backyard summer camp - playdough to plato...welcome! we are excited to help you make this summer...

Welcome! We are excited to help you make this summer amazing. Inside you’ll find everything you need to set up a fun-filled summer camp in the comfort of your own backyard. This year’s six awesome themes are:

• Camping • Flowers • Monsters • The Ocean • Oviparous Animals: Animals that Hatch from Eggs • Outer Space

You’ll find seven hands-on activities for each theme: a craft, science experiment, math activity, book list, art project, outdoor game and cooking recipe. The roundup will keep your kids entertained all summer long. From all of the moms who designed this exciting roundup of summer camp activities, we wish you a very happy summer!!

-Kristen, Melissa, Amanda, Jen, Laura and Malia

© Backyard Summer Camp 2014.

Before Camp Begins

Pick a schedule – Do you want to hold camp one day a week for six weeks or would you rather pick five of your kids’ favorite themes and complete all of the activities in one week? Once you decide, check out our sample camp schedule for tips on organizing your day.

Recruit campers – Invite your kids’ friends, neighbors, church members or other children from the neighborhood to join in the fun. A good rule of thumb is to build a group of six to twelve campers who are within a two-year age range so that they can work at a similar pace.

Gather your supplies – Use the recommended reading lists to pre-order books from your local library. Then you’ll be able to easily swing by and pick them up when the order is ready. Several days before camp begins, gather together your supplies. Be sure to have enough on hand for each camper.


Decide on food – If you follow our sample schedule, campers will eat two snacks and one lunch each day. If you’re hosting campers outside of your immediate family, there are a few options to consider-

• Do campers have any food allergies? • Do you want to provide all of the meals? • If the answer is “no”, would you rather have each camper bring their own

food every day or would you prefer asking each camper to bring food for the group one day?

• How will campers get water? Options include disposable water bottles, pitchers of water and water bottles brought from home.

Emergency contact forms and waivers – If you’re hosting campers outside of your immediate family, you may want to consider asking parents for the names and phone numbers of family members you can contact in case of emergency. You may also want to ask parents to complete a liability waiver.

Make camp T-shirts – {Optional} Use the camp logo page we’ve provided to print iron-on transfers you can attach to plain white T-shirts. Give a shirt to each camper on the first day you meet.


8:30 – 8:45 Introduce the Theme o Talk about what kids already know about the

theme.

o Write down questions they are curious to answer

about the theme.

o Read a book from the recommended reading list.

8:45 – 9:15 Art Project 9:15 – 9:45 Science Experiment 9:45 – 10:00 Read a Book 10:00 – 10:15 Snack 10:15 – 10:45 Recess 10:45 – 11:00 Read a Book 11:00 – 11:30 Craft Project 11:30 – 12:00 Math Activity 12:00 – 12:15 Read a Book 12:15 – 12:30 Lunch 12:30 – 1:00 Recess 1:00 – 1:15 Read a Book 1:15 – 1:45 Cooking Project 1:45 – 2:15 Outdoor Game 2:15 – 2:30 Read a Book 2:30 – 2:45 Snack 2:45 – 3:00 Closing

o Go back to the list of questions kids wrote during

the intro. See how many of the questions they can

answer now.

o Ask kids to share their favorite part of the day.

o Announce the next theme.


Sample Schedule

Craft Supplies

o Yellow cardstock or construction paper

o Tempera paint in a variety of colors

o Kids’ scissors o Adult scissors o A paint tray o Contact paper o Star and moon tracers {cookie

cutters, etc.} o Pencil o Fine glitter o Black permanent marker o Glue gun o Craft foam sheets o Dot stickers o Markers o Plain white paper o Plain white cardstock o Crayons o Tape o Double sided tape o White glue o Construction paper in a variety of

colors o Paint brushes o Ruler o Googley eyes o Metal brad o Several colored buttons o Pipe cleaners {optional} o Watercolor paint

Supply List

Craft Supplies {cont}

o Glitter glue o Glue stick o Scrapbook paper o Gems o Large green pom pom

Food

o Large roasting-style marshmallows

o Several different colors of food coloring

o Popcorn o 3 cups raisins o 2 cups nuts o 2 cups seeds o Pure maple syrup o Cinnamon o 1 red apple o 1 Romaine lettuce head o 1 carrot o 1 celery stalk o ½ cup baby carrots o ¼ cup shredded carrots o 2 packets of Kool-Aid o Several eggs o Round whole wheat crackers o 2 tablespoons peanut butter {or

substitute of your choice} o 1 teaspoon chia seeds o 1 jar white icing

Food {cont}

o 1 tablespoon chocolate chips o ½ cup sweetened flaked coconut o 2 tablespoons of walnuts {optional} o 1 ½ cups dried cranberries o 1 ½ cups prunes o 1 ½ cups dried apricots o Jelly beans o Cream cheese o Cinnamon o Sliced almonds o White vinegar o 2 cups pretzels o 2 cups flour o Granulated sugar o ½ cup uncooked oats o 2 cups salt

Kitchen Supplies {cont}

o Paper bags o 1 cup measuring scoop o 1 teaspoon measuring spoon o Paper plates o Paper bowls o Sharp knife {for adults} o 1 straight sided glass or cup o Large baking pan o Several small bowls

Kitchen Supplies

o Tin foil o Wax paper o Large bowl o Baking sheet o Blue food coloring {optional} o Clean, empty jars in a variety of

sizes o 3 small pieces of kitchen sponge o Straight-sided mason jar o Clean, empty jars in a variety of

sizes

Miscellaneous

o String o Yarn o Battery operated tea light o 12 inch square piece of fabric

{optional} o Paper bags o 1 Towel o 1 white carnation o 1 ORGANIC rose o Magnifying glass {optional} o 1 sheet each of several different

grits of sandpaper o Star and moon tracers {cookie

cutters, stencils, etc.} o Assorted flower tracers {cookie

cutters, stencils, etc.} o An artificial flower o 1 CD for each child


Miscellaneous {cont}

o 12 clear plastic cups o 1 playground ball o Duct tape o Crepe paper streamers {optional} o Balloon o Umbrella o Sea shells in a variety of shapes

and sizes o Shell with a hole at the top o Plastic eggs {optional} o Tarp {optional} o 20 coins o 12 lollipop sticks o Several empty Ziploc sandwich

bags o 1 sport cap lid or dish soap lid

with valve

Iron-On Shirt Transfers Directions Print these logos on your favorite iron-on transfer paper. Then follow the directions included on the package to transfer the logo onto your children’s white T-shirts.


Pennant


Directions Make several copies of these flags. Cut out the triangles and attach them to string, yarn or twine to make a pennant banner.

Flags


Directions Print several copies of these flags on cardstock. Cut out the triangles and glue each one to wooden dowels to make camp flags.


Flags Directions Print several copies of these flags on cardstock. Cut out the triangles and glue each one to wooden dowels to make camp flags.

Meet the Team Jen is a primary teacher turned stay-at-home mama who strives to be an engaged parent. She's passionate about play, loves a good DIY project, and adores traveling. Admittedly, she's turned into a crunchy mom and enjoys 'healthifying' recipes with the help of her little sous chef. A Vancouverite at heart, she and her family currently reside in the Middle East where they are soaking up as much of the world as time will allow. Her family's adventures are chronicled on her blog, Mama.Papa.Bubba. You can also follow Jen on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

Jen Kossowan – Mama. Papa. Bubba.

Laura is a Chicago stay-at-home mom to two sweet redheads. She keeps her kids happy and learning by creating a mix of activities ranging from quiet arts and crafts projects to energy burners. She especially likes crafting with household items and recyclables, which explains why she turned chip clips and pouch caps into monsters. You can also follow her on Facebook and Pinterest.

Laura Marschel – Lalymom

Melissa of Mama Miss is a work-from-home, homeschooling, mama of two. When she’s not on her computer immersed in the blogosphere, you can find her behind the lens taking pictures of everything and everyone. Her background and education lie in fashion design and she is also a self taught photographer & graphic designer. She uses her creative skills to bring crafty original experiences to her kids and her home. You can find her blogging at her site Mama Miss and you can also connect with her on: Pinterest || Facebook || Twitter || Google +

Melissa Klinker – Mama Miss


Malia is a National Board Certified elementary teacher turned stay at home mom to three young kids {4.5, 2.5 and 8 months}. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Education {go Stanford!} and spent seven years teaching in a classroom. Check out Malia’s roundup of 100 activities for preschoolers, find out how to make a rainbow in a jar, and download your free set of fun-filled sight word games.

Malia Hollowell –Playdough to Plato

Amanda Boyarshinov is a National Board Certified teacher with her Master’s Degree in Reading Education for grades K-12 and a B.A. in Elementary Education. She has three kids: ages 1, 4, and 7 and enjoys going on summer adventures with them! She is a co-creator and author of The Educator’s Spin On It, where shares her teaching knowledge with parents everywhere through her creative, inventive blog posts. Blog || Google+ || Instagram || Twitter || Facebook || Pinterest

Amanda Boyarshinov – The Educators’ Spin On It

Kristen is a Reading Specialist who currently works with children in Kindergarten through 3rd Grade. She has two school age children and lives in Virginia, USA. She is the blogger behind Busy Kids Happy Mom, a site dedicated to fun, practical, and purposeful activities to do with your kids. Follow Kristen on Facebook, Pinterest, and subscribe for updates.

Kristen Mason – Busy Kids Happy Mom


backyard summer camp - playdough to plato...welcome! we are excited to help you make this summer...

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