<p>Armed with pool noodles, kids chase after a ball in a game of ‘Noodle Hockey,’ on Wednesday morning during Vacation Bible School at St. Nicholas - St. Mary Parish in Wilkes-Barre. Vacation Bible School also included Bible stories, craft time, music and dancing, and science experiments.</p>
                                <p>Children at Vacation Bible School watch a video; their next activity will be a science experiment.</p>
                                 <p>Mary Therese Biebel | Times Leader</p>

Armed with pool noodles, kids chase after a ball in a game of ‘Noodle Hockey,’ on Wednesday morning during Vacation Bible School at St. Nicholas - St. Mary Parish in Wilkes-Barre. Vacation Bible School also included Bible stories, craft time, music and dancing, and science experiments.

Children at Vacation Bible School watch a video; their next activity will be a science experiment.

Mary Therese Biebel | Times Leader

<p>Adult volunteer Lonni Zoeller, seated and holding a bag, encourages a youngster to take a token after answering a question correctly Wednesday morning during Vacation Bible School at St. Nicholas - St. Mary Parish in Wilkes-Barre. There will be prizes at the end of the week, including copies of a Children’s Bible, she said.</p>
                                <p>Children at Vacation Bible School watch a video; their next activity will be a science experiment.</p>
                                 <p>Mary Therese Biebel | Times Leader</p>

Adult volunteer Lonni Zoeller, seated and holding a bag, encourages a youngster to take a token after answering a question correctly Wednesday morning during Vacation Bible School at St. Nicholas - St. Mary Parish in Wilkes-Barre. There will be prizes at the end of the week, including copies of a Children’s Bible, she said.

Children at Vacation Bible School watch a video; their next activity will be a science experiment.

Mary Therese Biebel | Times Leader

<p>Children at Vacation Bible School watch a video; their next activity will be a science experiment.</p>

Children at Vacation Bible School watch a video; their next activity will be a science experiment.

Vacation Bible School volunteer Nicholas Gonzalez tossed a light-weight ball into the air on Wednesday morning, and a dozen kids raced after it, swinging pool noodles in an attempt to get the ball through a set of goal posts.

A gentler version of field hockey, this game of “noodle hockey” was quite vigorous. Along with tugs-of-war and three-legged races, it was one of the many activities at the “God’s Wonder Lab” Vacation Bible School taking place July 27-31 at St. Nicholas – St. Mary Parish in Downtown Wilkes-Barre.

“It’s all part of God’s creation,” organizer Sister Elizabeth Kovacs said, explaining Bible stories, arts & crafts, music & dancing, and science experiments were also part of the VBS sessions.

Close to 65 youngsters in kindergarten through fifth grade have been participating as campers, while sixth graders through adults have been helping as volunteers.

“Every day is different,” adult volunteer Diane Stilp of Wilkes-Barre said as the hockey players put away their pool noodles and got ready for the next activity. “They learn about Jesus, and God, and they’re having fun.”

“I just like helping the kids and seeing them so happy,” 12-year-old volunteer Hadleigh Decker said as younger children gathered in the parish community room to conclude the day’s activities.

“It makes my day interesting,” 11-year-old volunteer Emmie Hernandez said.

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