Homemade Summer Camp

Is your house the "Kool Aid House" this summer?  Many cannot afford to pay for summer camps or programs or maybe they are inaccessible to you. I thought I would put my years of experience working with youth to good use for those of you who may have a house or yard full of children this summer. I have put together some tried and true activities to keep children busy both mentally and physically. If you have neighborhood youth joining you, be sure to ask their parents for any assistance you may need in keeping them busy.

Last summer I did a program I called “Around the World.” Each day had a theme with a craft and a country/region specific snack. These are some of the projects the youth loved most: A few simple Crafts projects African Drum http://www.kinderart.com/multic/cofdrum.shtml A fairly simple explanation of the significance of the drum in Africa http://www.ehow.com/about_5390317_african-drums-used.html African Mask http://www.kinderart.com/multic/cpapermask.shtml A fairly simple explanation of the significance of the mask in Africa http://www.ehow.com/about_5375865_history-meaning-african-masks.html Chinese Dragon http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/chinesenewyear/lion/ Significance of the dragon in Chinese Culture http://www.ehow.com/facts_5683220_meaning-dragons-chinese-culture_.html Chinese Lantern http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/chinesenewyear/lantern/ Mandala Coloring Pages- Kids LOVE coloring these…and it calms them down! http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=mandala+coloring+pages&qpvt=mandala+coloring+pages&FORM=IGRE Mandala explanation http://www.craftsinindia.com/indian-art-culture/buddha-mandalas.html Native American Rain Stick http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/music/rainstick/ The History of Rain sticks http://www.ehow.com/about_5367730_history-rain-stick.html Pinata http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/mexico/bagpinata/ The History of Pinatas http://www.ehow.com/about_5465011_history-pinatas.html Cool Easy Science Experiments Oil and Water http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/oilandwater.html Blowing up a Balloon with CO2 http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/inflatingballoons.html Tornado in a Bottle http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/makeatornado.html Plant Seeds and Watch them Grow http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/seedgermination.html Lava Lamp http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/easylavalamp.html Fun Games-Don’t forget prizes! Prizes can be popsicles, ice cream cones, or 99cent store toys. Freeze Dance Works best with groups of 4 or more: Tools Needed: Boom box, fun upbeat music, space to dance How to play: Choose someone to operate boom box, play music and have the children dance (they should dance as fast as the rhythm of the music) The operator chooses a moment to pause music and the dancers must freeze in the last position they danced in. Whoever is still moving is out. Have players who get out help find other moving players Grab the Flag: Tools Needed: A handkerchief/piece of material for each child, space to run How to play: Have each child tuck the cloth in his/her back pocket or waste band. Players must try to grab the cloth from other player’s pockets/wastes without getting their own grabbed. Once a player’s cloth is grabbed, they can try to grab other player’s cloths, if they get it, they get all the cloth the player is holding. Last player left standing wins. Water Games http://www.best-kids-games-online.com/outdoor-water-games.html Cooking Easy Nutritional Snacks Kids can make http://www.modernmom.com/article/10-easy-snacks-that-kids-can-make Parfaits http://www.ehow.com/info_8217606_yogurt-parfaits-kids.html Ice Cream in a Bag! http://crafts.kaboose.com/ice-cream-in-a-bag.html Field Trips -Places like museums and aquariums often have free or discounted days for children…check your local listings. -Amusement parks are always fun…make sure you have adult help….bringing your own lunch saves on costs. -The beach is always fun and inexpensive on a summer day…make sure you have adult help…make sure you know which kids are not strong swimmers and stick with them in the water -Parks are fun, free, and accessable…make use of your neighborhood park. Have fun and be safe! Love and Light.