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Adam Walker Cleaveland

Compassion Camp: The Progressive, All-in-One Vacation Bible School Curriculum

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Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School

When it comes to picking out Vacation Bible School (VBS) programs, finding a curriculum that’s both theologically progressive and comprehensive can be daunting. For years, churches have had to figure out how to piece together various materials to develop a VBS experience that aligns with their values. Enter Compassion Camp, a breath of fresh air in the VBS curriculum world, offering a complete curriculum designed for today’s progressive churches.

A Singular, Comprehensive Package

What sets Compassion Camp apart is that with one purchase, you get the entire curriculum. When you choose Compassion Camp for your VBS program, you’re choosing simplicity and completeness. With your one purchase, you receive the whole curriculum—there’s no need to buy additional materials or supplemental add-ons. 

Theologically Progressive and Engaging

Compassion Camp: What Every Living Thing Needs is an earth-care curriculum focused on the more-than-human world. While humans are a part of God’s creation, we aim to explore the needs of every living thing for shelter, food, water, air, and community through awareness, gratitude, wonderment, reciprocity, and kinship, and specifically, practice ways humans can have compassion for the more-than-human world regarding those needs.

With Compassion Camp, you won’t have to completely rewrite the Bible content or discussion sections. The material is engaging, relatable, and appropriate for kids of all ages. Learn more here.

Engaging, Lively, and Meaningful

“In my twelve years of doing VBS here at First Pres Santa Monica, I can’t remember a VBS program more engaging, lively, meaningful, and loved by children, parents, and staff than Compassion Camp.”

–Peter Earhart
Director of Children’s and Family Ministry
First Presbyterian Church
Santa Monica, CA

The curriculum includes a Director’s Guide with over 400 pages of material, activities, games, sheet music, and more, ensuring a well-structured and engaging Vacation Bible School program. Leader guides for each component of Compassion Camp, including a five-session version for youth, provide clear instructions and creative ideas to facilitate each session effectively. Learn more here.

Music and Lyrics to Enrich the Journey

Compassion Camp’s Theme Song: A Creation Hymn

Music is vital to any VBS program, and Compassion Camp excels in this area. The Director’s Guide contains chord charts and sheet music for six original songs, also available on popular music streaming platforms. Additionally, lyric videos, including instrumental versions, are accessible on YouTube, adding an audiovisual dimension to the VBS experience.

Flexible and Adaptable for Your Church’s Needs

Flexibility is a cornerstone of Compassion Camp. Whether planning a traditional 5-day Vacation Bible School program or looking to spread it out over several weeks, Compassion Camp adapts to your church’s unique needs. Its versatility also makes it suitable for family camp weekends or as part of a church-wide program. Learn more here.

20% OFF through Cyber Monday

In the spirit of making Compassion Camp accessible to more churches, we’re excited to announce a special offer. From now through Cyber Monday, Compassion Camp is available at a 20% discount. This is an excellent opportunity for churches to embrace a progressive, comprehensive VBS curriculum at an unbeatable value.

But don’t wait too long – the sale will end in:

High Praise from Experienced Vacation Bible School Leaders

The impact of Compassion Camp is best highlighted by those who have experienced it first-hand. Peter Earhart, Director of Children’s and Family Ministry at First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica, CA, shares, “In my twelve years of doing VBS here at First Pres Santa Monica, I can’t remember a VBS program more engaging, lively, meaningful, and loved by children, parents, and staff than Compassion Camp.” Read more testimonials here.

Take the Next Step: Download a Free Sample

We understand the importance of experiencing the curriculum before making a decision. That’s why we invite you to download a free sample of Compassion Camp. This sample will give you a glimpse into the rich content, progressive approach, and practical resources that make Compassion Camp a leading choice for VBS programs. You will receive the entire first session to review and show to your colleagues and other decision-makers in your community.


Compassion Camp combines theological progressiveness with comprehensive content. Its one-purchase, all-inclusive nature, coupled with the engaging and dynamic materials, makes it an ideal choice for churches seeking a meaningful and impactful VBS experience. Take advantage of the limited-time discount and download a free sample today. Embrace a VBS curriculum that aligns with your values and simplifies your preparation process. Choose Compassion Camp for your next VBS program. Learn more here.

All Saints’ Day Youth Resource

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All Saints' Day Youth Resource

Freebie: Download our All Saints’ Day Youth Resource here

All Saints’ Day, observed on November 1st, is dedicated to celebrating the saints and the deceased faithful. In the Catholic tradition, it commemorates canonized Saints—those exceptional Christians who exemplified remarkable faith. Protestants, on the other hand, recognize all followers of Christ as “saints.” Thus, All Saints’ Day celebrates this inclusive “communion of saints,” referenced as the “cloud of witnesses” from Hebrews 12, who stand in solidarity and support with us as we seek to follow the way of Christ.

All Saints’ Day honors not just biblical figures—like Abraham, Deborah, Thomas, and Junia—but also beloved family members. And don’t forget the Dolly Partons and Nelson Mandelas of our time can all be considered and represented on All Saints’ Day.

All Saints’ Day Youth Resource

Considering celebrating with your youth group? Our All Saints’ Day Youth Resource is here to help. It offers:

  • An All Saints’ Day introduction
  • Insights into historical and modern-day saints
  • The significance of ancestors
  • Reflection on grief, loss, and All Saints’ Day
  • A guided spiritual meditation
  • A take-home page for families

This All Saints’ Day Youth Resource is adaptable for various group sizes and settings, be it Sunday morning or evening gatherings.

On All Saints’ Day, it’s also crucial to address the grief stemming from the death of loved ones. Understand that grief isn’t linear and doesn’t abide by time. Before delving into such topics, be aware of any youths who’ve recently experienced loss, and possibly inform their families in advance. As a leader, it may also be helpful for you to examine your relationship to your ancestors, your understanding of the saints, and your experiences with grief.

Whether All Saints’ Day is a novel or familiar tradition for you, we trust our All Saints’ Day Youth Resource will enrich your experience.

If you work with children, we also have more information on how you can experience All Saints’ Day with younger ages here: 3 Wondrous Ways to Celebrate All Saints’ Day with Kids.

Free Epiphany Lesson from our Lectionary Curriculum

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FREE EPIPHANY LESSON: Click here to download your free Mini Revolutions lesson for Epiphany.

Illustrated Ministry’s Mini Revolutions is a weekly lectionary-based curriculum. Hundreds of churches around the world use this curriculum resource, and we’ve received positive feedback from folx who are using it with their communities.

Epiphany Lesson

You can use Mini Revolutions as your traditional Sunday School curriculum, in a one-room Sunday School model with mixed ages, or in an intergenerational setting. You could also take the content and adapt it for youth ministry and other ministry programs and settings.

Mini Revolutions can be implemented as a completely virtual, hybrid, or in-person experience—endless options are available to suit your needs. Lead as much or as little of the content as you like. Each section of Mini Revolutions is simple and requires just a little prep to have a meaningful experience with your group.

Free Epiphany Lesson

Included in this downloadable PDF lesson is:

  • Scripture: Matthew 2:1–12
  • Questions: Imagining and wondering questions that are open-ended and connect more deeply with the scripture.
  • Look It Up: We highlight a moment in history, an interesting fact, or a person who made an impact that connects with the scripture’s theme.
  • Two activities: We provide a fun mix of activities that help participants think creatively about the scripture through building and design, earth care, social justice, self-care and compassion, social/emotional learning, science, technology, and art.
  • Micropractice: A simple practice/ritual anchored in daily activities to help form healthy, spiritual, and mindful habits, with access to a graphic you can share with your community through social media.
  • Coloring page: The coloring page includes an illustration of a short phrase from the selected scripture that invites reflection on the scripture.
  • Bible Story Booklet: A child-friendly paraphrase of the scripture, accessible for all ages, with colorable illustrations that help tell the story.

This free lesson for Epiphany will help give you an idea of what our Mini Revolutions curriculum is like, and perhaps you’ll want to consider signing up for our monthly subscription to Mini Revolutions.

To download the free Epiphany lesson, click here.

For more information, and to purchase a monthly subscription to Mini Revolutions, click here.