Collect reusable leftover supplies. Store the supplies in your church’s supply closet or resource room for use in future VBS programs or other children’s ministry events. If you borrowed supplies such as pool noodles, buckets, or cassette players, return them to their owners. If you're planning to use Group's Wild West Fall Fest program, your left-over supplies could come in handy.

Send your Operation Kid-to-Kid Prayer Bears and The Survivor’s Bible books to International Bible Society. (For more information, visit www.ok2k.org.) The Showtime Roundup Leader may have these from the Day 5 program. To satisfy customs regulations, be sure the books and bears are in separate boxes.

Leave rooms decorated for your next church service. If outreach was an emphasis during Avalanche Ranch, you’ll be pleased when visitors from your VBS program come for church. They’ll feel more comfortable returning to a familiar environment. Also, church members will enjoy getting a glimpse of Avalanche Ranch.

Follow up with Avalanche Ranch visitors. Mail Avalanche Ranch follow-up postcards or mailable Foto Frames (available from Group Publishing and your Group supplier). Encourage Ranch Crew Leaders to make personal contact with the members of their Ranch Crews within two weeks after VBS. Use the additional follow-up ideas.

Report on your program. During your next worship service, invite station leaders, Ranch Crew Leaders, and kids who attended Avalanche Ranch to share their favorite VBS experiences. Encourage kids to display their Bible Point Crafts. You may even want to invite the Sing & Play Stampede Leader to lead everyone in singing one or two favorite Avalanche Ranch songs. When others see how much fun VBS can be, your recruiting will be a breeze next year! In fact, they may even sign up for next year’s VBS on the spot!

Present a slide show or video, or post photos from your program. Just show all the Spotlight Drama presentations back-to-back. (The work is already done!) Kids (and their parents) love seeing themselves on the “big screen.” And colorful photos will bring back memories of a terrific time at Avalanche Ranch.

Meet with your entire Avalanche Ranch staff to evaluate your program. Celebrate the best VBS ever! Make written notes of good ideas that could be used for next year’s program. Note any problems that came up and how they were solved. Brainstorm about ways to avoid similar problems in the future. Include notes of how you adapted the Avalanche Ranch materials to fit your church. Record the names of Ranch Crew Leaders and station leaders who are interested in helping again next year. Post the “Join the VBS Stampede!” handout, and allow interested volunteers to sign up for next year’s program. (You’ll be surprised at the number who will!) Bring the Avalanche Ranch evaluation forms included in your Director Manual, and have staff members fill them out.

Thank your staff members for all their hard work. Use the Howdy plush toy to thank and affirm your volunteers. Attach a note that says, “Thanks for digging into Horseplay Games” or “You were top (prairie) dog in Chuckwagon Chow.” Howdy plush toys are available from Group Publishing and your Group supplier. You could even hand out balloons, flowers, or baked goodies to show your appreciation. For more thematic ideas, see page 193 of your Director's Manual.

Fill out the “Avalanche Ranch Evaluation.” Fill out the online VBS director’s evaluation (coming soon) at www.group.com/vbs. This helps us plan for the future.