For many churches, Vacation Bible School is a summertime tradition. It gives kids something to do when they’re getting bored from having too much free time. And it connects them to the Scriptures in a way that’s fun and entertaining.
But there’s no law that says Vacation Bible School (VBS) has to be held in July or August. Why not do it on any day when school is not in session?
It made sense to Morgan Hurst. So she decided to create a one-day VBS as her Girl Scout Gold Award Project. The idea was approved by the Hudson Valley Girl Scout Council and by Father Jeff Maurer of St. Mary’s Church in Washingtonville.
Morgan is a product of the Hudson Valley, She lives in Cornwall with her parents, Carrie and Chris Hurst, attends church in Washingtonville and goes to school in Poughkeepsie. She’s a senior at Our Lady of Lourdes, with plans to study chemistry in college and join the Air Force ROTC.
Once she got approval, Morgan created lesson plans to help kids in Grades K through 4 understand some of the best known stories in the Bible. The task was ambitious. She picked a dozen stories and created crafts and activities to go along with them. She also organized fund raisers to cover the cost of the project.
It wasn’t a one-person operation. She enlisted the help of family, friends, Girl Scouts and advisors. Among the narratives they illuminated for the children were the story of creation, David and Goliath, the feeding of the 5,000, and the baptism of Jesus.
The project was a success. During the day, Morgan had 20 children at her Vacation Bible School. And when it was finished, she shared her lesson plans with Holy Trinity and St. Thomas of Canterbury Church.
The Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can receive. We asked Morgan how she selected her project. “Church has always been important to me,” she said. “And I thought this could be good.”
