Like all fun camps my Grandma Summer Camp includes physical activities, games, crafts, field trips and adventure. Strategic planning will allow us to manage Grandma Camp on a budget without losing any of the fun factor.
This summer I planned our first Grandma Summer Camp to create memories and save the children from the dreaded summer boredom! We moved closer to our grandchildren late last summer just before they started back to school.
HOW LONG IS GRANDMA CAMP
My Grandma Summer Camp will lasts for two months, June and July while the children are on summer break from school.
You could plan a Grandma Camp for only one or two weeks, whatever time frame suits your situation. The key is to make a plan. We won’t actually have but a couple days each week together as they have a busy summer planned.
Grandma’s don’t only give the best hugs, we plan the most fun too! Our Grandma Camp this year includes:
- Crafting in my craft room
- summer reading trips to the library
- outdoor adventurous field trips at state parks
- bowling
- kids summer movies
- at least one picnic!
MAKE A PLAN
Be sure to clear your plans and activities with the children’s parents before telling the grandchildren about it.
Also See: 60 Things I Learned In 59 Years
Summer Reading
Summer Reading is a must for children with a couple months out of school. It helps to avoid brain drain. We are taking advantage of the free Local Library Summer Reading Program! There are prizes involved! Registration is required at your local library to qualify for the prizes.
Also See: Free Summer Reading Programs
Plan Field Trips
There are a variety of places to take the Grandchildren on field trips they will all enjoy.
Summer Kids Movies. Check your local theaters for their Summer Kid Show Series when admission and snacks are super cheap. These field trips will be added to our late summer plans when indoors is better due to extreme heat here in the south.
Museums
Do a search for Free Museums in your state and select one or two within driving distance of your home. Museums with free admission are typically those with historical memorabilia so it will be a learning experience. If you live in Georgia, I have this list of Georgia Museums with Free Admission which is updated every year.
State Parks
State Parks have family friendly events year round. During the summer months they add even more events geared to children. There are lots of outdoor activities including skills classes to choose from. We will be visiting two state parks this summer.
National Parks
Check here for National Parks near you. National parks will also have events and activities scheduled throughout the summer for children of all ages. We are fortunate to have a National Park near enough that I was able to register the youngest grandchildren for a fun one day Children’s Workshop event. They are already excited and looking forward to the activities and crafts involved.
Kid’s Bowl Free
One of the first things I did for Grandma Camp preparation was to get my grandchildren registered for the Kids Bowl Free program! You can play two games per day every day all summer!
Crafts
Plan your craft projects toward the age of your grandchildren. Mine are old enough now to let them do most projects with minimal supervision. They love anything which involves paint and glue!
One craft project which they have already started is making a Bubble Station using an empty detergent dispenser. Even though I know they will want to take it home with them, I want to sit it on my front porch and blow bubbles myself every evening when we have our porch sitting time. Maybe they will let me do that for a couple of days before they take it home. People of all ages enjoy blowing bubbles into the wind.
Cursive Writing Practice
My grandchildren requested that I help them perfect their cursive writing skills this summer. Our school system introduces cursive writing in the second grade and then moves on. They are not required to write in cursive and it is not encouraged. That is a topic for another time. I was thrilled that they wanted to learn how to write a word and then a complete sentence in cursive!
After a quick internet search I was able to print a complete cursive learning guide. Then I made each of them a notebook to keep up with their work sheets. They will put their papers into their notebooks all summer so they can compare their improvements at the end of the summer. Hopefully we can progress enough to write letters to a relative who lives far away in cursive and have them write back just before school starts back.
Food!
Of course there is food! Grandma’s have the best snacks, right! I have made plans to teach them to make a couple of simple recipes they will be able to remember and make for themselves later. Of course it is summer so there will be watermelon involved!
Our Grandma Camp this year involves crafting, cooking, trips to the movies, visiting State and National parks, library trips, summer reading, of course play time, snuggling on the sofa watching movies at home and anything else which pops up on our radar!
Visit my blogging friends below for more summer family fun ideas!
How To Install A Ring And Hook Game @Intelligent Domestications
Fairy Garden Fun for Kids @Two Chicks And A Mom
Tropical Shrinky Dink Charms and Pins @My Pinterventures
DIY Painted Rocks That The Kids Will Love To Make @Our Crafty Mom
DIY Sharpie Mug Bird Feeder @Glitter On A Dime
How To Turn Admission Tickets Into A Bookmark@Craftify My Love
DIY Giant Backyard Frisbee Tic-Tac-Toe Game @DIY Adulation
Book Themed Outdoor Play Ideas for Kids@The Moments At Home
5 Easy Ways to Have Fun with DIY Bubbles This Summer @Hunny I’m Home DIY
Grandma Camp @Intelligent Domestications
Easy Kids Obstacle Course Ideas @Cookies, Coffee And Crafts
How to Make a Fun Kids Swim Towel @Dazzle While Frazzled
Polymer Clay Charms @Domestic Deadline
Nerf Battle Paint Splatter T-Shirts @The Inspiration Vault
How to Make Easy Farmhouse Planter Herb Markers @Raggedy Bits
Mother of 3 says
So many great ideas! I still have memories of crafts and days spent at my grandmother’s. We used to play a lot of badminton and croquet and I can remember making flowers out of tissues. She always had something fun planned; even a few week long vacations away in her trailer with my grandfather. Thanks so much for sharing all these wonderful ideas with us at the Summer Time Fun Party. Pinned.
Michelle James says
Shirley, what a wonderful gift for your grandchildren & you! I really hope to do this some day! Great ideas!
Habiba says
I would love to sign up for your grandma camp. I think I would enjoy all the activites, too. I like reading, going on field trips, museums are cool, too. And I am most definetly a foody. A handlettering course is on my list for a long time, now, lol.
Erlene says
You’re one cool grandma. Your grand kids must love spending time with you 🙂 Love all your ideas, especially bubble station.
Chas says
We do all of these things too! Such a great resource for the summer – Pinned! Thanks for sharing on To Grandma’s House We Go! I’ll be featuring you next week.
Astrid says
I love these ideas. I don’t have kids, let alone grandkids, but I love some of the craft ideas for myself too. Your post made me think of my fond memories of sleepovers at my grandma’s in the 1990s, when we often went on very simple “expeditions” (field trips). #WWBlogHop
kid can doodle says
Grandma Camp is so cool. It’s great that she can spend time with them. cheers
Leanna | Faeries and Faunal says
This is the first year I am arranging sleep overs for my grand daughters, just me and them. They are now old enough for this old bird to handle them solo and I really cannot wait to have them.
I remember my summer vacations with my grandparents, we did nothing special at all but it was still the highlight of my year. I want to create those memories for my munchkins as well.
Great post of ideas, thanks!
Emily says
It looks like your grandkids are going to have a great summer! Thanks for sharing all of your fun summer plans with us.
Heather says
I love everything about this! We are excited to see the summer movies this year too and I have lots of crafting plans to do with the kiddos. I love your bubble dispenser idea. We will have to check that out!
Jenny says
Grandma Camp sounds like so much fun! I love all of these ideas to keep the kids busy this summer. I was just checking our local movie theatre & I was disappointed the free movies are on Saturdays, I was hoping it would be during the week. I’m sure your grandkids are so happy to have you close now. My kids loving going to Grandma’s House & doing crafts.