Vacation Camp Outside Activities

Vacation Camp Outside ActivitiesDragon KeeperWhat you needA dragon (if you don’t have a toy dragon you can use a ball, rolled up socks or any other toy)A blindfold (or a t-shirt wrapped around your eyes, making sure not to cover the nose and mouth)How to playOne child is a dragon keeper. He sits on the ground with the dragon at his/her feet. His objective is toprevent the dragon from being taken.The rest of the players are trying to steal the dragon. Their start point is at the end of the room. Youcan play two ways, one way is to have one child at a time tries to steal the dragon or multiple childrencan try at the same time. However, when an adult is the keeper, it’s actually more fun when all thekids try to retrieve the dragon at the same time. They can start by discussing their strategy andcombining their efforts.The attacker(s) needs to tiptoe or crawl over to the dragon keeper, and as quietly as possiblesteal the dragon.The blindfolded keeper has to use his ears to the maximum to detect any action coming his way.He/she can stop an attacker by saying her name “Mary!” or “Stop!” or by pointing at her. At this point,Mary must return to the starting point, and it’s another player’s turn.We don’t have any particular rule about the keeper not grabbing the dragon to prevent it from beingsnatched by an attacker. Younger kids especially, can’t help themselves. If they hear (or think theyhear) someone is coming, they grab the dragon.But you can have a rule that says that the keeper is not allowed to pick up the dragon. Play it by ear.Whatever works better for your family.The player who steals the dragon becomes the next dragon keeper.What’s in the game?Dragon Keeper is not just a fun game, but a great source of learning, too. While you can find a varietyof ways to practice attention with your kids, I find that blindfold games are by far the most effective.The kids have to use their ears not just for listening but also for seeing, which requires a great dealof concentration.While a child who is a dragon keeper is practicing concentration, the dragon stealers are practicingcoordination and problem-solving. They have to think quickly on their feet, move with grace, and learnmovement control.

Random Acts of Kindness Outside “KIND” BingoKIPlay a familymembersfavorite gameoutside withthemDraw withsidewalk chalk ahappy pictureWash someone’scarLeave a kind notefor the postpersonLeave a positivenote or picturefor a neighborPick up trash inyour neighborhoodPlant a flowerwith a familymemberTake your petfor a long walkBlow Bubbleswith a familymemberFeed the birdsNDFeed the birdsWave Hello tosomeonePick up trash atyour schoolplaygroundTake a bike ridewith a sibling orguardianDeliver ahomemade snackto a neighborPlay catch withyour dogPlant a flowerwith a familymemberTake a walk witha family memberSay Hello tosomeoneMake kindnessrocks for yourneighborsJump rope with afamily memberDo yard work fora neighborTeach a sibling anew gameoutsideShare a smilewith someone

Wacky Sidewalk ChallengeSupplies: Sidewalk chalkYour imaginationSidewalkDirections:Draw, or write directions on the sidewalk with chalk thatare wacky, creative, silly and have fun!Use a rock to throw down the game board you created.Then fallow the board to the rock doing all the silly thingsalong the way. Pick up the rock and head back to thestart, doing all the silly things again till you return. Let thenext person go or try again yourself.Examples: Spin, hop like a bunny, clap 5 times, snap 8times, meow like a cat, stomp like a lion, smile at neighbor,touch your toes, stand still and think about someone youlove, reach for the ski, send a kiss to the sun, jumpbackwards, 10 jumping jacks, or 2 jumps forward. Thereare so many more that you can come with on your own.Share your creations with us on our Facebook page

Outside Throw Back ActivitiesLet’s take it back to when your guardian was a child. Ask them what theirfavorite outside activity was as a child and have them head outside to enjoythem with you! There are a few examples listed below of some classic outsideactivities to get you started. Laugh, smile and just enjoy the time together!Jump RopeHula Hoops or HopscotchMarbles

Some Popular Jump Rope Songs to TryDown by the River Jump Rope ChantDown by the river, down by the sea, Johnny broke a bottle and blamed it on me. I told ma, matold pa, Johnny got a spanking so ha ha ha. How many spankings did Johnny get? 1, 2, 3 until thejumper makes a mistake.Fudge Fudge Call the Judge Jump Rope RhymeFudge fudge call the judgeMama’s having a babyDaddy’s going crazyWrap it up in tissue paperThrow it down the elevatorFirst floor stopSecond floor spin aroundThird floor touch the groundFourth floor get outta town.Teddy Bear, Teddy BearTeddy, Teddy Bear, turn around, Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground– Teddy Bear,Teddy Bear, show your shoe-Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, that will do!–Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, goupstairs–Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say your prayers–Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn out thelights-Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say good-night! (The jumper will act out the actions as you singthe rhyme. For example: when they say go upstairs, the jumper pretends to climb the stairs.Ice Cream SodaICE CREAM SODA, cherry on the top, who’s your boyfriend/girlfriend I forgot? A,B,C .untilthe jumper makes a mistake. Then take the letter they land on and think of a name that beginswith the letter.Cinderella Dressed in YellaCinderella, dressed in yella, went upstairs to kiss a ‘fella. Made a mistake and kissed a snake,how many doctors did it take? 1,2, 3 .keep counting until the jumper makes a mistake.Buckle My ShoeOne, two, Buckle my shoe;Three, four, Shut the door;Five, six, Pick up sticks;

Seven, eight, Lay them straight:Nine, ten, A big fat hen;Eleven, twelve, Dig and delve;Thirteen, fourteen, Maids a-courting;Fifteen, sixteen, Maids a-mixing;Seventeen, eighteen, Maids a-waitingNineteen, twenty, My plate’s emptyI like coffee, I like teaI like coffee, I like tea. I like the boys, and the boys like me. Yes? No? Maybe so? Repeat untilthe jumper makes a mistake.Miss Lucy had a BabyMiss Lucy had a babyAnd she named him Tiny Tim.She put him in the bathtubTo see if he could swim.He drank up all the water.He ate up all the soap.He tried to eat the bathtubBut it wouldn’t go down his throat.Miss Lucy called the doctor,Miss Lucy called the nurse.Miss Lucy called the lady with the alligator purse.Spanish DancerSpanish dancer, do the split.Spanish dancer, give a kick.Spanish dancer, turn around.Spanish dancer, get out of town.

How to Play Cat’s Cradle#1. The first person loops the string over each hand, so that the string is running between thethumb and forefinger and behind the palms.#2: The second person loops the string once around the first person’s palm.#3: The first person uses each middle finger to hook the string that runs across each opposingpalm. This is the opening figure for cat’s cradle.#4: You will now have two X figures on each side. The second person comes in from each side,pinches the two X figures with their thumb and forefinger, pulls the string outward, dips underand comes back up through the centre so that the string ends up on their thumb and forefinger.Now they will have a figure like an X on their fingers.#5: You should now have two outer X figures. The first person now pinches those two X figuresfrom above, then pull the string outward, dips down under and comes back up through with thestring on their thumb and forefingers.#6: You should now have the tram tracks figure, i.e. four parallel lines. The second person nowuses their pinkies to hook the two inner strings. Hook the closest string first, pull it away fromyou and then hook the furthest string and pull it towards you so that it forms a diamond.#7: Second person pulls each pinkie outward so that there are two large triangles on either sideof the figure. Without letting go of the string on the pinkies, now point your thumb andforefingers down into each triangle and then come back up through the figure hooking thestraight line that runs on each side.#8: You did it! This is the cat’s cradle figure.

Outside Astronaut TrainingSupplies:Tunnel(if you don’t have one put a few chairs in a lineand crawl under them)Beach ball, balloon, or ballTinfoil (crinkled into balls)Jump ropeParachute (use a sheet or towel)Directions:Find an area outside that you can set up your training course. This can be done in any order depending onyour space you are using and supplies.1) Tunnel Crawl- used our pop-up tunnel and crawled through as quickly as you can.2) Gravity Lifts- lifted a giant "moon rock" (or large beach ball) 3 times.3) Toe Touches - Just like it says, the astronauts in training had to prove they could touch their toes 4times.4) Line Hops- Stretched a long jump rope out and hop side to side over the jump rope or "line." (can usechalk to draw a line, sticks, or shirts)5) Jumping Jacks - Each kiddo had to complete 10 Jumping Jacks as astronauts need to be able to jumparound, of course!6) Balance Counts- Each kiddo balanced on one leg and slowly counted to 8.7) Asteroid Toss-use the tinfoil balls as asteroids set up a target that you make out of paper or a bucket10 feet away. Throw your asteroids at your target.8) Running9) Jumping Jacks10) Parachute Jump- use your parachute and jump from a higher point to the ground with your parachute.11) Moon walk- take really big steps and pretend you are walking on the moon

Pick up trash at your school playground Wash someone’s car Leave a kind note for the post person Take a bike ride with a sibling or guardian Deliver a homemade snack to a neighbor Play catch with your dog Leave a positive note or picture for a neighbor Pick up trash in your neighbor hood Plant a flower with a family member Take a walk with