Children hit tracks during Vacation Bible School

Some of the activities included arts and crafts, classroom lessons, music sessions and games.

As each day began, the children were ushered into a main room where they were seated on the floor to participate in an energizing sing-along session, followed by the lesson of the day presented by Chaplain (Lt.) Mylon Pope.

From there, they were split up according to age groups and sent to various places to create such arts and crafts as suncatchers and door hangars, to music class to prepare for a presentation for families and friends the last day of VBS or to their classrooms to learn their lessons. They also enjoyed a nutritious lunch each day, prepared by the male volunteers who decided to commandeer the kitchen this year.

Vacation Bible School Teacher Julie Jones goes over the day's lesson July 19.

"This is really fun being here. I'm really enjoying the arts and crafts classes," said 10-year-old Sarah Kinney as she decorated a door hanging project.

VBS is run each year by volunteers who are given a curriculum to follow and who adapt each of their lessons to their own individual teaching style. This year, 24 adults and teens volunteered to help out with the program.

"Each year in February, I choose several different curriculums that I think might work for us and present them to the chapel staff. They will choose the one that best suits our needs. After that, we determine how many volunteers we need and start recruiting," said VBS Coordinator Grace Heffner. "Volunteers don't need to be experienced, the only criteria is that they have to love children."

Vacation Bible School Volunteer Ron Marley serves lunch to one of the participants at the NAS Jax Chapel's Volunteer Bible School July 20. During this year's week-long class, the men volunteered to perform all the kitchen duties.

Each year, the program holds a special mission project to collect items for an organization that helps others. This year's project was close to home as the children were asked to bring in canned goods and non-perishable items to be donated to the NAS Jax Food Locker.

"We wanted to do something close to home. There are many junior Sailors who seem to be having financial problems and who use the food locker so we wanted to help out. It's military children helping other military children," added Heffner.

The week concluded Friday with a special musical presentation highlighted by a slide show of the week's activities for the children's families and friends in the base chapel.

Next year's VBS is already being planned. It is held each year in July and is open to ages 5-12. Participants do not have to be members of a congregation here. Volunteers are always needed. If you would like to volunteer as a teacher or in some other capacity, contact Heffner at 542-3051.

Chaplain (Lt.) Mylon Pope gets the children motivated during the praise session of Vacation Bible School July 18.

Music Director Connie Rose Seeley teaches a group of Vacation Bible Schoolers a new song and gestures during music class.