I tend to consider activities more about being an ‘invitation to construct’ rather than something they have to do. If the children have their own ideas about how they want to play all the power to them.
These activities are offered as opportunities to challenge themselves or to inspire new ideas about how to play outside.
Boat Construction Challenge
supplies: wine corks, rubber bands, tooth picks, card board, reference images
Pond Dipping
supplies: nets, id sheets, ice cube trays
Clay Making
There is clay in the creek. This is a multi-day project.
Day 1 – find clay and leave out in the sun to dry
Day 2 – smash the clay in mortar & pestles until it is powder
Day 3 – mix the clay powder with a small amount of water and form back into pliable mud. Now you can make whatever you like.
Bridge Building Challenge
This is best done at North Bank
You may need to bring/find materials (logs & boards) for them
Nature’s My Friend
Supplies: fabric strips, art sticks, white paint pen, sharpie
Make a friend/animal out of a rock or stick or other natural object.
Use a paint pen and a sharpie to add eyes. And encourage the children to decorate them.
Extension: they can make homes for them
Mini Dens
Have children build forts and dens for stuffed animals or their nature friends.
You can tell them you are going to test their dens by pouring water on them (making it rain) and they want their house to stay dry.
Forts
Assuming you have built mini-dens with the children; take their skills up a notch and have them use what they learned to make a house they can fit in.
Could be done in groups or solo.
Toy Zip Line
Supplies: ropes, buckets, carabeener, pullies (optional), bucket
Cardboard Box Car Races
Supplies: a child sized box for everyone, duct tape, masking tape, felts, pipe cleaners, box cuter
Plan ahead by asking staff members (and even your families) to save big cardboard boxes and bring them to camp.
Children will design their own cars out of cardboard boxes.
Cut holes in the bottom for their legs to make these cars kid-powered! Then, they simply wear their cardboard box cars for a series of races. Design racetracks for their “cars” using orange cones or spray paint designed for grass.
Children’s Theatre
I could not believe how excited the children were to do this.
Separate kids into small groups of 3-4 and let them create a stage play (or get some play scripts to follow) showcasing a story such as, “Three Little Pigs”, ‘Three Billy Goats Gruff” or “Little Red Riding Hood.”
Following a known story is helpful.
They’ll need plenty of time to practice before the big show. Simple costumes and props can be used or their performances can tell the story.
You can even involve campers in setting up props and costumes for the play.
You could tell fairy tales together before hand so they are familiar with the stories.