Matthew Van Sickle, 7, Lewisberry; Andrew Diaz, 7, Clarks Green; Lucas Wescott, 7, Dalton; and Jane Daniels, 6, Clarks Summit color during craft time.

Augustus, 7, and Echo, 9, Pizur, of Camp Hill attended Bible school at Our Lady of Peace.

The Music Spotlight at Vacation Bible School at Our Lady of Peace School on Thursday, June 25 got the crowd of children excited for the program.

Vacation Bible School (VBS) is a summer tradition at many churches throughout the Abingtons. They offer kids a fun and safe way to stay energized throughout the summer with activities that include arts and crafts, music, singing and dancing, story time, snacks, and an opportunity to learn more about the Bible.

Barbara Little, The Church of the Epiphany, Glenburn and Carole Hamersly, Trinity Lutheran Church, Clarks Summit, coordinated the Bible school held from June 22 to 26 at The Church of the Epiphany.

Fifty children, ranging from grades preschool through fifth, registered for the camp. Once the children have finished grade six they can be a teen helper.

Little said throughout the week the children rotated through a series of stations: Bible story time, crafts, science and recreation. The curriculum, she noted, is usually quite broad based and tailored to kids from many denominations.

“They learn Bible stories that a lot of times are not covered in Sunday school…We don’t do Sunday school in the summer, so there are stories that are missed. Vacation Bible School will pick up those stories missed,” Little explained.

The children also had an opportunity to give back.

“Children are going to be making fleece blankets to send to Camp Noah (in Maryland), which is a camp that is held throughout the country each year in several locations,” said Hamersly. “They are Lutheran Church sponsored camps for children who have been a part of some type of natural tragedy.”

This year they were making the blankets for victims of Hurricane Sandy.

George J. Mathews Jr., pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church, Clarks Summit, had a telescope set up on the lawn behind the church for kids to learn about sun spots and Venus.

Our Lady of the Snows and St. Gregory’s parish’s Vacation Bible School jointly held their program June 22 to 26 at Our Lady of Peace School, Clarks Green. Nettie Goldate, camp organizer, said 215 children, ranging in ages 4-11 from as far away as Camp Hill, Nicholson and Montrose, were treated to a week of activities including art, videos, snacks, and The Music Spotlight with singing and dancing. One hundred volunteers, ages 12 through adults, assisted.