Whether you’re trying to cut back on expenses or keep kids close to home, a homespun summer camp is a real treat for the whole family! Not only is a DIY summer camp a great way to entertain the kids during the summer months, but it creates lasting memories you’ll reflect on time and time again.
So, what are you waiting for? Bring summer camp home and to the backyard! From setting up a home projector and watching an outdoor movie to baking a delicious cookie recipe, here are a few summer camp activities that can help you create a DIY summer camp for the kids.
DIY Summer Camp Planning
Summer camp takes planning, regardless. But when you plan to host your own DIY summer camp at home, it’s even more so! Here are a few planning tips and tricks to make sure your DIY summer camp goes smoothly.
Make a Schedule–First things first: You need to create a schedule. Peruse Pinterest or blogs for some excellent and creative ideas that imitate the same activities as a paid summer camp.
Create a Chore Chart–Even summer camps hold kids accountable, but home is no different. Make sure kids don’t forget to accomplish their usual household chores. Make a schedule or chart using a magnetic or dry erase board, striking off tasks as they go along.
Write Up a Summer Bucket List–Create a bucket list that you can use to reward kids for a job well done or to simply change up your weekly routine. Bucket list items can be as simple as a bike ride in a new park or baking a yummy new cookie recipe. It can be learning a new hobby or craft!
Launch DIY Summer Camp in Style!
Stir up some excitement for DIY summer camp and invite your kids to participate in creating the schedule and bucket list. Once school is over, start summer off right with some fun activities!
Plan Last Day of School Celebrations–To kick off the official start of summer, plan some fun celebrations like a backyard sprinkler or slip ‘n’ slide, along with treats like ice cream and takeout pizza.
Hand Out Summer Goodie Bags–Celebrate in style with some goodie bags for each of your kids, filled with sunglasses, sunscreen, beach towels and any other fun accessories to accompany the planned activities.
Plan a Few DIY Summer Camp Activities
Summer camp needs activities to keep your kids entertained. With your schedule on hand, carve out some time slots for a few of these fun games and craft projects. This way, you’ll give your kids something special to look forward to every day!
Outdoor Activities
Water Sports–Create some backyard water sports and activities by hooking up the hose and water sprinkler. There’s a countless variety of water toys you can attach, or you can really treat the family and purchase a small inflatable pool.
Grow a Vegetable Garden–Seeing how veggies are grown teaches kids respect for nature and the value of food. Plus, it makes some nutritious snacks!
Hang a Bird Feeder–Hang a bird feeder and watch various birds come for a nibble of seed. Much like the veggie garden, it instills an appreciation for nature. Instead of a seed feeder, you could attract hummingbirds instead with some sugary nectar.
Rainy Day Activities
Card games–Teach some classics like Crazy Eights or Rummy. Or try modern card games like Uno or Sushi Go! Make sure to choose a game that everyone can enjoy.
Board Games–For something a bit more advanced, try a board game like Scattergories or Blokus. Board games are better-suited for tweens and teens and make a great family-friendly rainy day activity.
Karaoke–Okay, so this activity can technically be done outdoors, too, but your neighbors might appreciate it indoors. Plus, indoor acoustics are better, so sing your heart out!
Virtual Field Trips–Take a virtual field trip by watching live zoo and aquarium webcams. Peruse an art gallery or museum to learn about styles, cultures and ancient history. Many public museums like the Smithsonian and the Metropolitan Museum of Art offer self-guided room-by-room tours all from the comfort of your sofa!
Bake a Recipe–One great way to spend a dreary rainy day is to cheer everyone up with some freshly baked cookies. It doesn’t have to be cookies, either! It could be cupcakes or even something more savory like tacos. Explore more ideas with this easy kid-friendly recipe list from the Food Network.
Get Creative with DIY Summer Camp Crafts
Crafting time with the kids is important because there never seems to be enough downtime to just create during the busy school year. Summer camp crafts help to open the creative side of kids’ brains.
Build and Paint Birdhouses–Constructing a birdhouse teaches kids patience and building skills, while painting them allows kids to put their own creative spin on it. Pick up some wood paints of bright colors or keep it neutral and glue twigs for birds to have some camouflage.
Make Your Own Camp T-Shirts–As summer comes to a close, make sure your kids have some camp swag to show off their summer adventures. Buy everyone’s sizes and dip them in tie-dye for a colorful background. Next, iron on a custom-designed camp logo with transfer paper. It’s super easy and creates a nice memento to hold onto.
Keep a Sketchbook Diary–Keep a sketchbook diary and draw something to remind you of each day’s events. Have your kids choose something that brought inspiration or something that brought a smile.
There are countless activities and crafts that any child will love. But parents know their kids best. Choose something that challenges them and sparks creativity. The best part is that it makes a nice keepsake you can keep forever, along with the summer memories.
Images:
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