Keeping the kids inspired and enriched at the summer camp is the most significant part of all the summer camps. The more is creative stimulation the better successful is the summer camp. Creativity comes from imagination and cognition. Thus there has to be ample such summer camp activities for kids which foster intellectual and creative competence.
Almost every summer camp thrives for providing such enriching and enlightening experiences to make the little campers not only learn but also enjoy every part of it thoroughly. Creativity and imagination are significant for an individual to learn and grow, thus all of these summer camp activities for kids aim at improving cognitive, motor and emotional skills of a child.
What is the need to have summer camp activities for kids:
Summer camp activities for kids are not just to provide some recreation but they serve larger purposes too. They give immense skill enrichment and help in getting more and more comfortable away from family. Also during a break from their school these activities keep the momentum going for learning and enrichment. In addition to providing physical and mental stimulation.
- Summer camp activities relax and provide comfort to kids: It is very important to get much needed relaxing time. This helping in strengthening the connect and also providing immense option to find comfort in the summer camps away from home.
- These activities are designed to stimulate creativity and imagination of the kids. The more stimulating and enhancing activities for the kids, the better learning opportunities.
- It helps in building focus and concentration. Art, dance, sports and more not only provide entertainment but also develop focus and concentration in kids. They learn to get involved and that too with utmost interests, in the challenges around
- These activities help in overcoming homesickness as they tend to involve a lot of attention thus the kids become too engrossed in these summer camp activities to miss their family and home
- These summer camp activities help kids get accustomed with the camp group and camp counselors. These activities build strong foundation for summer camp to progress.
Top 10 summer camp activities for kids:
Ideas for summer camp activities include some from each areas including art and craft, music, dance, singing camp songs, literary, sport, games, cooking and more. All of these are to improve individual participation and belief in the camp group, overcome homesickness and get ahead with some ice-breaking games.
List of summer camp activities include:
1- Group coloring:
Colors simply enchant the children. And when its a group activity its thoroughly promises some real fun. Provide a large chart paper kind of sheet, allow colors to every participant in the group. And begin with one child at a time. The entire group has to make a wonderful art work with one person sketching just one line and taking chances similarly with colors too. Its almost like picture completion. This helps in building strong team skills in addition to comforting and relaxing the little campers
2- Musical chair:
This can be played with any number of people. It is the most certain laughter riot, for the wonderful smile it brings to children. Just play some catchy music and arrange chairs alternately in same direction. Make the kids to run and dance around these in a round. And when the music stops find the next in line chair and sit. The kids cant turn back to sit and there will always be one or two chairs less than the number of kids playing.
3- Hand print painting:
Give hand colors or non toxic colors to kids and provide some sheets of papers. Give them a theme and they can only use their hands to print it. Just anything from scenery, flowers, sun or modern art. Let the creativity and imagination juices flow. As enchanting and invigorating it sounds, it definitely helps the kids to overcome their anxieties and fears about the camp, also become comfortable with the flow
4- Origami:
Origami is simply the most creative and motor skill enriching of all the art activities. Both sensory and fine motor skills get a boost by using scissors. It needs a lot of patience and precision. And to be able to make something wonderful from pieces of paper, is simply uber creative.
5- Water games:
If there’s an outdoor pool or small indoor pool some amazing water games can be included as summer camp activities for kids. Get a basket ball or tie a net for handball in the pool and let these games stimulate some exciting and adrenaline pumping challenges in addition to relaxing the kids.
6- Kids zumba:
Zumba has most certainly become an extremely popular form of workouts not only for adults but also kids. The move and groove with dance and the musical enchantments is a sure charmer for all kids. Kids zumba makes for a wonderful workout and provides much needed physical activities. Just a certified instructor and here you go with the zumba session.
7- No flame cooking:
Provide all the items for sandwich or cup cake decoration and let the kids enjoy decorating the snacks with their creativity. This is not only relaxing summer camp activity but also a wonderful ice-breaking fun filled part of summer camp too. Add some more challenges by giving pick 5 ingredients from the bucket and make the best meal from it. Sit back and relax while the kids enjoy using the imagination to add flavor and colors to the foods
8- Build up an outdoor science lab:
For some more learning and STEM based learning have the kids set up a science lab to test with beakers, food colors, vinegar and baking soda, lemon and all other young scientist experiments for home. Also have these linked with the theoretical concepts and enrich the kids too.
9- Giant Kerplunk game:
Set up a giant kerplunk game in the backyard and let the kids enjoy the awesome challenges and fun it brings. Use tomato cages and water balloons for more splashing fun. This has immense benefits of helping kids overcome the summer camp fears and get over their homesickness.
10- Water balloon fight:
This can be super fun and soothing for warm summer days. Best played with a big group divided into 2 and then as a challenge play these to hit members of other group. The more the hits for the team, they get to win it.
The above compilation on Top 10 summer camp activities for kids is to help us parents understand how summer camps go about. Its not just one skill or task that they would learn at the summer camps, but a plethora activities filed with fun, excitement, enthusiasm and learning. These would help in shaping our little campers into mature individuals finding comfort, fun and enrichment away from home. This would also make the more and more responsible.
Check campnavigator resources for more updates. We have some of the most exclusive summer camp listings for your area. Share ahead and keep wiring us, we love hearing from you!
By Minu Manisha
