Mamas Facing Forward Stay Home Summer Camp was a project I developed during the isolated summer of 2020. For each theme I provide a menu of options to choose from, including: virtual learning resources, easy craft & snack ideas, simple activities, books, and movies/TV.
Trust me, whether you do it for a full week or just for a day, there’s something magical about doing a bunch of activities that all share the same theme. In fact, even though my kids will be traveling and attending regular summer camp this year, they’ve also requested some Stay Home Camp – so stay tuned for a couple of new themes!! I’ve also added “field trip ideas” to themes from past years as well.
I hope these ideas will provide your family with a little fun – while at the same time making summer a bit easier for you!!
Love, Mariah
DESERT CAMP!
Below you’ll find a menu of ideas for learning, crafts, activities, books, and things to watch that all focus on deserts. I’ve tried to keep ideas pretty simple and make use of items you may already have – while also making it fun for the kids! I’ve also included a free printable you can hang up at home while you work on this theme.
NEW! Field Trip Ideas:
- To local playgrounds with desert features
- To the local botanic garden
- To the local garden story to look at cactus
- To the zoo to look at desert dwelling creatures
- To the library to get more books about deserts
- To any local nature area to talk about how it is similar/different from the desert
Things To Learn:
- How to draw (Source: Art for Kids Hub)
- Explore together
online
- Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
- Brain POP Arts & Music (If your school does not provide you with a BrainPOP account already, you can request free access during school closures)
- DK Find Out! Deserts
- National Geographic Kids Desert Habitat
- PBS Kids – Plum Landing games
Things To Make:
- Accordion Snake
- Recommended materials: construction paper, scissors, tape
- Instructions: Art for Kids Hub
- Cardboard Cactus Construction Set
- Recommended materials: cardboard, scissors, paint
- Instructions: Pink Stripey Socks
- Cardboard Tube Frilled Neck
Lizards
- Recommended materials: paper towel tubes, cupcake wrappers, googly eyes, glue, paint
- Instructions: The Craft Train
- Desert Sunset Silhouette
- Recommended materials: black construction paper, scissors, glue, colored construction paper or water colors
- Instructions with ripped paper: Kids Artists
- Instructions with water colors: Still Playing School
- Easy Paper Cactus Craft
- Recommended materials: cardstock, white and black markers, scissors, stapler
- Instructions: Our Kid Things
- Origami Scorpion
- Recommended materials: origami paper
- Instructions: Origami: Paper Folding Fun
Things To Do:
- Creating Sand Dunes
- Recommended materials: sand, drinking straw
- Instructions: Simple Play Ideas
- Evaporation Station
- Recommended materials: paintbrush, construction paper, sandwich bag
- Optional videos: The Lost Lake & The Search for Shrimp
- Instructions: PBD Kids – Plum Landing
- Playdough Cactus
- Recommended materials: green playdough, toothpicks, pipe cleaner segments, stones, small containers
- Instructions: Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls
- Sand Foam
- Recommended materials: 3 cups of sand, shaving foam
- Instructions: PagingFunMums!
- Solar S’mores
- Recommended materials: pizza box, aluminum foil, scissors, glue, black construction paper
- Instructions: Butter with a side of Bread
Time For A Break!
- Books to read:
- Alejandro’s Gift by Richard E. Albert
- Cactus Hotel by Brenda Z. Guiberson
- Creatures of the Desert World by National Geographic Society
- Desert Baths by Darcy Pattison
- Lizards for Lunch: A Roadrunner’s Tale by Conrad J. Storad
- The Seed and the Giant Saguaro by Jennifer Ward
- Way Out In The Desert by T. J. Marsh
- Why Oh Why Are Deserts Dry? by Tish Rabe
- Documentaries to
watch:
- Planet Earth – Episode 5
- Planet Earth II – Episode 4
- TV shows to watch:
- Bill Nye The Science Guy
- Season 2: Episode 18
- Season 4: Episode 12
- Reading Rainbow
- Season 1: Episode 8
- Season 7: Episode 7
- Season 13: Episode 3
- The Magic School Bus
- Season 1: Episode 7
- Season 2: Episode 12
- Wild Kratts
- Season 2: Episode 17, 21, 22, 23, 24
- Season 6: Episode 2, 4
- Bill Nye The Science Guy