VBSs are one-week camps that usually run about three hours a day, morning or evening. Many are held in the last weeks of July or first weeks of August and have registration a few weeks before.

Since I'm not particularly religious and not affiliated with a church, when I first heard the term vacation bible school,  I figured it was the last thing I would send my children to for summer fun. Or so I thought. But then came that June day a few years back when a saw an ad for a "crazy-fun summer VBS with cool games and awesome lessons." And SLIMING ! That word certainly got our attention.

So I called , signed up my older two kids, and the rest is history. We've now done about four different church VBSs, and will look for a few new ones to try this summer. And let me tell you, being slimed was the talk of the summer in my house. Yes, green slime dumped from buckets on their little heads. What fun!  Hard to believe that a five-second dump of green slime can be so incredible for kids, but somehow it is. 

Besides that, my kids have had fun playing team sports at the VBSs, learning fun bible lessons that are not very religious but do have great life lessons and morals, made fun crafts, chimed in with some loud group singing, paddled across a lake (surf theme week), chased hundred of bubbles, giggled with new friends, slid down water slides, ran through sprinklers and just had some plain old fun in the sun! 

Some VBSs are quieter than others and some are more on the loud and fun side so do ask what sort of activities the kids will be doing to see if it fits with what you'd like for your child . The age ranges vary slightly also—most are in the 5–12 range—but do double check before signing up. 

The best part? Many vacation bible schools are free (and some have a low fee to cover costs). 

Each year, a church can pick a new theme, so even if you send the  kids to the same school two years in a row, the experience will not be exactly the same. 

Some suggestions to look into:

North Shore Christian Church
120 Kroemer Ave., Riverhead

Ridge Full Gospel
8 Ruth Lane, Ridge

Three Village Christian Church
322 Rt. 25A , East Setauket

Centereach Bible Church
170 North Coleman Rd., Centereach

Dix Hills Free Evangelical Church
28 Foxhurst Rd, Huntington Station

Trinity Lutheran Church
40 W. Nicholai St., Hicksville

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
48 Greene Ave., Sayville

There are many more scattered about the Island. To check for listings of churches by town, click here.

VBSs are a fun and great experience for kids at a low cost. Kids love them and it gives stay-at-home moms a few hours break for a week.