As Spring Break approaches, I thought I’d share with you a camp idea that flourished in our neighborhood this past summer. I approached three creative Mommies and asked if they’d like to create a Neighborhood Kids Camp – they did –so we did – and it was a tremendous success!
Here’s the basic set-up:
Each Mommy took a 10am to 1pm time slot during the week and designed activities around a chosen theme. On a given day, the kids enjoyed activities and lunch while the other Mommies relished in their extra free time. Everyone was happy. (We had a total of six kids with an age range of 5 to 11.)
I was in charge of Monday and oversaw the creation of a 10 minute film that included super heroes, stolen teddy bears, and a city mayor with an English accent. The campers designed their costumes, scripted their lines, were responsible for graphics/art and wrote and performed the best super hero theme song I’ve ever know. (I still can’t get it out of my head!)
Here’s the basic set-up:
Each Mommy took a 10am to 1pm time slot during the week and designed activities around a chosen theme. On a given day, the kids enjoyed activities and lunch while the other Mommies relished in their extra free time. Everyone was happy. (We had a total of six kids with an age range of 5 to 11.)
I was in charge of Monday and oversaw the creation of a 10 minute film that included super heroes, stolen teddy bears, and a city mayor with an English accent. The campers designed their costumes, scripted their lines, were responsible for graphics/art and wrote and performed the best super hero theme song I’ve ever know. (I still can’t get it out of my head!)
On day #2, Neighbor N spearheaded backyard theater games that inspired giggles and silliness of all kinds. (These skits were later performed for parents.)
Wednesday: Neighbor T facilitated a cardboard box engineering activity on a large scale. (Oh the sadness, when the masterpiece was finally recycled – two months later!)
The last day of camp brought Neighbor C and her world of magical gardening fun. She had the kids digging both at home and in the nearby community garden. (My five year-old now regularly informs me which plants are annuals vs. perennials.)
Then at the end of the week, our group of four families traveled to the mountains for an overnight camping trip. (I conveniently had a prior engagement and so missed the sleeping in the dark, dirty, buggy forest part... <em, I mean> camping in the great outdoors.)
All this and no hefty camp bills made me appreciate my sweet neighborhood even more. Knowing these great Moms - I had high hopes for our self-created kids camp, but was impressed beyond measure at the fun in which my sons engaged. Having three additional mornings to work (and not be in charge of hungry mouths) was an added bonus. A bonus I hope to repeat during another school break coming soon....