Summer is in full swing over here! As some parts of the world are in the middle of winter (which I can’t fathom), I know this list of ideas will come in handy for indoor creativity as well.
I teach art camp at my house all summer. I make long lists of crafts and activities to do with the kids so I thought I would share them with you today. What makes these ideas even more special is that they all come from this group that I’m in called the Rockin’ Art Moms. We are 20 creative mom bloggers with so much collective talent. We have Pinterest boards on Art for Kids, DIY, Sensory and Holiday ideas. And we also have a Facebook page. Follow along for daily inspiration!
And now without further ado, my favorite art camp ideas…
NATURE IDEAS
Flower Sun Catchers – The Artful Parent
Land Art – The Artful Parent
Washi Tape Leaves – Art Bar Blog
Leaf Printing – The Artful Parent
OUTDOOR IDEAS
Beaded Bubble Blowers – The Artful Parent
Sidewalk Paint Recipe – Tiny Rotten Peanuts
Water Balloon Painting – Meri Cherry
Erupting Sidewalk Chalk – Learn Play Imagine
CRAFT IDEAS
Wine Cork Stamps – Pink Stripey Socks
Kiragami Flowers – Pink Stripey Socks
Butterfly Painting – Handmakery
Fish Paper Craft – Buggy and Buddy
more CRAFT IDEAS
Splatter Paint Paper Lanterns – Art Bar Blog
Crayon Paper Peeling (not technically a craft but kids LOVE this process) – Learn Play Imagine
Glass Jar Lantern – Buggy and Buddy
Heart Paper Chain – Art Bar
still more CRAFT IDEAS
Wire Hanger Weaving – Tiny Rotten Peanuts
Melted Crayon Shells – Fun at Home with Kids
Craft Stick People – Molly Moo
Weaving with Kids – Art Bar
and even more CRAFT IDEAS
Cardboard Lolipops – MerMag
Robot Puppets – Meri Cherry
Tissue Paper Bowls – Meri Cherry
Milk Carton Boat – Molly Moo
ACCESSORY IDEAS
Washi Tape Bracelets – Art Bar Blog
Henna Hands – Art Bar Blog
Folded Paper Bracelet – Picklebums
Easy Weave Bracelet – Willowday
more ACCESSORY IDEAS
Washer Necklaces – Art Bar Blog
Marbled Beads – Mama Miss
Polymer Clay Bracelets – Babble Dabble Do
Pom-pom Hair Ties – Art Bar Blog
PAINTING IDEAS
Spin Art Rocks – Meri Cherry
Painting Marshmallows – Kids Play Box
Printmaking with Foam Stickers – Tiny Rotten Peanuts
Cardboard Ice Cream Cones – Art Bar Blog
more PAINTING IDEAS
Rolling Rock Painting – Tinkerlab
Baking Soda Paint – Learn Play Imagine
Scrape Painting – Art Bar Blog
Monster Blow Painting – Picklebums
and even more PAINTING IDEAS
Cookie Sheet Monoprints – Tinkerlab
Branch Painting – Art Bar Blog
Pasta Painting – Picklebums
IDEAS for BUILDING
Straw and Stick Construction – Picklebums
Rolled Paper Sculptures – Art Bar Blog
Paper Lanterns – Willowday
Cardboard Castle – Art Bar Blog
more IDEAS for BUILDING
Straw and Bead Mobile – Babble Dabble Do
Yarn Wrapped Twig Mobile – Babble Dabble Do
Tree Stump Weaving Loom – Babble Dabble Do
SENSORY PLAY IDEAS
Icy Fun Sensory Play – Picklebums
Spaghetti and Meatballs Sensory Play – Meri Cherry
Shredded Paper Play – Tinkerlab
more SENSORY PLAY IDEAS
Wizard’s Brew – Babble Dabble Do
Sensory Snow – Fun at Home with Kids
Strawberry Playdough – Mama Miss
Best Flubber Recipe – Art Bar Blog
Foaming Treasure Stars – Fun at Home with Kids
Phew! Believe it or not, I could share twice as many ideas. But this took long enough, I’ll share more next summer.
Let me know if you try any of these!
xo, Bar
WOW! This is an incredible resource of projects! I love how colorful and engaging they all are! I want to come to your art camp 🙂 Ahem, I want my KIDS to come to your art camp…..
thanks ana!! i wish your kids could come, too…how cool would that be? can’t wait to do the wizard’s brew in potions camp!! xo bar
Great collection! Love the lanterns – would make great gifts, too. Thanks for sharing 🙂
thank you georgia, i’m really glad you are inspired by some of these ideas. the lanterns are one of my favorites, too. and so easy to make! thanks for leaving a comment. xo, bar
This is a great list and one I’m going to use at home too. My daughter loves anythign to do with bracelets, mecklaces, etc. And so do I.
thanks so much zoe for leaving a comment! let me know what you did and if you daughter enjoyed it! xo bar
The easy weave bracelets are so pretty! Everything about it says summer and fun. I’ll try this project with my kiddie cousins, they’ll surely enjoy being creative.
thank you melissa!! so glad you found something to make. let me know how it goes! xo bar
What a very extensive and interesting list of projects to keep children occupied. In addition it helps them to build their creative side. Thank you for all your hard work putting all this together. So much better to do things like this instead of sitting in front of the TV or Video Games. Parents do have to be involved.
This is lovely.
I love these ideas so much that we will have to use them at our summer camp. We are a horse and arts summer camp and I think these will work out great! I think the campers will love them and they are easy for the counselors to supervise!
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The summer camp ideas you shared are really superb. I am impressed with the activities you list down just to share it to us. Thank you so much.
Hi, we at LIYSF, provide Science camp programmes. I have gone through your blog and found it useful. Great job!