When we asked South Carolina Baptist churches in an online survey to tell us what activities they had planned for the summer, it was no surprise that Vacation Bible School came in at number one, with 84 percent of 25 responding churches reporting they will hold VBS.

A majority of churches have also scheduled youth retreats and domestic mission trips.

By a wide majority, 84 percent of respondents said they will hold VBS during the evening hours, with only 16 percent planning daytime VBS classes.

The number of days set aside for VBS varied, with 68 percent of churches electing to hold VBS sessions over five days, 20 percent over four days, and 12 percent over three days.

A majority of churches, 64 percent, will use LifeWay Christian Resources’ “Galactic Starveyors” curriculum. A variety of other resources was reported.

Among respondents, 64 percent of churches plan youth retreats for the summer, and 56 percent will go on a domestic (U.S.) mission trip. More than one in four churches (28 percent) were planning to travel outside the country on a mission trip.

Other events planned for the summer included sports camps (32 percent of respondents) and backyard Bible clubs (24 percent). Twenty percent of respondents said they will hold RA camp, youth or children’s camping trips, or children’s day camps.