital Pro Informal Q&A Area C: Make-and-Take Decorations (painting cardboard; repeated Saturday)
3:00 p.m.		Area A: Snacks/Games (repeated Saturday) Area B: Toddler Crafts Area C: Make-and-Take Decorations (homemade windmills; repeated Saturday)
4:00 p.m.		Seeds Kids Worship Concert
4:30 p.m.		Dinner (pick up your preordered bento box and enjoy Dr. Purdom’s presentation while you eat)
5:00 p.m.		The Bible in the Marketplace of Ideas \| Dr. Georgia Purdom
6:15 p.m.		If God Is Loving, Why Is There Death and Suffering? \| Dr. Terry Mortenson
Saturday, January 31
9:00 a.m.		Welcome/Overview of Emerald Crossing
10:10–10:55 a.m.		Main Auditorium: Bible Lesson Overview Area A: Science Experiments/Crafts Area B: Hosting a Sensory Friendly VBS Area C: Make-and-Take Decorations (painting cardboard)
11:10–11:55 a.m.		Main Auditorium: A to Z Through Psalm 23 Area A: Games/Snacks Area B: Toddler and Pre-Primary Overview Area C: Memory Verse/Music Overview
12:00–1:10 p.m.		Lunch
1:10–1:55 p.m.		Main Auditorium: Director Get-Together – Large Churches Area A: Director Get-Together – Small Churches Area B: Director Get-Together – Medium Churches Area C: Open for Lunch
2:10–2:55 p.m.		Main Auditorium: Emerald Crossing Decorations Tips and Tricks Area A: Engaging with Parents Area B: Digital Pro Overview Area C: An Irish Guide to Good Design
3:10–3:55 p.m.		Main Auditorium: Design Your Assembly Time Area A: Engaging Tweens Area B: Tips for First-Time Answers VBS Directors Area C: The Power of Visual Media and AI in Kids Ministry
4:10–4:55 p.m.		Main Auditorium: Seeds Kids Worship Team Area A: VBS Is Over, Now What? Area B: How to Get Your Whole Church Involved Area C: Make-and-Take Decorations (homemade windmills)

Thursday, January 29

All Day

Enjoy the Creation Museum!

Friday, January 30

9:00 a.m

Animal Encounter

10:00 a.m.

The Flood, Babel, and Ireland | Bryan Osborne

11:15 a.m.

St. Patrick, the Clover, and the Trinity | Dr. Tim Chaffey

12:30 p.m.

Lunch/VBS Mixer (pick up your preordered box lunch and sit down with some new friends in the Answers Center)

1:30–4:00 p.m.

Enjoy the Ark Encounter!

2:00 p.m.

If you’ve already been through the Ark Encounter, these afternoon sessions are for you!

Main Auditorium: Design Tips from Experienced Fabricators

Area A: Science Experiments/Crafts (repeated Saturday)

Area B: Digital Pro Informal Q&A

Area C: Make-and-Take Decorations (painting cardboard; repeated Saturday)

3:00 p.m.

Area A: Snacks/Games (repeated Saturday)

Area B: Toddler Crafts

Area C: Make-and-Take Decorations (homemade windmills; repeated Saturday)

4:00 p.m.

Seeds Kids Worship Concert

4:30 p.m.

Dinner (pick up your preordered bento box and enjoy Dr. Purdom’s presentation while you eat)

5:00 p.m.

The Bible in the Marketplace of Ideas | Dr. Georgia Purdom

6:15 p.m.

If God Is Loving, Why Is There Death and Suffering? | Dr. Terry Mortenson

Saturday, January 31

9:00 a.m.

Welcome/Overview of Emerald Crossing

10:10–10:55 a.m.

Main Auditorium: Bible Lesson Overview

Area A: Science Experiments/Crafts

Area B: Hosting a Sensory Friendly VBS

Area C: Make-and-Take Decorations (painting cardboard)

11:10–11:55 a.m.

Main Auditorium: A to Z Through Psalm 23

Area A: Games/Snacks

Area B: Toddler and Pre-Primary Overview

Area C: Memory Verse/Music Overview

12:00–1:10 p.m.

Lunch

1:10–1:55 p.m.

Main Auditorium: Director Get-Together – Large Churches

Area A: Director Get-Together – Small Churches

Area B: Director Get-Together – Medium Churches

Area C: Open for Lunch

2:10–2:55 p.m.

Main Auditorium: Emerald Crossing Decorations Tips and Tricks

Area A: Engaging with Parents

Area B: Digital Pro Overview

Area C: An Irish Guide to Good Design

3:10–3:55 p.m.

Main Auditorium: Design Your Assembly Time

Area A: Engaging Tweens

Area B: Tips for First-Time Answers VBS Directors

Area C: The Power of Visual Media and AI in Kids Ministry

4:10–4:55 p.m.

Main Auditorium: Seeds Kids Worship Team

Area A: VBS Is Over, Now What?

Area B: How to Get Your Whole Church Involved

Area C: Make-and-Take Decorations (homemade windmills)

Travel & Lodging

Hotel: Book your accommodations here: https://hotels.arkencounter.com/.

For those flying, the nearest airport is CVG (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky).

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