According to a 2013 Barna study, two-thirds of churches in America still host VBS each year—and the percentages are even higher in mid to large-sized churches. With all those kids, parents, and volunteers circulating through your church, your staff needs to be organized and prepared for this summer hubbub. An intuitive check-in system can take some of the stress off your shoulders by providing a few of the most important elements:
1. Safety
With hundreds of kids coming and going each day, a check-in system can ensure safety. Printed nametags that include food allergies and medical information and security receipts for parents will provide a safe environment for your VBS.
2. Peace of mind
Many of the parents who are dropping off their children have never even attended a service at your church. A secure check-in system will instill confidence as they leave their little ones in your hands for several hours.
2. Efficiency
A streamlined check-in process will save your staff and volunteers time so they don’t spend hours manually recording data for hundreds families.
4. Follow-up
Your VBS isn’t just about providing a week of cookies, games, and Bible stories; it’s about ministering to your local community. You don’t just want the kids to learn and have fun; you want their entire families to come back to your church. When you quickly collect their information at check-in, a team can follow up with these families.
Step up your church’s VBS check-in game with these tips:
- Utilize mobile check-in so that the parents who already have your church’s app can begin the process before they even unbuckle their rowdy kids from the car. And station volunteers throughout the check-in area so they can quickly check children in from a tablet.
- Don’t just track attendance for the kiddos. Ask all your volunteers to check in each day and thank them for their service after the event.
- Customize your check-in kiosks to match your VBS theme.
- Make sure your check-in kiosks can run offline. Especially if your check-in station is located outside, you could experience connectivity issues.
Check out these other resources for more helpful tips:
Your Guide to Preparing for Summer at Your Church
Top 10 Things You Need to Recover from VBS this Summer
5 Ways Your Church Check-in System Could Be Holding You Back