How To Plan A Preschool Summer Camp (20+ Activities List)

Introduction

Summer is just around the corner! As early childhood educators, we know this means one thing: planning an engaging preschool summer camp activities list for curious little campers.

Here at illumine, we’ve been in the trenches (well, the playrooms) for over half a decade. We’ve seen trends come and go, and we understand the importance of activities that are not only fun but also manageable. Hence, we’ve compiled a list of trending preschool summer camp activity ideas that are:

• Easy to plan: No need for complicated prep work. These activities can be implemented with minimal resources, freeing up your time to engage with your campers.
  
  
• Adaptable for all ages: From toddlers to preschoolers, these activities can be easily adjusted to fit the developmental needs of your group.
  
  
• Learnt through play: Fun and engaging, these activities foster creativity, critical thinking, and social skills – all essential building blocks for young learners.
  
  
• Budget-friendly: Who says learning can’t be affordable? Most of these activities utilise low-cost materials or everyday items you already have in hand.
  
  
• Safe and sound: Safety is our top priority. These activities are age-appropriate with clear safety protocols to ensure a worry-free summer for everyone.

Trending Preschool Summer Camp Activities List (with examples)

Let’s dive in and explore how to make your preschool summer program the coolest one on the block.

1. Sprinkle in some STEM

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) are hot topics, for a good reason! These skills are essential for future success and parents would be happy to know their kids will begin their STEM learning. The beauty is, you can incorporate them seamlessly into classic camp activities.

Cardboard Castle Challenge

Cardboard castle is a fun summer camp craft idea for preschoolers to turn fort building into a mini-engineering challenge! Provide a variety of materials like blankets, cardboard boxes, and pillows. Challenge campers to design structures that withstand a playful “earthquake” (a gentle nudge!). This encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork.

Nature Detectives

Nature exploration takes on a whole new dimension with a STEM twist. Equip campers with magnifying glasses and clipboards. Turn it into a scavenger hunt where they collect leaves of different shapes and sizes, encouraging them to classify and identify patterns. You can even introduce basic measurement concepts by having them estimate the length of leaves or the distance between trees.

DIY Slime Scientists

Slime is a classic camp activity, but let’s give it a scientific twist! Use this opportunity to explore the properties of solids and liquids. Experiment with different recipes, adding glitter for visual appeal or food colouring to explore colour mixing. Discuss the science behind the slime’s consistency and texture.

The Great Seed Launch

Planting seeds is a timeless kindergarten summer camp activity idea, but let’s add some engineering flair! Challenge campers to design and build seed launchers from recycled materials like straws or cardboard tubes. Experiment with different launch angles and materials to see which seeds travel the farthest.

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2. Embrace the great outdoors

There’s a growing movement to reconnect kids with nature, and summer camp is the perfect opportunity to answer that call!

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Create a scavenger hunt list to identify different trees, flowers, or insects in your outdoor space. This encourages observation skills and appreciation for the natural world.

Sensory Nature Walk

Blindfold children for short periods (with adult supervision) during a nature walk. Encourage them to describe the sounds, smells, and textures they experience, heightening their awareness of nature’s sensory details.

Stargazing Soiree

As night falls, spread out a blanket and gaze at the stars. Share interesting facts about constellations, planets, or the moon, sparking curiosity about the universe. You can even create a simple constellation map or play a fun game of “I Spy” with celestial objects.

Planting Power

Set up a small vegetable or herb garden together. Let children participate in the planting process, nurturing the seeds, and harvesting the fruits (or vegetables!) of their labor. This teaches responsibility and the importance of healthy food.

3. Celebrate the world around us

Summer camps are a fantastic platform to explore cultural curiosity. Dedicate each week to a different country. Learn a simple greeting in the native language, explore traditional music and dance, or create artwork inspired by famous landmarks. You can even take your taste buds on a journey by introducing the children to a new dish from that region!

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Global Games Day

Organise a day dedicated to playing games worldwide. This could include classics like hopscotch (UK) or variations of tag from different countries (like “Duck, Duck, Goose” in the US or “Piko” in the Philippines). Learn a few basic phrases in different languages to use while playing, adding a fun language-learning element.

Country of the Week

Dedicate each week to exploring a different country. Research basic facts, famous landmarks, traditional clothing, and even a simple greeting in the native language. Plan activities throughout the week that reflect the chosen culture. This could involve storytelling based on folktales, creating artwork inspired by famous artists, or learning a few basic musical phrases on traditional instruments (like rhythm sticks or simple drums).

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World Music Dance Party

Put on some upbeat music from different cultures around the world. Encourage children to move and groove along, imitating the traditional dance styles they’ve learned about throughout the camp. This is a fun way to get active while celebrating cultural diversity.

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Teach a simple Folk Dance

Choose a simple folk dance from a specific country and teach the steps to your campers. This could be a line dance, a circle dance, or a partner dance (depending on age and comfort level). Learning a dance is a fun way to experience another culture’s traditions and express themselves creatively.

4. Summer Camp Theme Ideas For Preschoolers

Themed weeks are a fantastic way to keep things exciting and cater to many interests, especially for indoor summer camp activities schedules. They offer a springboard to connect various activities and learning objectives. For example, a “Mythology Adventure” week could weave together storytelling, arts and crafts inspired by mythical creatures and even basic science experiments related to the elements or natural phenomena. They also create anticipation and excitement for the week ahead. Here are some inspiring theme ideas with activity examples to get those creative juices flowing:

1. Under the Sea Exploration!

• Arts & Crafts: Transform cardboard boxes into colourful submarines, create sparkling jellyfish with tissue paper and streamers, or craft seashell mobiles.
• Science Experiments: Build an erupting underwater volcano with baking soda and vinegar, or create a miniature ocean current in a tank using dish soap and glitter.
• Sensory Play: Fill a bin with blue-dyed water, plastic sea creatures, and sand for a cool and refreshing sensory experience.
• Story Time: Dive into classic ocean tales like “The Little Mermaid” or “Finding Nemo,” or create your own underwater adventure story together as a group.

2. Blast Off to Space Week

• Physical Activities: Simulate zero gravity with a “moonwalk” relay race or create your own space obstacle course.
• Arts & Crafts: Design and decorate cardboard spaceships, build a model solar system using papier-mache planets, or create constellation collages using glow-in-the-dark paint.
• STEAM Activities: Learn about the moon’s phases with a simple Oreo cookie demonstration, or build a mini rocket that launches with the power of Alka-Seltzer!
• Dramatic Play: Set up a dramatic play area with astronaut costumes and props, encouraging imaginative storytelling about space exploration.

3. Fairytale Fun!

• Dramatic Play: Turn a corner of your space into a magical castle or a whimsical forest, complete with costumes and props for fairytale role-playing.
• Arts & Crafts: Design and decorate your own fairy tale crowns or tiaras, create masks of your favourite fairytale characters, or illustrate scenes from classic fairytales.
• Culinary Creations: Whip up some “gruel” fit for the Three Bears (oatmeal with different toppings!), bake gingerbread houses decorated with candy, or make a healthy fruit salad inspired by a fairytale feast.
• Storytelling and Acting: Read classic fairytales aloud, then have the children act out their favourite scenes. Encourage creativity and improvisation.

Remember, this list is just a springboard for your summer camp adventures. Get creative, tailor activities to different age groups, and most importantly, have fun along with the young ones.