Things To Do At Day Camp
Programming ideas for any age
By Silvana Clark
In the early 1980s, I had my first real job at a parks and recreation department. It had a strong sports program but lacked the typical day camps, craft programs, or dance classes that most other departments had. My official title was “Non-Sports Coordinator.” Pretty descriptive, isn’t it? Since summer was approaching, I set up an eight-week, fun, drop-in playground program. After finding a book titled Summer Fun Activities, I implemented one of the ideas. The instructions were to buy a 10-pound bag of asbestos powder and mix it with water to create the perfect slimy and goopy substance to make papier-mâché craft projects. For eight weeks, hundreds of elementary-aged kids helped me stir the asbestos in large buckets and create masks, flower pots, and misshapen dinosaurs. (Remember, people didn’t know about the danger of asbestos. The Ban Asbestos in America Act was introduced in 2002 but did not make it through Congress.)
Illustration: © Can Stock Photo / lenm
Thankfully, my programming skills have improved! While some parks and recreation departments go all out with elaborate camp themes, there’s room in any lineup for a few back-to-basics activities as well!
When my daughter was eight, she attended a day camp where there was an afternoon fort-building activity. The camp sat on hundreds of heavily wooded acres, with an abundance of fallen logs and branches. She came home regaling me with stories of the amazing aspects of her cabin’s fort. She had my husband help her make a wooden sign reading “Sparkling Unicorns” (the cabin’s name) to be placed at the fort’s entrance. She also took our welcome mat because every fort needs a welcome mat at the front door. On Friday, we were finally allowed to see the completed fort. We passed by several of the fifth graders’ forts built with sturdy logs strategically placed for a solid enclosure. As for the Sparkling Unicorn fort, 10 third graders spent a week creating a fort that was massive in their minds. All we saw was an area about 3 feet by 4 feet with some branches on the ground to define the space. Oh, it had curtains and a sign and a welcome mat and a cozy carpet, but it certainly wasn’t a fort in the traditional sense. What’s important is those girls spent a fun-filled week strategizing and creating their one-of-a-kind fort. My daughter is 32 now and still mentions that fort. I don’t have the heart to tell her the truth! The camp counselors told me this was the most popular camp activity. At the end of each week, counselors took down the forts and spread the logs throughout the property to be used the following week.
Endless Possibilities
Here are a few more easy-to-implement ideas from individuals across the country: “Although our camp funded plenty of games and activity equipment, our favorite game was always Bed Sheet Ping-Pong. Whether it was an organized game or in our downtime, time would fly as we played this incredibly simple game. All we needed was a bed sheet and a Ping-Pong ball for plenty of laughs and exercise! Luckily, the simplicity of this game meant it was inclusive, and everybody could take part, whether they were sitting or standing. We would form two teams and line up on either side of the sheet and place the ball in the center; the game’s object was to roll the ball off the other team’s side of the sheet to score a point. Occasionally, the ball would be launched into the sky, never to be seen again when rounds got heated, but that was part of the fun! Depending on how much time we had, the first team to three or even 10 points was crowned the winners.”
—Alex Mastin, CEO and founder of Home Goods
“As a former game-store employee, I've run role-playing ’game days’ for pre-teens and teens at my store, as well as at libraries, gaming conventions, etc. A similar game day could be run at a camp, park, or outdoor location ... as long as it isn’t too windy. A game day entails organizing everyone into tables (which could be picnic tables) of four to seven people. Each table requires a game master (who can be a participant or one of the organizers); that person runs a (typically) four-hour game for the rest of the table. All that’s required are a few pieces of paper, pencils, and some dice, although a ’battle map’ (a map or piece of paper with a grid) and some plastic or metal miniatures are frequently used also. I’ve traditionally run Dungeons and Dragons at my games, but there are lots of other role-playing games that are equally popular (e.g., Pathfinder, Call of Cthulhu). Also, if the game day is for younger children, there are games like Amazing Tales, or Do: Pilgrims of the Floating Temple.”
—Jeremy Walker, www.goblincrafted.com
“In Tallahassee, Fla., there is a huge club called Premier Health and Fitness Center. It offered a six-week program for kids on weekends called My First Workout. This program taught kids ages five to 10 how to strengthen their bodies and use weights properly. The kids loved it because they were learning a real skill and doing moves they saw their parents doing. The kids used real dumbbells, sand balls, exercise mats, and jump-ropes. The weights were age-appropriate for each child, and the focus was on having fun rather than peer competition or super fitness.”
—Michelle Miller, www.mmfitness.com
“I have used crochet and knitting for after-school activities here in my hometown in middle Tennessee. The ages range from elementary (we did a knitting club at a local school) through high school, where they learned knitting, crocheting, and loom knitting. These yarn crafts are great for kids, and as a bonus we raised money by selling the items they made!”
—Amanda, amanda@lovelifeyarn.com
Photo: © Can Stock Photo / jordache
“Here’s a simple get-to-know-you game where players stand in a circle by their chairs. The game master asks questions answerable by ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ like ’Are you the youngest?’ Those who answer ’yes’ are eliminated and sit down. Those who answer ’no’ remain standing until only one is left to be announced as the winner. It is a nice game on Day 1 when most participants are especially shy. It is also a good conversation starter after the game.”
--Lynda Le, www.polishperfect.com
“If you can get your hands on used or cheap plates, bowls, cups, or other kitchenware, you have almost everything you need to have a ton of constructive (and destructive) fun! This activity is great for individual kids and groups, so no matter how many participants, everyone can take part.
What you'll need:
Safety goggles
Old kitchenware
Glue
Hammers
Wood (preferably large planks or square blocks).
Start by giving each kid a few plates (or whatever else you have on hand). The next part is easy. They'll start by breaking the items into small pieces. Let the kids go crazy, for any size pieces will work! Next, get the kids to collect the pieces and begin ‘mosaic-ing’ the wood that you've provided. The glue can be applied to each piece as it is put on the wood. The best part about this activity is there is something for every kid to do—whether breaking things or building things!”
—Kristine Daub, www.bycurated.com
Want some more easy activities?
Find a suitable place to dump a load of playground sand. Set out shovels and empty plastic containers and let kids get dirty and sandy.
Close a park to automobile traffic and allow Big Wheels and trikes for kids six and under. Parents love having a place for young kids to ride without worrying about cars or fast bikes.
With the popularity of the TV show The Masked Singer, plan a program where well-known staff members dress up and sing while the audience guesses their identity. Don’t worry if your costumes aren’t as elaborate as those on the TV show.
The day before cleaning the community swimming pool, consider a giant apple-bobbing event.
There you have it. A variety of programming ideas for day camp—and none involve asbestos!
Silvana Clark is a speaker, author, and brand ambassador, having traveled the world several times over, sharing programming ideas and tips for success. For more information, visit www.silvanaclark.com.