How to Decorate for True North VBS on a Tight Budget
You don’t need to spend a lot to make a big impact. With a little creativity and some smart reuse, your True North VBS can look amazing—even on a shoestring budget. In this post, we’ll walk through budget-friendly decoration ideas that bring the Alaskan theme to life without draining your resources.
Repurpose What You Already Have
Start by digging into your storage room or asking around your church community. You’d be surprised what you can collect without spending a dime:
- Christmas Trees: Repurpose artificial trees to create forest scenes.
- Camping Gear: Use borrowed hiking boots, lanterns, tents, and backpacks as immersive props.
- Holiday Lights: Twinkle lights are perfect for simulating stars or the northern lights.
- Old VBS Supplies: Use leftover coral foam, backdrops, or signage from past years.
Ask volunteers to bring any items they’re willing to loan for the week. You’ll find people love helping when it supports VBS!
Easy DIY Projects That Look Amazing
These low-cost crafts can transform your space with minimal effort:
- Carpet Tubes = Logs: Grab carpet tubes from local flooring stores and paint them to resemble tree logs.
- Pool Noodle Flowers: Cut pool noodles into small chunks to help secure paper flowers onto signs.
- Tissue Paper Grass Mats: Cheap and effective for walkways or stage edges.
- Cardboard Mountains: Paint leftover cardboard boxes in blue, gray, and white to mimic snowy peaks.
- Paper Lupine Flowers: Use crepe or tissue paper, bamboo skewers, and floral tape for colorful floral accents.
- Rock Stuffing: Use packing paper or newsprint to fill rock-shaped trash bags or boxes for faux boulders.
Ask for Donations and Support
Many local businesses and churchgoers are willing to help if you just ask:
- Flooring stores may give away carpet tubes.
- Restaurants often have large buckets or containers you can turn into tree stumps.
- Community Facebook groups are great places to ask for items like camping gear or Christmas trees.
Create a simple supply wish list and post it in your church lobby or on social media.
Make the Most of Fabric and Backdrops
Reusable fabric is your best friend. It covers large areas and stores easily for next year:
- Blue Sky Backdrop Fabric: Use to mimic open air or water.
- Water-Effect Fabric: Great for rivers in Wild Bible Adventures.
- Moving Blankets: Turn into a cabin path or backdrop when paired with lights and props.
You can also hang fabric from ceilings or tables to give the illusion of snowbanks or mountain layers.
Use This Instead of Buying New
Rather than investing in expensive decor, here’s what you can swap in:
- Buckets = Stumps
- Foam Scraps = Footprint Stamps
- Plastic Ice Cream Containers = Campfire Rings
- Old Blankets = Snowy Hills or Cozy Cabin Interiors
Upcycle where you can and don’t worry about perfection—the kids will be focused on the fun and message!
It is still highly recommended you get the the VBS True North 2025 Kit. It has other ideas and resources like teaching materials for your leaders – you will need those!
Save on Big Ticket Items with This Link
Need a few decor staples or a starter kit? We’ve gathered everything in one spot on Amazon.
You’ll find affordable options that can be reused year after year.
Keep It Simple. Keep It Focused.
True North VBS is all about leading kids toward Jesus. The decorations help set the scene, but the experience comes from the people and the message.
Pick one or two focal points and do them well. A cabin welcome area and northern lights ceiling might be all you need to set the tone.
Remember: budget doesn’t limit creativity. It often inspires it.
