From the laboratory to the beach to the wilderness, churches are finding new and exciting ways to convey their message at vacation Bible school.

One of this summer's most popular prepackaged themes, "Power Lab: Discovering Jesus' Miraculous Power," will plunge children into a science lab, with churches using beakers, test tubes, flasks and other laboratory equipment to implement the program.

Although many local churches are using that theme, VBS directors have used their imaginations to find creative ways to simulate a lab.

At First United Methodist Church, 6-foot tall beakers, whirly-gigs and laser beams recently greeted VBS goers at the sanctuary on North Street.

Children's director Tai Brown, VBS coordinator Jill Bachnan and several volunteers created the giant-sized lab, complete with a "decontamination room" with a plastic-covered doorway for the session that ended June 20. A static ball, holographic images and balloons forming DNA completed the decor.

Mars United Presbyterian Church and St. John's Lutheran Church, which co-host a VBS program, also are using "Power Lab." Their program this week features a setting with beakers, test tubes, flasks and hula hoops posing as atoms.

"The sanctuary will be as if you'd walked into a science lab," said Brenda Provenzano, who is co-directing the program with Alma Staskiewicz.

Not everyone is headed toward the laboratory this summer, however.

Bible school at Bakerstown United Methodist Church in Gibsonia will feature cotton candy, a popcorn machine, a dunking booth and moon bounce.

Co-director Nancy Shipley said those things — and many other items — will help convey the "Son World Adventure Park" theme for its program beginning July 21.

Children arriving this week at Nixon United Methodist Church, however, may think they've stepped into a wilderness campsite complete with 8-foot cardboard trees, a tent, campfire and a host of wild animals, said Crystal Porch, the program's director.

As part of "Friendship Trek: Jesus our Forever Friend," participants will begin in a modern-day city — the church sanctuary transformed — then trek to the wilderness for their lesson, craft and snack.

Porch and others spent five hours last Saturday transforming the Penn Township church into a wilderness oasis for the program.

White Oak Springs Presbyterian Church put a touch of summer into their session. The Connoquenessing Township church took kids "Surfin' Through the Scriptures" last week with lessons that taught children to be obedient, kind, forgiving and bold, while staying true to their beliefs.

Pastor Lee Dryer thought the beach theme would be attractive to kids with a sanctuary decorated to resemble the shore.

Although most churches choose the prepackaged themes and materials, Slippery Rock Baptist Church devised its own theme for its session, which begins Aug. 4.

"In the Beginning" will take youngsters into the Book of Genesis and the story of Creation, said Tammy Munger, director.

Church volunteers will turn the rooms of the church into a science lab, an underwater oasis, an archeology dig and an overgrown garden, with the sanctuary disguised as the Garden of Eden.

Children will dig for dinosaur bones, make a fossil print and imagine what it would be like to live underwater and to be a tiny insect in a very big garden.

"I really want them to feel as though they are in that environment," Munger said. In that setting, children will explore the difference between evolution and creation, equality and the truth in the Bible, she added.

Still other Bible schools are held in less traditional locales.

New Life Christian Ministries in Saxonburg holds its VBS in tents set up on church property on Knoch Road — a setting pastor of administration Pat Facich calls an "extra challenge."

"God's blessed us with really good weather," she said, of the three years the church has used the tents.

Also using the "Power Lab" program, volunteers will turn the ordinary tents into chemistry labs for a session beginning July 14. Teachers will wear lab coats, and lab scenes will be painted on the walls.

"We really take the lab theme to the Nth degree as much as we can," Facich said.

To ensure their lengthy preparation is warranted, VBS workers at New Life forward extra materials and decorations to the Ohio church where Facich's sister attends, which will then share with other churches.

Also geared toward recycling, Provenzano and Staskiewicz have marked their extra supplies for Valencia Presbyterian Church.

"We really, really care about making sure other churches benefit from what we do," Provenzano said.

Bakerstown United Methodist Church in Gibsonia borrowed from another church last year and then passed it on.

"It was so much easier that way," Shipley said.

Sandy Floyd, children's ministry director at Bakerstown United Presbyterian, said the church usually gives away materials and plans to continue the practice this year.

Floyd said options for recycling include buying or selling used or extra items through a link at www.groupvbs.com. That site is for Group Publishing, which markets Power Lab and other programs.