- What does rotational model mean?
- How does rotation work?
- What if I don't want to rotate?
- How are the various programs available in Wildwood Forest different from each other?
- What are the daily "Live It(s)!" (daily Bible applications) of Wildwood Forest?
- Our VBS is small; do I need to have a different teacher for each of the Discovery Sites?
- Will Wildwood Forest work with large churches?
- Can I make copies of Wildwood Forest for my church to use?
- Am I required to use Scouts (teen helpers)?
- Can I use the program in something other than a 5-day format?
- Does the program provide any resources for children who accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior?
- Is there a King James Version available?
- What Happens in Glow Rock Hideaway?
- Do I really need the student books?
- What's different this year?
- Will the craft packs, available through S&S Worldwide, fit the time scheduled for crafts?
- Why are there so many books?
1. What does rotational model mean?
Rotational model is the teaching philosophy used in Wildwood Forest VBS. In this model, your kids will learn the day’s lesson as they rotate through five exciting Discovery Sites—Bible drama, Bible memory and music, crafts, games, and the science lab. All the children start together at the opening assembly, then they divide into groups (based on school grade, age, or mixed age groups). Every day, each group will visit—or rotate to—every Discovery Site in Wildwood Forest. Halfway through the day, the groups take a break and visit Harvest Grove together for refreshments. A rotation-based VBS makes recruiting volunteers a snap. Leaders teach to their strengths: if their gift is crafts, all they teach is crafts. No more trying to be all things to all kids!
2. How does rotation work?
Transition is easy in Wildwood Forest! To get to the first Discovery Site from Misty Meadow (opening assembly), one of your five groups will be led by their Explorers to Great Oak Theater for the Bible drama. The other four groups will go to four other Discovery Sites at the same time. Use the helps in the Director’s Guide to plan out the order in which the groups will visit the Discovery Sites.
3. What if I don’t want to rotate?
The program setup generally assumes a rotational model. However, the Wildwood Forest Director’s Guide provides simple hints and tips for those who wish to turn this into a site-based VBS.
4. How are the various programs available in Wildwood Forest different from each other?
Activities that are challenging for preschoolers hold less interest for fourth and fifth graders. So, a preschool program is available that offers games and activities geared toward the physical, intellectual, and social development of this age group. While the elementary program can be used for children up to fifth grade, an upper elementary option for fourth-and fifth-graders is available. Here, application points are more challenging, the games more extreme, and the Bible lessons more appropriate to what preteen children are experiencing. Through the programs available online, teens experience Wildwood Forest in a youth group atmosphere, and adults discover God’s awesome wonder through an in-depth Bible study. Utilizing all these options maximizes Wildwood Forest’s impact and allows families to grow together in Christ.
5. What are the daily “Live It(s)!” (daily Bible applications) of Wildwood Forest?
Every day, your kids will learn and experience an important Live It! (daily Bible application) that’s reinforced in everything they do. Whether demonstrated in the lively opening skits, discovered through fascinating science experiments, or brought to life in the Bible dramas and student books, children will learn to “put feet” on what the Bible story for the day teaches.
The five Live It(s)! for Wildwood Forest VBS are:
Day 1: God is undefeatable. (Judges 7:1–8, 16–22)
Day 2: God is unmatchable. (Daniel 3:1–29)
Day 3: God is uncontainable. (Acts 16:16–34)
Day 4: God is unpredictable. (1 Kings 19:9–18)
Day 5: God is unforgettable. (Luke 2:1–20; Matthew 2:1–12)
6. Our VBS is small; do I need to have a different teacher for each of the Discovery Sites?
If you have fewer than 50 children, form two groups and lead the children in a simple two-group rotation followed by games and snack. Bible dramas and Bible memory/music go together well as do crafts and lab experiments. Or choose to rotate through the Discovery Sites all at one time in one large group with enough Scouts (teen helpers) on board to help out.
7. Will Wildwood Forest work with large churches?
Absolutely. For 100 kids or more we suggest two, three, or four leaders for the game and craft Discovery Sites. One leader can do the actual teaching while the other adults help prepare and sort materials, pass out supplies, and then get things ready for the next rotation. Scouts (teen helpers) will help children finish their activities in time to rotate. For each additional 25 kids you’ll want to add an additional Discovery Site leader. You can also choose to set up duplicate sites (two stations for crafts, two stations for games, etc.) to keep groups small and relational.
8. Can I make copies of Wildwood Forest VBS for my church to use?
You will find many helpful reproducible pages throughout the various guides and on the two Wildwood Forest CD-ROMs. Feel free to reproduce these clearly marked pages as needed for use in the VBS program only. It is important to note that aside from those pages, the guides and other written materials are not reproducible. No materials may be reproduced for commercial purpose. Wildwood Forest Praise Songs CD, Wildwood Forest Program Resources CD-ROM, Wildwood Forest Promotional Materials CD-ROM, and Wildwood Forest Music and Promo DVD may not be reproduced. However, all of the guides and student books, the Wildwood Forest Praise Songs CD, and the Wildwood Forest Music and Promo DVD may be purchased individually.
9. Am I required to use Scouts (teen helpers)?
You aren’t required to request the help of the teens in your congregation, but your kids—and the teens—will miss out. VBS field tests prove the valuable contribution that teens make with children, and children simply love teens. Be sure to hold a teen training (outlined in the Wildwood Forest Director’s Guide) before your VBS begins.
10. Can I use the program in something other than a 5-day format?
Wildwood Forest is flexible and the perfect outreach program for any setting including children’s church, Bible studies for kids, mid-week programs, backyard Bible clubs, and camps. The Director’s Guide also contains a one-day program option as well as an intergenerational option. And don’t forget the Wildwood Forest adult and youth guides available on our Web site. These options allow for the whole family to be involved.
11. Does the program provide any resources for children who accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior?
Yes. The Director’s Guide has reproducible resources that can go home with the child that day. All leaders' guides have helpful information on leading a child to Christ. These are especially helpful for the salvation lessons of Wildwood Forest on Day 3 and Day 5.
12. Is there a King James Version available?
Only a NIV kit is available for Wildwood Forest. However, the key verses and daily key verse activities (Bible Memory and Music) can be tweaked to fit KJV. For those who want KJV, we have another VBS program with KJV options.
13. What happens in Glow Rock Hideaway? (Do I have to be a scientist?)
Glow Rock Hideaway is an interactive science lab where awe-inspiring experiments bring the untamed nature of God to life. Here, children see firsthand that the world around them tells them about God in amazing ways. But don’t worry, the experiments are simple enough for anyone to do. They use everyday items that when put together demonstrate an attribute of God, such as his undefeatable power.
14. Do I really need the student books?
With a little ingenuity, the program can work without the student books. However, the books are integrated into several aspects of the program. They provide activities to get children interacting with some of the sites, give parents tools to reinforce the lesson at home, and are essential to a game played through the week.
15. What’s different this year?
Several exciting changes make this year’s VBS truly exceptional. Because we’re providing more helpful resources than ever, two CD-ROMs are now included in the Starter Kit. One, the Wildwood Forest Program Resources CD-ROM, includes all the materials and reproducible pages needed for each day’s lesson. The other, the Wildwood Forest Promotional Materials CD-ROM, includes the promotional materials and other items the director needs to get the program started.
The Wildwood Forest Music and Promo DVD includes two exciting new features. In addition to the music and promotional videos, we’ve added a decorating video and a training video. The decorating video offers simple yet creative ways to bring Wildwood Forest to life. The training video allows the VBS director a simple way to train volunteer staff. Simply play the video during your training time and all the basics are covered.
Finally, ready-to-use craft packs are now available through S&S Worldwide. Inside each Starter Kit is a flyer outlining complete craft kits and individual craft supplies perfect for Wildwood Forest. Information on these items is also available by logging on to davidccook.ssww.com.
16. Will the craft packs, available through S&S Worldwide, fit the time scheduled for crafts?
Many of the exciting crafts available through S & S Worldwide will fit the time scheduled for crafts in this program. However, there are some more intricate crafts that may take a bit more time. If you choose to do these crafts, you have several options:
- Have children complete craft over two or more days (rather than squeezing them into one day).
- Lengthen a craft time to allow for the activity to be completed in one day.
- Have Adventurers complete their crafts at home.
- Do some of the prep work on the craft ahead of time.
To determine how long to allow for the craft to be created, we recommend that you test the craft prior to VBS. See how long it takes and simply adjust your plans accordingly.
17. Why are there so many books?
Wildwood Forest’s multi-site design for the elementary program works best with one leader assigned to each Discovery Site. We provide a separate guide for each site leader so the Director can hand off those responsibilities.
The Elementary Leader’s Guide provides general instructions to help the Director oversee the elementary program. The Director’s Guide will help you oversee the overall program from start to finish and includes tips on registration, recruiting, decorating, etc. It also contains helpful advice on adapting the program for a variety of church needs.
The separate preschool and upper elementary guides are complete, so they may be given to the directors of those additional programs.