Cave Quest VBS Decorating: Sing & Play Rock Tunnel Entrance

We decided to liven up the transition from the entry/registration area (foyer) to the Sing & Play Rock (sanctuary) by making a tunnel entrance.  This was actually a fairly quick and easy way to make a large visual impact!

SUPPLIES:
-Lumber {we used 2x2s}
–Large tarp
–Duct tape
–Neon colored animal cutouts
–Black plastic sheeting
–Double stick tape
–Scissors

PROJECT COST:
We purchased this huge tarp last year for Everest VBS and made a huge registration “tent” out of it at Base Camp.  This year, we repurposed the same tarp to be the covering of the Sing & Play Rock Tunnel Entrance.  We used a few small tarps as well that we bought on sale locally for under $2 each.  The lumber frame walls were leftover from previous years’ VBS as well.  The only real cost we had was the black plastic {cut and hung at the back doorway of the tunnel}, duct tape, double stick tape and the colored paper for animal cutouts.  The total cost of this was definitely under $20.  Score!

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Build the frame.
The 2×2 lumber was already assembled in approximately 8′ tall by 8′ wide sections {we used it to build temporary walls in the past}.  The guys took 3 of the 8′ wall sections and screwed them together {one for each side plus one across the top}.  These made a self-supporting structure that didn’t have to be anchored to the church walls.

Here’s a view from the inside looking toward the registration area. There are 2×4 wood braces on the top corners to solidify the structure.

2. Cover the frame with tarp{s}.
Thankfully we had one giant tarp that covered almost the entire frame.  It didn’t quite reach to the floor on the left side, so the guys added a few small tarps to cover that section.  It wasn’t noticeable at all.  We used a staple gun and duct tape to attach the tarps to the wood frame.

I added duct tape at the top and a little higher than the door frame to reinforce the plastic sheeting.

I also used painter’s tape to attach black plastic to the other set of doors so the sanctuary wasn’t visible from the registration area when the doors were closed.

3. Add the black plastic at the back of the tunnel.
Once the guys got the tunnel built, I realized it was still very light inside and you could see straight onto stage from the registration area.  We wanted to darken it up and add a bit of surprise, so I took a large black sheet of painter’s plastic and cut strips roughly 6″ wide, then hung it on the back side of the doorway.  I used a piece of duct tape along the plastic to make sure it didn’t tear all the way to the top and fall apart.

4. Decorate the tunnel.
Our teens used neon paper and cut out cave animals {snakes, bats and lizards}.  We used double stick tape to hang these in the tunnel.

5. Optional: Add glow lights inside the tunnel.
Glow sticks only last a few hours, but I wanted to add some fun lights to the tunnel.  On Friday night, I added about 10 glow stick necklaces.  It was easy to hang them inside the tunnel on string from the exposed 2×2 lumber.

The Sing & Play Rock Entrance Tunnel ended up being one of my favorite parts of the decorations!  It was cost effective and made the church feel way more like a cave and less like the church that kids are accustomed to visiting weekly.

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