By EMILY REED

Special to the Reporter

HOOVER – For kids of all ages looking to enjoy summer activities with friends, the Church at Brook Hills is once again hosting Rock the Block in various neighborhoods throughout the Birmingham and surrounding areas.

“Rock the Block is similar to the concept of a Vacation Bible School, but instead of being centrally located, we have a reverse approach of being de-centralized, and without all of the glitz,” Church at Brook Hills Children’s Minister John Tice said. “Rock the Block is much more relational, and takes part in neighborhoods throughout the Birmingham area with our church members already meeting in small groups.”

Tice said Rock the Block provides children with lots of exposure to the Gospel in addition to summer games, and a cold snack for 4-5 days during a week out of the summer.

“It is a good way for kids in a particular neighborhood to come together and have a lot of fun,” Tice said. “A lot of times what happens is when the kids get together for Rock the Block with a particular small group, the parents will come as well and then they get to meet other neighbors and friends. Oftentimes at the end of a Rock the Block session, a cookout will be held to culminate that week’s activities.”

Tice said most Rock the Block sessions last for about one hour and can be held at various parts of the day depending on that particular small group.

The summer program began May 30 and lasts until July 31, with Rock the Block sessions being held various weeks throughout the summer.

Tice said families wanting to locate a Rock the Block session can find host participants through a map on the church’s website, BrookHills.org.

“If you are wondering if one is being held in your neighborhood, you can just use the map we have on our website and find where they are taking place,” Tice said.

The Rock the Block curriculum, which is created and designed by individuals at Church at Brook Hills, is also available for free for other churches throughout the area interested in hosting Rock the Block sessions.

“The neat thing about the curriculum is it is totally free,” Tice said. “We make it available for other churches that might want to use it, and all they have to do is let us know and we can provide a link for them to download all of the material.”

Tice said currently the Church at Brook Hills has 60 churches throughout the United States using the program.

For those interested in learning more about the curriculum or using it in their church, e-mail rocktheblock@brookhills.org or kids@brookhills.org.

For more information about a Rock the Block session, visit BrookHills.org.