Vacation Bible School

A

Aunt Mavis

I have met the enemy and he is us. Pogo
A way for your Mom to get rid of you for most of the week in the old days. Discuss.
 

I was a pretty good kid overall but, I actually did this in the Lutheran chapel at VBS. I pulled off the Jesus pin from my shirt, bent the point upwards and invited a kid we didn’t like to sit next to me, on the pin of course. He just yelled “OUCHHHHHHH” and bolted away. I thought for sure I was screwed, big trouble! How stupid! I’m guessing I was 7.
 

My parents sent us to Sunday school every weekend and summer camp every summer. They also went away as often as they could when not officially working. It did seem like they didn’t want us around.
 
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I went once because a friend wanted me to go. I remember it being kind of fun. I don't remember any of the Jesus stuff though. It was somehow different than Sunday School. I don't think my mother wanted to get rid of me. I don't think she was like that, but I wouldn't hold it against her if she needed a break.
 
I have a vague memory of going to one at the Salvation Army that used to be fairly close to where I lived then (it's no longer there - demolished and convenience store/gas station is there now). It was only once a week for a few weeks. A cousin, who was living with us at that time, also attended.

Salvation Army.jpg
 
Yes, they needed a break. We got sent as well, to a Protestant church I don’t remember the name of. I remember thinking this isn’t even our religion?! Poor mom did need some time.
 
My 2 older sisters and I were sent to VBC the summer before we moved from Alberta to B.C. I was 8.
Our aunt and her husband-to-be were very religious, and were camp counsellors.
All I remember, is, the constant prayer and singing of hymns .. and pancakes every morning.
The most memorable part was a visit to Harrison Hot Springs. I hated the rest of it.
 
Our church held a daily VBS for a week each summer. It wasn't overly religious. Lots of crafts, some singing time, water play, etc. I volunteered most years - each day I'd teach a group of little kids how to make bread. They loved getting their hands sticky and kneading dough.

Part of every day's mid-morning snack was the bread we'd made the previous day.

VBS was only about 3 hours long each day. It was a break for parents and kids from one another. I never saw it as people getting rid of their kids - more like offering them a few hours of interesting activities with adults they knew and trusted, and with other children.

I went to church sleep away camp for a week at age 11 and loved it.
 
Pinky said:
My 2 older sisters and I were sent to VBC the summer before we moved from Alberta to B.C. I was 8.
Our aunt and her husband-to-be were very religious, and were camp counsellors.
All I remember, is, the constant prayer and singing of hymns .. and pancakes every morning.
The most memorable part was a visit to Harrison Hot Springs. I hated the rest of it.
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Our church was what I used to call "Christian-light" - no hammering of religious messages, particularly not to the children.

Years passed and the "light" became heavier and heavier. For that reason and several others, we stopped going and left organized religions entirely.

Your experience sounds like a bummer. :(
 
Oh, yeah, every summer. We loved it. Some singing, flannel-board bible stories, marching around the church to the beat of "Onward Christian Soldiers", games, crafts (usually something like pasting alphabet macaroni bible verses on wooden plaques to present to our mothers), and best of all............Kool-Aid and cookies. When I got too old for that, we were expected to be "junior teachers" and help out with the younger kids.

I also went to a church-sponsored sleep-away camp every summer. That was divine!
 

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