Activity Period Ideas?

[triplethreat]

I am the director of a day camp program sponsored by a soccer club. We run a program for kids aged 5-12. The older campers have soccer activities for about half the day and the younger ones for only about an hour and a half. We do general camp activities for the rest of the day.

Last year went well but I felt we did not have enough variety in our non-soccer activities. Unfortunately, our camp space is pretty dull - we have a soccer field, another field with a small hill, a large gravel parking lot, and a horseshoe court. The building consists mostly of one large (air conditioned) hall with a small carpeted stage at one end.

I would like some ideas for interesting activities that can be held in different areas of camp that don't require a ton of setup. (We aren't the only ones who use the space, unfortunately, so things need to be packed up at the end of each day). I would like to buy some new equipment, but am not sure of what to buy since storage is also an issue. We have some basic sports equipment, a kiddie pool, slip n' slide, crafts, and that's about it. We did do a theme day on the Friday of each week (like a mini colour war) and that went over BIG, but the other days seemed to not have quite enough variety - we repeated things quite a bit.

Any great ideas? My previous camp experience was at camps where the facilities were amazing and really allowed for activities that require a lot of equipment, which we obviously don't have, so I'm at a bit of a loss. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Kris

[laurathistle]

How about an activity that you build on each day? It means that although you are repeating things it's not always the same. I'm thinking along the lines of larger craft projects that take a few days to finish or some sort of drama activity that ends in a mini production on the last day (or Thursday since you have theme day on a Friday).

[Smudge]

If you have, or your budget can run to buying a rubber chicken, then I can totally recommend playing chuck the chicken - it is soo much fun!

[triplethreat]

Thanks girls for your quick replies. I do intend to buy a rubber chicken or two - they're so versatile and silly!

I like the idea of having a cumulative project, so I'll have to do some brainstorming. Unfortunately, being a soccer camp we attract "jock" type kids and when I tried to do some drama activities last year they were NOT popular. Certain crafts, such as fimo, they do enjoy.

[laurathistle]

What about a paper mache (sp) craft project? It takes a couple of days to complete and I am sure the 'jock' types would enjoy getting their hands dirty! At my camp they make masks. They use a balloon roughly the size of a persons head and cover it. When it has dried they pop the balloon and cut it almost in half length ways. Holes are cut for eyes and and nose and something attached to the side to allow it to be worn as a mask. The kids get to paint them and decorate using what ever materials are to hand- glitter, beads, fabric scraps, feathers, ribbon and other trimmings. I think our kids even had a mini parade to show them off.

[Smudge]

I think that is great idea - I know when we did that at school most people enjoyed doing it - it traumaisted me cos I dont like getting my hands sticky - but the only people who didn't like it were the ones who didn't want to be at school.

[audur]

How old are the kids? For younger kids especially, any and all science experiments tend to be popular. They work with any age, of course, but it can be hard to find good FUN science activities for the older kids (they shouldn't feel like school!). For younger than 10, anything that explodes or is messy is good... the youngest kids especially like it when you take a serious approach to it - I've done perfectly harmless experiments with a group of kids, but because we put on safety goggles and gloves, and agreed on some very important rules to follow during experiments, they thought they were getting to do something extra special (and it was, it ended with something going boom!).

[triplethreat]

Yes, if anyone has any good science ideas I'd love to hear them. We made slime last year (I think it was the only science thing we did) but the kids loved it - even the 12 year olds. We also made juggling balls (from balloons and rice) as a craft and that one was good as well because they could play with them when they were done.

The paper mache idea is a great one! I was thinking of doing a "Mardi Gras" theme this year so masks would be very appropriate.

[Smudge]

We make Gack (sp?) which is just cornflour and water - becomes solid if you squeeze it but as soon as you stop it becomes liquid again.

If they will do fimo then they could use fimo to decorate ball point pens (but take the ink out before they are baked!)

[laurathistle]

I saw someone make 'potions' at at Harry Potter themed Guide camp but I am not sure how it was done. I am sure it was something basic like vinegar with food colouring and glitter in it with baking powder added. Not sure if that helps at all! What about the mentos in cola experiment?

[audur]

Film canister rockets are pretty easy and fun to make. And a plus - it's both crafts and science! The kids can make their own rockets (either ones to shoot straight up, or on wheels) and then you can do a short science lesson. I've used baking soda and vinegar for rockets, which works well. Try googling film canister rockets, or baking soda rockets, to get different ideas. When I do rockets with my kids at the after-school program (mentally disabled pre-teens, so it'd probably be good for fairly young kids), we first try mixing different things together to see what happens (sugar, flour, baking soda, water, vinegar, soda... whatever you can think of), then I have the kids decide what to use for rockets. So far, they've always picked the right combo! ;)

Non-newtonian fluids are great fun, Smudge! Super messy and kids enjoy playing with it. Instead of just making one giant tub, I like to have each kid make their own. It's messier, but more fun for them.

There's a bazillion balloon experiments out there, but I can't think of any good ones right now since we always seem to be running low on balloons so can never do them!

Ice-cream making is also a good science lesson.
Salt volcanoes (http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/volcano.html) went over pretty well the one time I tried them (that site also has some other very cool science-related activities).

We also did a magician theme once, where the kids made their own hats and wands (not the Harry Potter/wizard kind - the trick magicians kind). We then practiced all sorts of magic tricks. It was a big hit.

[Smudge]

Non-newtonian fluids are great fun, Smudge! Super messy and kids enjoy playing with it. Instead of just making one giant tub, I like to have each kid make their own. It's messier, but more fun for them.



Sure the kids love them but they traumatize me in the process - I have an aversion, phobia probably, of lotions, potions and anything that makes my hand dirty, sticky or messy in anyway! Send me into a panic attack! So I always carry either a bottle of water or hand sanitizer around with me.

[annknee]

How about some kind of pioneering type thing - like making a hammock using ropes, or a rope ladder. Weve also made camp showers before - just a giant tripod with a colinder at the top and someone pours cold water in it when someone else is standing underneath.

A parachute is always a good investment for the younger campers.

[Smudge]

Even older campers - girls anyway - love a good parachute game.

[Angel_Jenny]

We make Gack (sp?) which is just cornflour and water - becomes solid if you squeeze it but as soon as you stop it becomes liquid again.

If they will do fimo then they could use fimo to decorate ball point pens (but take the ink out before they are baked!)


I didn't know it had a name but yes cornflour is great fun! i love playing with it with my group of 3 - 6 year olds and have started using it as alternative to play dough as even though its messy it's easy to clean in the way it turned back to powder and can be dusted of clothes etc and easy to wash out of bowl!! Make sure u don't put too much water in to begin with as it looks like milk then and the whole effect goes wrong...i learnt the hard way ;)!
fun fun fun though :D x

[Smudge]

I introduced my friend to it when I got back from camp. Actually yesterday was teaching her camp songs while walking up the street.

[triplethreat]

Thanks again everyone - you've been a big help.

I've also been making a list of those "random" periods you sneak into the schedule once in a while - stuff like blowing bubbles, car wash (yup, the kids & I washed the staff vehicles last year - they loved it!)

Can anyone think of any that older kids (10-12) would enjoy?

[Smudge]

Out kids did car washing last year too!

I used to give staff bubbles if they had a hard day! You can never be mad and blow bubbles at the same time!

[happy_camper]

Maybe your camp should have a science theme this year, since you now have so many science ideas!