Constructing Religion’s 2025 critiques for Trip Bible College and summer time camp curriculum are right here! Our overview crew has investigated among the hottest new curriculum choices obtainable this yr and compiled data and suggestions on seven choices that will help you discover a curriculum that most closely fits your ministry wants and contexts.
Our Assessment Course of
This yr we invited a crew of 4 ministry leaders to conduct the critiques. The crew primarily examined publishers’ web site content material, pattern supplies which are obtainable free of charge, and movies; in a number of instances, crew members had the chance to overview the complete curriculum.
Within the analysis course of, the crew thought-about six interrelated dimensions:
- Theological messages
- Interpretations and makes use of of scripture
- Approaches to studying and formation
- Language and practices relating to inclusivity and variety of human identities and experiences, particularly in relation to race, tradition, gender, sexual orientation, incapacity, and financial standing
- Consideration to social justice, service, and creation care
- Program construction and logistics
Every overview offers an outline of the curriculum and highlights what the curriculum does nicely in addition to what may very well be improved. Beneath you possibly can entry particular person slidedecks for every overview. You too can comply with this hyperlink to view the full slidedeck with all the reviews.
We provide our suggestions and significant suggestions in a spirit of compassion and dedication to enriching religion formation for all folks in liberating, life-giving methods. As at all times, we encourage you to mirror on the items, wants, values, and commitments of your ministry context in an effort to discern which curriculum could also be finest on your group.
High Picks for 2025
This yr’s high picks for brand spanking new curricula are:
General, these assets typically present the makings for age-appropriate, theologically grounded, and fun-filled formation alternatives for VBS and camp members. Whereas in addition they have room for enchancment in varied methods, we predict that these curricula will be fruitful choices for VBS, camp, or intergenerational formation packages.
For the complete slidedeck of all critiques, comply with this hyperlink: Building Faith VBS and Summer Camp Curriculum Reviews 2025
A Phrase of Because of Our Assessment Crew
We wish to specific our deep gratitude to this yr’s overview crew: Sally Benton, Molly Herman-Gallow, Juniper LaNunziata, and Marvin McLennon. Their expertise and insights have been invaluable to those critiques, and so they labored onerous to supply assessments that deal with the big range of wants, hopes, and issues that go into planning and executing a VBS or camp program.
You’ll be able to study extra about them within the bios beneath:
Sally Benton (she/her/hers)
Sally Benton is the Director of Youngsters, Youth, and Household Ministries at St. John’s in McLean, Virginia and has been ministering to kids and youth for over 10 years. She and her husband are at present dwelling in Alexandria, VA with their two babies. They’ve had the enjoyment of ministering collectively not solely in parishes, however on school campuses, at summer time camp, and nearly in all places in between. Sally is keen about religion formation for all folks and serving to folks construct confidence in exploring their religion independently in addition to in group.
Molly Herman-Gallow (she/her/hers)
Molly Herman-Gallow lives in Durham, North Carolina, the place she is pursuing her Grasp of Divinity at Duke Divinity College. She previously labored at St. Martin within the Fields Episcopal Church in Brookhaven, GA as its Youngsters & Youth Minister. In that function, she cherished ministering to all of St. Martin’s kids and households, and he or she particularly loved facets of curriculum creation and Christian training that her function required of her. Molly is a cradle Episcopalian and grew up within the Diocese of Atlanta. She graduated from Elon College in 2019 with a filmmaking diploma and a minor in spiritual research. Molly loves persevering with to inform the story of the Church and discovering her identification additional as a Christian formation educator.
Juniper LaNunziata (they/them)
Juniper LaNunziata is a postulant for holy orders within the Diocese of East Carolina and at present serves as Campus Minister for The Properly Campus Ministries of East Carolina College. They served as Director of Christian Formation at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Greenville, NC for 8 years. Juniper was born and raised in Pennsylvania however has been dwelling within the South for nearly 20 years. They like to bake bread, drink boba tea, and go geocaching. Take a look at their weblog for Christian formation and design at www.formedbyexperience.blog.
Marvin McLennon (he/him/his)
Marvin is the Director of Youngsters and Youth Ministries at Christ Episcopal Church in Little Rock, AR. An Arkansas native and cradle Episcopalian, Marvin grew up at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, the place he was actively concerned within the youth group, held diocesan youth management roles, and spent summers at Camp Mitchell as a camper and Counselor in Coaching. He went on to attend Hendrix School, incomes a level in Communications. After graduating in 2013, Marvin joined the Episcopal Service Corps in Louisiana, the place he served as Assistant Youth Director at St. James Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge. Following his yr of service, he grew to become the Youth Director for St. James and the Diocesan Youth Director within the Diocese of Louisiana. In 2016, he returned to Arkansas to start his work at Christ Church whereas additionally turning into an energetic member of the Forma Council in 2019 and a part of the Forma Govt Council in 2021.
Featured picture is by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
