How to Make a VBS (Vacation Bible School) Time Capsule

Keeping students happily involved on a hot day at VBS can be a challenge. One way to provide and maintain interest is through arts and crafts. This article explains how to make a time capsule. A time capsule can be buried on the church ground and reopened in the future. This will give children a chance to reflect on fun events they had during the present VBS. It also provides some interest for a future VBS, when the capsule is opened.

Make Your Capsule

You will need a water proof capsule. The best thing to use is a coffee can with a tight plastic lid. The can can be either metal or plastic.

You want your can to be decorated. You can paint it and then place the date on the outside of the can. Put images like a cross, sheep (lambs), butterflies and fish on the outside of the can. I am partial to lambs because they resemble children.

Inside

Sit your students down and ask them what should be placed on the inside of the time capsule. You want them all involved. Here are some ideas. Make a video tape of things happening at VBS. Take pictures of classes, teachers and best friends. If you did a small craft, place it inside the can, too. Make a list of everyone's name that attended the VBS. Wrap these individually to protect them from water and dirt. Be sure you place the theme name inside the can as well. If you do a lot of singing, place a CD of your music in the can.

Seal Your Capsule

Once you have everything inside the can, seal the lid with extra tape. You might also want to place the can inside a plastic bag. This helps keep out extra moisture, too.

Bury Your Time Capsule

It has to be deep enough so that it won't be dug up. Dig your hole and place sand or gravel around your time capsule. This helps keep dirt away from your can. It also makes it easier to find, when you look for it in the future.

Digging It Up

You want to dig it up on a set date. You might dig it up the following year or you might wait until the children are in High School. Young children will not want to wait. They will remember what they did the year before and be excited about digging it up. This excitement can help with bringing back students to VBS the following Summer.

When you examine the artifacts from the past, get everyone involved. Students will be curious to look at what they wore, who their friends were, what did they make, who has moved away, what the old theme was and how much fun they had. The best thing about a time capsule is that it maintains interest by those individual children involved.