Abundance Orchard (VBS)Non-denominational free VBS centering on sustainability and ending hunger. For the 2018 Virginia Theological Seminary review, click the "more" button.
From the 2018 VBS reviews on the VTS website, by Robin Denney:
"The theme of food is beautifully woven through the stories, activities, snacks and mission components of the Abundance Orchard VBS. Theological themes that run through the curriculum illustrate the abundance of God’s love and presence in our lives. The curriculum encourages the development of empathy and invites the children not only into the Bible stories, but also to reflect on the meaning of the stories in their own lives.
The program’s strength is in its theological content, its detailed instructions, and its flexibility. With creative leadership, this program could be modified to fit a wide variety of situations, numbers, ages, and local circumstances and mission projects. For example, organizers could plant a few garden beds that would be ready to harvest at the time of the VBS, and children could harvest the food for the food bank or take a field trip to a community garden or food bank.
Abundance Orchard contains two full sets of material, one Old Testament-based, the other New Testament-based. Since each day is self-contained, sessions could be selected from either set. Little in the resource is ready-made, but comprehensive instructions invite adult organizers to use their imagination and skills to build a fantastic learning environment. Although all children will enjoy the program, it especially speaks to visual and kinesthetic learners.
This curriculum encourages sustainable practices by enlisting the help of a variety of people and using re-purposed materials. The program could be simplified, but it would lose some of its appeal. "
