fun with kids (and adults)

[Zoe Girl]

i have had a week of summer camp so far and it has gone well. i haven't even had to give an insulin shot yet first time with a diabetic child. i started thinking that maybe people would have kids to play with over the summer or just want to do fun things themselves, here are my favorites so far

* water dodge ball, with sponges or the water balls for the pool in really cold water
* freeze tage, large squirt bottles with really cold water, taggers squirt the runners and then runners really freeze (i usually put in 10 jumping jacks to get back into the game so no one sits too long)
* giant twister (lightly spray paint on the grass the twister game)
* egg drop, using recycled materials to create a way to drop a raw egg from a height and not have it break, we are calling it lunar lander this year for our space theme and then our facilities team will drop it off the top of the building
* painting rocks for an outdoors checkers game (or it is possible to make a chess game)


Hope that helps you have a super fun summer

[Alan]

I no longer have little kids to enjoy the summer with, although this past weekend we took our 13 year old grandson white water rafting in West Virginia. He had a great time! Look at the big smile on his face (he's center right).
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/t31.0-8/11406267_10204745713068809_3702193102014698082_o.j pg

[SteveinMN]

Every time I see a picture of white-water rafters, it looks like they're having a tremendous time. Sometime I really should try that -- before the bones are too brittle to manage the trip. :)

[Alan]

Sometime I really should try that -- before the bones are too brittle to manage the trip. :)We go several times a year and we always end up with a good selection of contemporaries, meaning 60ish, I've even rafted with folks in their 70's and 80's. Water doesn't hurt brittle bones, although the rocks can be troublesome.

[SteveinMN]

Water doesn't hurt brittle bones, although the rocks can be troublesome.
Good to know. AFA I know, my bones are not especially brittle. But the falls sure seem harder nowadays.

[Valley]

Sounds like you came up with some great ideas for camp Anne!

[Float On]

We go several times a year and we always end up with a good selection of contemporaries, meaning 60ish, I've even rafted with folks in their 70's and 80's. Water doesn't hurt brittle bones, although the rocks can be troublesome.

I have a friend that left the art show circuit to become a raft guide in NC. He's 65 and having a great time.

[Float On]

Zoe Girl, all your ideas are great. My degree is in recreation and I have a long list of fun wacky made up games to play. I loved working with Jr High and Sr High age.

[Tiam]

I just accepted a position for a playgroup leader this summer. My age range of expertise is 4/5. The position was through my work and didn't tell me the age group was 7 through 10! What? I'm thrown for a curve. Every activity and suggestion is appreciated!

[Zoe Girl]

hey tiam, 7-10's are great ages, you won't need to prepare as many things. However i suspect you will be working with a larger group. are you doing a variety of sports, stem, arts, garden, etc. or a single theme?

At the beginning tag games and soccer, especially with names. i play dragons tail at the beginning, they put a bandana or cloth in their pocket and play tag, if you pull a dragon tail you have to know the person's name. to keep the game going they do 10 jumping jacks to get back in, if you know the name the tagged person gets 10 jumping jacks and if you don't then the tagger does 10 jumping jacks.

making as many types of goo and explosions as you can, slime, oobleck, diet coke with mentos, volcanoes. those are showing chemical reactions as well as fun. As compared to younger kids get them into the measuring and mixing, pairs or small groups with directions that they have to try out more as an experiment than a craft. you can also do a lot of this with food. hummus and smoothies do not have a strict recipe so what do they want to try?