Have a shelter building contest.
Set a timer and see who can build the best fort. This activity is great for kids and adults alike. Provide tarps and rope, then set a timer for 30 minutes and let everyone forage outdoors for other materials to make the perfect survival shelter. Judge each fort on how well it would keep you dry if you actually slept in it overnight. Before starting, talk about the different types of shelters you could build. For example, if you find a fallen tree against a rock, you can cover it with sticks and bark to create a lean-to. You can also tie a rope between 2 trees and drape a tarp over it to build a simple (but effective) emergency tent.
Plan a field day.
Set up a bunch of outdoor challenges for everyone to do. Put together a ton of different stations around the area that allow your campers to get active (and quickly tired-out), like a potato sack race, a cup stacking relay race, frisbee golf, a ring toss, a hula hooping contest, a bottle flipping challenge, or a 3-legged race. Group all the campers by their cabins (or by groups of 5 or 6) and have each group rotate through different field day stations. At the end of it all, host a game for the entire group like capture the flag.
Tie dye T-shirts.
Have everyone dye camp shirts they can cherish forever. Print your own shirts with your camp’s logo or have everyone bring their own shirts. Write everyone’s name on each of their shirts, then throw them in the laundry and soak them in soda ash and water for 5 to 15 minutes. Then, let the campers tie their shirts with rubber bands and start creating! Make a heart-shaped design or experiment with different tying methods to create your own unique pattern.
Catch fireflies at night.
Let campers catch as many fireflies as possible to put into a jar. Catching fireflies on a warm summer night is a classic camp activity. Look for green flashing lights in long grasses and have campers use a net to capture them. Place the fireflies into a clear jar with a lid and a couple of air holes. At the end of the night, release them into the wild for a parade of lights. To make catching the fireflies easier, try placing a piece of blue construction paper over a couple of flashlights and have the campers try to mimic the fireflies’ flashing patterns. Have campers work in pairs to catch the fireflies—one holds the jar while the other uses the net.
Build a campfire.
Let the campers help you arrange the firewood and start the fire. You can talk to the campers about how to arrange the firewood to allow enough airflow, then let them place large pieces of wood in the pattern you decide in the fire ring. Stick tons of dried leaves, small twigs, and other pieces of kindling between the wood, then start the fire with a lighter. While starting a fire, outdoor educator Britt Edelen recommends “putting your sleeves over your hands or [wearing] a pair of gloves or something that will just keep your hands from getting cut or burned.” If your campers are younger, try throwing magic fire powder into the flames when no one is looking.
Tell campfire stories.
Take turns telling spooky, funny, or interesting tales. Try to keep the story appropriate for the age group of the campers, and encourage them to tell their own stories. While you’re talking, you can also ask campers to make different sounds that add ambiance to the story, or give a few campers lines to say ahead of time. For example, if part of the story takes place in a creaky cabin on a windy night, you might ask the campers to make sounds that the house would make. If you’re not sure what stories to tell, try leaning on books from your childhood or stories that you’ve heard as a kid.
Put on a talent show.
Tell your campers to think of a talent to show at the end of camp. The last day (or the night before the last day), set up a stage where the campers can preform. Allow the campers to preform in groups so no one feels left out. Anyone who doesn’t want to participate can be a “judge” for the talent show. Give everyone prizes, like small trophies, at the end of the show to take home with them.
Find and study bugs.
Search for insects under rocks and try to identify them. Although they’re not always pretty, bugs are an integral part of our ecosystem that can teach campers about building respect for nature and the things that live in it. Use Pestworld’s bug identifier to figure out what creepy crawly things live in the area. You can also have the campers draw the insects they find or make a list of different bugs and see how many they can cross off.
Play balloon tennis.
Bat balloons back and forth with paper plate paddles. Have the campers glue painter’s sticks or large popsicle sticks to the back of a paper plate. They can decorate their paddle however they want with markers, paint, and stickers. When everyone’s ready, split the campers into 2 teams and blow up a balloon for them to hit back and forth between them. This game might work best with teams of 5 or 6 so everyone has a chance to hit the balloon.
Throw a carnival and hand out prizes.
Set up a ring toss, a bean bag toss, and a prize station. You could have the campers create and host their own carnival games in each cabin and have each cabin take turns playing them, or build your own carnival games out of cardboard, plastic bottles, and other recycled materials. After everyone’s done, give small toys as prizes for the winners. To make a bean bag toss, glue plastic buckets to a piece of plywood and prop it up. Campers can stand behind a line on the ground to toss the bean bags in. For a ring toss, set up some glass soda bottles and have the campers stand behind a line and try to throw plastic rings over the openings. You can also set up wooden milk bottles and have the campers throw a small ball to try and knock them down.
Go tubing, kayaking, or canoeing.
Spend a little time on your local lake or river. Find a local park that rents canoes, kayaks, or inner tubes, then enjoy the sun while paddling around in the water. Make sure everyone puts on sunscreen, and pack a lunch to enjoy on the bank halfway through the day. Remember to have everyone wear the appropriate safety gear, like lifevests.
Make your own bird feeders.
Reuse a plastic bottle to make a quick, cheap seed feeder. Wash small plastic soda bottles in warm water and soap, then remove the cap and use a safety pin to puncture air holes in the bottle’s base. Use the pin to make 2 holes on opposite sides of the bottle, then use a pair of scissors to make the holes larger. Push a stick through both holes. Slightly above the stick perch, cut a slightly larger hole for the birds to get the seed out of. Pour birdseed inside the bottle. Poke a hole near the top of each bottle and thread string through it, then tie the string up in a sheltered location outside. Alternatively, spread peanut butter around a cardboard toilet paper roll and roll it in birdseed. Then, punch a hole near the top and tie a string to hang it somewhere up high.
Go cloud watching.
Identify cumulus, stratus, and cirrus clouds while soaking up the sun. Before you get started, talk to the campers about how clouds are formed and show them pictures of their different types. Meterologists mainly classify clouds based on how they look—these are the three main types: Cumulus: These look like puffs of cotton, and the bottom of them tends to be close to the ground. If they grow tall, they turn into thunderstorms. Stratus: These look like flat sheets. They can signal an overcast day or steady rain, and they can stay in one place for several days. Cirrus: These are super high and wispy clouds that are actually made of ice particles. When against a clear blue sky, these clouds indicate fair weather.
Plant a mini garden.
Germinate seeds in small plant pots and watch them grow. Set out an assortment of seeds and let the campers decide what plant they want to try to grow. Help them bury the seeds in a peat pot according to the instructions on the packet and wet them with water. Cover the seedlings with a plastic bag or lid, then wait for them to grow! Check on the seeds throughout the week and have the campers record their progress. Decorate small clay pots that the campers can plant their seeds in when they’re finished sprouting.
Play SPUD.
Get the whole camp in on the fun with this exciting game. To play, head to a large open area and assign each player a number from 1 to however many players there are. Whoever is “it” t throws a ball as high as they can while shouting a number of one of the players. The player who was assigned that number has to get the ball and yell “SPUD” as fast as possible. All the other players have to run away from the ball, but as soon as the player yells “SPUD,” they all have to freeze. The player can then take 3 steps and throw the ball to get someone out of the game. If the player hits another player with the ball, they get the letter “S.” As soon as a player gets all 4 letters in “SPUD,” they’re out of the game. The game continues until only 1 player is left.
Make s’mores in a solar oven.
Trap the energy of the sun to make the best snack ever. Give each camper a cardboard box with an attached lid (like a shoebox). Glue aluminum foil to all 6 walls inside the box, making sure it’s as smooth as possible. Attach 2 layers of plastic wrap to 1 side of the opening of the box and use a stick or tape to prop the lid up. Set the boxes outside on a sunny day when the temperature is at least 85 °F (29 °C). Let the “ovens” preheat for at least 30 minutes. Break graham crackers in half, then place a marshmallow on one of the pieces. Put the unfinished s’mores in the preheated oven and place the plastic wrap tightly over the opening. Let the s’mores bake for 30 to 60 minutes, then open the oven and place a piece of chocolate and the other half of the graham cracker on top of the marshmallows. Close the oven and let the chocolate melt for a few minutes. Then, take them out and enjoy!
Create treehouses for fairies.
Use moss, bark, and leaves to make a mini forest town. This activity is a good way to pass the time, especially if you’re in an area surrounded by trees. Have the campers collect pebbles, rocks, bark, moss, twigs, sticks, and leaves from around the area and create tiny houses that Tinkerbell would be jealous of. You can also paint rocks to look like fairies and place them inside the houses. Surprise the campers by making fairy dust out of glitter and baby powder and sprinkling it around the houses so it looks like the small magical creatures have already moved in.
Make friendship bracelets.
Trade colorful bracelets made out of embroidery thread. Making friendship bracelets is a timeless camp activity that’s fun for everyone—plus, all you need to get started is a bunch of colorful embroidery thread and a couple pairs of safety scissors. Here are a couple of designs you can try with your campers: Candy-stripe friendship bracelets Chevron friendship bracelets
Play charades.
Split each cabin into 2 teams and act out a secret prompt. Each team chooses a secret camp-related word or phrase that the other team has to guess. The first team picks an “actor” to go first. The actor acts out the word without speaking—the second team has to guess what they’re trying to mime within the time limit. If they guess correctly, they win a point. Have the teams take turns, choosing new actors each time. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins! Decide ahead of time how much time each actor has to act out the prompt and how many points a team needs to win. You might use the prompts “pitching a tent,” “rolling a sleeping bag,” “lighting a campfire,” “fishing,” “swimming,” “running,” or “roasting marshmallows.”
Go bird watching.
Use a guide to find native birds in your area. Take binoculars to a quiet, natural area in the morning (or earlier in the day) and try to identify the many species of birds that live there. Use this guide to search for the birds you find by their shape. Alternatively, ask for a bird guide from your local national park. Make sure to avoid feeding the birds or approaching any of their nests or eggs.
Paint rocks.
Turn rocks into garden decorations or gifts for family members. Let your campers collect 2 or 3 rocks from around the area, then use paint to decorate them however they’d like. You can have the campers glue the rocks onto a paper plate to create a mosaic, or let them take them home after camp is over. Campers can even make their own pet rock they can take care of during camp.
Press flowers in newspaper.
Pick flowers and plants to make a beautiful piece of art. This is a great activity to do at the beginning of camp. Allow the campers to pick 5 flowers or cool-looking plants, then have them open large books and line the pages with newspaper. Place the flowers as flat as they can on the page, then close the books and stack them in a warm, dry area. When the flowers are all completely dry and flat, have the campers glue them to a large piece of paper to make a cool collage. Alternatively, have the campers glue the plants individually onto pages and compare them with pictures of local flowers to figure out what they are.
Make your own compass.
Play around with Earth’s magnetic fields in this easy craft. To get started, give each camper a 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) sewing needle, a small magnet, a cork, and pliers. Rub the magnet along the needle in the same direction a few times. Have a counselor push the needle through one end of the cork with a pair of pliers until each end sticks out evenly. When everyone’s done, fill a large shallow bowl or container half-way with water. Place each cork inside and watch as the needles align themselves with Earth’s magnetic fields.
Create a camp comic book.
Let imagination roam free with this summer camp souvenir. Have the campers draw their own comics on a piece of paper. You can instruct them on how to outline the comic or draw a character, or let them write their stories however they want. When everyone’s done, copy each page and bind them together with staples to make a creative take-home comic book. Alternatively, have all the kids make crosswords, write stories, or interview the counselors to make a fun camp newspaper.
Go magnet fishing.
Learn about magnetic fields by fishing for small objects in a bowl. Tape one end of a piece of yarn to a popsicle stick and the other end to a magnet to create a “fishing pole.” Have each camper fill their own bowl with items they find around camp (like screws, paperclips, or crayons) and use their fishing pole to pull out the items that stick to it. For younger campers, label 2 jars with “Sticks to the manget” and “Does not stick to the magnet.” Any items that they fish out go in the first jar, and any items that they can’t pick up go into the second jar.
Build an obstacle course.
Create a fun physical challenge with hula hoops and pool noodles. Make balance beams out of wooden planks, stepping stones out of hula hoops or taped pool noodles, or draw creative challenges on the sidewalk with chalk. If you have a space indoors, you can even stretch yarn from one wall to the other to create a lazer beam maze. Tape pool noodles into semi-circles and stake them into the ground to make small tunnels throughout the course. Incorporate mini-games like a cup stacking challenge or a series of targets the campers have to hit.
Make and fly your own kites.
Decorate and fly kites made out of paper bags. Give each camper a paper bag and have them decorate them with stickers, markers, construction paper, and other embellishments. Snip a small hole in the middle of the bottom of the bag and thread one end of a 18 to 12 in (46 to 30 cm) piece of yarn through it. Tie the other end to a popsicle stick. Optionally, attach streamers to the opening of the bag with tape. On a windy day, have the campers hold onto their popsicle sticks as the kites soar through the air!
Arrange a nature scavenger hunt.
Find animals, plants, and other natural items outside. Give each of the campers a list with the adjectives below to cross off as they explore the outdoors. They can write down what the thing they saw was or take it with them to share with the other campers later. If the campers have their own phones or cameras, have them take pictures of the items they find. Look for something that’s: Smaller than you Taller than you Red Square Smelly Pointy Soft Dark Bright Purple Colorful Cold Moving Yellow
Create pop rockets.
Learn about gas pressure to launch a film canister rocket. Give each camper a film canister (or a plastic easter egg) and have them decorate the outsides to look like rockets. Then, fill the canisters halfway with water and tape an effervescent antacid inside the lid. Close the canisters, place them lid-down at the launch site, then watch them explode! Have the campers cut out fins for the rocket on paper and stick them on with glue or tape. Make sure the launch site is in a clear, open area and that the campers are standing far away from the canisters.
Try origami.
Make cool objects, shapes, and animals out of colorful paper. All you need for this activity is a stack of square paper for your campers to fold with (and scissors if necessary). That’s it! You can lead your campers through the different tutorials below, or print out the instructions and have them choose which one they’d like to follow. Lucky paper stars Mini origami balloons Origami Pikachu Origami Yoda Paper ninja stars Origami sail boats
Create your own kaleidoscopes.
Mix science and art with an empty chip can and aluminum foil. For this cool and easy craft, rinse and dry a Pringles can (or any paper cardboard tube) for each camper. Roll up a piece of shimmery reflective paper to fit inside each can, then have the campers decorate the outside. Glue sequins, glitter, paper confetti, and other decorations to the inside of the can’s lid. Decorate a piece of sticky clear contact paper with more glitter and paper, then cut it to fit inside the can. Take the lid off the can and glue the contact paper over the opening. When you’re done, have the counselors use a hammer and nail to punch a small eye hole at the non-lidded end of the cans, then give them back to the campers to look through. The campers point the kaleidoscopes up towards the sun and twist the can lid to see all kinds of shimmering colors and shapes.
Play paper telephone.
Gather campers into groups of 10 for this hilarious game. Get everyone a pencil and paper and sit in a circle. Campers write a sentence (and their name) at the top of their paper and pass it to the person on their right. That person illustrates the sentence with a picture and folds the paper so it covers the sentence. They pass it to their right, and the next person writes a sentence describing the picture. The game continues until the campers run out of room on the paper or until everyone gets their own paper back again. The campers can write whatever they want on their paper (as long as it’s appropriate). It can be a famous phrase, a lyric, or something totally random.
Make homemade ice cream.
Give each cabin a plastic bag to make their own tasty summer treat. Put the ingredients below in a sandwich-sized plastic bag and seal it. Put 3 cups (709 g) of crushed ice and ⅓ cup (273 g) of rock salt in a 1 US gal (3.8 L) bag along with the smaller bag. Then have the campers squeeze and lightly toss around the bag until the ice cream is thick and ready to eat! ⁄2 c (120 mL) of half-and-half 1 tbsp (12.5) of sugar ⁄4 tsp (1.2 mL) of vanilla
Try face-painting.
Make your campers laugh with body-safe paint. Face painting can be a fun low-budget activity that allows your campers to really get creative. Get a bunch of skin-safe paint and have the campers draw beautiful designs on each other’s faces. From butterflies to superhero masks, the possibilities are endless. Alternatively, have the campers play an outdoor game while the counselors pull campers out to paint their faces. Show the campers a few face paint designs for inspiration before you get started.
Play a card game like spoons.
Pass the time with this card game version of musical chairs. Sit in a circle and put 1 less item spoon than the number of people playing in the center. The dealer gives 4 cards to each player, then takes one off the deck and gives their discard to the player to their left. When someone gets 4 of a kind, they grab a spoon—the last person to get one is out of the game. Here are other card games you can play: Golf (the card game) Old Maid Trash Play-Slap-Jack Pitty Pat Go Fish
Break out a board game.
Provide snacks and throw a mini game night for your campers. You can set up board games around the room and have everyone choose which one they want to do or assign each cabin to a different game for a bonding experience. Try one of these games that are super fun for kids, teens, and adults alike: Telestrations (ages 6+) Throw Throw Burrito (ages 7+) Exploding Kittens (ages 7+) UNO (ages 7+) Hedbanz (ages 8+) Sorry! (ages 8+) Codenames (ages 10+) Wingspan (ages 10+) Catan (ages 10+) Herd Mentality (ages 10+)
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