HOW DO I REGISTER FOR VBS?
There is a registration button at the top of this page! Registration opens April 2 and closes June 18. We close registration one week before VBS in order to properly plan and prepare a safe and effective program. Because we expect hundreds of children, our team needs a week to finalize the details to accomplish these goals.

IS THERE A CAP ON REGISTRATIONS?
Due to room capacities in Early Childhood, we will have to close registration early for 3 year olds, 4 year olds, and 5 year olds not going into Kindergarten. We appreciate your understanding!

WHY DON’T YOU ALLOW WALK-UP REGISTRATION?
We are unable to take walk-ups at VBS which is hard for us because we would love for every child to attend! VBS is attended by over 600 children and staffed with volunteers. We use the week prior to VBS to prep the daily activities and rotations for the large amount of children who attend. Walk-up registrations put too great a strain on the volunteers without preparation. Please give us some grace by not requesting last-minute registrations or requests to take another child’s spot. Thank you for your understanding!  

DO YOU ACCOMMODATE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL ABILITIES? 
YES! On the registration form, there is a location to indicate if your child has special abilities. We will contact you after the form is submitted to talk further about the needs of your child. If you would like to discuss whether VBS is a good fit for your child before you register, please contact Hannah Snoots at hannah.snoots@calvarywestlake.org. 

WHAT AGE/GRADE SHOULD I REGISTER MY CHILD IN?
Preschool children must be 3 years old and potty-trained by May 1, 2023 to attend VBS. For Elementary children, register your child in the grade they will be entering in the fall NOT the grade they are about to complete or have just completed. For example, if your child is currently in 1st grade or just finished 1st grade, you would enroll them in 2nd grade for VBS 2023.

WHAT IF MY CHILD IS CURRENTLY IN OR JUST COMPLETED 5TH GRADE?
At Calvary, we promote your child to 6th grade prior to VBS. Please check out the Middle School webpage HERE for their MSM summer events! If your incoming 6th grader would like to volunteer at VBS, they must volunteer with a parent/guardian to help with their transition from attending VBS to volunteering at VBS. If interested, please click HERE for our VBS volunteer form.  Parent/Guardian will also need to complete the volunteer form. 

WHAT IF I NEED CARE FOR MY CHILD ALL DAY? 
VBS is a half-day program from 9:00am-11:30am. At Calvary, we have a full-day elementary program throughout the summer called Adventure Weeks. During VBS week, Adventure Weeks day camp attends VBS in the morning and continues with the day camp program in the afternoon. You can register your child for Adventure Weeks Week 2, and it becomes a full-day program with afternoon activities as well. The pricing is different for Adventure Weeks, however VBS is included in the Adventure Weeks pricing for the week. For more information on our Adventure Weeks day camp, click HERE.

VBS coincides with Adventure Weeks Week 2. If your child is registered for Adventure Weeks Week 2, you do not need to register for VBS. Campers will participate in VBS in the morning and continue with Adventure Weeks in the afternoon.

CAN I DROP MY CHILD OFF EARLY?
Check-in at the kiosks begins at 8:45am. Our facility opens earlier, but we need to allow time for staff and volunteers to get into place and be ready to receive your child. The area code and phone number you registered with are used to check in and print a security check-in label each morning of VBS. Download the My Church app by Pushpay now from iTunes or Google Play to have a touch free check-in and timesaving experience each morning of VBS!

WHAT TIME SHOULD I PICK UP MY CHILD?
Please pick up your child promptly at 11:30am. We do not have extended care available. If you arrive early, please wait until the children have finished the session before you pick them up from their group.

CAN I BE WITH MY CHILD AT VBS?
Parents are welcome to be a part of the VBS experience. If you need to be with your child throughout the week, we will ask that you go through fingerprinting and a background check in order to travel with their group. These procedures are required for all individuals 18 and over to provide for a safe and secure environment for the children. Please click HERE to fill out our volunteer form.

WHAT IF I WANT TO VOLUNTEER BUT HAVE A CHILD TOO YOUNG FOR VBS?
We provide childcare for volunteers who have children under 3 years old. Please sign up to serve with us HERE! On the confirmation page, there will be a place to access the VBS volunteer childcare request form. Childcare is cost-free and reserved for those parents who serve and is not an open group.

HOW DO I CHECK IN MY CHILD EACH DAY?
As you enter the facility, you will find kiosks with touch screens. Begin by entering the phone number you used when you registered your child. After your family profile appears, tap each child’s name that will be attending that day and press “next”. You will be prompted to make sure your cell phone and cell provider are in the system so that we can reach you quickly in case your child needs you. From there you should be able to check in through the system and print name tags. Each child will receive two name tags and a 3 digit code pick-up sticker. Each family will receive one 3 digit code pick-up sticker which will be used to pick up every child in your family. Please keep the 3 digit code pick-up sticker with you in order to get your child at 11:30am. A new 3 digit code is created each day. Place one name tag on your child’s VBS t-shirt; the other name tag goes on the sign-in sheet for their group. After you place your child’s sticker on the correct sign-in sheet, you are free to leave.

For a timesaving and touch free check-in experience, please download the My Church app by Pushpay now from iTunes or Google Play. 

HOW DO I PICK UP MY CHILD EACH DAY? 
Locate your child’s group and identify the leader. Show the leader the 3 digit pick-up code sticker printed when you checked in that morning. The leader will verify the code with the code on your child’s sticker and release your child to you. You will keep your code and not leave it with the leader in case you have other children in other groups to pick up.

WHAT IF I LOSE MY 3 DIGIT PICK-UP CODE STICKER? 
It is best to take a picture of the code each day to keep on your mobile phone. If you do lose the sticker, you will be asked to go to a specified location and have your 3 digit code pick-up sticker reprinted. You will be asked to show a photo ID that matches the information of the child. Please be patient with our team because with so many children, we want to make sure each child is safe and leaves with the proper adult. Security is increased due to parents leaving campus after dropping off their children and is different than our normal Sunday and Wednesday night routine. Please understand our situation if we take extra steps to ensure the safety of the children at VBS.

WHAT IF SOMEONE OTHER THAN MYSELF IS PICKING UP MY CHILD? 
We understand that multiple people may be handing the transportation of children to and from VBS. You may transfer the 3 digit code pick-up sticker to another adult who will be picking up your child. We will also accept a photo of the 3 digit code pick-up sticker if you text a photo of the pick-up sticker to another adult. We will not accept a phone call of permission, email, or text message of the 3 digit code. The 3 digit code sticker has a date and code that makes it viable and the randomness of the codes each day helps ensure the security of the children.