Host Your Own Summer Camp

As the Summer progresses, those of us at home with our kids begin to wonder how to entertain them. With the price of gas and food going higher our options are limited. So my advice is to hold your own Summer camp at home.

Before the official start of camp. Develop a theme. It can be space- like the planets or stars, nature, different countries, a certain animal, the ocean, whatever your kids are interested in. Next enlist the kids in creating a name for the camp. Only your creativity is the limit. Also help the kids name their (bedrooms) cabins.

Make a list of meals for the week. This will help keep things moving smoothly. You can even the list in the “Mess Hall” Let the kids help pick out snacks for during the day. Maybe base a few on your theme. Let the kids help prepare some/all of the snacks. They will be more likely to eat them.

Decide on some fun activities. As an art project for the first day of camp, you can let them make signs for their cabins and mom can make the camp sign. Get out the markers, glu, glitter, whatever art supplies you have on hand. Try to base the other activities on the theme for the week. Ideas include: blowing bubbles till the bubbles are empty(you can pick up cheap bottles at the dollar store), hiking at the park, story time-at home or at the library, board games with mom/dad, dancing around the house, arts and crafts, scavenger hunt, treasure hunt in the yard, camping in the house or in the backyard,. These are just a few ideas, check out books at the local library for more ideas and for more information about your theme.

Create a basic schedule just like ‘real’ camp. A certain wake up time, meal times, art/activity, clean up, recreation, field trip day, library day, etc. It doesn’t have to be a rigid schedule as sometimes the campers will want to revolt. But try to keep as close a schedule as possible, it’s only one week. Who knows, if your kids are like mine they actually thrive on a schedule. Plus, since mommy is the Camp Director, they spend more time playing with mommy because the schedule allows for play time and clean up time. So mommy isn’t always busy doing other things.

To help keep order among the campers try giving rewards for team work, the cleanest cabin, having a good attitude, being on time, being a good helper to younger campers. Reward them with stickers or ribbons or any thing else you can think of. I reward mine with stickers that when added up at the end of the week results in a larger reward. Give them cabin chores like: making the bed, putting up clean clothes, put away toys, put dirty clothes in the hamper, etc.

Make it fun! Summer only lasts so long and wouldn’t you like for your kids to go back to school with great memories of spending time with mom/dad and learning about team work and really cool stuff like ocean life or spaceships? It’s a lot better than memories of sitting around watching tv or playing video games or fighting with their siblings.

Leave us a comment or discuss your camp ideas on our message board.