Frequently Asked Questions

Each year, the Summer Study runs for 10 weeks between June and August.

The Summer Study can take as little as 20 minutes a day, five days a week. The Discovery Journal is an 8-unit Bible study, but you have a total of 10 weeks to complete it (in case you need to take some time off for vacation).

We offer our Summer Study program and the National Bible Bee Competition in five Bible translations: ESV, KJV, NASB, NIV and NKJV. The Discovery Journal can be used with any of these Bible translations. Your Summer Study registration includes memory passage cards that are in your preferred Bible translation.

Registration opens during the middle of March and lasts until May 31.

Students 5-18 years old who live in the USA can participate in the Summer Study program, although the competition is reserved for students ages 7-18. Non-US citizens are welcome to participate in the Summer Study but are not able to compete for prize money.

The Shelby Kennedy Foundation , which hosts the National Bible Bee, is a non-profit organization with a vision “to know God’s Word and make Him known.” We have intentionally kept registration fees as low as possible to allow as many families as possible to participate all the while being able to cover our ministry costs. Summer Study registration starts at $35/child.

Every child between the ages of 5 and 18 who will actively participate in the Summer Study will need to be registered. We customize the depth and difficulty of the National Bible Bee materials and competition depending upon your child’s age on November 13. Each child will receive one of four editions of the Discovery Journal: Beginner (5-6), Primary (7-10), Junior (11-14) and Senior (15-18).

Children in the Beginner age division (5-6) can participate in the Summer Study, but they are not eligible to compete in the National Bible Bee competition.

Yes. The Discovery Journal covers the same material in each division, but it is adjusted slightly to make it more age-appropriate. With regard to the memory passages specifically, they will overlap, with older children having a few more verses than younger children (i.e. A 14 year old might have Genesis 1:1-3 while a 17 year old might have Genesis 1:1-5).

At the heart of the National Bible Bee’s Summer Study program is the Discovery Journal, an inductive study that launches children on a journey through the Scriptures. The study teaches children to explore the Bible using 11 different study tools and methods such as: keywords, cross-references, background study, personal application, and original language word studies.

You can purchase past and present editions of the Discovery Journal for use in Sunday school, Bible studies, daily devotions or family worship at the National Bible Bee Online Store based on availability. Please note that if you purchase copies of the Discovery Journal through our store, you do not receive any other benefits from the Summer Study and are not able to compete.

Of course! The Summer Study is more than just Scripture memorization. In your Discovery Journal, you’ll enjoy fun activities, interesting facts and fascinating context that will help Scripture come to life. And the best part about the Summer Study is you don’t have to do it alone. By joining a host group, you will be able to meet other Christian families who can help encourage and support you along the way. You can do this!

We are not affiliated with a specific church. You can read our statement of faith and core values here.

The National Bible Bee Competition is held each fall in an exciting venue in a different part of the country. Past locations include: Black Mountain, NC; Williamstown, KY; and San Antonio, TX.

First register for the Summer Study! At the end of the summer, you will have the opportunity to take the NBBC Qualifying Test in August from your home computer or at a location of your choice (with a parent or adult to proctor you) and place in the top 120 contestants for your division.