Two to Three Months Before Power Lab

Plan Power Lab publicity.

Decide how you'll promote Power Lab in your parish and community. Refer to the "Publicity" section in the Director Manual for publicity ideas and resources.

Set up your Power Lab parish Web site.

Go to the tools section of this website to access your VBS Web Toybox. Follow the easy steps to set up a Web site for your parish’s Power Lab.

Encourage preregistration.

With your VBS Web Toybox, families can register online from the comfort and convenience of their homes. Once your Power Lab Web site is up, paste your URL (that's the Web address at the top of the screen) into your publicity items. Families can access your site and register, and staff members can fill out staff applications. Plus, VBS Web Toybox instantly places kids into crews when they sign up!

Begin recruiting station leaders.

Use the recruiting helps detailed in the "Recruiting" section of the Director Manual to recruit your Power Lab volunteers. The "Recruiting" section also includes bonus ideas that will captivate people's hearts and minds, while allowing you to flex those creative muscles (in an easy way-with great results). And the photocopiable job descriptions, handouts, and bulletin inserts make your job a breeze.

Network!

Networking will stretch your time and dollars. Find other parishes in your diocese that are doing Power Lab. Get together and brainstorm decorating, fundraisers, and publicity ideas that will get your whole community excited about VBS. Attend a training & networking event to share ideas, train, plan and network!

Estimate your Power Lab enrollment.

Use figures from your parish's religious education classes or figures from last year's VBS program. Once you've estimated how many children will attend, figure out how many Lab Crew Leaders you'll need. You'll need one adult or teenage Lab Crew Leader for every five children, including preschoolers. Be sure to have extra Lab Crew Leaders ready in case you need to form Lab Crews for last-minute registrants.

Order Power Lab materials.

If you purchased the Power Lab Starter Kit, you already have a leader pack for every station and all the multimedia components you need. You may want to order additional leader resources for team teaching-and a copy of each leader pack for yourself, if you'd like. We also recommend that you purchase the clip-art CD, which includes customizable forms, decorating outlines, publicity pieces, and more than 200 pieces of clip art.

Even if you're planning a late-summer program, it's not too early to order materials. As you update your registration count, you can order additional student supplies as needed.

Explore your parish facilities.

You'll want to be deliberate in selecting your station areas. If your plans involve more than 150 children, run two or more simultaneous stations. For more information on how to do this, see "Lab Stations" in your Director Manual. You'll need to set up a separate room or area for each station. Use the following guidelines:

Sonic Sing & Play

1. room to accommodate entire VBS (possibly a sanctuary or fellowship hall)
2. sound system/microphone (helpful)
3. outlet to plug in CD player (or a sound system to play Sonic Sing & Play Music CD)
4. outlet to plug in overhead projector (if using Sonic Sing & Play song lyrics transparencies)
5. screen (for your music video)

Cinema Science

1. room to accommodate one-fourth of the elementary-age kids (helpful if room can be darkened)
2. outlet to plug in TV and DVD player

Wacky Works and Missions

1. room to accommodate one-fourth of the elementary-age kids
2. 1 or 2 low tables (helpful for supplies)
3. outlet to plug in CD player when using Sonic Sing & Play Music CD

Test Tube Treats

1. large room to accommodate entire VBS (parish kitchen or other uncarpeted area for snack preparation area

Hyperspeed Games and Spotlight Drama

1. room or outdoor area to accommodate one-fourth of the elementary-age kids
2. room enough for children to run around
3. outlet to plug in CD player if using Sonic Sing & Play Music CD

Bible Blast

1. room that can comfortably accommodate one-fourth of the elementary-age kids and that can be darkened. Since the Bible Blast room requires "sets," it's helpful if this room can be undisturbed for the entire Power Lab.
2. room that's in a quiet area of your facility (helpful for storytelling)
3. outlet to plug in CD player

Faith Fusion Finale

1. large room to accommodate entire VBS (could use the same room as Sonic Sing & Play)
2. sound system/microphone (helpful)
3. outlet to plug in CD player
4. video projection unit
5. large screen (for showing Sonic Sing & Play Music video and Spotlight Drama presentation)
6. stage (helpful)

Squeaky Beaker's Preschool

1. up to 4 classroom(s) to accommodate all preschoolers for Crafts & Play, Games, Chadder's Theater, and Bible Adventures & Missions
2. outlet to plug in TV/ DVD player
3. restroom facilities in room or nearby
4. child-size furniture
5. preschool toys such as blocks, modeling dough, dress-up clothes, and stuffed animals

Plan and schedule a leader training meeting using the guidelines in the "Staff Training Meeting" section in your Director Manual.

This outline incorporates the Aha! DVD, which contains clips from Power Lab field tests. Your station leaders will enjoy seeing Power Lab in action. Be sure to include Crew Leaders in your training so they can better understand their role. The DVD is filled with helpful, practical tips to make station leaders and crew leaders the best staff around. Plan to meet for at least two hours.

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