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Resource: Polar Expedition
Published
by:
Group.
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Is this a "permanent" resource (i.e. you buy it once and you can reuse it over many years) or a "dated" resource (i.e. it is produced for just one summer, with a new one coming out each year)?
Permanent Resource. - What
are the main goals or aims of this VBS resource?
Main purpose or aim is for the students to discover about Jesus’ love. - What
is the content (i.e. particular Bible stories, a theological theme,
questions, etc.)?
Polar Expedition focuses on one key biblical concept – “Jesus’ love is cool” using appropriate Bible stories. - For
what ages is it intended, and how are they grouped?
Participants are grouped into what the resource calls “cool crews.” Preschoolers Cool Crew consists of up to 5 preschoolers and an adult or teenage crew leader. Cool Crews consists of five children from kindergarten through fifth grade and an adult or teenage leader. If possible, assign one child from each age level to each crew. (A developmental chart and illustrations, highlights the unique contribution children from each age level can make to a Cool Crew.) Middle schoolers and teenagers are given the opportunity for leadership responsibilities and tasks such as helping with registration and the sing-along. - What
is the structure of a week, a day, and/or class session in this VBS
program? What kinds of activities do learners engage in?
Weekly structure: Day 1 – Jesus’ love is powerful Day 2 – Jesus’ love is refreshing Day 3 – Jesus’ love is for you Day 4 – Jesus’ love gives us life Day 5 – Jesus’ love is for everyone Daily structure: Kids start off each day by forming their small groups, “Cool Crews” Cool Crews gather and sing and do motions Cool Crews visit different Stations meet Chadder Chipmunk on video recreation at “Glacier Games” station snack at “Igloo Eats” station drama and Bible exploration craft station Cool Crews gather to participate in a special mission project which will benefit local and/or global children during Operation Kid-to-Kid. - What
kind of teachers would you need if you were using this VBS program?
According to the VBS resource, it requires fewer trained teachers than other VBS programs – whether your program is large or small. We would like to add that this in part due to the fact that the program allows for teens to take part in leadership roles. Another positive feature of this material is that the adult teachers are encouraged to use their particular gifts by choosing one particular station like music or crafts rather than have to be responsible for teaching everything to a particular age group. - What
space, resources, additional staffing, and other resources would you need to
use this VBS appropriately?
The director’s manual provides models for churches of various sizes. Church with fewer than 40 children: The students can all rotate through the stations together. So, station leaders will only teach their area one time and may volunteer to teach more than one station. Of course, this means there will be fewer leaders to recruit. Since the students will be going all at once, the church can set up multiple stations at one location. Church with more than 150 children: A church of this size may need to duplicate stations thus requiring more space. One option is for the church to run a morning and evening program. This would require additional staffing to run two shifts. If there is a shortage of space, the director’s manual suggests other locations such as a park and a local school. It also presents the idea of partnering with another church. In addition to the eight station leaders, the church will need a Cool Crew leader for every five participants. To make the VBS run smoothly have a person to handle registration as well as a few sign-in volunteers, if possible. Polar Expedition is big on atmosphere and environment to enhance learning but this means extra materials. The director’s manual lists such items as paper snowflakes, imitation snow, stuffed penguins or huskies to set the mood. While decorations are an integral part of Polar Expedition, they are not necessary. The VBS starter kit includes nearly everything a church would need including the director’s manual and leader manuals for every station. The church will have to purchase a student book for each participant. The director’s manual provides a list of supplies the church should have. I believe the church could improvise in order to reduce cost. It would be important that the director make sure each station has what it needs to function. - What
view of children, their development, their faith, and their ways of learning
are implicit in this VBS material?
Implicit and explicit in the VBS material is a view of each child as unique. Each first grader and teenager are seen as having something important to contribute to the VBS experience. The director’s manual gives an illustration of a Cool Crew “Family.” The child in kindergarten says she has a great imagination to help the group while the fourth grader likes to ask questions and can make sure the group understands what they’re learning. The manual states, “At Polar Expedition, everyone is treated with respect.” Every Group resource incorporates what it calls “R.E.A.L. Learning.” R = Relational Learner-to-learner talk involves everyone E = Experiential Learning by doing and using multiple intelligences A = Applicable Connecting God’s Word to the learners’ real world L = Learner-based Addresses how learners learn - As
this VBS resource treats it, what IS the Bible, how is it interpreted, and
how is it used in the VBS?
The Bible is comprised of stories that tell us the truth about Jesus Christ and his love for us. Polar Expedition is using the New Testament, specifically the books of Luke, John and Acts. The key biblical concept for Polar Expedition is reinforced daily through Bible stories, Bible verses, songs, drama and hands-on activities. - What
theological concepts or themes are central in this VBS?
Polar Expedition explores Jesus’ love which leads to the theme of the resurrection and salvation and finally to the concept of witnessing as a result of this love. - How
does the promotional material (advertising or marketing pieces) relate to
the substantive content of the VBS (in other words, does it have slick
packaging, and does the packaging really have anything to do with the
content of the VBS program)?
The promotional material centers around the theme of Polar Expedition: Jesus’ love is cool. The penguin and the polar bear mascot as well as the glaciers on the publicity posters have nothing to do with the Biblical stories presented such as the wedding party at Cana or Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well. The themes on the posters include “Be Cool!” and “Come and Chill Out!” - What is
the cost of this resource? If a small church with 25 people attending
VBS wanted to use this material, how much would they have to spend? If
a large church with 100 people attending VBS wanted to use this material,
how much would they spend?
A small church with 25 children would have to spend $49.99 for the starter kit. Each student book costs $2.99. So, the cost for the entire group would be $74.75. The cost of the crafts range from $6.99 to $16.99. The total cost of the crafts for 30 children (sold in units of 10) is $200.79. If the director wanted to order 50 invitational postcards, certificates for the children and two publicity posters, the total cost for this package would be $350.47. A church with 100 children the cost would be $1154.21. This cost would include the materials included in the paragraph above (in the amount for 100 children) as well as registration cards at $5.97, publicity package at $34.99, overhead transparencies at $19.99, CD at 16.99 and decoration value package at $28.99. - Over
all, what do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of this VBS resource?
The strengths of this course are that it is learner-centered. It seems relatively easy to implement with all of the materials being provided that are required for the success of the program. It encourages leaders to use their particular gifts. The program is inclusive of all age groups in the church from preschool through adulthood. There seems to be a sufficient amount of biblical foundation. One of the weaknesses is that it can be rather expensive. Also, the crafts do not have sufficient symbolism that conveys the gospel message.