SNACK LEADER Overview Chart ...... 2-3 Light Up Your Snack Station ...... 4 What to Expect in Your Snack Time Sessions ...... 5

Session 1 The Creation Story ...... 6 Path nder Snack: Shine with Love Cookies ...... 7 Bible Story Snack: Creation Cracker ...... 8 Theme Snack: Tropical Dipped Fruit ...... 9

Session 2 Moses and the Burning Bush ...... 10 Path nder Snack: Angel Sandwich ...... 11 Bible Story Snack: Burning Bush Cupcake ...... 12 Theme Snack: Build-Your-Own Lighthouse ...... 13

Session 3 Faith Through the Roof ...... 14 Path nder Snack: Bible Snack Cakes ...... 15 Bible Story Snack: Faith Through the Roof Snack ...... 16 Theme Snack: Puf n Food ...... 17

Session 4 The “Lost” Parables ...... 18 Path nder Snack: Joyful Pancakes ...... 19 Bible Story Snack: Marshmallow Sheep ...... 20 Theme Snack: Tropical Trail Mix ...... 21

Session 5 Mary at the Tomb ...... 22 Path nder Snack: Shine with Hope Buttery Sandwich ...... 23 Bible Story Snack: Empty Tomb Snack...... 24 Theme Snack: Tropical Fruit Cups ...... 25

Snack Leader 1 2 DISCOVERY ON ADVENTURE ISLAND: Quest for God’s Great Light! Snack Leader 3 Light Up Your Snack Station

Thank you for leading your Discovery on Adventure Island snack station! As Snack Leader, get off to a great start by following these simple pro tips:

Attend all Discovery on Adventure Island VBS leader trainings to learn about the program and how your station fits into the overall message!

Equip your Snack Station for potential spills! Stock your area with: The “Snack Station” sign from the Activity Center Signs and Publicity Pak (Post your menu for the day next to your station sign!) Discovery on Adventure Island Tablecloths and/or Wall Coverings to protect surfaces Plenty of paper towels and non-toxic cleaners Easy access to a sink/water supply An atmosphere of adventure!

Easy Shopping Lists Let our online Snack Calculator Tool help you with your shopping list! Go to CokesburyVBS.com, select the Tools option, and click on the Snack Calculator tab. Simply select the snack you would like to make, enter the number of Explorers, and click Calculate. Easy!

Serve water or 100% juice with each snack to help Explorers stay hydrated, cool, and energized.

Food Safety Alerts Each snack option in this guide lists potential allergen alerts and safe substitutions you can make for your food-sensitive Explorers.

Some children can have severe reactions to foods even without ingesting them. If one of your Explorers has such a sensitivity, it’s best to ban that food item entirely from your VBS program. Avoid cross-contamination by designating tools, containers, and prep areas for allergen-free foods only. Clearly label your utensils and make sure all your helpers are properly trained in their usage. If you have multiple children with similar needs, consider serving safe snacks to the whole class or group. Buying supplies for larger numbers can simplify your prep processes.

Allergen Alerts Check your roster to ensure you choose fruits to which there are no sensitive or allergic Explorers. Gluten: Substitute gluten-free crackers, pretzels, cereals, and cookies. Dairy/casein: Substitute coconut oil for butter. Dairy/casein: Substitute casein-free candies. Marshmallow and marshmallow fluff may contain hidden allergens; substitute allergen-free or homemade versions. Commercial gummies and decorations may contain hidden allergens; substitute allergen-free or homemade versions.

Throughout the Bible, food is about more than just nourishing the body. Sharing a meal is a sacred act, and every person is welcome around the table. This welcoming shows acceptance and love to all who come to your VBS program, and these sessions will become sacred in the hearts of your Explorers.

4 DISCOVERY ON ADVENTURE ISLAND: Quest for God’s Great Light! What to Expect in Your Snack Time Sessions

Each session of this book provides the following tools to help structure your Snack Station. Feel free to adapt this material to fit the size, needs, and demographics of your group. We know that every program, team, and gift set is unique, so make each session your own—and have fun with it!

Pre paration Set your station up for success with steps that not only get you ready to lead and serve but also create an atmosphere of welcome that your Explorers will feel right away.

Welcome Greet your Explorers as they arrive with a few words of welcome and a group question to help them settle in and focus.

Blessing Each session provides a pre-written blessing for you to speak over your food and group before eating. Feel free to invite volunteers to read these blessings for each group, or to say their own original prayers instead!

Snack Time Along with your helpers, guide Explorers as they eat to learn and practice good manners and share space. Once all your Explorers are settled and eating, lead them in a discussion of the Bible Tie-in (below).

Bible Tie-in (See pages 6, 10, 14, 18, and 22) These discussion questions connect your snacks with the Bible story, Signal Verse, and/or Pathfinder for each session.

Optional: Kids in the Kitchen More and more kids are getting involved in prepping and serving food—a trend that is expanding their palates to include healthier foods, as well as reinforcing values of manners and servant leadership!

If your time and setting allow, consider some of these ideas for getting your kids into the VBS kitchen: Reserve some age-appropriate food prep steps for your Explorers to do before the blessing. Encourage Explorers to prepare and serve plates to their leaders before serving themselves. Assign one group of Explorers at each session to prepare snacks for all the rest. Create a rotation within each group so that everyone has a turn to serve, help, and clean up during VBS.

LEADERS! There are lots of options. Please let us know which ones you tried/liked!

Snack Leader 5 Pre paration Cover tables with tablecloths. Set out individual place settings with napkins and cups. Make sure to follow all food safety consideration for your Explorers.

Welcome SAY SOMETHING LIKE: Welcome to the Snack Station, Explorers! I’m ______, and I will be your Bible Story Snack Station Leader while at the Discovery on Adventure Island VBS. The Creation Story Each time we meet, our snacks will help us remember exciting things we Genesis 1:1–2:9 are learning about God and the Bible at VBS. Who can share something with us that you’ve discovered already? (Allow Explorers to respond.) Great Pathfinder job! Arise! Shine with Love! Blessing SAY SOMETHING LIKE: Before we eat our snacks, we will always pause to say a blessing and thank God for our food and all the good things God gives us. Let’s pray together. (Say the prayer below, or feel free to invite volunteers to pray their own!)

Dear God, thank you for this food. Thank you for our time together with others here at VBS. Guide us as we listen and learn. We are grateful for your love that shines through us into other people’s lives! Amen.

Snack Time Hand out snacks or allow Explorers to create their own. Once all are settled and eating, lead them in a discussion of the Bible Tie-in.

Bible Tie-in In our Bible story, we learn about the beauty and creativity involved in the creation story. God took seven days to create everything that we see in our world. God spoke all these things into being so that we could have this wonderful, beautiful world to live in. The love of God is evident in this creation. Think of times when you’ve created something that you’re proud of. What did you make? How do you show God’s love to other parts of creation?

6 DISCOVERY ON ADVENTURE ISLAND: Quest for God’s Great Light! Shine with Love Cookies Pathfinder Snack Ingredients 1 cup unsalted butter, softened 1 cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 egg Bible Story 2 teaspoons baking powder The Creation Story 3 cups all-purpose our Genesis 1:1–2:9 Variety of frostings, sprinkles, and crystal sugar or sanding sugar Orange gel food coloring Pathfinder (Optional) 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (If any child in your group is allergic Arise! Shine with Love! to any nuts, simply omit this extract. Leaving out the almond extract will not affect the quality of the cookies.) Materials White frosting Jumbo craft sticks (for Heart sprinkles, and/or red and pink sprinkles spreading) Paper plates Directions Heart cookie cutter Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar until smooth. Mix in egg. Beat in vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, combine baking powder with our. Add our mixture, a little at a time, to the wet mixture. Dough will be stiff. If it becomes too stiff for your mixer, turn it out on a covered counter top. Wet your hands, then knead by hand until mixed. Roll out dough 1/4 inch thick. Cut cookies into heart shapes. Bake at 350 degrees for 6-8 minutes, until lightly golden around the edges. Decorate with frosting and sprinkles.

Snack Leader 7 Creation Cracker Bible Story Snack Ingredients Graham crackers Animal crackers White frosting Bible Story Blue or teal food coloring and green food coloring Fish crackers The Creation Story Gummy sh or sharks Genesis 1:1–2:9 Mini chocolate candy bars Pathfinder Arise! Shine with Love! Directions Use one full graham cracker for base. Dye the icing with the food coloring. Put blue icing on one end to represent Materials ocean (cover about 1/3). Bowls Put green icing on the other end to represent grass (cover about 1/3). Spoons Leave small area in middle with no icing. Jumbo craft sticks (for Arrange sh and sharks in ocean. spreading) Arrange animal crackers in grass. Paper plates Top the mini candy bar with green icing to make a tree. Add tree to the grass area.

8 DISCOVERY ON ADVENTURE ISLAND: Quest for God’s Great Light! Tropical Dipped Fruit Theme Snack Ingredients Assorted tropical fruits: pineapple rings or chunks, kiwi, papaya, bananas, mango Assorted dried fruits Assorted toppings: toasted coconut, chocolate-covered sunower seeds, Bible Story theme-colored sprinkles, nuts The Creation Story White or milk chocolate chips Genesis 1:1–2:9

Directions Pathfinder Peel and slice fruits. Arise! Shine with Love! Melt chocolate chips in double boiler. Using a fork, dip each piece of fruit into the chocolate, covering just the top Materials 1/3 of fruit. Peeler or knife (adult Add topping to each fruit immediately. use only) Lay on waxed paper to cool. Spoons Fork Double boiler Waxed paper or parchment paper

Snack Leader 9 Pre paration Cover tables with tablecloths. Set out individual place settings with napkins and cups. Make sure to follow all food safety consideration for your Explorers.

Welcome SAY SOMETHING LIKE: Welcome back, Explorers! I’m happy to see you back for another session Bible Story here at the Discovery on Adventure Island VBS. Who can share something Moses and the with us that you discovered in the last session? (Allow Explorers to respond.) Burning Bush Great job! Exodus 3:1-20 Blessing Pathfinder SAY SOMETHING LIKE: Arise! Shine with Trust! Let us pause to say a blessing and thank God for our food and all the good things God gives us. Let’s pray together. (Say the prayer below, or feel free to invite volunteers to pray their own!)

Dear God, thank you for this food and our time here at VBS. We are grateful to hear about Moses trusting you. Grow our trust in you so that we can have amazing faith like Moses! Amen.

Snack Time Hand out snacks or allow Explorers to create their own. Once all are settled and eating, lead them in a discussion of the Bible Tie-in.

Bible Tie-in In our Bible story, Moses was asked to do something difficult. He was scared he wouldn’t be able to do the job that God had asked him to do and that he would mess up. But God told Moses to trust in the God and the plan. God would be with Moses the whole time. Think of times when you had to do something even though you were afraid. Was it hard to trust God? Why are some things easy to trust God with and other things are harder?

10 DISCOVERY ON ADVENTURE ISLAND: Quest for God’s Great Light! Angel Sandwich Pathfinder Snack Ingredients Flour tortillas Sliced cheese Assorted condiments Bible Story Directions Moses and the Cut each tortilla in half. Fold into cone shape. Burning Bush Cut cheese slice using buttery cutter. Use different slice of cheese to cut Exodus 3:1-20 the head using circle cutter. Cut buttery cheese piece in half. Pathfinder Arrange each half as wings behind the cone tortilla, and the round piece as Arise! Shine with Trust! the head. Materials Knife (teacher use only) Paper plates Buttery cookie cutter Small round cookie cutter

Snack Leader 11 Burning Bush Cupcake Bible Story Snack Ingredients Yellow or white cake mix (and ingredients on the box) White frosting Green food coloring Bible Story Package of regular-sized marshmallows Moses and the Red, orange, and yellow sanding sugar Burning Bush Exodus 3:1-20 Directions Bake cupcakes according to directions and let cool. Pathfinder Mix frosting and food coloring. Ice cupcakes. Arise! Shine with Trust! Use colored sprinkles to decorate. Mix the three sanding sugars in equal amounts to make the “ re.” Materials Using the kitchen scissors, cut the marshmallows into discs. Cut them in the Kitchen scissors same direction as you would slice a roll of cookies. The cuts will form the (teacher use only) shape of a ame. Paper plates Dip the sticky side of the marshmallows into the sanding sugar. Dark green cupcake Cut bottom of marshmallow to make it at. liners Arrange on top of cupcake to make ames. Small bowls Mixing spoon

12 DISCOVERY ON ADVENTURE ISLAND: Quest for God’s Great Light! Build-Your-Own Lighthouse Theme Snack Ingredients Cake-style ice cream cups (regular or multicolor) Graham crackers Nut butter or marshmallow cream Regular-sized marshmallows Bible Story Assorted cereal, granola, or chocolate rocks Moses and the Assorted yellow candies: yellow gum drops, yellow suckers Burning Bush Assorted choices for grass: green frosting, green colored marshmallow Exodus 3:1-20 cream, green colored coconut, green grapes Pathfinder Directions Arise! Shine with Trust! Break a full graham cracker in half. Put nut butter or marshmallow cream between halves to make a sandwich. Materials Place sandwich in the middle of another full graham cracker. Paper plates Apply grass to both ends. Jumbo craft sticks (for Set ice cream cone on top of base, upside-down. spreading) Place marshmallow on top of cone. Place “light” on top. Use nut butter or marshmallow cream to hold parts together. Place lighthouse on a plate. Surround base with cereal, granola, chocolate rocks, green coconut or green grapes to create a landscape.

Snack Leader 13 Pre paration Cover tables with tablecloths. Set out individual place settings with napkins and cups. Make sure to follow all food safety consideration for your Explorers.

Welcome SAY SOMETHING LIKE: Welcome back, Explorers! As you know, here at the Snack Station, we love Bible Story talking about and remembering the exciting things we’ve discovered here Faith Through the Roof at Discovery on Adventure Island VBS. Who can share something with us Luke 5:17-26 that you discovered in the last session? (Allow Explorers to respond.) Great job! Thank you for sharing. Pathfinder Arise! Shine with Faith! Blessing SAY SOMETHING LIKE: Let us pause to say a blessing and thank God for our food and all the good things God gives us. Let’s pray together. (Say the prayer below, or feel free to invite volunteers to pray their own!)

Dear God, thank you for this food and our adventures here at VBS. Thank you for sending Jesus to forgive our sins and heal our wounds. Help us to always put our faith in you, no matter the circumstances. Amen.

Snack Time Hand out snacks or allow Explorers to create their own. Once all are settled and eating, lead them in a discussion of the Bible Tie-in.

Bible Tie-in In our Bible story, four friends believed and had faith that Jesus could heal their sick friend. They were willing to do whatever it took to get their friend to Jesus, even if it meant digging a hole in the ceiling! Do you have awesome friends like this? Would you do whatever you needed to in order to help them know Jesus? Think of times when a friend did something generous for you. Share ways you can be a wonderful friend to others. How can you show faith in God to your friends?

14 DISCOVERY ON ADVENTURE ISLAND: Quest for God’s Great Light! Bible Snack Cakes Pathfinder Snack Ingredients Square snack cakes White decorating icing Fruit leather Bible Story Directions Faith Through the Roof Trim three sides of snack cakes to expose inside lling. Luke 5:17-26 Using scissors, cut fruit leather to look like a bookmark ribbon. Push the bookmark into bottom of cake. Pathfinder Using the icing bag, decorate top of cake to create a cross. Arise! Shine with Faith!

Materials Knife (teacher use only) Icing bags Decorating tips Kitchen scissors (teacher use only) Paper plates

Snack Leader 15 Faith Through the Roof Snack Bible Story Snack Ingredients Brown sugar toaster pastries Graham crackers Teddy bear graham crackers Bible Story Stick pretzels Faith Through the Roof Fruit leather Luke 5:17-26 Nut butter or chocolate frosting

Pathfinder Directions Arise! Shine with Faith! Make stretcher using the fruit leather and pretzels (scroll shape). Lay one teddy bear cracker on top. Materials Break a full graham cracker in half. Knife (teacher use only) Using the nut butter or frosting as an anchor, stand four teddy bear crackers Jumbo craft sticks (for on the toaster pastry. spreading) Cover the graham cracker half completely with nut butter or frosting. Paper plates Place that cracker iced-side down on top of the four teddy bear crackers. Place stretcher on top of the graham cracker.

16 DISCOVERY ON ADVENTURE ISLAND: Quest for God’s Great Light! Puffin Food Theme Snack Ingredients Assorted choices for water: blue jelly beans, blue candy-coated chocolate pieces, etc. Fish crackers Gummy sh or sharks Bible Story Faith Through the Roof Directions Luke 5:17-26 Arrange all items on a plate or in a bag to resemble the ocean with different sh creatures. If using a bag instead of plate, Explorers can take home their Pathfinder puf n food. Simply tie the bag with a ribbon to keep shut. Arise! Shine with Faith!

Materials Blue paper plates Snack-sized bags Ribbon Scissors

Snack Leader 17 Pre paration Cover tables with tablecloths. Set out individual place settings with napkins and cups. Make sure to follow all food safety consideration for your Explorers.

Welcome SAY SOMETHING LIKE: Welcome back, Explorers! As you know, here at the Snack Station, we love Bible Story talking about and remembering the exciting things we’ve discovered here The “Lost” Parables at Discovery on Adventure Island VBS. Who can share something with us Luke 15 that you discovered in the last session? (Allow Explorers to respond.) Great job! Thank you for sharing. Pathfinder Arise! Shine with Joy! Blessing SAY SOMETHING LIKE: Let us pause to say a blessing and thank God for our food and all the good things God gives us. Let’s pray together. (Say the prayer below, or feel free to invite volunteers to pray their own!)

Dear God, thank you for this food, new discoveries, and fun adventures here at VBS. In our Bible lesson we discovered that you give us joy! You rejoice with us when we celebrate events in our lives. We praise you, God, for all these amazing things. Amen.

Snack Time Hand out snacks or allow Explorers to create their own. Once all are settled and eating, lead them in a discussion of the Bible Tie-in.

Bible Tie-in In our Bible story, we actually learned three stories! They were all about things that were lost. But every time the lost thing was found, there was a celebration. When we celebrate, we share joy with others. This joy comes from God because God rejoices too when we celebrate. Think of when you lost something important to you. How did God’s joy help you get through that hard time? Name ways we can celebrate and share our joy with others.

18 DISCOVERY ON ADVENTURE ISLAND: Quest for God’s Great Light! Joyful Pancakes Pathfinder Snack Ingredients Frozen pancakes (heated) Assorted fruits: bananas, strawberries, blueberries, etc. Chocolate syrup Canned whipped topping (optional) Bible Story The “Lost” Parables Directions Luke 15 Place pancake in middle of plate. Slice assorted fruits. Using the fruits, create a face on the pancake. For Pathfinder example, bananas for eyes, blueberries for the nose, etc. Arise! Shine with Joy! Make a smile with whipped topping or chocolate syrup. Fill soufe cup with chocolate syrup for dipping. Materials Paper plates Soufe cups Microwave Knife (teacher use only)

Snack Leader 19 Marshmallow Sheep Bible Story Snack Ingredients Sponge cake rolls Mini marshmallows White frosting or marshmallow cream Bible Story Mini round cookies The “Lost” Parables Candy eyes Luke 15 Pretzels Ear options: small candies, broken cookie pieces, raisins, etc. Pathfinder Arise! Shine with Joy! Directions Lay sponge cake roll with at part on a plate. Use pastry knife to spread Materials frosting or marshmallow cream over entire cake. Pastry knife (teacher Arrange marshmallows to cover entire cake. use only) Use frosting or marshmallow cream to glue eyes onto a round cookie. Attach Paper plates cookie to end of the cake. Attach ears. Attach legs by pushing pretzels into bottom of cake.

20 DISCOVERY ON ADVENTURE ISLAND: Quest for God’s Great Light! Tropical Trail Mix Pathfinder Snack Ingredients 12 oz. bag of dried bananas 12 oz. bag of dried papaya 12 oz. bag of dried pineapple 12 oz. bag of macadamia nuts Bible Story 1 cup aked coconut The “Lost” Parables 1 cup raisins Luke 15 1 cup golden raisins 6 cups of cereal (all the same or assorted avors) Pathfinder Arise! Shine with Joy! Directions In large bowl, mix all ingredients. Materials Fill each cup and serve. Large bowl Mixing spoon Clear plastic cups

Snack Leader 21 Pre paration Cover tables with tablecloths. Set out individual place settings with napkins and cups. Make sure to follow all food safety consideration for your Explorers.

Welcome SAY SOMETHING LIKE: Welcome back Explorers! As you know, here at the Snack Station, we love Bible Story talking about and remembering the exciting things we’ve discovered here Mary at the Tomb at Discovery on Adventure Island VBS. Who can share something with us John 20:1-18 that you discovered in the last session? (Allow Explorers to respond.) During this last day, who can share something with us that you discovered while Pathfinder at VBS? (Allow Explorers to respond.) Great job! Thank you for sharing. Arise! Shine with Hope! Blessing SAY SOMETHING LIKE: Let us pause to say a blessing and thank God for our food and all the good things God gives us. Let’s pray together. (Say the prayer below, or feel free to invite volunteers to pray their own!)

Dear God, thank you for this food, exciting opportunities, time with friends and leaders, and for the joy of being here at VBS. In our Bible lesson, we learned about the amazing hope you gave us through Jesus’ resurrection. Guide us to share the good news with others. Amen.

Snack Time Hand out snacks or allow Explorers to create their own. Once all are settled and eating, lead them in a discussion of the Bible Tie-in.

Bible Tie-in In our Bible story, Mary and the disciples were very sad because Jesus had died. When Mary went to visit Jesus’ body, she was startled to find out it was missing. Thankfully, the body hadn’t been stolen; Jesus had risen from the dead! After Mary learned this news, she ran to tell the disciples. What is something you’re hoping will happen? What do you think the difference is between hope and a dream? Name ways you can share the good news of Jesus with others.

22 DISCOVERY ON ADVENTURE ISLAND: Quest for God’s Great Light! Shine with Hope Butterfly Sandwich Pathfinder Snack Ingredients Sliced bread Assorted sandwich llings: turkey, cheese, ham, chicken salad, tuna salad, Bible Story nut butter and jelly, etc. Mary at the Tomb Assorted vegetables or fruits John 20:1-18 Ranch dressing (optional) Pathfinder Directions Arise! Shine with Hope! Cut sliced bread with cookie cutter. Fill with sandwich lling of choice. Garnish with fruits and vegetables. For example, make owers out of Materials vegetable sticks. Buttery cookie cutter Pour Ranch dressing into soufe cups for dipping. Soufe cups

Snack Leader 23 Empty Tomb Snack Bible Story Snack Ingredients Cake donuts Mini cookies Chocolate rocks Bible Story Graham crackers Mary at the Tomb Assorted cereals (to resemble rocks) John 20:1-18 Graham cracker crumbs (to resemble sand) White and chocolate frostings Pathfinder Green food coloring Arise! Shine with Hope! Directions Materials Combine two frostings to make a tan color. Mix white frosting and green 2 small bowls food coloring. 2 spoons Ice the graham cracker with parts green for grass and parts tan for sand. Jumbo craft sticks (for Use knife to trim the bottom of donut so it stands at. spreading) Place donut on top of graham cracker. Knife (teacher use only) Place mini cookie in front of donut to be the rolled away stone. Paper plates Place chocolate rocks and cereal around graham cracker to represent boulders and rocks. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs to look like sand.

24 DISCOVERY ON ADVENTURE ISLAND: Quest for God’s Great Light! Tropical Fruit Cups Theme Snack

Ingredients Plain or vanilla yogurt Granola Assorted tropical fruits: bananas, kiwi, mango, papaya, pineapple, etc. Bible Story Mary at the Tomb Directions John 20:1-18 Slice and peel fruit. Layer cup with granola, yogurt, and fruit on top. Sprinkle granola on top of fruit. Pathfinder Arise! Shine with Hope!

Materials Knife (teacher use only) Clear plastic cups Spoons

Snack Leader 25