Dedicate Avalanche Ranch staff. Introduce station leaders, Ranch Crew Leaders, and other volunteers during your church service. Then have your pastor or other church members pray that God will use these workers to touch kids’ lives with his love during Avalanche Ranch.

Assign kids to Ranch Crews. If you’re using your Web Toybox, it's easy to assign your crews! If not, photocopy the “Ranch Crew Roster” You’ll need one roster for each crew. Using the preregistration forms you’ve received, assign children to elementary and preschool Ranch Crews. Each Ranch Crew should have no more than five children and one adult or teenage Ranch Crew Leader. Be sure that each preschool Ranch Crew has a mix of 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds.

Here are some additional guidelines for assigning crews:
✔ Fill in the “Ranch Crew Roster” in pencil—you’ll probably make changes as you work.
✔ Whenever possible, place a child from each age level in each Ranch Crew. If the age distribution at your program is uneven, include as wide an age range as you can. Guarantee success for everyone involved by not forming single-age Ranch Crews.
✔ Include a good mix of boys and girls in each Ranch Crew.
✔ If a child is bringing a friend, assign the two children to the same Ranch Crew if possible. If a child is bringing several friends, assign pairs of kids to different Ranch Crews.
✔ In general, it works best to assign siblings to different Ranch Crews. However, you know the children in your church. Use your judgment as to whether siblings should be together.
✔ If you anticipate behavior problems with certain children or have children with special needs, assign them to Ranch Crews that have more experienced adult Ranch Crew Leaders.
✔ If you have children who are particularly helpful or cooperative, assign them to Ranch Crews that have teenage Ranch Crew Leaders.
✔ If you want your program to have a strong outreach emphasis, limit each Ranch Crew to three children. Then encourage kids to fill their crews by bringing their friends.
✔ Remember to leave open spaces in a few crews for kids who haven’t preregistered. Your goal is to make sure each crew contains only five children.
✔ After you’ve assigned elementary children to Ranch Crews, assign each crew to one of four larger groups. (Remember, one-fourth of the kids at VBS travel together at a time.) Label these four groups A, B, C, and D—or use your creativity to name them something that fits the Avalanche Ranch theme, such as buckaroos, wranglers, or trailblazers. Ranch Crews travel with their larger groups as they visit the stations each day. For more information about assigning Ranch Crews to groups (see page 83 of your Director's Manual).
✔ Once you’ve finished assigning crews, double-check that you haven’t forgotten anyone or double-booked anyone.

Meet with station leaders again. Check with leaders to make sure they have all the required supplies, and answer any questions they may have. Work together to smooth out any last-minute details.

Decide when and where station leaders and Ranch Crew Leaders will meet each day. It’s a good idea to have your staff arrive early on Day 1 to greet children and assist with registration. Be sure each Ranch Crew Leader has a large sign with his or her crew number or crew name written on it.

Help station leaders decorate their rooms. Use the decorating ideas found in the colorful VBS catalog, leader manuals, or the decorating booklet found in your Starter Kit to turn your church into a high mountain ranch. (Be sure to check out www.groupoutlet.com for the hottest decorations around…at bargain prices!)