VBS 2016 - Camp Moose on the Loose from Regular Baptist Press

Today, as we begin the first week of my 2018 VBS reviews, we are looking at the first VBS which arrived at my house for review (this year I'm reviewing them in the order the arrived at my house) - Camp Moose on the Loose from Regular Baptist Press! 

RBP did a great job with the content and substance of this VBS resource - if  you are not familiar with their materials and have never taken a close look at them in the past, this year is a great year to make a change and consider if Camp Moose on the Loose is a good "fit" for your Children's Ministry!

Camp Moose on the Loose
Regular Baptist Press

http://2018.rbpvbs.org/
Price - $170.00

1. Campsite 1 - By the Shore: Peter Follows Jesus - Jesus calls people to follow Him - Luke 5:1-11 - Students will respond to Jesus' invitation to come to Him for salvation and then tell others about Him. Jesus' Invitation
2. Campsite 2 - Along the Trail: Jesus shows His love and forgiveness - Jesus showed His love and forgiveness to the people He met - Luke 18:15, 16, 35-43; 19:1-10 - Students will practice asking God and others for forgiveness - Jesus' Love & Forgiveness
3. Campsite 3 - Under the Stars: Peter fails Jesus - We all sin; Peter loved Jesus, but failed Him - Matthew 26:30-56; Mark 8:27-33; 14:26-50; John 13:33-38 - Recognizing all are sinners needing God's forgiveness, students will share the gospel and thank God for forgiveness - Human Failure
4. Campsite 4 - Before the Dawn: Peter denies, but Jesus forgives - Jesus' forgiveness covers all sins - Luke 22:54-62; 23:33-47 - Students will contrast people's failure with Jesus' unfailing love and willingness to forgive - God's Undying Love
5. Campsite 5 - Around the campfire: Peter discovers God's forever forgiveness - forgiven, we can go on to serve God by loving and forgiving others - Mark 16:1-7; John 20:1-10; 21:1-22 - Students will know even when they fail, God will forgive and they can go on to serve Him - Love & Forgiveness

Setting –Children will experience camping at Camp Moose on the Loose. 

Message – "God's Word - His 'trail map' - tells us about God's forever forgiveness and how to experience it for ourselves. It tells us how to be forgiven eternally by trusting in Jesus as Savior."

Focus – Evangelism, Bible content and Application
Strengths –

• As I would expect, Camp Moose on the Loose has a strong evangelistic emphasis, solid Bible content, excellent mission project (Operation Camp International - Showing Jesus' Love to Impoverished Kids) and great information on how to reach VBS families after VBS is over!
• Excellent info in the Director's book to help you set goals and count-down for an effective VBS outreach and ministry to the children in your church and community.
• Provides a variety of recruiting and training information/resources.
• Solid information about leading a child to Jesus - appreciate the caution to help avoid the "herd instinct" where children respond because others did.
• Very complete director’s book – especially appreciate the info on engaging children with special needs and the thorough way it covers screening volunteers and safety along with volunteer dedication and appreciation!
• Love the resources about connecting VBS with your other Children's Ministry opportunities, following up and reaching VBS families.
• I'm happy to see creative engagement of the children during the Bible adventure portion of each day’s lesson again this year for all the ages!
• I’m very happy to see teachers and children reading from the Bible during the Bible lessons for the Middler and Junior ages! (I'd really like to see teachers opening their Bibles during the Bible events for younger children - if the children can not read, have different leaders read. If you use one age level for combined Bible station format, use the Middler teacher's book.)
• The activities connect well and do a good job of reinforcing the daily point!
• Strong, intentional focus on providing children the opportunity to make the decision to get saved in each day’s lesson.
• I LOVE the reproducible certificates you can give children when you catch them being "good"! Great idea!
• I still would like to see a bit more “pep” and possibly more original music – but you have the option to use music with a piano track or instrumental track again.
• Great craft book with an abundance of affordable ideas

Would like to see –

• Ideas to help children serve in their own communities.
• There are far, far, far too many gadgets and items in this VBS which were made in China. I have significant concerns about child/slave labor for anything made in China and would like to see RBP source these items from other places.
• Zipper tags or something children could take home each day to remind them of the event they learned and what they are going to do to live it.
• Resources for churches which do not use the classroom model – Bible lessons in a book for a Bible lesson station and a station with object lessons/science projects/activities – this would provide more options and make the materials easier for churches to use.
• More excitement in the opening and closing – this is a great place for object lessons/science projects and gives you a big way to once again make your point before children leave for the day.
• I’d like to see a more intentional and stronger focus on specific things for children to go and “do” before they return the next day to live what they learned.

Regular Baptist Press says, "This week at VBS, we'll pretend to get into a boat with Peter and to walk along with Jesus as He shows love and forgiveness to the people He meets. Peter often failed, but Jesus forgave him. Peter even lied and said he didn't know Jesus! Now that's a big failure. But God's forgiveness is bigger. Many times we are just like Peter - failing, sinning, and needing forgiveness. Along the wilderness trail of life, there are plenty of occasions to fall. But you'll find encouragement at Camp Moose on the Loose. God wants to forgive and restore us with just as much love as when He forgave Peter."  

As I would expect from Regular Baptist Press, the Bible content is solid and I’m very happy to once again see an intentional focus on helping children who are already Christians learn how to live what they learn in their everyday lives! 

If you are looking for a resource to use in a park or other outdoor location, Camp Moose on the Loose is a great pick as it is easy to set up and decorate outside for a camping theme and the content is solid. 

Overall, Camp Moose on the Loose is a great option for a VBS with a strong evangelism focus and solid Bible content or for a mission trip resource! Camp Moose on the Loose is absolutely worth taking a serious look at it to see if it is a good “fit” for your ministry! If you do not choose it for your VBS, consider using it on Sundays in the Summer (how fun would it be to take the children "camping" outside in your church lawn each Sunday!!!) or as a resource to use on a youth mission trip. If you have this, you will use it!