The Craftiest Workshop

Our family did a lot of camping when I was young.

We would drive our school bus camper to Duck Mountain Provincial park and camp every summer.

I have fond memories of going to the campfires organized by the Park staff and singing camp songs.

I spent many hours playing in the lake and sitting beside the campfire.

Some children never get the chance to go camping so sometimes you need to bring the camping experience indoors.

BOOKS

Scaredy Squirrel goes Camping by Melanie Watt

Let’s Go Camping with Mr. Sillypants by Mary K. Brown

Do Princesses Make Happy Campers? by Carmela LaVigna Coyle

Just Me and My Dad by Mercer Mayer

Hello Muddah!, Hello Faddah!: (a letter from camp) by Allan Sherman

Moon Camp by Barry Gott

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SONGS

The Smore Song

^{Tune of “On Top of Old Smoky”}

On top of my cracker

So yummy and sweet.

I’ll put on some chocolate

To make a good treat.

Then comes the marshmallow,

So sticky and soft

And then one more cracker,

so it won’t fall off.

I put it together.

So gently I press.

If I squeeze it too hard.

It will make a big mess.

I’m ready to eat it

This thing called a smore

Oh my, it’s so yummy.

I think I’ll have more!!

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Baby Bumblebee

I’m bringing home my baby bumblebee

Won’t my momma be so proud of me

I’m bringing home my baby bumblebee

Oo! Eee! He stung me.

I’m squishing up my baby bumble bee

Won’t my momma be so proud of me

I’m squishing up my baby bumblebee

Oo! Ee! He’s all over me

I’m wiping off my baby bumblebee

Won’t my momma be so proud of me

I’m wiping off my baby bumblebee

Oo! Ee! He’s still on me

I’m licking up my baby bumblebee

Won’t my momma be so proud of me

I’m licking up my baby bumblebee

Oo! Ee! It’s strawberry!!

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Walking in the forest

^{(tune of “The Adams Family”)}

Walking in the forest what do I hear

I think I hear an owl coming after me

I think it’s an owl whoo whoo whoo whoo, whoo whoo whoo whoo whoo

I think it’s an owl whoo whoo whoo whoo, whoo whoo whoo whoo whoo

Walking in the forest what do I hear

I think I hear a snake close to my ear

I think it’s a snake sss sss sss sss, sss sss sss sss sss

I think it’s a snake sss sss sss sss, sss sss sss sss sss

Walking in the forest what do I hear

I think I hear a wolf coming after me

I think it’s a wolf (make howling noises)

I think it’s a wolf (make howling noises)

Walking through the forest what do I hear

I think I hear a bear crashing after me

I think it’s a bear (ROAR)

I think it’s a bear (ROAR)

Running through the forest back to my tent

I think I hear my heart pounding in my ears

It’s just my heart, boom boom boom boom, boom boom boom boom

I’t’s just my heart, boom boom boom boom, boom boom boom boom

(Get softer as you finish the song)

CRAFTS

Hand print fire craft

Fifth wheel Camper Craft

Owl Craft

Just use some scrap wood, add buttons or paper and some pipe cleaner feet.

Draw or paint in the body.

Tent Paper Craft

ACTIVITIES

Dramatic Play Camping

Set up a small tent, Offer sleeping bags, camping chairs and a fake campfire.

Allow the children to have play time and let them to pretend to be camping.

Musical Stumps

Make some fake stumps and place them around a pretend campfire.

Play some campfire music and have the children try to sit on a stump when the music stops.

Remove a stump each time until only two children are left trying to sit on the last stump.

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Nature Scavenger Hunt

Use an egg carton for each child and have pictures of things that they should be able to find when walking around outside.

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SENSORY

Create musical rain stick

Heat up some Campfire Cones

A waffle cone stuffed with mini marshmallows, chocolate, fruit, golden grahams wrap in foil and put them in the oven, bbq or fire for an ooey gooey treat.

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Swimming at the lake

If you can set up a kiddie pool outside and get access to water, it is a great sensory activity for children.

They could bring their beach towels and you could set it up near a sandbox so they can pretend they are playing in the sand at the beach.

An easier and less messy idea would to be to use a sand and water table like the one below. It even has its own beach umbrella.

These are just some of the ideas for bringing the camping experience to children in your care. Nothing beats the real thing but you can make the idea of camping indoors really fun.