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CAMPING THEME
You can use other related themes: nature, animals etc for more ideas (I don't like duplicating too much!)

CRAFTS:

Bagel Bird Feeder
Have children spread peanut butter on a bagel. When done, dip bagel in bird seed. Attach a piece of yarn and hang outside on tree branches or on fence.

Camping Buckets (Cubs / Scouts)
These recycled multipurpose buckets are great for Cub scouts or campers. You can personalize them, store your rain gear inside and even use them as a stool.
What you'll need: 5 gallon new (empty) paint buckets with lids (see tips below) • Permanent markers or "Painters" paint markers • Paints and sponges, optional • Pliers, optional 
How to make it: First thing you need to do is remove the tear strip from the lid! If you can't pull it off by hand you can use the pliers to help you get a firmer grip. 
Let the children use markers or paint and sponges to decorate their paint buckets in the Camp theme. Note: Our theme this year is Cubs Around the World. 
Give each child a list of supplies they need to bring to camp and have them bring it in their bucket. 
Tips:
• Purchase the paint buckets through your local Home Improvement or Paint Store. 
• Let your Cubs create these buckets and take them to camp pre-decorated match the camp theme. 
• Young campers can bring their rain ponchos, bug guard, sun screen, etc. and place them in their own bucket. 
Notes:
The paint and markers being applied to a slick surface is likely to chip. If you would like to mix in equal parts of Plaid Folk Art paint with Glass & Tile medium the paint may adhere better. Generally though, the buckets were made just to decorate camp for one week and did just fine enduring the week of being bumped around.
The buckets come in handy to hold an individual child's projects, such as lanyard projects, in and they don't get mixed up. It is also an easy way for them to bring everything home on the last day of camp.

Camping Collage
Collect leaves, pebbles, twigs, pine cones, et. Provide glue and sturdy tagboard. Encourage the children to create a collage on the tagboard using the materials found while camping.

Easel Crafts 
*paint with leaves, sticks, flowers and rocks. 
*paint with colors seen in the forest such as brown, green, yellow & orange. 
*cut easel paper into the following shapes: tent, rabbits, chipmunks, fish.

Nature Wreaths
Cut the center out a paper plate. Then children can add nature items that they have found outside. They can embellish their wreaths with glitter and ribbon and other odds and ends!

Stickman
Take the children out to hunt for their own stick. Then let them paint and decorate the sticks with odds and ends. They can add wiggly eyes also. They come out so cute and bright! 

Tackle Box 
Make two holes approximately three inches apart in the center of the lid of an egg carton. To form the handle, thread a cord through the holes and tie. Paint the box. In the box, place paper clips for hooks and S-shaped styrofoam pieces for worms.
 
 

GAMES & ACTIVITIES:

Camp Fire (fireless)
Using paper towel tubes and yellow, red and orange tissue paper crumpled up, make a campfire. Put carpet squares or real rocks and logs around it to sit on during story or circle time.

LandMine
I saw this on one of my many scout camps. This is more designed for Cubs and up (8 yr & up)
Make a large grid - each square big enough to fit a person sanding in it. Let say eight squares wide, eight square long - you can make it any size. (10x10 or 12x12, etc)
Before hand you will draw this out on a piece of paper, marking which squares (on paper) is the mine. There will be a start and a finish - the goal is to reach the finish mark without hitting a mine. If the child hit a mine, they go to the end of the line and the next child starts at the beginning. This is a good memory game. Have different mine fields designed ahead of time - great fun for the whole time!

Hike
What is camping without exploring!

Types of Tents
Chair-Back Tents: Make two parallel rows of chairs with four chairs in each row. Have the backs of the chairs facing inward. Leave enough space between the chairs for children to crawl and play. Drape a blanket or sheet over them.

Tree Tied Tent: Loop a 6-8 foot length of rope around a tree about 5 feet from the ground and tie it. Pull the rope out as far from the tree as it will reach. At that point, fasten the rope to the ground by tying it to a peg or tent stake you stick in the ground. Fold an old sheet into a triangle and lay across the rope to make a tent. Use sticks or rocks to hold down the corners.

Umbrella Tent: Open an old, large umbrella (patio table size) and stick the handle firmly into the ground so that the umbrella stands up by itself. Drape a sheet over the umbrella to form a one person tent. ** You might want to use the pole stand for extra support.
 
 

SONGS:

Idea!
Play "nature" tapes during quiet play or namp time. They come in all kinds of choices these days.
 

STORIES:

Have any good stories? Let us know!
 

FOOD SUGGESTIONS:

S'Mores 
Place a large marshmallow on a square graham cracker. Next place a square of sweet chocolate on top of the marshmallow. After this, place the graham cracker on a baking sheet into a 250-degree oven for about 5 minutes or until the chocolate starts to melt. Remove the s'more and press a second graham cracker square on top of the chocolate. Let cool for a few minutes, and serve while still slightly warm.

HOT DOGS and beans or campfire stew for snack time.
 
 
 

TIPS/NOTES: