1. 1
Day Camp 2015
Table of Contents:
I. Schedules(p. 2-4)
II. Arts and Crafts (p. 5-8)
III. Water Games (p. 9-10)
IV. Field Games (p. 11-12)
V. Time fillers and Odd games (p. 13)
VI. Tips and tricks (p. 14-15)

2. 2
I. Schedules:
Schedule with tennis:
o 8:50-9:30: Arrival
o Free play - Indoors
 Play doe
 Coloring
 Just dance
 Oshka and Statues
 Hula hoops
 Balloons
o 9:20: release morning golfers, begin cleanup
o 9:30-10:30:tennis (1hr)
o Counselor leave a bit early to set up craft
o 10:30-10:50:Craft time (30)
o 10:50:release golfers!
o 10:50-11:00= Clean up (10)
o 11:00-11:30:free play or group game
o Also Use this time to get everyone ready for swimming
o Sunscreen before lunch so it has a chance to soak in
o 11:30 lunch
o 12ish/Lunch is over: release those who wantto swim (2 hrs)
o Alternative inside or outside activities
o 2:00: pool round up
o 2:15: snack time (30)
o Have kids dry off and change clothes before snack time
o 2:45: indoor free play/ waitfor pick up (15)
o Make sure campers have all of their things together (including
both shoes)before their parents arrive

3. 3
Schedule without tennis:
o 8:50-9:30: Arrival
o Free play - Indoors
 Play doe
 Coloring
 Just dance
 Oshka and Statues
 Balloons
o 9:30: release morning golf
o 9:30-9:50: Craft time (30)
o 9:50-10:00:Clean up the room (10)
o 10:00-10:20:ice breaker or group games (20)
o Have one counselor setting up water games outside
o 10:20:release golf
o 10:20-10:30:get campers in swimsuits and sunscreen
o 10:30-11:30:water games orfield games
o 11:30:Lunch
o 12ish:swim (2 hours)
o 2:00: pool round up
o Have kids dry off and change clothes before snack time
o 2:15: snack
o 2:45: indoor free play/ waitfor pick up (15)

4. 4
Rainy Day Plan:
o 8:50-9:30: Arrival
o Free play - Indoors
 Coloring
 Just dance
 Board games
 Oshka and Statues
 Down by the banks
o 9:30-10:30:games
o Gorilla man gun
o The knot
o Ships and sailors
o Musical Chairs!
 Surprisingly successfulgame. Use candy prizes to make
this game even more fun
o (Have one counselor setting up craft)
o 10:30-11:00:Craft
o 11:00-11:30:free play
o 11:30-12:00:Lunch
o 12:00-1:45:movie
o Set the chairs up movie theatre style, hand out popcorn, and
dim the lights
o Give campers a choice between 2 movies (no more than 2 or it
gets complicated)
o 1:45-2:15: balloongames
o Balloon waddle
o Nose balloon
o Balloon bottompop race
o Balloon ping pong
o 2:15-2:30: snack
(Have supplies for easy time fillers like marshmallow pyramids and toilet
paper mummies just in case time starts to drag)

5. 5
II. Arts & Crafts
o “Armpit fudge”
o Easy (besides all the measuring) and a big hit with campers!
o http://cubscoutideas.com/1176/how-to-make-armpit-fudge/
o Each camper will need:
 ½ cup powdered sugar
 1 tablespoon butter
 2 teaspoons cream cheese
 ¼ teaspoonvanilla extract
 2 teaspoons cocoapowder
 2 zip lock baggies (double bag it incase the bag pops)
 5 cups (1 for each premeasured ingredient)
 Spoon
 Napkins
o Counselor will need
 Measuring cups
 Measuring spoons
 Baby wipes for sticky hands and faces
o How to:
 Premeasure all the ingredients for campers. Campers put
all of the ingredients in their Ziploc bag. Squeeze the air
out of the bag and seal it. Put that bag in a second bag.
Knead until all of the ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
o Ice cream in a bag
o http://www.food.com/recipe/homemade-ice-cream-in-a-bag-
34257
o Each camper will need:
 Half cup of half and half
 1 tablespoon sugar
 ¼ tsp. vanilla
 2 sandwich Ziploc bags
 1 gallon Ziploc bags
 3 cups ice
 1/3 cup rock salt
 Spoon
 4 cups (for vanilla and sugar and ice and rocksalt)

6. 6
o Counselor will need
 Measuring cups
 Measuring spoons
 Tub of ice
 Baby wipes
 Patience 
o Make sure campers know which is rock salt and which is sugar!
o Use rock salt not regular salt, as it is significantly more
effective at keeping ice cold.
o Have an extra cooler of ice, as theirs can melt quickly
o Counselors should come around put the half and half in each
camper’s bag and help make sure they are sealed. Don’t
premeasure this and leave it at their seats, as it spills easily and
they have trouble adding it to their bags.
o How to:
1. Campers mix sugar and vanilla in sandwich bag. Double
bag it to prevent bag breakage.
2. Counselors add the half and half to avoid spilling and
help seal the bags.
3. Campers put ice and rock salt in their gallon bag.
4. Campers put SEALED sandwich bags in gallon bag and
shake until their ice cream is creamy.
5. (Set up a station by the extra ice where campers can
LINE UP to get more ice, or have their ice cream
checked to see if it is done. If it is, take their ice bag and
give them a spoon. If not, give them more ice and tell
them to keep on shaking.)
6. (If all goes wrong and a camper’s ice cream doesn’twork
out, get them a popsicle from down stairs)
o Painting rocks
o Low stress and surprisingly entertaining!
o It’s a good idea to tell parents the day before this craft so they
don’tcome in clothes they can’t get a little paint on. Campers
can also bring a large “paint shirt” to put on over their clothes.
o http://hodgepodgecraft.com/20-reasons-to-paint-rocks-yes-
really-part-1/

7. 7
 (Has lots of ideas on what to paint. Show some to the
campers before starting to give them some inspiration)
o Each camper will need:
 Smooth rocks (You can buy a bag at Dollar tree or Lows)
link to $1 dollar tree rocks I used
 Paint brush
 Acrylic paints (limit them to choosing 3 colors to start
with, or you can run out in 5 minutes)
 Cup of water (don’tfill it all the way, kids spill things)
 1-2 Paper plates (1 for palate, 1 for rocks, or one for
both)
o Counselor will need:
 Baggies
 Enough water to fill their rinse cups
o How to:
 Paint the rocks
 I found it helpful to have each camper move their plates
with their finished rocks to the table by the bags where
they could dry. I came around and put a plastic baggie
under each plate so that when they left they could put
their dry rock art in baggies to take home.
o Peanut butter bird feeders (if no one has a peanut allergy!!!)
o These guys don’texactly hold up very well once they get
outside, but the campers have fun making them.
o Each camper will need:
 Toilet paper roll (Save the TP rolls from toilet paper
mummies. You can also cut up paper towel rolls, so save
these throughout the week.)
 Ribbon or string (Err on the side of long.)
 Bird seed
 Peanut butter
 Paper plate or one of those nacho baskets from the
kitchen
 Plastic knife
o Counselor needs
 Hole punch
 Scissors
 Baby wipes for sticky hands

8. 8
 Plastic bags and sharpie
o How to:
 Campers use knife to spread peanut butter on TP roll
 Roll TP roll in bird seed
 Tie on ribbon so it can now hang from a tree. (Campers
might need help tying ribbon)
 After drying a bit, have campers put bird feeders in
named baggie so mom doesn’tend up with peanut butter
and birdseed all over the car.

9. 9
III. Water games
Sponge Relay
Description
Divide the campers into two teams and have them line up behind a starting
line. Each team gets a small empty bucket and a large sponge. At the finish
line, place two larger buckets filled with water. Tell the campers that on the
word go, the first person in line must run to his/her team's water bucket,
dunk the spongein, run backwith it and squeeze all the water from the
sponge into the team's empty bucket. They then pass the sponge to the next
person, and so on until one team fills up their empty bucket with water. That
team wins.
Just before you say go, stop and tell the campers that, wait, there is one more
rule! The wet sponges must be carried ABOVE their heads as they run back
from the water buckets. They will get wet and have fun!
(The favorite camp water game)
Wet Shirt Relay
Description
Fill four buckets with water and place them about 10 feet apart in a straight
line. Put a t-shirt in each.
Divide the group into four teams, and have each team line up across from a
bucket, about 20 feet away.
Once the race begins, the first member runs to the bucket, puts on the wet t-
shirt, and runs back to his/her team. When he/she reaches the team, he/she
removes the shirt and gives it to the next person.
The next personruns with the shirt in hand to the bucket, dunks the shirt into
the water, and puts on the wet shirt.

10. 10
Back to Back
Description
Split children up into partners, however many as necessary. Then put them
next to their bucket of water balloons.
This is a relay race so have another bucket about 15 feet away.
The players have to put the water balloon between both of their backs and
walk to the other bucket.
If your balloon breaks you must go back and get another balloon.
Set a time limit and when the times run out see which team has the most
water balloons in their bucket.
WaterCup Derby
Description
Form 2 or more teams. As in any relay race, have a starting line and a
finishing line.
Each team member must fill the cup with water from the communal water
bucket, put it over their head and run to the bucket and pour it in.
The team that finishes first gets 5 points, but the team that has the most
water in the bucket gets 10. You may vary the relay race by making it into
an obstacle course or adding other components, but what makes this one fun
is the fact that the children get wet.
Egg toss, Waterballoon style
Description
Pairs toss water balloons back and forth, moving farther apart. The last pair
to pass the farthest distance without breaking their balloon wins.

11. 11
IV. Field Games
Noodle game
Description
Each team has a different colored pool noodle, and each camper has a noodle. You want
to get out players of other teams by tagging them with your noodle. When tagged, the
player freezes where they are and makes a loop with their noodle over their head. They
are out unless a member of their same colored team puts their noodle through that hole.
The winning team is the one to freeze all the rest.
Balloon Waddle
Description
A balloon is placed between the knees and the contestant either waddles or hops or jumps
along with it from the start line along a course and back to the start line - the next
member of the team takes the balloon and does the same until everyone in the team has
had a turn - the fastest team is the winner.
NOSE BALLOON - ELBOW BALLOON - BALLOON RACE
Description
The balloon is pushed along from start to finish using noses only, or elbows only, or
anything except hands.
Back-to-Back Tag
Description
Two people hold hands start off as being "it." They can try to tag any other player but
they can only use their free hands. When they tag someone, that person joins onto them
by holding hands. Remember, other players can only be tagged with one of the two free
hands. The game continues until everyone is tagged.
Everybody’s it:
Description
1. Ask everyone to spread out evenly on the playing area.
2. Once you say “go”, everyone tries to tag each other. If one person tags another person,
the tagged person must sit down for the rest of the game. However, if two people tag each
other at the same time, they both have to sit down.
3. The game continues until all but one person is eliminated. The last person standing
wins the game.
Run Rabbit Run:
Description
1. Ask for two volunteers to be "it"/the wolves. Have the kids line up on the other side of
the room.

12. 12
2. When the Wolves say, "Run rabbit run!", the kids try to run to the other side of the
room. If the Wolves tag them before they get to the other side of the room, then kids need
to sit down where they were tagged. The kids become Trees and can use their arms to tag
other running kids.
3. The Wolves repeat step 2 until all but two people have been tagged. These two people
are the winners and will become the Wolves in the next game of Run Rabbit Run.
Ships and Sailors:
Description
Tell all participants to stand in the middle of the room facing the leader who is in the
front of the room. Explain that all participants are sailors and they are all on a ship.
Assign one person to be the "Captain." The role of the Captain is call out the actions and
dismiss the players who don't do the actions quick enough or who break from character.
Once the captain calls an action, each player has 3-4 seconds to start performing the
action. If they don't find a group fast enough or perform the right action, they are out of
the game.
The Captain will give a series of orders. Any sailor who cannot complete the order
correctly in a timely manner is out and must sit down on the side.
The orders and their explanations are as follows:
1. Go West: All must run to their right.
2. Go East: All must run to their left.
3. Hit the Deck: All must quickly lie on their stomach.
4. Captain's Coming!: Everyone stands at "attention" (in a salute), and they can’t
move from this position until the caller says, "At Ease!" If they laugh or break
from the attention, they are dismissed.
5. Man Overboard: Sailors must find a partner. One person drops to one knee the
other stands behind them, puts a hand on their shoulder. Both scan the ocean for
the overboard man.
6. Three Men Eating: Sailors are to form groups of three and sit down in a circle.
Next they are to cup as if to hold a plate and scoop with the other hand quickly as
if to feed themselves.
7. Four Men Rowing: Sailors are to form groups of four and sit in a row on the floor.
They are to swing their arms as if they are rowing.
8. Walk the Plank!: Five people stand in a single file row hands on the shoulders of
person in front of them

13. 13
V. Time Fillers, Odd Games, or Ice breakers
 Toilet Paper mummies
o You will need
 Toilet paper, a few rolls per group
 Timer
 Masking tape
o How to play:
 Each team tries to make the best mummy by wrapping someone in
toilet paper
 Set a timer for 10 min, give each team TP and tape, watch them
have some fun.
 As judge, select the TP mummy winner
 Marshmallow towers
o You will need
 A couple bags of marshmallows
 Toothpicks
 timer
o How to play
 Each table forms a team
 Use the toothpicks and marshmallows to try and build the tallest
tower in 10 minutes
 Tower must be able to stand without support
 Musical Chairs
o No supplies, no pre planning, tons of fun!
 Gorilla Man Gun
This is just like "Paper, Rock, Scissors", except the kids will act out the "gorilla" (both
hands in the air and a big growl), man (arms folded with one hand on the side of the
chin/jaw with a sophisticated look), gun (however you choose to model holding a gun).
Once each child in the group has a partner, have them get back to back and teach them
the rules in song form:
"The gorilla beats the man, and the man beats the gun. The gun beats the gorilla, if you
tie you die." and then count all together "1, 2, 3!"
o That's when each back to back partners turns around as a "gorilla, man,
or a gun". Then match up the winners and repeat until you get the final
group and have a prize for the winner.

14. 14
VI. Tips and Tricks:
Check in Tips:
 Extra questions to ask
o Can your camper swim?
o Does your camper have any food allergies or dietary needs?
o Is your camper signed up for golf? 9:30 or 10:30?
 Chart these answers on your check in list; don’texpect to just
remember which of your 20 campers is going to 9:30 golf. Don’t
expect them to know either. 6 year olds can be a bit clueless.
 Use this chart to call kids to golf, keep on top of mealtime, and
round up non-swimmers (restricted to kiddie poolkids) before
releasing kids after lunch.
Day One tips
 Make and present a list of practical “rules” or “get to’s”
o Ours included:
 No touching the teachers table (where we kept the day’s
supplies)
 Don’t go in the storage closet
 Don’t leave the group without a teacher’s permission
 Make a mess, clean it up
 Sunscreen before swimming
 Participate
 Respect others
 Take the time to have campers get to know each other

15. 15
Parental comments:
 Can the camp run all summer?
 I didn’t understand that golf wasn’t automatically included in day camp.
 I don’t like that my child misses out on tennis instruction because they are in
golf.
Games Tips and tricks:
 Play music! Silence does not tend to facilitate much excitement
o (It’s a good idea to have a premade, clean, high-energy
playlist. Good songs are things like: eye of the tiger, happy,
best song ever)
 If campers act uninterested in water or field games, implement team
names and/or small prizes like candy to encourage a spirit of
competition.
 Make sure to have everything set up before campers get outside.
They get really bored just sitting around watching you fill buckets
with water.
 There is no outside hose in the spacewhere we do water games.
You can use the kitchen hose to fill buckets. Have extra buckets of
water near by so you don’thave to stop the games for 5 minutes
while you make a water run.
 Water balloons can be near impossible to fill once you get to the
Oaks. I filled a basket at home and brought it the day we did egg
toss.