Catholic VBS Tools

VBS Budget Calculator

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Vacation Bible School Budget Calculator

Take 10 minutes and receive a comprehensive customized report to host a VBS program.

Please note: The calculator is meant to provide insights and is not to be used for hard quoting. The costs are calculated based on best practices and the country's average costs.

Select Vacation Bible School Theme *
VBS Theme
$
0.00
Total
$
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Select Program Options *
VBS Theme
$
0.00
VBS Program Options
$
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Total
$
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Cat.Chat VBS Add-ons

Cat.Chat VBS Add-on products are tools, resources, and gifts you can provide your kids. They are not required to run a VBS at your parish, but can provide additional support to Help Make the Catholic Faith Come Alive For Kids.

VBS CD's

VBS Muisc CD's come with 10 exciting songs to help Make the Catholic Faith come Alive for Kids. We provide volume discounts to larger orders.

Price
$
0.00
Total
$
0.00
Would you like to add VBS CD's to your Budget?

VBS Saint Cards

(5 Pack)

Each VBS Saint pack comes with 5 featured Saints. Each card displays a beautiful illustration of a featured VBS Saint along with a story on the back. Each VBS program contains 5 unique saints.

Price
$
0.00
Total
$
0.00
Would you like to add VBS Saint Cards to your Budget?

VBS DVD's

This VBS DVD is perfect for helping kids learn the actions to all their favorite VBS songs. Each DVD comes packed with 10 Action Songs.

Price
$
0.00
Total
$
0.00
Would you like to add VBS DVD's to your Budget?

VBS Music Platform for Families

The convenience of DIGITAL VBS MUSIC, just in time for your parish Cat.Chat VBS.

Our best-selling, top quality VBS music from Cat.Chat Productions is now available in a convenient and easy-to-share format. Simply purchase a parish license which grants you permission to share the digital links. At the click of a button, your parish families get easy access to the VBS music (plus bonus VBS videos and printables) on their phone/tablet/computer.

VBS Directors and DREs: There are some big benefits in transitioning to digital VBS music!

  • Convenient format lets you share the digital VBS music (plus videos and more) with your VBS participants/families
  • Music content is the same as our much-loved CD version
  • Immediate and lifetime access
  • No waiting or paying for shipping on CDs
  • Best of all, save money as the digital version is much less than the CD version.
Total
$
0.00
Would you like to add VBS Music platform to your budget?

VBS T-shirts

Custom VBS T-shirts for your entire event. Each VBS comes with its own custom VBS T-shirt.

Price
$
0.00
Total
$
0.00
Would you like to add VBS T-shirts to your Budget?

VBS Station Cost Breakdown

There are 5 different stations within a Cat.Chat VBS program: Faith, Music, Games, Craft, and Snack. Each Cat.Chat VBS program provides Station Leaders with 4 to 5 different activity options. Each Day within the Station Guide will have cost-effective, economical, and premium activities for the Station Leaders.

In addition, each station will need decor and environment or decorations. Every Cat.Chat VBS program presents ideas to the Station Leaders on how they might dress up their area. Again, these decoration ideas fall into cost-effective, economical, and premium categories.

Please answer the following questions as best as you can.

Reminder: these are estimates based on best practices and average costs in the country.

Faith Station Costs

Two major costs are associated with the Faith Station: daily supplies and decorations. Faith Station supplies consist of printouts, prizes, colors, etc. Faith Station decorations are posters, pictures, candles, crosses, icons, etc.

Daily Supplies

Cost per Participant
$
0.00
Cost
$
0.00

The Cat.Chat VBS Faith Station guidebook contains 4-5 daily faith lessons. Every Cat.Chat VBS program also includes the MY VBS platform with PDF downloads, printouts, audiobooks, videos, and music. The costs of Faith Station Supplies are due to the number of printouts and prizes a leader can offer participants.

Select Faith Station Supplies Preference *

Decorations

Decoration Total
$
0.00

It is typically dependent on location. If the faith station is in a chapel or church, the environment is exactly what it should be, whereas decorations become very important if it is located in a back room or a classroom. 

Select Faith Station Decorations Preference *
Faith Station Total
$
0.00

Music Station Costs

The Music Station is where the kids learn the two featured songs. Typically, the Music Station leader will set up a large projector or TV screen to play the video of the Action Song. The kids follow along with the actions on screen and the leader's actions. No supplies are required except for screens and a speaker.

Daily Supplies

Cost per Participant
$
0.00
Cost
$
0.00

There are no supplies required for the Music Station except optional prizes.

Select Music Station Supplies Preference *

Decorations

Decoration Total
$
0.00

The Music Station Decorations depend on them but typically consist of large posters, banners, and concert-type decorations.

Select Music Station Decorations Preference *
Music Station Total
$
0.00

Game Station Costs

Games Station is where kids get moving. There are 4-5 games the Games Leader can choose from. Each game requires different supplies.

Daily Supplies

Cost per Participant
$
0.00
Cost
$
0.00

Almost all game supplies are in a normal school gym equipment room. Other items can be brought from home.

Select Games Station Supplies Preference *

Decorations

Decoration Total
$
0.00

The location of the Games Station is critical to the success of a fun time for the kids. A classroom is a tough place to move around in, while the outside is great but can be unpredictable. Whether you need to rent a tent or a room, the "decor" will typically be determined by the location.

Select Games Station Decorations Preference *
Games Station Total
$
0.00

Craft Station Costs

Daily Supplies

Cost per Participant
$
0.00
Cost
$
0.00

The main cost of the Craft station will be the supplies. We try to provide station leaders with craft options that they can pick up at their local Dollarama or craft store. The standard supplies at the Craft Station are markers, coloring pages, and wet wipes for sticky or messy hands.

Select Craft Station Supplies Preference *

Decorations

Decoration Total
$
0.00

The Craft Station requires several tables. Request a few extra tables to store your supplies and allow drying time for some of the children’s crafts.

We recommend covering the tables with white or brown paper. This will allow for an easier cleanup.

Select Craft Station Decorations Preference *
Craft Station Total
$
0.00

Snack Station Costs

Daily Supplies

Cost per Participant
$
0.00
Cost
$
0.00

The main cost of the Craft station will be the supplies. We try to provide station leaders with craft options that they can pick up at their local Dollarama or craft store. The standard supplies at the Craft Station are markers, coloring pages, and wet wipes for sticky or messy hands.

Select Snack Station Supplies Preference *

Decorations

Decoration Total
$
0.00

The Crat Station requires several tables. Request a few extra tables to store your supplies and allow drying time for some of the children’s crafts.

We recommend covering the tables with white or brown paper. This will allow for an easier cleanup.

Select Snack Station Decorations Preference *
Snack Station Total
$
0.00

Main Assembly Space

Daily Supplies

Cost per Participant
$
0.00
Cost
$
0.00

The main cost of the Craft station will be the supplies. We try to provide station leaders with craft options that they can pick up at their local Dollarama or craft store. The standard supplies at the Craft Station are markers, coloring pages, and wet wipes for sticky or messy hands.

Select Assembly Supplies Preference *

Decorations

Decoration Total
$
0.00

The Crat Station requires several tables. Request a few extra tables to store your supplies and allow drying time for some of the children’s crafts.

We recommend covering the tables with white or brown paper. This will allow for an easier cleanup.

Select Main Assembly Decorations Preference *
Assembly Station Total
$
0.00

Your VBS Budget Quick Breakdown

Items

Total

VBS Program

$
0.00

Add-on: Saint Cards

0.00

Add-on: VBS CDs

0.00

Add-on: VBS DVDs

0.00

Add-on: VBS Music Platform

0.00

Add-on: VBS T-shirts

0.00

Faith Station

$
0.00

Music Station

$
0.00

Games Station

$
0.00

Craft Station

$
0.00

Snack Station

$
0.00

Assembly

$
0.00

Budget Total

$
0.00

Submit your email to receive a templated budget sheet, which you can customize to track your expenses. You will also receive this entire report in more detail.

Please read our guide on ways to offset costs for your VBS.

Catholic VBS Tools

VBS Budget Calculator

The Great with Jesus Through The Church Year

New Catholic VBS for 2025

Embark on an exciting 5 day journey with Jesus and make the church year come alive for your parish in 2025.

Kids will learn the significance of each liturgical season with new Cat.Chat music and videos, practical and engaging faith lessons, inspiring Saints, meaningful craft and snack activities, interactive games and much more.

The Great Journey VBS program is specially designed to help kids discover the life of Christ and draw closer to Him through the cycle of the church year. Kids will have fun learning and celebrating the importance of Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent/Holy Triduum and Easter.

100% Catholic and carefully crafted to help you make the Catholic Faith Come Alive for kids.

Click here