The forest can be a fascinating place. There is so much to discover, so much to look at, so much to learn, and so much of God’s creation to enjoy. The forest also teaches us about God’s vastness and untamed character. In the Wildwood Forest VBS program, kids learn about the untamed nature of God, and the life-changing lessons that result.
Title: Wildwood Forest—Discover the Untamed Nature of God
Publisher: David C. Cook
David C. Cook is a 135-year old publishing house with a mission for “DiscipleShaping.” They are active in Sunday School curriculum and praise and worship music publishing
Theme: Forest, Woodlands, Animals
Overview
Day 1
- Bible Story: A Wild Battle — Gideon’s Fight (Judges 7:1–8,16–22)
- Key Verse: 1 Samuel 17:47 “It is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s.”
- Live it! God is undefeatable.
- Treetop Art Studio: Elimination Game or Wildwood Forest Yarn Pins
- Vineland Adventure Course: Battle Tug
- Harvest Grove Snacks: Battle on the Bagel or Animals in the Forest
- Glow Rock Hideaway: Who’s Got the Power balloon game
Day 2
- Bible Story: A Wild Stand — The Fiery Furnace (Daniel 3:1–20)
- Key Verse: Psalm 47:2 “How Awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth!”
- Live it! God is unmatchable.
- Treetop Art Studio: Burnt Ropes Plaque or the Forest is Alive!
- Vineland Adventure Course: Walk the Plank and Fiery Furnace Friends
- Harvest Grove Snacks: Stick Together Sundaes or Forest Flowers with Wildwood Dip
- Glow Rock Hideaway: Find the Faker
Day 3
- Bible Story: A Wild Rescue — Paul and Silas’s Night in Prison (Acts 16:16–34)
- Key Verse: Acts 16:31 “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”
- Live it! God is uncontainable.
- Treetop Art Studio: Jesus Frees Key Holder or Pages of Praise
- Vineland Adventure Course: Jailbreak or Outrageous Rescue
- Harvest Grove Snacks: Prison Bars or Sweet Trees
- Glow Rock Hideaway: Let’s Bust out of This Joint
Day 4
- Bible Story: A Wild Encounter — Elijah Meets God in a Whisper (1 Kings 19:9–18)
- Key Verse: Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God.”
- Live it! God is unpredictable.
- Treetop Art Studio: Whisper Chimes or Leafy Mobiles
- Vineland Adventure Course: Be Still or God’s Whisper
- Harvest Grove Snacks: Stop, Look, and Listen Mix or Tree Bark
- Glow Rock Hideaway: An Amazing Melting Mixture
Day 5
- Bible Story: A Wild Love — The Birth of Jesus (Luke2: 1–20; Matthew 2:1–12)
- Key Verse: 1 John 4:14 “And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.”
- Live it! God is unforgettable.
- Treetop Art Studio: Lamb of Love or Wildwood Forest Leaf Coasters
- Vineland Adventure Course: Manger Madness or Unfolding Love
- Harvest Grove Snacks: Star Parfait or Ants and Ladybugs and Frogs on a Log
- Glow Rock Hideaway: God’s Light to the World
Features
- Like many VBS programs, Wildwood Forest uses a rotational mode, by which kids in small groups rotate from area to area (called “Discovery Sites”), engaging in a different activity or learning experience every 20-30 minutes. This helps keeps things interesting, active, and age-adaptable.
- Wildwood Forest program has a selection of upbeat music in keeping with the week’s theme. They suggest sending a CD home with each child who attends.
- Although the entire program is structured around a forest theme, some age groups will have a variation on this theme. 4-5th graders will engage in “Backcountry Trek,” and preschool-age kids will join BOZ, The Green Bear Next Door. Don’t worry; he’s tamer than the average bear.
- Through the 2010 VBS program, David C. Cook is inviting kids and their churches to donate to the Standing Tall Together fund. This year, the fund will be given to a ministry in Ukraine for renovating a youth center, helping an orphanage, sponsoring an outreach ministry, and placing portions of an illustrated Bible in the hands of Ukrainian youth.
- Wildwood Forest isn’t just a fun experience for kids. They also have a separate Wildwood Forest program (called Beyond Wildwood Forest) for teens. Adults aren’t left out, either. An additional Bible study guide, designed around the Wildwood Forest theme, is available for adults, with a special emphasis on helping nonbelievers come to God. The multiage approach of the program is helpful. It allows you to invite parents of children to stay at the church for the duration of the VBS time. You can use the time to give them insight into what their kids are learning, while ministering to them as well.
Advantages
- The program uses a wide variety of activities, including a stage production (with the kids involved), snacks, crafts and a team-building ropes-style activity.
- Every part of the program not only keeps the woodlands theme going, but emphasizes the particular truth about God, too.
- There are plenty of online resources to answer your questions and get you started on planning and arranging for Wildwood Forest VBS. There are plenty of “free stuff” resources, too.
Disadvantages
- Because of its integration of the theme with the bible lesson, without being careful, the program can tend to an overemphasis on God’s “wild side” without speaking of God’s love, grace, or mercy.
- The rotation model is an excellent approach. However, it can become cumbersome if you have a very larger group of kids or if you have fewer personnel to staff the various locations. It is ideal for a group of 50-100 kids.
Cost
The Starter Kit, which provides everything you need to begin planning and purchasing any additional materials, costs $119.99. Click here to order. Be aware that since the program was used in 2009, some of the materials are out of stock. The downloadable (PDF) versions are available. You may print them yourself.
Website: http://www.davidccook.com/explore/wildwoodforest/
For more VBS curriculum packages please visit: Christian Ed Warehouse