Trailhead VBS — Day 4: Jesus Died and Rose Again to Bring Us Home

Welcome all crews to Base Camp. Greet kids by crew name as they arrive. Open with a loud, happy welcome and a quick recap: 'Hikers, we've been following Jesus every step this week!' Sing a song your church already sings (upbeat, with motions). Do a 2-minute 'trail check' cheer where each crew shouts their name. Introduce today's big idea in one sentence: 'Today we learn that Jesus died and rose again so we can be God's forever.' Pray a short opening prayer. Preschool adaptation: seat 4–5s near the front with their leaders on a blanket 'trail mat' so they can see and wiggle. Teen helper jobs today: two greeters at the door who welcome kids and walk them to their crews (an adult handles sign-in), one 'cheer leader' to lead crew shouts from the stage edge (never alone with a child, always in view of adults), and one helper to hand out the name tags from Day 1. Keep assembly energetic but brief so you protect station time.

Gather everyone for the main story (Luke 23:33–24:8). Tell it gently and briefly, keeping the weight on the resurrection. Suggested flow: 'Jesus loved people perfectly, but He was taken to a hill and put on a cross. The Bible tells us Jesus died there. He did it on purpose, because He loves us: He was taking the punishment for all the wrong things we do, so we could be forgiven and belong to God. His friends were very sad. They wrapped His body and laid it in a tomb cut into rock, and a big stone was rolled across the door.' Pause, then brighten: 'But that is not the end! Early Sunday morning, some women came to the tomb — and the stone was rolled away and the tomb was EMPTY. Two angels said the best news ever.' Read Luke 24:6–7 (BSB): 'He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you while He was still in Galilee: The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.' Then connect to Romans 6:23 (BSB) in kid words: sin earns death, but God gives us the free GIFT of forever life in Jesus. Keep the cross simple and factual — no gory detail. If a child looks worried, reassure: 'Jesus chose this because He loves us, and He is alive right now.' Preschool adaptation: use a simple 3-picture sequence (cross, sealed tomb, empty tomb with a smiling angel) and let them 'roll away' a paper-plate stone to find the tomb empty; one short line each. Older kids (grades 4–6) note: tell them you'll go deeper in their crew time about why Jesus had to die for us.

Kids break into their assigned trail crews with their screened adult leader plus a teen helper. Revisit the story using the discussion questions below, matched to your crew's age. Keep it conversational, not a quiz. Hand each crew a 'trail journal' page to draw the empty tomb. IMPORTANT follow-Jesus note: if a child wants to talk about trusting or following Jesus, the adult leader listens warmly and prays with them right there in view of other adults. Keep it simple and in the child's words: God loves you; we all do wrong things; Jesus died and rose again to forgive us; you can tell God you're sorry and ask Jesus to be your forever Leader. Let the child pray in their own words if they want to. With 4- and 5-year-olds, a prayer of thanks is plenty. Never pressure the child, never 'count decisions,' and tell the child's parent or guardian at pickup that their child had a meaningful conversation so the family can keep talking at home. Preschool adaptation: keep to the two warmup questions and lots of 'He is alive!' celebration. Older kids: use the dig and apply questions and let them wrestle with the 'free gift' idea. Teen helper job: pass out journal pages, help younger kids with crayons, and model answering a question first so shy kids warm up — always beside the adult, never alone with a child.

Crews rotate through this craft station. Kids make an empty-tomb scene: a paper or foam 'tomb' with a stone that rolls aside to reveal the words 'He is risen!' Younger kids glue pre-cut pieces; older kids can add their memory verse and decorate a trail scene around it. Teen helper job at this station: pre-count supplies into crew baskets, demonstrate the craft step-by-step, and help with glue — stationed beside the adult, in view of the room. Set-up tip: cover tables, pre-cut shapes for 4–5s. Everyone takes their craft home as a reminder that the tomb is empty. Remind kids: this is yours to keep and show your family.

Outdoor (or gym) games station. Start with a quick icebreaker, 'Roll the Stone': crews line up and relay-roll a large soft ball (or beach ball 'stone') around a cone and back, cheering 'He is risen!' when they finish. Then play 'Empty Tomb Tag' or a simple trail relay. SUN & WATER SAFETY: set up in shade, have water available, and take a water break halfway through; watch for overheating and let anyone rest who needs it. Preschool adaptation: slow the relay to a simple walk-and-cheer, bigger ball, shorter distance. Teen helper jobs: one teen demonstrates each game, one refills and hands out water cups, and one keeps the sun-break timer — always with the adult leader present, never supervising kids alone. Two-adult rule still applies for any bathroom trips (two screened adults, never a teen alone with a child).

Snack station. CHECK EVERY CHILD'S ALLERGY LIST BEFORE SERVING ANYTHING. Suggested snack: a build-your-own 'Empty Tomb' cup — a scoop of yogurt or pudding topped with a round cookie 'stone' rolled to the side and a spoonful of whipped topping as the angel's 'bright light' (skip marshmallows: they are a choking hazard for 4- and 5-year-olds). COMMON ALLERGENS present: milk/dairy (yogurt/pudding), wheat/gluten (cookie), and possible soy; cookies may carry 'may contain nuts' warnings — read labels. ALLERGY-SAFE SWAP: offer a dairy-free coconut or oat yogurt cup with a certified nut-free, gluten-free cookie and a dairy-free whipped topping, plated separately to avoid cross-contact; keep a bowl of plain grapes quartered lengthwise (never whole, to avoid choking for little ones) as a universal option. No whole nuts, hard candies, or whole grapes for ages 4–5. Teen helper job: hand out pre-portioned cups (do not let teens make allergy judgment calls — the adult verifies the list), wipe tables, and collect trash. Have kids wash or sanitize hands first.

A short missions moment that fits the trail theme: 'Sharing the Good News Down the Trail.' Explain simply that the first thing Jesus' friends did after the empty tomb was go tell others the good news — and today missionaries and churches around the world still carry that same good news to people who have never heard it. Highlight one real ministry your church already supports (use accurate, current facts from that ministry — do not invent stories or statistics). Kids do a hands-on response: color encouragement cards or assemble a small 'trail care' item for the chosen mission, OR pray by name for a missionary family. Keep it concrete: 'The good news traveled from an empty tomb all the way to us — now we help it keep going.' Preschool adaptation: one simple sentence ('Jesus is alive, and we get to tell people!') plus a sticker card. Teen helper job: lead the card-making table and help kids sound out words to write.

Built-in time for moving crews between stations, restroom breaks (two-adult policy, never one adult or helper alone with a child), handwashing before and after snack, water breaks, and quick cleanup. Leaders: count heads at every transition and keep crews together. Use a simple call-and-response ('Trail crews — eyes up!' / 'Ready to hike!') to regather attention quickly.

All crews return to Base Camp. Celebrate the day with a song your church already sings. Review the big idea with a call-and-response: Leader: 'Jesus died...' Kids: '...and rose again!' Leader: '...so we can be...' Kids: 'God's forever!' Teach and practice today's memory verse, Luke 24:6 (BSB): 'He is not here; He has risen!' — add a motion (hands sweep open like the stone rolling away). Reinforce Romans 6:23 (BSB) in kid language: sin earns death, but God gives the free gift of forever life in Jesus. Give a quick preview of Day 5: 'Tomorrow is our last day, Jesus gives us a big job, and your family is invited to the closing program!' Close in prayer, thanking Jesus for the empty tomb. Teen helper job: lead verse motions from the front and help reunite kids with their crews for a calm, organized pickup. REMINDER to all leaders: at pickup, release children only to authorized adults per your church's check-out policy; tell parents of any child who had a 'following Jesus' conversation today.