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Summer camp is in full swing! With July bringing those long, sun-soaked days and kids settling into summer vacation mode, it's the perfect time to transform your home into an adventure headquarters. Whether you're looking to keep the kids engaged during those mid-summer "I'm bored" moments or want to create memorable experiences without the camp fees, bringing the magic of summer camp to your own backyard is easier than you think.
Creating themed activities for each week gives kids something to look forward to and adds a touch of structure to keep things moving. Here is how to plan an unforgettable summer camp experience at home.
Pick your weekly themes based on children’s interests. There are many online resources available or brainstorm your ideas together. Possible themes to get started include: Outer Space Adventure, Zoo Animals, Fairytales, Dinosaurs, Under the Sea, Backyard Camp Out, or Around the World.
Once you’ve decided on the themes, post a schedule for kids to drum up excitement. To make planning easier, build a repeating daily schedule. Each day of the week can be assigned a different focus. (Mondays: Reading, Tuesdays: Crafting, Wednesdays: Outdoors etc.)
Here is a full example for an Under the Sea themed week.
Monday: Library visit to check out ocean and sea creature themed books. Dive in and explore fun facts about marine life.
Tuesday: Craft using what you have around the house to create a themed piece, like a jellyfish constructed with clear plastic bowls and streamers. Hang art from the ceiling to keep the underwater vibes going all week.
Wednesday: For outdoor fun, throw a backyard beach party complete with swimsuits, kiddie pool, and sensory bins with water, sand, and toy sea creatures.
Thursday: Get creative in the kitchen with ocean themed snacks and baking activities. Use sea creature cookie cutters to make sandwiches and mix up ocean blue drinks. Crush up graham crackers to make “sand” and create an edible beach scene using sea creature themed crackers and gummy snacks.
Friday: Plan a simple outing to wrap up the week. Take a field trip to visit an aquarium, beach, or pet store to see the fish tanks. End the fun week with your family’s favorite Under the Sea themed movie.
Summer is even better when spent together. Invite friends, cousins, or neighbors to join. You can collaborate with other families to share in the planning and rotate hosting responsibilities.
Creating a themed schedule is a great way to turn ordinary summer days into lifelong memories. The flexible structure of a camp will keep kids interested in exploring all summer long.
