Summer Camp Activities

How to create fun summer camp activities that will keep kids entertained!

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Summer camp activities for kids of all ages

Summer camp is an incredible opportunity for kids to engage in a variety of activities that promote fun, learning, and friendship. Whether it's running around under the sun, exploring nature, camping activities or getting creative with arts and crafts, summer camp offers a world of adventure. We'll explore a wide range of summer camp activities that will keep kids entertained, inspire their imagination, and create lasting memories.

What activities do you do at summer camp?

When it comes to summer camp, the options for activities are endless. From thrilling outdoor games to engaging arts and crafts, summer camps offer a diverse range of experiences. Whether campers are into sports, nature, or the arts, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

What are some Summer Camp activities?

Summer camp activities provide opportunities for kids to learn, grow, and have fun. Let's explore a variety of fun camp activities that will keep campers engaged and excited.

How to inspire friendly competition with a traditional Color War Game

Color War is a summer camp activity where campers are divided into teams, each assigned a specific color. They then engage in a series of challenges and games throughout their camp session, competing against each other in a friendly and spirited manner.

What is a Color War game?

During Color War, campers can participate in a variety of games, fun activities and challenges that test their skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Some of the common activities include relay races, tug-of-war, water balloon toss, and friendly sports matches like soccer, basketball, or volleyball.

Running a Relay Race

Nothing brings a team closer together at camp than running a relay race! Reinforce the importance of teamwork with this fun activity that lets kids engage in friendly competition with their fellow campmates.

A relay race is one of the most exciting camp activities for kids to promote teamwork and competition. Campers form teams and pass a baton as they race against each other.

Tug-of-War

Ah, tug-of-war. A mainstay of both field days and summer camp that kids love. Another strong team-building activity, tug-of-war can teach the fundamentals of teamwork, strength, and strategy.

Split campers into teams, and watch them give it their all as they try to pull the opposing side across the line. It's one of the best summer camp activities for kids to test their strength, teamwork, and determination, and never fails to bring excitement to summer camp.

What's a popular indoor game for hot summer days at camp?

On particularly hot days when outdoor activities may not be feasible, it's essential to have engaging ideas for summer camp games that will keep campers entertained and cool indoors.

Have an indoor scavenger hunt

Camp counselors can take the lead and craft a clever list of items for campers to search for within the camp premises, turning the indoor space into a treasure trove of hidden surprises. The hunt can be tailored to the camp's unique environment, incorporating both common and unconventional items to challenge the campers' observation skills.

Get theatrical by putting on a kids play

Let campers unleash their creativity by organizing a kids play!

They can work together to write scripts, design costumes, and perform in front of their fellow campers. It's a fantastic opportunity for self-expression and teamwork!

Hold a camp-wide talent show

A camp-wide talent show is a chance for campers to showcase their unique talents, from singing and dancing to magic tricks and comedy acts. It's a delightful event that celebrates the diverse skills and abilities of campers, while also promoting a supportive and encouraging environment.

Kids love to make their friends laugh and a talent show is a great fun way to watch kids grow in their confidence as they entertain their campmates!

Fun camp activities to Beat the Summer Heat

During a particularly hot day, it's crucial to have fun ideas for camp games that help campers stay cool while having fun.

Beating hot summer days the old fashioned way

Campers can engage in friendly water balloon fights or participate in water balloon toss games. It's a simple yet effective and fun way to keep everyone cool and create unforgettable memories.

Water Balloons - one of our favorite summer camp activities!

Water balloons have been a classic summer pastime for generations. Campers can enjoy the thrill of filling and tossing water balloons, engaging younger kids in friendly competitions or group activities. It's a nostalgic and enjoyable way to embrace the summer spirit and have kids create laughter-filled moments.

Organize your campers into teams and have a water balloon battle! Or, play a unique version of tennis where players see how many times they can volley a water balloon back and forth before it bursts!

What summer camp activities can you do at night?

Summer camp doesn't slow down when the sun sets. In fact, there are plenty of fun activities that campers can enjoy during the nighttime.

Telling ghost stories

Ghost stories have been a long-standing tradition at summer camps, creating an atmosphere of excitement and suspense. Campers can take turns sharing their favorite stories, or creating new ones with the power of their imagination.

Singing camp songs around the campfire

Camp songs bring everyone together, creating a lively and joyful ambiance. Whether it's traditional campfire songs, folk tunes, or silly sing-alongs, gathering around the fire and singing together is a cherished tradition at summer camp.

You can even make s'mores or roast hot dogs while you're there for an added bit of nighttime camp fun!

Fun Outdoor Games Kids Love

Outdoor games are a staple of summer camp, providing endless opportunities for fun and laughter. But they don't all have to be relay races or other sports!

Parachute Games

Parachute games offer a dynamic and exciting experience for campers, fostering teamwork, coordination, and great fun. These games typically involve a large and vibrant brightly-colored silk parachute that captivates the imagination of young campers.

Creating a Nature Scavenger Hunt

Organize an outdoor scavenger hunt or a nature scavenger hunt to engage campers in exploring their natural surroundings. Provide them with a list of items to find, such as different types of leaves, rocks, or animal tracks. 

Best Summer Camp Activities for Rainy Days

Rainy days don't have to dampen all the kids' spirits at summer camp! There are plenty of indoor activities that campers can enjoy while staying dry and having so much fun together.

Arts & Crafts Summer Camp Activities for Kids

Engaging in various art projects, such as painting, drawing, or other crafts, can be a wonderful way to stimulate imagination and develop fine motor skills.

It can also offer a dash of variety to your summer camp ideas by giving kids ideas for summer camp activities that don't revolve around physical activities!

Create Stick Art

Making popsicle stick art projects is a delightful and creative summer camp activity that allows campers to explore their imagination and create unique crafts.

Stick Crafts for Kids

Campers can use popsicle sticks as a versatile and easy-to-work-with medium to construct a wide range of projects. From building structures like a bird feeder or a picture frame to crafting ornaments and mobiles, the possibilities are endless.

To add an extra touch of natural beauty, campers can also incorporate materials found in nature, such as sticks, leaves, and other treasures, to enhance their popsicle stick creations. This combination of popsicle sticks and natural elements adds a unique and organic flair to their artwork, making it truly special.

Science for Summer Camps

Science experiments are not only educational but also incredibly fun. They can provide a welcome break from the summer heat while also inspiring the young minds of your campers!

Here are a few science activities that can be easily incorporated into any summer camp program.

Solar Oven Cooking

Teach campers about renewable energy by building solar ovens. Using basic materials like cardboard and aluminum foil, they can construct ovens that use the power of the sun to cook food.

Building a Solar Oven

Using a cardboard box, line the bottom with black construction paper. This will help your solar oven trap the sun's heat. Then, line the sides of the box with aluminum foil, making sure to keep it as un-wrinkled as possible.

Take the lid of the box and cut a square or circular hole in the top so that the sun's light can shine through it. Cover the hole with clear plastic wrap. then, line the bottom of the lid with aluminum foil so that it can reflect light.

Prop the lid open at a 45 degree angle with a ruler and align your oven with the overhead sun. Now you have a solar oven that can melt cheese or toast bread!

It's a hands-on science experiment that combines sustainability and delicious results!*

*Make sure that whatever you're cooking isn't raw and that anything eaten is well within safe food temperatures. You don't want to get sick at camp!

How To Enhance Your Summer Camp Activities With Custom Wristbands

Custom wristbands add a touch of personalization and identity to summer camp activities. They can be used to divide campers into teams, track achievements, or simply serve as a memento of their summer camp experience together. Have your campers create friendship bracelets to cement the summertime bonds they've created at camp!

Click any of the designs below for a little inspiration and get started designing your Summer Camp wristband masterpieces!