Registering and Volunteering for VBS 2025

Howdy Partners! Dust off your boots and grab your bandanas! It’s time to giddy-yup for the BEST WEEK EVER around these parts. Round up ‘yerself, your horses, and your love for Jesus as we travel to NEPC Wonder Junction VBS!

The first 50 kids registered will be entered to win a Wonder Junction swag bag!

Register by June 11th to be guaranteed a t-shirt on the first day of VBS.

Our church is located at 601 Polo Road in Columbia, South Carolina.

Whether this is your first VBS experience at Northeast Presbyterian Church or you are returning for another great week, please take a few minutes to read ALL the information below to make sure you are up to date.

General Information for all ages of VBS

We offer 4 different experiences during the VBS week based on your child’s age. Each age group is assigned a different color t-shirt and is required to wear their VBS t-shirt each day, for safety and security. One t-shirt is included in the registration price, additional t-shirts may be ordered on the registration form for an additional cost.

PRESCHOOL VBS

  • Age 3 by Jan. 1st, 2025 up to rising Kindergarten and potty trained**
  • 9 am-noon
  • $15 (includes t-shirt, snacks, crafts)

ELEMENTARY VBS

  • Ages rising 1st graders to rising 3rd graders
  • 9 am-noon
  • $15 (includes t-shirt, snacks, crafts)

Xtreme VBS

  • Ages rising 4th and 5th graders
  • 9 am-3 pm Monday-Thursday, 9 am-noon Friday
  • $50 (includes t-shirt, snacks, crafts) Lunch will be provided Monday and Thursday and you will bring a bag lunch from home Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Bridge

  • Rising 6th graders
  • 9 am-3 pm Monday-Thursday, 9 am-noon Friday, partial offsite
  • $75 (includes t-shirt, snacks and offsite activities) Lunch will be provided Monday and Thursday and you will bring a bag lunch from home Tuesday and Wednesday.

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T-shirts Are Mandatory!!

VBS T-shirts are mandatory for all children participating in NEPC VBS. The last day to register to make sure you have a VBS t-shirt on the first day is June 11th, 2025. T-shirt pick-up day is June 22nd in the Atrium at NEPC. If you are unable to pick up your child’s t-shirt on that day, you will need to park on the first day (parking volunteers will assist you in where to park) and walk your child in to pick up t-shirt.

Consent for Treatment is Required

When you register your child for VBS, you consent to NEPC staff providing medical treatment to your child in an emergency and give permission for the NEPC VBS staff to secure and administer (including transportation and hospitalization) emergency medical treatment for your child.

Consent for Use of Photographs is Required

When you register your child for VBS, you give permission for Northeast Presbyterian Church to use photographs taken at the event for promotional purposes within the church and on printed and electronic media.

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Preschool VBS Information

Our Preschool VBS is for children who are 3 years old by January 1st, 2025 through – 5 years old but have not yet attended 5 year old Kindergarten and are potty trained. Preschool VBS is from 9:00am until 12:00pm.

Drop off/ Pick up: Children will be walked into the church and dropped off in their assigned classroom each day. You will also park and pick up inside the church but your child(ren) will be called and come to you. You will receive a PRESCHOOL – VBS Traffic Flow Map to download with registration that will explain this procedure and where to park. A printed map will also be with your child’s t-shirt to direct you to correct parking. More specific information will be emailed to you in a VBS Confirmation email, once you have registered your child(ren).

Elementary VBS Information

Our Elementary VBS is for children who are rising 1st graders through rising 3rd graders. Elementary VBS is from 9:00am until 12:00pm.

Drop off/ Pick up: Elementary VBS children will be dropped off and picked up through the carpool line in the front of the church. You will receive an ELEMENTARY – VBS Traffic Flow Map of the carpool line to download with your registration confirmation email. You will also receive a printed map with your child’s t-shirt. There will be NEPC volunteers to assist you through carpool line. More specific information will be emailed to you in a VBS Confirmation email, once you have registered your child(ren).

Xtreme VBS Information

Our Xtreme VBS is for children who are rising 4th graders through rising 5th graders. Xtreme VBS is from 9:00am until 3:00pm Monday – Thursday and then 9:00 am until 12:00 pm on Friday.

Drop off/ Pick up: Xtreme VBS children will be dropped off and picked up through the carpool line. You will receive an ELEMENTARY – VBS Traffic Flow Map of the carpool line to download with a registration confirmation email. You will also receive a printed map with your child’s t-shirt. There will be NEPC volunteers to assist you through carpool line. More specific information will be emailed to you in a VBS Confirmation email, once you have registered your child(ren).

The Bridge

The Bridge is a special week during VBS for our rising 6th graders only. It is a time to help transition them into the Student Ministries here at NEPC. They will spend the week doing onsite and offsite activities with our Student Ministry leaders. The Bridge is from 9:00am until 3:00pm Monday- Thursday and 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Friday.

Drop off/ Pick up: The Bridge children will be dropped off and picked up through the carpool line at 3:00pm (12:00 PM on Friday). You will receive an VBS Traffic Flow Map of the carpool line to download with your registration confirmation email. You will also receive a printed map with your child’s t-shirt. There will be NEPC volunteers to assist you through carpool line. More specific information, including a schedule for the week, will be emailed to you in a VBS Confirmation email, once you have registered your child(ren).

**The Bridge children will also need a NEPC Medical Release Form completed which will be emailed to each child once they have been registered.

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Volunteers

Would you like to volunteer for NEPC VBS? We have a place for you! When you register you will have the choice to select the ages and areas that you are interested in volunteering with. Can’t work the entire week? We can find a place for you.

All volunteers age 18 and up are required to have a Background Check run by NEPC and completed. And also to read and fill out our Child Protection Policy. These will be emailed to you once you have registered, in the VBS confirmation email. ALL volunteers are required to wear an NEPC Volunteer T-shirt which can be ordered on the registration form.

Volunteers ALL wear NEPC Volunteer t-shirts each day. If you do not already have a Next Gen Volunteer Shirt, you need to order one!

**NOTE: Volunteers may reserve a space and bring their younger-aged children with them during the VBS week to be cared for in our staffed NEPC nursery. This option is on the volunteer registration form.

**MANDATORY VBS VOLUNTEER MEETING WILL BE SUNDAY, JUNE 22nd, 2025 at 4:00 PM in the NEPC Grand Hall**

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Important Dates:

Deadline to sign up with a guaranteed t-shirt: June 11th

T-shirt Pick up: June 22nd

Can’t volunteer the week of VBS or just want to get hands-on and help out? Join us for the VBS workdays and be the hands and feet of Jesus. No sign-up required. A nursery is provided for your little ones aged 5 and younger.

VBS Workdays: June 10-12 and June 17-19 from 9 am – 12 pm

VBS Worknights: June 12th and June 19th, 5 pm

(Nursery is available for children 5 and under during these times. Please contact Whitney McCarley at wmccarley@nepres.com to reserve childcare)