Even though a Vacation Bible School decorating team may never have set foot in New York City, decorating for a Big Apple Adventure could be a piece of cake.
“You probably already have, have had or will be able to find or borrow almost everything you need for great decorations that scream New York City,” said Bruce Edwards, minister of education and evangelism at Airline Baptist Church in Bossier City, La.
Edwards led a breakout session called “Decorating Out of the Box” during a VBS preview at LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, Tenn., earlier this year.
“I want to encourage you to reuse and recycle,” Edwards said. “Be ready to tear apart decorations you’ve used before and repurpose them for this year’s VBS.”
The same could be said for old prom or bridesmaid dresses. They could become part of a display representing Broadway. Add to this some sparkly shoes and a homemade top hat and you have instant glamour.
“Remember that you are decorating for the children, not for adults,” Edwards said. “Make New York the beautiful and wonderful place that it is.”
Skyscrapers don’t have to be 10 feet tall to make an impact, just taller than the children, he added.
One idea is to make a church hallway like a subway tunnel. Registration can happen at the tollbooth. Colored tape can become the red line, the green line, etc. These lines can lead to different age group classrooms or activity areas. A few pieces of PVC pipe can become a turnstile.
New York is known for its ethnic neighborhoods, and Edwards said many decorations can come from things people already have in their homes or can save from eating out.
Pizza boxes can be the start of Little Italy. The carryout boxes from a Chinese restaurant can be the beginning of Chinatown. Add some lanterns, scarves, posters, whatever one has. Central Park can start with a bench and even a tropical ficus tree.
“Just look around at what you already have,” Edwards said. “Almost anything can be turned into New York.”