Vacation Bible School (VBS) is a weeklong church outreach that teaches the gospel to children in a fun, themed and interactive environment. The following is a sampling of VBS dates and times from local churches.

Bay Life Chapel presents its annual KIDAPALOOZA with its theme Look Up. The VBS is free and runs from Monday, June 11 to Friday, June 15 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m. Bay Life’s slime-filled, super funny, high-energy VBS will feature bouncy houses, obstacle courses, tons of indoor and outdoor games, live music and crazy dancing. KIDAPALOOZA is for children entering kindergarten through those entering 6th grade. Bay Life is located at 1017 Kingsway Rd. in Brandon. To register, visit www.baylife.org/kpa. For questions, contact 661-3696 or kids@baylife.org.

Bell Shoals Baptist Church presents Game On! Gearing Up For Life’s Big Game on its Brandon campus from Monday, July 16 to Friday, July 20 from 8:45 a.m.-12 Noon. Kids will learn that God wants them to join His team, to train hard, to celebrate their salvation and to encourage one another. Registration is free for all children age 4 (by Sept. 1, 2018) through completed 6th grade. The Brandon Campus is located at 2102 Bell Shoals Rd. To register, visit www.bellshoals.com/vbs. For more information, contact Janie Guffey at jguffey@bellshoals.com.

Central Baptist Church presents Game On! Gearing Up For Life’s Big Game from Monday, June 18 to Friday, June 22 from 6-8:30 p.m. The VBS is for ages Pre-K3 to 5th grade. For more information, contact the church office at west@cbcslions.com. The church is located at 402 E. Windhorst Rd. in Brandon.

First Presbyterian of Brandon in partnership with Cedarkirk Camp presents The Universe of God, a VBS that brings classic camp activities and faith-building experiences to the church. The program is from Monday, June 11 to Friday, June 15 from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. for children that have completed kindergarten through completed 5th grade. The cost is $90.00 per child. The church is located at 121 Carver Ave. in Brandon.

For more information or to register, visit www.fpcbrandon.org or call 689-4597.

FishHawk Fellowship Church presents Amped featuring different daily themes, games, crafts, music and an awesome water day on Friday with waterslides. The VBS runs from Monday, June 18 to Friday, June 22 from 9 a.m. to 12 Noon at 15326 FishHawk Blvd. in Lithia. The program is designed for children that have completed kindergarten to completed 5th grade. The fee is $10 per child. To register, visit www.fishhawkfc.org. For questions, email VBS@fishhawkfc.org or call 655-7431.

Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church presents Shipwrecked, a VBS where kids will venture onto an uncharted island where they learn that they can survive and thrive. Kids will be anchored in the truth that Jesus carries them through life’s storms. The free VBS runs from Monday, June 4 to Friday, June 8 from 9 a.m. to 12 Noon at 604 N. Valrico Rd. in Valrico. Participation is for age 4 to 5th grade. To register, visit www.hiepiscopal.org.

Immanuel Lutheran Church presents Scruffy & Scrappy’s Amazing School Bus Adventure featuring crafts, Bible stories, snacks and lively games. The free VBS will run from Monday, July 9 to Friday, July 13 from 9 a.m. to 12 Noon at 2913 John Moore Rd. in Brandon. Participation is for age 3 (toilet trained) to those entering 5th grade. For more information, call 689-1787 or visit www.GodSoLoved.org.

Journey Church of Brandon presents JourneyJam 2018—Amped from Monday, July 16 to Friday, July 20 from 5:45-9 p.m. The free event is for children that have completed Pre-K to completed 5th grade. Every night, the evening kicks off with a free dinner followed worship, games, Bible study time, crafts, a mission focus and ends with a rally. For more information or to register, visit vbs.journey7.com. Journey Church is located at 1310 John Moore Rd. in Brandon.

Limona Village Chapel United Methodist Church presents Shipwrecked where kids discover that Jesus rescues them. Kids participate in Bible-learning activities, sing catchy songs, play teamwork-building games and more. The free VBS runs from Monday, June 11 to Friday, June 15 from 5 p.m.-8:30 p.m. with dinner and snack provided. Participation is for age 3 to 5th grade. For more information or to register, visit www.limonavillagechapel.com or call 689-8385. The church is located at 408 Limona Rd. in Brandon.

Nativity Catholic Church presents A Walk Through The Mass from Monday, June 11 to Friday, June 15 from 9 a.m.- 12 Noon. The VBS is for Pre-K to 4th grade and is $40 per student. To register, visit www.nativitycatholicchurch.org. For more information, contact Pamela M. Emery at 689-9101. The church is located at 705 E. Brandon Blvd. in Brandon.

New Covenant Community Church presents Operation Overboard from Monday, June 4 to Friday, June 8 from 6-8 p.m. Operation Overboard is an invitation and a challenge to dive into the deep waters of God’s Word and discover what it means to have deep faith. A snack will be served each night. The VBS is for age 3 years-5th grade. The church is located at 8225 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Lithia. For more information or to sign-up, contact Margaret Harris at 362-8038 or harrismargaret79@gmail.com.

New Hope UMC presents Gadgets & Gizmos for children ages Pre-K3 (as of 9/1/2017) to completed kindergarten from Monday, June 4 to Friday, June 8 from 9 a.m.-12 Noon. Gadgets & Gizmos is a week with friends where kids will learn that they are uniquely wired and wonderfully made by God. Also, that same week from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., New Hope presents Mega Sports & Creative Arts Camp for those who have completed grades 1-6. Children will choose from a track of dance, drama, soccer, volleyball, art, vocal/worship or rockets, Legos and experiments. New Hope is located at 120 N. Knights Ave. in Brandon.

To register, visit findnewhope.ccbchurch.com. For questions or more information, contact Shelly Wilson at shelly@findnewhope.com or visit www.findnewhope.com.

Redeemer Church presents The Master Builder from Monday, June 25 to Friday, June 29 from 9 a.m.-12 Noon. Children will learn that God has a plan for their life through worship, lessons, Bible memory, games and crafts. The program is for age 4 to completed 5th grade. To register, visit www.redeemerriverview.org. For more information, contact Katy Carlin at katy@redeemerriverview.org. Redeemer is located at 12404 Boyette Rd. in Riverview.

Shiloh Baptist Church presents Game On! Gearing Up For Life’s Big Game where kids learn that God wants them to join His team, to train hard, to celebrate their salvation and to encourage one another. The free VBS runs from Sunday, June 3 to Thursday, June 7 from 6-9 p.m. at 905 W. Terrace Dr. in Plant City. Participation is for age 3 through completed 5th grade. To register, visit www.shilohpc.org. For questions, call 752-8345.

South Bay Church presents Amped through its Summer Kids Club from Monday, June 4 to Friday, June 8 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. for kindergarten to 5th grade. Summer Kids Club will bring to life the people in the Bible who experienced the truth of God’s promises and knew they could trust the plans He had for them. The church is located at 13498 US Hwy. 301 S. in Riverview. For more information, contact Pastor Kevin Riggs at 677-0721 or visit www.southbay.cc/events.

South Shore United Methodist Church presents Shipwrecked: Rescued by Jesus where kids participate in Bible-learning activities, sing songs, play team-building games and collect Bible Memory Buddies. The VBS runs from Monday, July 16 to Friday, July 20 from 5:30-8 p.m. at 11525 Big Bend Rd. in Riverview. Participation is for kindergarten to 5th grade. The cost is $25 per child for the week and $10 for each additional child. Registration fee includes a t-shirt and nightly dinners for each participant. For more information or to register, visit www.southshoreumc.com or call 677-9482.

The Chapel At FishHawk presents Time Lab from Monday, June 4 to Friday, June 8 from 6-9 p.m. at 6026 Churchside Dr. in Lithia. During this interactive VBS, kids will be ‘Discovering Jesus from Eternity Past to Eternity Future,’ where He was in the Old Testament, and that He always was, always is, and always will be. Participation is for completed Pre-K to completed 5th grade. Cost is $25 per child. Sign up to participate at The Chapel or via email by contacting Jesse Nunnally at jesse@thechapelfh.org. The cut-off for registration is Monday, May 28. For more information, visit thechapelfh.org or 644-2787.

United Methodist Church of Sun City Center presents Shipwrecked: Rescued by Jesus from Monday, June 18 to Friday, June 22 from 8:30 a.m.-12 Noon. The church is located at 1210 Del Webb Blvd in Sun City Center. To register, visit vbspro.events/p/551ad8. For questions, contact Rebecca Gross at rebecca@sccumc.com or 634-2539 Ext. 110. More information is available at www.sccumc.com.

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Amanda Boston
Amanda Boston is the Christian Voice Editor for the Osprey Observer. She is a graduate of Bible Training for Church Leaders (BTCL), who enjoys sharing how God is working in and through the community. Amanda resides in FishHawk with her husband and two children.