In what early summer spot can dozens, even hundreds, of elated elementary school kids be found? No, it's not their classroom on the last day before summer break.

This place of juvenile joy has less to do with reading and writing, and more to do with pews and praise. It's Vacation Bible School (VBS), and there's a high probability that a church near you is holding one this summer. Though VBS sprouted out of Illinois in the late 19th century, its legacy is as firmly entrenched in Southern tradition as sweet tea and cane fishing poles.

Ironically, the VBS concept combines two institutions that kids find boring – school and church. Nevertheless, VBS's theme-based combination of crafts, games, and snacks has proven to captivate a significant rate of its pre-pubescent participants. Just ask some of them.

Rylee Shaw, 10, Centre, recently attended VBS at Centre First Baptist Church.

“I like the crafts,” she said. “Yesterday we made a picture frame with stickers.”

Her classmate, 7-year-old Josiah Green, said he felt the same way.

“I like having fun, playing games and making crafts,” he said. “You can also learn about Jesus, and how you can accept Christ.”

Eleven year-old Jessica Morrison of Centre plans on attending Pine Grove Baptist's VBS, which is coming up very soon.

“I am looking forward to bible school,” she said. “I like how we've done the crafts.”

Centre resident, Becky Augustyn, 11, also attending First Baptist's VBS. She said she likes the snacks, but she also favors its contrast with Sunday morning church.

“Sometimes when you come to church you don't have fun and stuff, but with bible school, you do get to have fun,” she said.

In Cherokee County, churches tend to hold their VBS sessions during one week in either June and July, usually during the evening hours. However, two of the county's largest churches, Centre First Baptist and Pine Grove Baptist, on County Road 22, hold their VBS during the morning.

First Baptist's bible school draws approximately 150 per day. This year, they held it June 1-5. Steven Langford, Youth and Children's Minister and bible school coordinator, beams of the benefits of vacation bible school.

“The connotation for kids is that church is not fun,” he said. “VBS can help change their perspective about church. It's more of letting them experience a fun way to worship God.”

Langford emphasizes that First Baptist does present the gospel, and that some have responded, joining the church as a result of attending bible school. 

However, he points out that sending children to VBS doesn't bind a family to that church.

“VBS is a fun, open, and unobtrusive introduction to God,” he said. “It's safe, their friends will be here, and there are no strings attached.”

Pine Grove Baptist's VBS runs June 8-12 from 9 a.m. until noon., and it is one of the largest Baptist bible schools in the state, averaging over 500 students per day.

Joan Pollard, who coordinates this massive undertaking, has worked with the church's bible school for 20-plus years. She, too, praises the VBS concept.

“VBS benefits kids because it lets them learn about Christ in a fun, kid-friendly environment,” Pollard said. “Our pastor believes if you play with children, when the time is right, they will allow us to PRAY with them.”

Pollard said one favorite practice at Pine Grove, or “Piney”, is how the classes are separated.

“Once a child gets to 3rd grade we split our classes into boys and girls,” she said. “This lets the boys do 'boy things' like building fishing poles, CD holders, or stools. The girls and their crafts are more focused around items like making T-shirts or jewelry.”

For parents of children for ages 5 to mid-teens who were not planning to send their student to VBS, the argument for doing so is convincing. An article on www.associatedcontent.com entitled, “Send Your Kids to Vacation Bible School” lists reasons why parents should do just that.

The argument for VBS begins with its content, the article states.

“There are a million sites in this country where kids can go during the summer to learn how to play baseball, basketball, football or how to swim but there a considerably fewer places where kids can go to actively learn about how to live like decent human beings who have concern and respect for others and faith in God,” it reads.

The company a child keeps at VBS is another stated reason in favor of the summer program. 

“Parents can guess that their child will be attending Vacation Bible School with other kids who come from families where values are important and where faith is central,” it continues.

Finally, since an overwhelming majority of churches provide VBS at no charge, parents can be comforted that the summer-run programs aren't after their wallet.

At Pine Grove, the offertory is taken up in pennies, not dollars, so kids can practice giving without breaking their parents.