Months before school dismissed, parents and church staffs were planning for a longtime summer tradition — Vacation Bible School (VBS).

Many Madison churches are hosting the week of Bible study, hands-on crafts and playground games — not to mention tasty refreshments.

This week, four-year-olds through sixth-graders at Trinity Baptist Church, 1088 Hughes Road will journey to Babylon for “Daniel’s Courage in Captivity.” The sessions show Daniel’s faith after soldiers forced him to leave his home, serve a foreign king and eventually survive a den of lions.

St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 786 Hughes Road is conducting VBS on June 18-21. Four-year-olds through fifth-graders can attend. Registration is required.

First Baptist Church of Madison, 4257 Sullivan St. is hosting “Amazing Wonders Aviation – Encountering God’s Awesome Power” from June 18-22. The study is based on Psalm 147:5: “Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.” The curriculum takes children on a make-believe journey to the Grand Canyon, Africa’s Victoria Falls, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and the Swiss Alps.

“Sky – Everything Is Possible with God!” is popular this summer with the curriculum used at CrossPointe Church, 719 Hughes Road and St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 1055 Hughes Road, June 11-15; Madison United Methodist Church, 127 Church St., July 9-13; and Asbury UMC, 980 Hughes Road, June 25-29.

The “Sky” theme encourages children to trust in God forever — “The sky’s the limit.” At CrossPointe, families were encouraged to enter a ‘hot air balloon’ made of paper-mache with a party balloon, newspaper and flour.

Asbury also is conducting “Summer Explosion” for grades 5-8 on June 25-29.

Madison Church of Christ, 556 Hughes Road will present “Pirates of the Caring Being – In Search of the Treasures of the Almighty” on July 9-12 for children through fifth grade.

“Sonrise – National Park VBS” will be open to two-year-olds through sixth grade at Master’s Way UMC, 29768 Huntsville/Brownsferry Road on July 9-13. Madison Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 1400 Hughes Road, is planning on VBS for four consecutive Sundays starting Aug. 5.