Create Your Own Summer Camp in 3 Easy Steps
3 tips for a successful home summer camp
I originally wrote an article of tips for homeschooling during the pandemic. I’m updating the article with a focus on summer camp. This article is for those who got locked out of summer camp options due to space, finances, ages, transportation of multiple children, etc. This post is to help alleviate the stress of figuring out daily activities for your child during the summer and to help keep your sanity.
Gather the resources
List all of your fun and educational resources that you have available. This list should be long and include all the items you currently have access to. Do not stress yourself out trying to buy new things and or experiences. See what camp you can build with your current resources and then decide if you need additional items. Don’t forget the free activities like the parks and the library.
Here’s some questions to help you brainstorm resources:
Did the school send home summer packets?
Do you have passes to a museum, amusement park, zoo, pools, etc? Also consider free pass days to places (for example, entry to a place being free on Monday mornings) or my public library has passes that can be checked out for local attractions.
Are there free websites that have educational materials and art activities?
Do you have board and/or card games?
Do you have iPads/tablets or laptops for your kids? Do you have you tube on your tv? There are a ton of fun exercise and Just Dance videos for “recess” or break in addition to educational shows.
Do you have a backyard and outdoor toys like bubbles, balls, sidewalk chalk, etc.”
Create a schedule
Now that you have everything listed out, start with hours of operation. This is good for boundaries for yourself and the kids. It will help set the time for when activities will happen. Before and after camp hours is free unscheduled time. For example, when 8 am hits the schedule starts and at 3pm can be done. The main reason for setting the boundaries will be discussed in the next section.
Once you decide on the hours then you can develop a schedule in those hours. It may help to create a schedule with themed days like Field Trip Friday or Wacky Wednesday. Schedule a set breakfast and lunch time everyday. Allow 30 minutes for breakfast and lunch. Schedule 30 for recess everyday except for on field trip days. I would suggest scheduling before lunch to burn off some energy before eating.
With those items plugged in then you can create segments based on resources available. If you have little kids, schedule smaller activities with short time frames because their attention span is short. A mix of worksheets and hands on activities like arts and crafts. Use the topics from educational tv to create crafts.
Schedule time for yourself
Final piece is to schedule time for yourself. Just because the kids are home all day doesn’t mean you have to spend every waking moment doing the camp or working. Make sure you stick to the start and finish time. Allow yourself freedom to do something for yourself that’s not work related and relaxing.
Updated additional tips:
After creating my own summer camps for the past few years, I wanted to add some things that I have learned along the way.
Have a back up plan. There will be some rainy days, kids sick, or you may not feel like doing the original plan. Have some activity packs, crayons, pencils, and a tablet handy at all times. Remember it's summer break for you too and there is no need to push yourself or the kiddos. Having independent play time built into the schedule as well as a back up plan can help relieve the pressure to do something or feel like your kids aren't doing something. It's ok if there are multiple independent play days- when the summer is over you can look at the big picture and see that the kids had fun and you got to spend more quality time with them. The independent play days will not stand out.
Make play dates. This is a great opportunity for kids to spend time with other relatives and friends that they may not spend much time with throughout the year. Bonus Points: You get to have some adult banter while the kids play. I enjoyed meeting up with my Aunt for ice cream at the splash park and taking advantage of discount movies and popcorn over the summer with various families just to name a few of the meet ups over the summer. With relatives that were working, I would coordinate an activity on a vacation day or even during lunch on their work day to get some quality time.
What are your kid’s favorite summer camp activities? Comment below.
Here’s the link to the my article published for ReWire news if you want to check it out the resources for educational activities to use at home:
https://rewirenewsgroup.com/article/2020/09/02/3-tips-any-home-schooling-parent-needs-now/