HOOKSETT — After last year’s vacation Bible school program at Emmanuel Baptist Church attracted almost 70 participants, Rick Hundley, the camp’s director, has issued a challenge to boost attendance this year.

“I told the kids if we make 100, I would shave my head bald,” Hundley said. “They want me to shave my mustache too.”

“I don’t know if I want to part with my mustache,” he added with a laugh.

Scheduled to take place Aug. 6-10, the annual free day camp for children in first through sixth grades follows a pirate theme this year, inspired by films like the popular “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise.

“The whole week’s theme is to choose your course, whether you’re choosing good or evil in a sense, or more directly to choose God in your way to salvation,” Hundley said. “We’re trying to direct the children into choosing God and choosing righteousness.”

Hundley said each of the five days will bring a new chapter in the dramatized struggle between good and evil that will be acted out by church members, including one in the role of a malevolent pirate.

“His brother, who has retired from piracy, will be the one who is hired to bring his outlaw brother in,” Hundley said.

On Monday, Aug. 6, the campers will be introduced to the battle between the two sides. Tuesday will involve selecting a side. Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, will be about why to choose good and why not to choose evil. On Friday, to conclude the camp, participants will be asked which path they would choose.

All the programming and lessons for the Bible school are developed by the church in conjunction with its drama ministry, The Compellers.

“We don’t buy the packaged kits,” Hundley said. “We’ve been dreaming up our own.”

Other activities planned include a trip to Cowabunga’s indoor playground on Wednesday afternoon, an inflatable waterslide on Friday and video-chat sessions with Emmanuel Baptist Church missionaries. Arts and crafts, music and games will take place throughout the week.

This year’s Pirate Week is a follow-up to last year’s Superhero University theme, which pitted superheroes against super villains and gave campers the opportunity to make costumes for their own superhero identity.

“Although Superhero University went off without a hitch, and it was excellent, our problem was, how do we outdo it?” Hundley said. “We were banging our heads together to try and find out what kids love.”

The camp will run from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Morning and afternoon snacks will be provided, but campers should bring a bagged lunch. Although advance registration is open now, new participants will be accepted throughout the week. Registration forms are available on the church’s website at emmanuelbaptistchurch.com.

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Katie Lannan may be reached at klannan@newstote.com.