Day Camp Ideas
May 2, 2009 by Katelyn
Filed under Parenting Mama
You’re thrifty, creative and you love kids, so you’ve decided to start your own day camp this summer for your kids and a few other children in the family. Or maybe you’ve decided to set up an official summer camp for kids in the neighborhood. Now, summer is just a few weeks away and you need some great day camp ideas.
Art Camp Ideas
An art camp can be a lot of fun for kids and counselors. The camp can be based on one type of art or can be set up so that kids can sample a new type of art each week. For example, one week the kids could learn to make pottery and the next week they could learn to make mixed media pieces. For the camp based on a single art theme, you could have them work on a different type of clay project each week. (Jewelry from paper clay, Raku pottery, Fimo sculpture, etc.) For an all girls art camp, a summer bling fling should be a big hit. They’ll love making a different type of jewelry each week.
Sports Camps
For a group of active boys and girls, sports camps can really be fun. The key to a successful camp is offering team and individual activities. For example, you could set up a camp that offers golf, archery, bowling, tennis, volleyball, football, soccer and baseball. A field trip to a local related attraction, such as a baseball museum, or a special day with a VIP, like a minor league baseball player, can really add to the fun.
DIY Kids Camps
For older kids who like to help out with home decorating projects, a DIY kids camp would be a blast. You could provide projects like assembling a pre-cut bird feeder or wooden organizer box with wood glue, painting a piece of art for the walls and making a no sew throw pillow from fleece.
I do a lot of the things you mentioned above, been doing them for years not just during recession time, however I think the list you mentioned is a great resource for those looking for ways to help others in need.
I donate new momma cloth and cloth baby diapers to help low income families, as many cannot afford to buy those much needed items and they help the enviroment to boot.
I encourage people to get to know their neigbors many are struggling and would be grateful for the help, no matter how small it might seem it will be something big to them.
Linda, Clothes and baby diapers are a great idea. I know our local food banks are really low on baby supplies right now, too.
Great list of things to help.
Linda is right…get to know your neighbors and help those who are struggling.
To add:
My neighbor has a preschool…I donate supplies and coloring sheets.
We have help three teenagers find jobs in the neighborhood. So they can afford to support themselves.
Every year we plow gardens as part of our business. This year we did them for free.
A friend of mine is baby sitting one day a week for a working mom…that is one day she does not have to pay for a baby sitter.
Thanks for the list.
Sheila
Sheila
Sheila,
Those are all great ideas. I love the idea of baby sitting. I wonder if a group of moms who work part time can get together to start a neighborhood day camp and cover shifts so none of them need to pay for day care or summer camps during the summer?