Deep Sea Discovery! Christ Episcopal Church 2016 VBS

Welcome to Deep Sea Discovery—where kids will know that God is with them wherever they go!

Get ready to dive into a life-changing adventure that leads kids deeper into God’s love! At Deep Sea Discovery kids will participate in the large-group excitement of Celebration Reef, experience God’s Word at S.S. Discovery, learn ways to serve others at E.C.H.O. Sea Sub, explore the mysteries of the sea through crafts at Curiosity Cavern, and enjoy games at Pelican Pier.

Along the way, kids will explore the depths of the Bible using five dive markers to guide them - God KNOWS me, God HEARS me, God STRENGTHENS me, God LOVES me, and God SENDS me. Through Deep Sea Discovery, they will resurface knowing that God is with them wherever they go!

Your kids won’t want to miss this adventure! Secure their place on the dive team!

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Who can attend?

VBS is for children who will be four years old before 6/20/16 and are fully potty trained (no exceptions) through rising 5th graders. All grades used during registration should be RISING grades (2016/2017 school year). In order to keep group size manageable, there may be some overlap in grades (i.e. there may be a group with some older preschoolers and some younger kindergarteners). Children with special needs may be assigned a "diving buddy" - an adult or older teenager who will discretely accompany him/her during camp. If you are interested in having a diving buddy for your child, please select that option during registration.

5th Grade Mission Excursion

Rising 5th grade campers will have an offsite mission opportunity, which requires additional health and medical information (dates of immunizations, etc.). Parents of rising 5th graders should have that information handy when registering their child. This year, we plan to visit K9s for Warriors in Ponte Vedra near Nocatee. Parents of 5th graders will drop off and pick up that day as usual.

Volunteers - Come serve with us!

Adult and youth volunteers (rising 6th-12th graders) are needed to make this week super fun and meaningful for the kids!

Adults who volunteer all five days will receive free registration for one child. (A $7 t-shirt charge for the camper will still apply.) Five-day adult volunteers must e-mail Catherine Montgomery at cmontgomery@christepiscopalchurch.org for a discount code prior to registering their camper(s).

The nursery will have a fun mini-VBS week planned for children of volunteers who are too young to attend VBS (on volunteering days only). Reservations are required for the nursery -- please note this step during volunteer registration if you need nursery care.

Want to help out, but aren't available 9:00-Noon at least two days during VBS week? We still need you! Click HERE for sign up on VolunteerSpot (similar to Sign Up Genius), which has volunteer opportunities before and after VBS (prep and breakdown), and shorter shift volunteer opportunities during VBS week.

Deadlines

Camper registration will close on May 30th or when maximum camper capacity of 270 is reached. Volunteer placement will be on a first come, first served basis, and will close when all areas are fully staffed.

Next steps

Registered campers will receive instructions by email the week before camp. Volunteers will be contacted by email in May regarding volunteer meetings and instructions. Volunteer meetings will be in the evening during the week of June 6th.

FAQs

Who can I contact with any questions?

Catherine Montgomery, Director of Children's Christian Formation, cmontgomery@christepiscopalchurch.org.

What is the refund policy?

The registration fee is nonrefundable.

Does my child need to be a member of Christ Episcopal Church?

No, all children are welcome!

Are scholarships available?

Yes. No camper will be turned away due to an inability to pay. Please contact Catherine Montgomery at cmontgomery@christepiscopalchurch.org for details.

Can campers choose friends they'd like to be in the same group with?

Yes, during registration, camper parents can state the names of up to three friends they'd like their child to be placed with. Requests are not guaranteed, but will be honored wherever possible.

Can volunteers choose the area in which they'd like to serve?

During registration, adult and youth volunteers can choose the areas they are most interested in. Requests will be honored wherever possible.

Can youth volunteers request friends they'd like to work with?

In order to provide the best experience for our campers, volunteers may not request placement with friends. Volunteers have a great time at VBS, but the focus is on service to our campers. If two friends request the same area of service, however, they may end up serving together.

I'd like to help out, but I can't volunteer all five days of VBS. Is that okay?

Yes! Group leaders (adults) and assistant group leaders (youth) must volunteer Monday through Friday. But volunteers in other areas can volunteer Monday - Friday or partial week assignments if needed. Please enter your availability where indicated during registration. If you aren't available at least two full days, please stay tuned for the VolunteerSpot sign-up in April, which will have opportunities to help with prep and breakdown, as well as shorter shift help during VBS week.

Can my service as a youth volunteer count towards needed service hours?

Check with your school counselor to make sure that service at a church is eligible. Public school districts and private schools may have different criteria for eligibility. Proof of service hours will be available after VBS for all youth volunteers.