The results are in and the ideas are plentiful! We invited readers to submit their most creative programming ideas to find out what keeps their camp ticking. After the submissions came pouring in, we knew we had several gems to share with Camp Business readers. Take a look and see if there’s anything you can use to spice up the upcoming camp season and thanks to everyone who participated!
Food
A Feeding Frenzy
One program that occurs each year at many camps goes by several names: Color War, Mass Program, All-Camp Extravaganza. The challenge is, “How do we make it better than last year?” An out-of-the-ordinary idea we’re using at Camp Seneca Lake in Rochester, N.Y., is the Staff Super-Special Secret Supper. Campers love it, and they remember it as one of their most exciting meals at camp! Here’s how we do it:
Long before the actual event, staff members are asked to sign up for one of six (or more) food booths. The goal is to work together (after hours or even during pre-camp) to devise a clever theme and delivery method for each of the foods served at this special dinner. Staff members use papier-mâché, chicken wire, pieces of wood, kayaks and anything useful around camp. Incidentally, the process builds staff morale, real cooperation among different levels of staff who do not usually work together, and even keeps them in camp after hours.
Please remember, bigger is better! Some of these food booths reach 10 feet or higher. And, most of all, the final product must remain a total secret and kept out of sight until the actual event. The campers don’t know what is coming, but they decide early on that it has to be exciting thanks to the huge, colorful signs each group hangs in the dining hall. Some years the food groups write songs to advertise their booths a couple of days before the big event.
Here are a few examples:
Tom, Greta, Diana, Joey and four others chose to serve corn-on-the-cob. After brainstorming, they built a covered wagon with a giant arrow (over 10 feet in length) through it. Campers would take a raw ear of corn, pin their name on it, and drop it into the tail of the arrow (of course, they had to climb halfway up a stepladder to reach it). Then they would run over to the other end of the wagon, hold out their plate at the tip of the arrow, and a cooked ear of corn came out about 10 seconds later (of course, with their name pinned to it). It was called Colonel Cobb’s Corn Contraption.
A second group chose to serve lemonade that campers milked into their cups from a giant cow. They called it Lem-Mooo-nade. A third group served hamburgers, or actually “Puff Burgers” on Puff the Magic Dragon’s tongue as it moved in and out of Puff’s head. The head was made of covered chicken wire in front of a gigantic backdrop of Puff’s body. Puff roared, and smoke spurted from his mouth (a CO2 extinguisher providing the smoke).
One of the best I remember was the Cookie Coaster Chocolate Chip Trip, in which campers actually rode in on a small homemade airplane attached to steel cables across a small lawn (zip-line style) and into the mouth of a giant Cookie Monster, where they were presented with cookies.
The ideas are endless and result from the creativity of the staff. Naturally, each group tries to make the best booth, but the overall result is so extraordinary that campers can’t believe their eyes (and tummies).
What else do we serve? We’ve served watermelon, brownies, hot dogs, nuggets (instant Gold Rush theme), pizza, bags of popcorn or peanuts, even lollipops. The emphasis at this meal is having fun more than eating healthy, as you can guess from these examples.
The only downside to this activity is that it requires a lot of craft supplies, some minor expense for special items the group cannot live without, and much tempera paint, but it is well worth the investment. Contact me for more details. The kids will love it!
–John Golden
Camp Seneca Lake
Rochester, N.Y.
jgolden@jccrochester.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
For The Campfire
S’more Tips
Camp Marengo loves campfires and all that come with them, from songs to s’mores to skits and more! Our songs involve lots of motion intended to make everyone look ridiculous. How else can you look with songs titled “Let Me See Your Funky Chicken” and “Bananas of the World, Unite”? We act like valley girls and cockroaches then jump around like giant pop corn. It is so much fun!
When it comes to s’mores, Camp Marengo is creative. When 200 campers want s’mores, we have to be efficient, so we combine the graham cracker and chocolate, and just use fudge-striped cookies. Roast the marshmallow, slap it between two fudge-striped cookies and “ta-da”–you have a delicious snack that is easier and faster to put together and at a reduced cost.
Besides being goofy and making snacks, campfires are great for sharing. As we wind down, the campers are invited to share personal testimonies, thank you’s, shout outs, or whatever is in their hearts and minds. It is a wonderful opportunity to hear about their lives, challenges and changes.
And finally, our summer staff always sends the kids off with a song. “You Gotta Keep On Shining” is a tribute to past staff, and we gather together and sing “You gotta keep on shining, though it sometimes seems in vain. You gotta keep on shining like a candle in the rain.”
–Melyssa Trussel
Camp Marengo
Marengo, Ohio
A Personal Debate
One thing we do and also my personal favorite is group discussions. We pick a serious topic involving our children or our community, and the first night after dinner around 8:00 p.m., we all sit around the campfire, and starting with the youngest all the way to the oldest, we discuss that specific topic and what we can do to better the situation.
For example, some of our past topics have been:
1. Father and son relationships and our roles
2. Leadership and what it takes to be a leader
3. Honesty–practicing to becoming completely honest
4. Leaving doors open for others, helping your fellow man.
–John A. Skinner
Mechanical Engineer
Summit Consultants, Inc.
Fort Worth, Texas
Human “Board Games”
You Sunk My Battleship!
Our Leaders in Training (LITs) create a new evening activity each year. Three summers ago, the all-camp activity was Water Balloon Battleship, and campers have loved to participate in it ever since. They hang black plastic about 6 feet high down the middle of a sports field.
Camper-sized grids are placed on the ground with string so that each camper can stand in a separate box. Five 5’ x 5’ boxes are on each side so all 10 cabins can play at the same time. The campers are lined up in battle groups of three, four or five–like the ships in the board game in their cabin grid. The idea is the same–trying to eliminate the other side’s ships/campers, but by splashing them with water balloons. The opposing sides cannot see each other’s grid so on a specific count, everyone throws their water balloon over, with the sides taking turns. One is eliminated by catching or touching a water balloon, or the balloon hitting inside a square. Everyone has to pay attention, and campers make some crazy “matrix” moves not to get hit by the balloon. Once a team is eliminated, it waits for the other teams to finish and then everyone on one side of the tarp rotates to the left, giving them the opportunity to play another round with a different opponent. We usually play three to four rounds, depending on the number of balloons and the daylight available. The LITs spend about a week prepping about 3,500 water balloons for game night.
The Rules
Every camper and cabin leader need to be inside their grid square and cannot move out of it once the game has started. One side of the tarp throws balloons, and once it is done throwing, the opposite side gets to throw. Teams take turns until one team is eliminated. When throwing the water balloon, a camper must throw from where he or she is standing in the square on the grid. A camper needs to dodge the balloon without moving from the square in the grid. Balloons are thrown on a count from the leader. After a round is over, pieces of the balloons are thrown in the trash. Another round begins.
Set-Up Requirements
30 water balloons per camper (10 water balloons per round)
10 5-gallon buckets to hold the balloons in front of cabin grids and as many containers to hold the number of balloons needed (We use clean trash cans, ice chests and anything else that can hold water and balloons.)
Plastic tarps and lots of string
12 LITs lead the activity, making sure each cabin has balloons and trash buckets nearby. (We end up using the 5-gallon water balloon buckets, and keeping everyone engaged.)
Objective
Get wet! Have fun!
–Lesa Ward, Camp Director
YMCA Camp Indian Springs
Crawfordville, Fla.
www.ultimatecampresource.com/site/camp-activities/november-2005.page-1.html
Stratego
Readers likely are familiar with the board game Stratego. Imagine the same game, but with the whole camp as the “board” and 160 or so campers as the “pieces.”
Select two staff members to be the “generals,” each maintaining a “base”/flag at opposite ends of the camp. The campers are split into two teams–red and blue–and then further divided into groups of four to six. Each group is a game piece, and all are required to hold onto a Frisbee and “move” through the camp together. On the underside of the Frisbee is the piece’s value (number or “spy” or “bomb”). The rules are as in Statego: When any “piece” comes in contact with an opposing team’s piece, they each flip over their Frisbees, and the lower number “wins” and is allowed to proceed toward the other team’s goal/flag. The higher number piece returns to the base for a replacement number/role.
Imagine groups of kids roaming the camp, holding onto a Frisbee, having “mini” battles by simply flipping over the Frisbees. We put a number of staff in the role of “referee,” and for a while the game goes smoothly, so smoothly that neither team is able to capture the other’s flag. In other words, the game seems well-balanced.
Then the generals become creative. Frisbees show up with zeros, then negative numbers, then very, very large negative numbers, and finally negative infinity and even God! Thankfully, by the time this anarchy erupts, it is getting dark and time to shuffle the campers off to their cabins.
–Sherman Horton
YMCA Camp Coniston
Grantham, N.H.
Camper 1972 – 76
CIT 19’77
Staff 1979 – 85
CIT Director 1984 – 85
Team-Building
Build Your Own Boat
One of our most successful rainy-day activities this summer was building boats out of cardboard. Each group used one large refrigerator box, eight large garbage bags and one roll of duct tape. This was a great team-building activity, and our campers had a blast! We did this on a rainy day because we have an indoor pool, but this could easily be done in an outdoor pool or pond. Once the boats were finished, each group raced them. The races were awesome, and all of the campers were really involved in cheering their team on. We were fortunate that the boats survived and each camper was able to have a turn.
–Sara Perna
Fort Meigs YMCA Day Camp
Perrysburg, Ohio
Cross The Line
Space requirement: Enough for two lines of people
Time: five minutes
Equipment needed: none
Activity description: Divide the group in half with everyone facing a person of about the same size. The object of the game is to get the other person to cross an imaginary line between them. They can use their hands, they can use their words, but they only have ten seconds. Then they are asked how many crossed the line, and several hands will go up. Then they are asked how many pairs simply switched places, and both “win.” This is followed by a talk about how there doesn’t need to be losers to have winners and that the most successful people in the exercise used compromise to achieve their goal. They are asked to find other opportunities in working with team members in the future to have a win-win experience.
–John Beitner
Tumbleweed Day Camp
Los Angeles, Calif.
Keep Up The Good Work
Space requirement: Large
Time requirement: 20 minutes
Equipment needed: Beach ball or recycle-o-ball (a ball made from a plastic grocery bag filled with wadded-up newspaper)
Activity description: The group sets a goal of how many times it can hit the ball up, and then tries to accomplish that goal.
Special considerations for activity leader: Add a challenge by doing the activity one-handed, with the non-dominant hand, hands and feet, etc. Debrief the campers with questions about how it feels to work together, who shows leadership, etc.
–John Beitner
Tumbleweed Day Camp
Los Angeles, Calif.
Steal The Sticks
It is not new to us, but it continues to be the most popular field game by far for 10- to 15-year-olds at our church camp.
Equipment:
· Four, five or six teams of equal numbers and a way of clearly distinguishing team members (pinnies)
· A large Hula-Hoop per team
· 30 to 50 “sticks” per team (we have sticks that are manufactured into smooth pieces of wood, approximately 6 inches long and 1.5 inches wide)
· Lime lines or rope lines to divide the field into four, five or six equal wedges (one area per team)
Object:
To “steal” sticks from the other teams while defending (retaining) your own sticks
Rules:
· Each team has an equal number of players.
· Each team begins with an equal number of sticks (housed in their Hula-Hoop) located about 30 feet from the center point of the game (where all segments touch).
· In defending the sticks, a team‘s “guards” (or defenders) must be at least 5 feet away from the hoop most of the time.
· An attacker is successful if a foot or any body part is inside the hoop before being tagged by a guard. The attacker then picks out a stick and has free passage home to his/her segment, and the stick is then dropped into his/her hoop.
· If tagged before getting to the hoop, the attacker is deemed as caught, and has to lie down in a line with afoot inside the hoop. Attackers from that team can free their teammate by tagging him/her before being caught. If caught, they join the line of caught people (each team has its own line). If successful, both teammates gain free passage home.
The game can be played to a certain time limit, until the excitement wears off, exhaustion sets in, or the recreation period ends.
A whistle blows to end the game, all players return to their segment, and sticks are counted. The team with the highest total is declared the winner.
There is a role for almost everyone in this game–more agile or faster players can be attackers, while less-aggressive players can be defenders. If a player gets tired, he/she can focus on defense for awhile, or he/she can be “caught” and get a brief rest while waiting to be rescued.
When introducing the game to “new” players, we explain it generally, play it for five minutes, and stop. During the stop phase, we reset the sticks back to equal, free all those who have been caught, and then answer questions or restate some missed or ignored rules. Then we restart the activity.
–Bob Howell
Disciples of Christ Christian Church
Nova Scotia, Canada
On The Hunt
One of my favorites was a group scavenger hunt for a large-group energizer early in a team-building program:
Divide the large group into smaller groups of four to 10.
The group decides the order of who will run scavenger hunt items to the middle.
The game leader calls out things the group has and an individual runs to the middle.
For example:
“I need three right shoes.”
“I need a belt, a jacket and something red.”
“I need some coins, a Motorola cell phone and a pen.”
Do as many rounds as time, fun and materials allow. You can add other items that are close at hand, such as an adult, a basketball, two pine cones, etc.
–Greg Friese, MS, NREMT-P, WEMT
President, Emergency Preparedness Systems LLC
Plover, Wis.
Songs
River Way Ranch Camp has a particularly favorite camp song that has been part of our closing campfire tradition for the last 30 years. Called The Tree Song (The Green Grass Grows), it was first introduced to River Way by Nancy Oken, our Vice President of Camping, who used to sing it with her Girl Scouts. Over the years the song has evolved into something rather unique.
In summer 1996, Oken suffered an asthma attack and was unable to lead. In a moment of mischief, the song leader passed the responsibility to a young British counselor who she knew to be a rather reluctant singer. In mischief of his own, the counselor decided to introduce the song by bellowing the verses from the top of his lungs. The whole camp threw their all into it and bellowed every verse back. Since then it has become tradition to sing the song as loudly as possible at every closing campfire, with even the most timid singer joining in.
Each year campers–family campers especially–come back asking for the Tree Song. They wait all week in anticipation knowing that the song usually leaves the song leader (who now whenever possible is British) with no voice for the next few days. The campers love it so much because everyone joins in and for a moment they are all one voice, all singing, and all smiling.
The Tree Song (The Green Grass Grows)
There was a tree
The prettiest tree
That you ever did see!
Chorus:
And the tree was in a hole
And the hole was in the ground
And the green grass grew all around, all around,
And the green grass grew all around!
Hey!
And on that tree
There was a branch
The prettiest branch
That you ever did see!
Chorus:
And the branch was on the tree
And the tree was in the hole
And the hole was in the ground
And the green grass grew all around, all around
And the green grass grew all around! Hey!
…add on twig, nest, egg, bird, feather, flea (say Flea in a high pitch)!
Actions:
Tree: arms up in the air
Branch: hold one arm out as a branch
Twig: hold up your finger
Nest: cup your hands
Egg: make a fist
Bird: thumbs interlaced, palms towards yourself, fingers acting like wings
Feather: Arms together, drawn in so that your elbows are at your stomach and your hands at your head, while standing on one leg with your other knee bent, touching your elbows
Flea: Hold your arm out straight with your little finger raised
Jerry Reid
Camp Director
River Way Ranch Camp
Sanger, Calif.
YMCA Chant
Leader: They’s A Open Door
Kids: You’re Right
Leader: Since 1844
Kids: You’re Right
Leader: The Building of our Youth
Kids: You’re Right
Leader: For Character and Truth
Kids: You’re Right
Leader: Sound off
Kids: Y … M
Leader: Once Again!
Kids: C … A
Leaders: Break it on down
Kids: Y.M.C.A … Y … M C … A!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujMnwmlGXVI
Wha-Daten-Chu
Wha-Daten-Chu
(repeat)
Bo-Doe-Ska-Deeten-Daten – Wha-Daten-Chu
(repeat)
It-skiddly-Oaten-Doten – Bo-Doe-Ska-Deeten-Daten – Wha-Daten-Chu
(repeat)
Oaten-Doten-Little-Boaten – It-skiddly-Oaten-Doten – Bo-Doe-Ska-Deeten-Daten – Wha-Daten-Chu
(repeat)
Itten-Mitten-Little-Kitten – Oaten-Doten-Little-Boaten – It-skiddly-Oaten-Doten – Bo-Doe-Ska-Deeten-Daten – Wha-Daten-Chu
(repeat)
Y-M-C-A What-daten-Chu HUH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j3S0nzNcNA
–Brandon Winecoff , Youth, Teen and Day Camp Director
Henderson County Family YMCA
Hendersonville, N.C.
Action
Mafia (A Sit-Down Circle Game)
Everyone sits in a circle, and one person is designated to lead the game. The leader instructs everyone to put their heads down (eyes closed, no peeking). The leader then walks around the circle. If the leader taps you on the head once, then you are one of the designated mafia. Depending on the size of the group, you can choose more or fewer mafia. In a group of about 15, three mafia might be chosen. If you get two taps on the head, you are the governor (there is only one governor). Everyone else is a civilian.
The object of the game is for the civilians and the governor (the governor is on the civilians’ side) to eliminate the mafia before the mafia can eliminate the civilians.
Once the head-tapping is done, the leader will ask only the mafia to put their heads up. This allows them to see the others so that they do not eliminate their own kind.
The leader also will ask the governor only to put his/her head up to ensure there is only one governor.
After this, the leader will ask everyone to put their heads down, and then heads up. The leader then takes accusations from the group about who they think the mafia are. Anyone can make an accusation by raising his/her hand. If chosen for an accusation, he or she will say who they think are the mafia and why they believe this. Usually, three different accusations are taken from three different people. (Example: I think Julie is mafia, because when the leader said “Heads up for mafia,” I think I heard her moving around.) The mafia is also allowed to accuse people–this will make them look less suspicious.
*As the game progresses, you can take two accusations because there will be fewer people in the game.
After the three accusations have been made, the accused will have their chance to defend themselves. (Example: Julie: I’m really not mafia, I just had to shake my leg because there was a mosquito biting it–that’s really what you heard.)
After the defenses are given, the group will vote to see who will be eliminated. The person with the most votes is eliminated. That person must reveal his/her true identity (mafia, civilian or governor), and then sit and watch as the rest of the game unfolds.
The same process repeats, except this time the mafia have a chance to eliminate someone. So everyone puts their heads down. The leader calls “Only mafia heads up,” and then they will all point to someone and agree on whom to eliminate, then put their heads down.
Once the mafia put their heads down, the governor will be called upon to put his or her head up. He/she is allowed to point to someone. The leader will tell the governor if that person is or is not mafia. The governor should not reveal to the citizens that he/she is the governor because then the mafia will immediately eliminate that person. During the accusation/voting process, the governor should be very vocal if he/she knows for a fact that someone is/ is not the mafia.
Once everyone puts their heads up, the leader can make up a story about how the mafia eliminated someone. That person is out, and the accusations begin again.
The game continues this way, with the mafia eliminating someone each time, the governor taking a guess, the leader taking accusations, the accused giving their defenses, and the voting to see who is out.
–Owen Fraser, Director
Camp Centennial,
Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
Skit-In-A-Bag
One of my personal favorites is actually not very new, but by its nature is a new activity every time–skit-in-a-bag, where eight to 12 random items are put into a bag or box, and campers are divided into small groups (six to eight works well). The rules are simple: campers are given a short time (10-15 minutes) to prepare a skit using all the items in the bag–including the bag. Items might be the same, but you get better variety if there are different props.
You can require a theme (or not). This year, we put a sticky note on a page in our camp songbook, and the skit had to include a song from the page (in our version, every group had a different page, but it could work that everyone had to use the same).
–Lorrie Loughney
Camp Lackawanna
Tunkhannock, Pa.
Sardines
One camper hides, and other campers search for the hidden one. When a player finds him/her, the searcher joins in hiding from everyone else. Continue the game, packing all finders into the hiding spot like sardines until the last camper finds the hiding spot. If playing outside, two campers should hide together, and everyone should search in pairs.
–Brandon Winecoff , Youth, Teen and Day Camp Director
Henderson County Family YMCA
Hendersonville, N.C.
Commando Green
This has to be played in a fairly open area with lots of places to hide. Hiders need to be within sight distance of a focal point, so boundaries are usually used.
Two campers are the Commandos. The rest of the campers are rogues. The Commandos close their eyes and give the rogues 30 seconds to one minute to hide. After the time is up, the Commandos can only move 360 degrees in the same spot. Then they search for the rogues. If they spot a rogue, they will call him/her by name or by the color of the shirt, shoes or the location where they spot the rogue (e.g., if two rogues are hiding behind a tree near a bathroom, a Commando will call “Pink shoes behind the large tree near the bathrooms”). After they spot all they can and not everyone has been found, they will scream “COMMANDO GREEN,” and the remaining players run to the Commandos. The first two that reach “base” become Commandos for the next round.
–Brandon Winecoff , Youth, Teen and Day Camp Director
Henderson County Family YMCA
Hendersonville, N.C.
Pretty, Pretty Princess
In this game, there is a princess–usually a counselor–that is dressed in a paper hat with a scepter, and a wizard (another counselor) dressed in proper attire. The campers are dragons and knights.
On a field/gym/tennis court (wherever you have a fairly open space), spread soccer balls, basketballs, cones, Koosh balls, Gator balls, kids’ shoes, hats and whatever else ALL over the field. These objects magically become keys. One of the keys will free the princess from her cell. Also on the field are the campers, who are dragons. The dragons are trying to tag the knights to freeze them (our dragons breathe ice so no one gets hurt). The knights collect one key at a time and take it to the wizard. The wizard will tell them if the object is a key or if it is not a key. If it is a key, they have to traverse the field of dragons again and try to make it to the princess. They will then present the key to the princess if they make it without being tagged. The princess will tell them if it’s the correct key. If it is, they win. If tagged by a dragon, they are frozen and have to be tagged, or their legs must be crawled through to become unfrozen. The wizard and princess need to be on opposite sides of the field.
–Brandon Winecoff , Youth, Teen and Day Camp Director
Henderson County Family YMCA
Hendersonville, N.C.
Capture The Ball
Similar to Capture the Flag, participants take a ball over the line and score a point instead of a flag. There is a jail as well. There also is a safety zone around the ball. Once you land in the safety zone, you are safe. In Capture the Flag, we were finding that only the top athletes were able to both capture the flag and bring it back over the line. With the safety zone, more children are able to participate.
Another difference is that campers can throw the ball, and if a teammate catches or brings the ball over the line, the team scores. So many kids in the safety zone decide to throw the ball. This changes the game to one of greater teamwork as opposed to one where the fastest athletes dominate the game. It is particularly successful because younger kids participate as much as older kids.
–Lony Ruhmann
Camp Med
South Pasadena, Calif.
Capture The Counselor or Capture the Camper
This is a variation of hide-and-seek, where counselors hide, and campers find them to score points for their team. Counselors are assigned varying points depending on their number of years at the camp, or the scale of difficulty in finding them. (Note: To prepare for the game, notify counselors ahead of time, so they can prepare hiding places and accessories–like camouflage clothes and face paint.) Set boundaries around the camp, and give clear directions as to which areas are out of bounds.
–Kelly Dietsch, Director
Day Camp Sunshine
Liberty Corner, N.J.
Fruit Game
Space requirements: Enough space for a circle
Time requirements: 15-20 minutes
Equipment needed: A rolled up towel/sweatshirt, etc., or a small ball or pillow for tagging.
Activity description: Everyone stands in a circle, and one person is “it” in the middle. Each person chooses a fruit to be for the game. There can be no duplications. The gist of the game is to have a person call out a fruit and before the “it” person tags the fruit that’s been called, another fruit is called and the “it” person goes after that person. That player also attempts to call a different fruit before being tagged. and the game goes on until a new “it” is tagged. A player becomes “it” if tagged, if the fruit in the middle is called, if a fruit is called that isn’t even playing, or if a person calls the fruit that was called before. There is no winner or loser, just a constant turnover of “it.”
Special considerations for activity leader: The second-level skills can be developed through debriefing the game. For instance, “How did it feel when …” “What made it difficult/easy …” “What/Who made the game fun for you?” etc.
–John Beitner
Tumbleweed Day Camp
Los Angeles, Calif.
Counselor Connections
Kids’ Court
Every Monday morning we review the rules with all of the campers. We also talk about our expectations for the campers as well as for the counselors. Occasionally, the campers like to tell on a counselor for bending the rules–usually for sitting on top of a picnic table. Because of this, we decided to start Kids’ Court. Throughout the week, campers have the opportunity to “write up” counselors for stretching the rules. At the end of the week, the counselor with the most “write-ups” is put on trial. Campers become the defense lawyers, prosecutor and judge, while the rest of the campers become the jury. The selected counselor must defend himself/herself. At the end of the discussion, the jury votes and comes to a unanimous decision. Typically, the counselor is found guilty, but occasionally the jury is in a good mood and renders a not-guilty verdict. If a counselor is guilty, the camp decides on a fun punishment. Previous punishments have included bringing ice cream to camp, wearing a silly outfit, or singing songs for all of the campers and their families.
Our campers have a great time during Kids’ Court, and it has been a great addition to our programming. This activity allows the entire camp to participate, and it makes following the rules a positive experience for everyone.
–Sara Perna
Fort Meigs YMCA Day Camp
Perrysburg, Ohio
Human Sundae, Anyone?
If you ask a Camp Isleworth camper for a favorite memory, it’s always the end of the camp and The Human Sundae. A trivia question is asked about a specific counselor. If the camper has the right answer, he/she gets to “crown” the next layer of an ice cream sundae on the favorite counselor’s head. The squeals and laughter highlight the end of another great camp season, and we cannot go another year without The Human Sundae, much to the dismay of our camp staff.
–Cindy Wright, Director of Youth Services
Isleworth Golf & Country Club
Windermere, Fla.
How Well Do You Know Your Counselor?
Before the game, counselors fill out 10 not-so-well-known facts about themselves on a large index card.
Set up:
· One picnic table
· A large area for campers to sit in a semi-circle (on the ground or on benches)
· Buckets of water (and/or a hose) for the unfortunate (or fortunate, on a hot day) recipients.
Call five counselors to sit on the picnic table. Then call on a specific group of campers to be the guessers. The announcer says, “This counselor …” and reads three facts about the “unknown” counselor. Then the group makes one guess as to who this counselor is. If the campers are right, the counselors get buckets of water dumped on them. If the campers are wrong, the campers get sprayed with a hose.
Note: Not all campers like to get wet, so have them sit in the back or to the side when their group is called.
–Kelly Dietsch, Director
Day Camp Sunshine
Liberty Corner, N.J.
Themes
Dirty Night
Simple concept–get as dirty as possible!
–Sherman Horton
YMCA Camp Coniston
Grantham, NH
Get In The Spirit
On Fridays, we have spirit awards that the kids love. They win ice cream, and we record videos, and post them on YouTube for the parents to see.
–Brandon Windcoff, Youth, Teen and Day Camp Director
Henderson County Family YMCA
Hendersonville, N.C.
Super Hero Theme Week
This is a great idea for a mid-summer session. It can be incorporated into the daily schedule, with a few special events added to keep with the theme of the week. In addition, it can be used for all age groups, and can incorporate many different activities that utilize whatever props, equipment, technology and art supplies that you have, and trust me, you will need a lot of art supplies.
Campers are divided into teams by age. The team members decide which super hero they want to be. Side note: As you are well aware, youngsters are independent thinkers, so super heroes may change many times. Don’t panic because it will still work, and will be a great deal more rewarding when it comes to costumes.
Every super hero has a sidekick, so each team is given a mascot, a stuffed animal. The mascot is given a name and a costume that the campers make out of fabric scraps. I suggest a lightweight canvas because the team can use markers, paints, stickers or more fabric to decorate it. (See what I mean about having lots of art supplies?) The super-hero emblem should be included on the costume.
Now that the sidekicks have been created, it is time for the campers to make their own costumes, capes and masks, so as not to reveal their true identity. Use poster board and yarn to make the masks, and for capes vinyl tablecloths work great. Old clothing can be used for imaginative costumes.
Next, the team will need a theme song, which is to be sung at the end of the week. If you have theatrical campers, they can add a dance or skit as well. Let’s face it, we all have theatrical campers who want to perform.
For the end of the week, set up classic relay races to test the strength, balance and agility of the super heroes. The campers come dressed in their super-hero costumes to compete. The first relay is the classic “Get dressed/Get undressed Relay.” Have a bunch of large, silly clothes to put on and take off. To test balance, use water, cups and trays. The object is to fill the cups with water and carry them a distance without spilling or dropping a cup, and then passing them off to the next teammate to do the same. To test agility, set up a simple obstacle course in each relay line that includes cones, Hula-Hoops, benches, mats, jump ropes and anything else that you have. To add a level of difficultly for older campers, use gym scooters that participants will lie on and pretend to fly. Other classic relay races can be adapted to the super-hero theme and added to the final event.
During the week, to test the super hero’s mental abilities, group charades is played at the end of each day for points. In keeping with the theme, the game cards are related to super heroes. A chart can be kept so that each day campers can see where their team stands in points. Points also are awarded for campers or teams that demonstrate kind acts during the week. This helps build a sense of community and keep the competition close.
–Heidi Bruening, Camp Director
South Burlington Recreation & Parks Department
Recreation Camp (7-week day camp for 5- to 15-year-olds)
South Burlington, Vt.
Random Nature Hike/Photo Safari
Groups of various sizes can be used. Each group should have:
· A digital camera that can be accessed (smart card)
· A set of index cards.
On each index card is an instruction, such as:
· Go toward the loudest sound you hear.
· Go toward something colored red.
· Go towards the tallest tree you can see.
· Go in the direction of (whatever comes to your imagination).
Each group has an identical set of cards–but organized in a different order–so each group’s starting point is different.
Depending on time and available space, the groups travel in one general direction (it is O.K. to go around large objects) for a set period of time (about 10 minutes). On the way, they take a picture of something that goes with the theme (we are a church camp and ask campers to look for signs of hope, which fits the theme for the day). They snap the picture(s). After all the cards are used, the smart cards are collected and the pictures are assembled into a slide show–choose an appropriate musical underscore. This is a nice way to close the activity or the day.
–Lorrie Loughney
Camp Lackawanna
Tunkhannock, Pa.
Camp Council
Our day-camp program started “Camp Council” this past summer. Monday morning is Election Day, and the campers have a great time running for Camp Council as well as supporting their fellow campers. Each group has the chance to vote for its group council member, who receives a bandana with the group’s color. Our camp teaches the YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Each Camp Council member has to demonstrate the core values throughout the week. Camp Council members are responsible for leading their group to activities, making sure their campsite is clean, planning activities each day, and nominating someone in their group to win the camp’s “Gold Star Award.” The Gold Star is awarded to one outstanding camper each week. This program is a huge success, and lets our campers really have a voice in the programming.
–Sara Perna
Fort Meigs YMCA Day Camp
Perrysburg, Ohio
One With Nature
We believe in the principle of “Last Child in the Woods,” and incorporate lots of nature and arts and crafts. After collecting rocks, pine cones, acorns, sweet gum balls, etc., we paint rock “animals.” We hunt and identify wildflowers, collect leaves, make collages, and create picture holders from pine cones, acorns, etc., by gluing them to a small piece of cardboard. Children need to know how to simplify their lives and use their imagination. I know I don’t have a “thing” that will keep them coming, but I feel we have a “theme” with our dedication to getting kids into nature and the outdoors.
–Debra Banks, Programs Coordinator
Newton County Recreation Commission
Covington, Ga.
Lessons In Expression
Rolling Down The Road
Space requirements: Small (indoor works best)
Time requirements: 2 minutes per participant
Equipment needed: Large poster of a road winding through a landscape. Butcher paper works great. Road signs made from construction paper. Participants can make their own signs or you can make them ahead of time. Tape.
Activity description: Using butcher paper, create a picture of a road stretching from the left side of the paper to the right. Have it climb and dip and perhaps cross a river. The larger the group, the bigger the picture needs to be.
Give the group construction paper, markers and scissors to create road signs that can be placed along the road, or create them ahead of time for the group to choose from.
These road signs, and their placement, should be created to describe metaphorically where the participant sees him/her self in their particular process.
When everyone has completed their sign, have them come up to the front of the group and place their sign somewhere along the road. After they place the sign they explain to the group why they’ve chosen that particular sign and location.
–John Beitner
Tumbleweed Day Camp
Los Angeles, Calif.
Day Campers
Flip-Flopping Schedules
One of the top new activities this year at our day camp was an “’under-night,” where the camp was offered from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. instead of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The campers had a BBQ, watched a movie, and attended a “Build-a-Bear” workshop. Due to popular demand, the event was opened up to kids who were not registered in the current session, but had come to camp earlier in the summer. For those who could not come for the under-night, the regular camp day was still offered in order to meet the needs of the families we serve.
–Ted Cox, Manager of Administration and Leisure
City of Côte Saint-Luc Parks and Recreation Department
Côte Saint-Luc, Québec, Canada
Mud Bowl
We had our parks department plow a large field then the fire department hosed down the dirt so it was sloppy, slippery and oh-so-messy. Teams of five people each paid $25 to participate in various semi-competitive events in the mud, including volleyball, tug-of-war, belly sliding and other fun activities. We had lots of spectators because it was fun seeing friends covered in mud. The fire department then hosed everyone down. We had great participation from older teens and adults.
–Silvana Clark
Bellingham, Wash.
Full-Time RV
I planned this event, thinking there would be a small turnout, and was surprised to get over 50 people. A local family traveled around the United States in a RV for a year, so I invited them to do a presentation about their experiences: where they went, home schooling, cost, etc. They brought their RV, and class participants checked it out. This was one of those events you plan and then realize how many people are interested in the topic.
–Silvana Clark
Bellingham, Wash.
Outdoor Adventure Camp
Our camp kids love to dissect owl pellets, seeing “whose owl ate the most” by counting the number of skulls they find. Before the dissections begin, we include a short educational talk about birds of prey, how and what they eat, and what the pellets actually are. Each child receives a bone-tracking chart, and tries to find as many different bones as possible. Pellets and supplies can be ordered online. We have also done this activity with standard day camps and science camps, as well as outdoor camps. It is a hit, no matter what camp has this activity on its schedule.
–Denice Neal, Coppell Aquatic & Recreation Center Manager
Coppell Parks & Recreation
Coppell, Texas
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