Vacation Bible schools have come a long way from humble beginnings. According to some historians,

Vacation Bible schools have come a long way from humble beginnings. According to some historians, the first school began in a beer hall in 1898. Mrs. Walker Aylett Hawes, a doctor's wife in New York City, noticed poor children injuring themselves as they played in the streets during the summer and created a format in which they could do crafts and learn about the Bible in a safe environment.
Programming remained relatively unchanged until recently.
In the late 1980s, leaders began putting more emphasis on "vacation" and less on "school," publishers said. Programs today try to tap into popular culture with rap lyrics mixed in with the songs and skateboarding characters written into skits. The structure has changed as well, said Beverly Henry, children's director at Calvary United Methodist Church in Annapolis, Md. Instead of day programs, many churches now hold sessions at night to get working adults to volunteer. Instead of being grouped by grade, children of all ages play in crews. Instead of classes, children rotate between activities, while teachers stay at their craft, story or game stations. And absolutely everything -- the decorations, the skits, even the snacks -- tie into the year's theme.