7 Fun Summer Camp Themes for Daycares
Summer is fast approaching and with this season comes camp! We have compiled 7 amazing and unique summer camp themes for daycare.
For many children, they may be apprehensive about camp or nervous if they don’t know anyone. However, camp is the perfect opportunity to make new friends, share new experiences, and gather new skills, all while having fun! As daycare camp providers, creating fun and engaging weekly camp themes can help get kids excited for camp, and also make your job easier. Following specific daycare summer camp themes lets you more easily plan out fun themed activities, crafts, and more.
From artsy summer camp to nature-based themes, to sports fun, check out some of these great daycare summer camp themes!
We save and share a ton of great ideas on our themed Pinterest boards so be sure to check out our “Summer Camp Theme” board as well as our free printable board.
7 Fun and Unique Summer Camp Themes for Daycares
Under the Sea Camp
Kids can learn all about ocean life including marine animals, coral reefs, snorkelling, and more. Incorporate some ocean conservation as well!
Fun ideas include: DIY ocean in a bottle, ocean colouring pages, starfish crafts, ocean sensory bin, and fun a turtle mosaic craft.
Time Travelers Camp
Transport kids back in time to different time periods. Make each day a different decade – i.e. Roaring Twenties Monday, Wild West Wednesday, Retro 60s Friday. Kids can learn about important events, people, and clothing of the era, listen to the music, and create their own projects related to the time period.
Fun ideas: Dress-up dates, tie dye 60s, time machine building, invention day, make your own treasure maps and hunts, fossil creating & hunting, and more.
Little Artists Camp
This theme is geared toward kids who love to create! They can learn about famous artists and create their own art projects. The best part about this theme is many of the activities can be done both inside or outside.
Fun ideas: A large communal mural, watercolour paintings, spray bottle art outside, sponge art, tie dye, firework salt painting, individual funky collage art, and recycled art.
Sports Week Camp
Active and sporty kids rejoice! This week can also appeal to everyone by incorporating active activities that are also super fun and engaging, even for those who are not “sporty.” Kids can have fun playing sports, setting up and taking part in obstacle courses, learning about their favourite athletes, and creating sports-inspired art.
Fun ideas: DIY obstacle course, balloon tennis, water balloon dodgeball, ninja warrior course, indoor golf course, design your own trophies and pennants.
Nature-Inspired Camp
Let kids explore the natural world, animals and insects with a nature-based summer camp! Nature scavenger hunts, mini hikes, learning about habitats of critters and animals, and fun nature-based art – the sky is the limit with this summer camp theme for daycare!
Fun ideas: Create-your-own animal sculpture, design your own habitat, butterfly artwork, nature bingo, insect hotels, DIY bird feeders, art using nature paintbrushes, and nature journals.
Music Lovers Day Camp
Explore music from around the world with a variety of fun creative activities. This summer camp theme for daycare will definitely appeal to a lot of children and families. Campers can learn about famous musicians, create their own musical performances, and create music-themed art and craft projects.
Fun ideas: Glow-stick dance party, make your own instruments, sidewalk chalk dance or movement hopscotch course, STEM music activities, and musical abstract painting.
Retro-Inspired Summer Camp
Time to take all of the best parts of summers of childhood pasts and incorporate them into a week of fun. This daycare summer theme is often a favourite among kids of all ages. Think: hopscotch, bikes, popsicles, sprinklers, and tie dye. Simple fun is often the best fun, and requires little expense.
Fun ideas: Potato sack races, water guns or balloons, jumprope, sprinkler games, tag, scavenger hunts, daytime “backyard campout”, solar oven s’mores, and a classic game: capture the flag.
From preschoolers to older school-aged children, there are plenty of activities for kids of all ages with these fun summer camp themes for daycares. Older kids can also take part in helping come up with ideas or setting up fun activities. Many of these ideas can also be incorporated into your regular programming using materials you have on hand, or by purchasing basic craft materials and other items. Don’t forget to check out our fun summer camp themes Pinterest board for even more ideas!
Keep your daycare operating safely and efficiently this summer with our free outdoor health and safety checklist. Download for free today!
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