Root Beer Float

What's better than a cold treat on a day like today (hot and sunny)? Here is an easy cold treat idea.

1. Root Beer Float: Here's what I used A&W Root beer and Dreyer's Vanilla Ice Cream. How to make it..

• Scoop some ice cream into a cup or glass
• Pour some root beer into the same cup or glass 
• Add a spoon and/or straw
• Enjoy!

More treats coming Soon!!!!

     

Science Experiments

At one of my day camps back in June we had science experiment day (requested by Keegan). The kids had so much fun!
Here are some experiments that we did and their links!

1. Testing the Pull: http://www.kids-science-experiments.com/testingthepull.html
2. Three Layer Float: http://www.kids-science-experiments.com/densityexperiment.html
3. Blobs in a Bottle: http://www.sciencebob.com/experiments/lavalamp.php
4. The Amazing Disappearing Water Magic Trick: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR8cBJvUUpU

We did a few more but I am out of time!

Check Out These Awesome Blogs!

1. runforit.co
2. crazywonderfullifeofmine.blogspot.com

Why I do a day camp and who I do it for

Last summer I decided to do a day camp. I was sitting at my kitchen table at the start of summer thinking of some fun things to do. All my siblings were drawing and coloring pictures of playing outside and that's when it hit me. I got the idea of having a day camp for all my siblings and cousins. I wanted to do it because I really like playing with the kids and teaching them all sorts of games and stuff. They always seem to like it because they think it's so cool and that makes me feel really good. So I decided to do it once a week for any of my cousins and siblings that wanted to do it, they all did. That made me feel good too! I did it all last summer and they really had fun so I decided to do it again this summer. Who I do it for: My cousins Keegan, Delaney, Camden, and next year Maddie. And my siblings Abby, Sam, and Jordan. They all really like it and they're all super good kids. I really enjoy doing this for them.

The Kids are Obsessed with This Game!

We play this game at Day Camp a lot and the kids have a blast!

Sardines: All you need is at least four players (it's a lot more fun to play with more though)

How to play:

1. Choose one person to be the "hider"
2. Everyone else counts to 30 or more while the "hider" goes and hides.
3. The "counters" split up and go looking for the "hider"
4. When one person finds the "hider" they hide with them rather then saying "I found him/her!"
5. The last person to find the "hider" becomes the "hider" and you start the game all over again.

Dream Beach Craft

Here's a cool, simple, and not messy art project to do with you're kids. Dream Beach.

Materials: 

1. a bunch of sheets of plain white paper 
2. Crayons or colored pencils
3.  Scissors 
4. Glue
5. Colored paper (optional)

Instructions: 

1. Give each kid a couple of pieces of plain white paper. And a couple pieces of colored paper (optional)
2. Have them each make a detailed background of a beach with their crayons and/or colored pencils on one of their white pieces of paper.
3. On the rest of their paper they can make things that they can cut out and glue onto their paper like a surfer, a fish, a dolphin, etc.

Idea: If you don't want to do a beach theme you could think of another one like a rainforest or have them come up with one on their own.

Fun Water Activities

I love playing in the water on hot summer days. Here are some fun water activities.
Slip 'n' Slide Kickball: things you'll need a playground ball, things to use as bases, enough people to split up into two teams, and a slip 'n' slide. Here's what to do...........

1. Set up the bases (like a baseball field)
2. Set up the slip 'n' slide in between third base and home plate.
3. Split up the players into two teams (as even as you can)
4. Play just like regular kickball 
5. When a runner gets to third base they get to slide on the slip 'n' slide into home!

Water Balloon Fight: This is one of the kids' favorites. All you need to do is blow up lots of water balloons and put them in a large tub or bucket. Then everyone grabs water balloons out of the tub and throws them at one another. The kids really like this one!
Slip 'n' Slide: The slip 'n' slide is one of my favorite things to do when it's hot and sunny out. Here are a couple fun tips and activities to do on it.

Tip:If you want to go faster pour some dish soap on it.

Activity: Have the kids do fun tricks on it like slide on there feet, slide like a penguin, slide backwards, act like a rockstar as the go down, etc.

Tip: Keep the slip 'n' slide as wet as possible to get the best slides

Activity: Have a contest. Have them do certain tricks or go freestyle when they go down then give each person a certain number of points depending on how they did.

Have Fun In The Water!!!!

More Fun and Simple Games

Here are a couple games that are fun, easy to set up, and don't make a huge mess.
Kick the Can: All you need is a can/plastic bottle, 3 or more players, and some places to hide. How to Play............

1. Place the can/plastic bottle in the center of your playing area.
2. Choose one person to be the "counter"
3. Have everyone else go and hide.
4. The "counter" goes searching for the hiders after they count to about 30 or so.
5. The hiders come out of there hiding places whenever they think it's safe and they try and kick the can.
6. The "counter" has to try and tag the hiders before they kick the can.
7. If the hiders kick the can before the "counter" catches them, they move on to the next round.
8. Whoever gets tagged by the "counter" becomes the "counter" with them. 
9. Continue this until there's only one person left. That person is the winner.

World Cup: All you need is a soccer ball or 2 (depending on how many players), at least 2 players, and a goal of some sorts. You can play this game with the players in pairs or with players as individuals. To have the players play in pairs do as follows.......

1. Split the number of players into pairs (you'll need at least 4 players)
2. Have each team pick a country to call themselves.
3. Have all the players go out into the playing space.
4. If you have 4 or more pairs throw 2 soccer balls into the playing space, if you have 3 or less pairs throw 1 ball into the playing space.
5. The players must try to get the ball(s) from each other.
6. If one person on one of the teams scores a goal, their team advances to the next round.
7. The last team to score is out.
8. Continue this until there's 1 team left, that team is the winner.

To have the players play as individuals, you play and set up the game the same way except for it's "every man for himself" instead of having teams.

Kid's Top 5

• CAPTURE THE FLAG-the kids love it when we play capture the flag. It's a great game and it's easy to plan and set up. All you need to do is get 2 objects to use as flags, divide the land in half (as best you can), divide the kids into two teams, and have each team take a turn hiding their flag (if there aren't any places to hide the flags place each flag at the far end of each half). The first team to capture the other teams flag wins. 
• Water Bucket Game-this is another game the kids enjoy. You'll need two large beckets filled with water, two small buckets filled with water, two cups, and two teams. Put the two large buckets on one end of the yard and the two small buckets on the opposite of the yard. Give the first person in line on each team one of the cups. On your "go" have them fill the cup with water from the large bucket, race down, dump it in the small bucket on the opposite side, then bring the cup to the next person in line. Continue this cycle until one of the teams small bucket is full or they run out of water (whichever comes first). Whichever team's smaller bucket has the most water in it wins.
•    Races-The kids have a blast when we do races or obstacle courses. When you're doing races you can have them all race at once, you could split them into teams and do relay races, or you could have kids that are all close to each other in age race. 
• Obstacle Courses-Here are some ideas for obstacles in you're obstacle courses.
• Have them weave in and out of cones
• Have them run around a tree
• Have them do a certain number of jumps on a trampoline
• Have them run to the top of hill and back
• Have them go down the slide
• Have them shoot a certain number of baskets
• Have them kick a soccer ball in the goal
• Have them ride their bikes for a certain distance 

• Scavenger Hunts-the kids also like scavenger hunts. There are a couple different ways to do a scavenger hunt. You could have them look individually, in pairs or team, or as one big group. You could hide the objects yourself or you could just have them find stuff in nature. Such as, a piece of gravel, a stick, a big rock, a leaf, a pine needle, a flower, etc.
• More Activity Ideas Coming Soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Run A Day Camp

I run a day camp at my house in the summer once a week. I do it for my 3 siblings and 3 of my cousins. It's filled with things for everyone one. We have races, obstacle courses, arts and crafts, camp songs, hide and seek, tag, scavenger hunts, sports, etc. I have different things planned every week.