50 Activities for Grandma Camp

Activities for Grandma Camp are expected to be exciting because it’s a great time to spend with cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles relaxing and having fun.

Create unforgettable memories by hosting Grandma Camp this summer during school break. Also known as Cousin Camp, this is a great time for the grandchildren to learn from the wisdom of their grandparents. You can expect there will be some outside play activities, some exploring, learning something new and useful, plus field trips to fun places and maybe even a couple of surprises.

With a little planning and creativity, you can create a fun and memorable Grandma camp experience filled with crafts, delicious food, exciting activities, and fun field trips.

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Got teens? See my 30 Summer Bucket List Ideas for Teens

See our Grandma Camp Ideas for all the details of hosting.

Grandma Camp Activities

In no particular order, this list of activities can be used for Grandma Camp or anyone looking for summer break activities. These activities can be done with one child or many children.

Print the list, button below.

1. Make crafts (visit kidsactivitiesblog.com for tons of ideas) The Big Book of Kids Activities has over 500 projects.
2. Do a big jigsaw puzzle for an ongoing project. This 1000 piece beach puzzle is perfect.
3. Blow Bubbles. Kids of all ages love blowing bubbles. Get this Bubble solution recipe and how to make a giant bubble wand.
4. Do a Random Act of Kindness.
5. Teach your grandchildren their family tree. Allow them to draw it out on a poster board. This activity can be carried out over the course of the entire Grandma Camp. It’s a great opportunity to tell some good family stories.
6. Take a Virtual Tour of a far-away place.
7. Cursive writing practice (it is no longer taught in schools)
8. Listen to Grandma’s vinyl record collection
9. Have a dance party listening to vinyl records
10. Teach the kids to cook simple recipes. The kids can make lunch each day.
11. Make a bird feeder from a milk jug, like this.
12. Go on a nature walk. Give the kids a Nature Scavenger Hunt to do.
13. Play board games. (Clue, Qwirkle, or Scrabble)
14. Build an indoor fort on a rainy day (here’s a great cardboard box indoor fort)
15. Have outdoor water play day. Run through the sprinklers or play in the pool. (see this super fun DIY Water Tarp Game)
16. Chinese Checkers. Teach the kids to play Chinese Checkers. I still remember when my Granddad taught us this game.
17. Go Bike riding. This could mean bicycles and tricycles depending on the ages of the grandkids.
18. Catch Lightening bugs after dark.
19. Read a book together. Choose an interesting book that you read maybe one chapter per day aloud. Allow discussion and maybe even make a food that goes with the book to make it more interesting.
20. Go Fishing. So, this one will take some skill on Grandma’s part or invite your family fishing expert to be in charge for this activity.
21. Watch movies. Use this Family Movie Snack Bar Idea to make this activity more fun. Let the kids make a list of movies they want to watch. Then either have them compromise on a set number of movies for the week or you choose.
22. Camp in the back yard. Camping is always a fun summer activity. See this Family Camping Checklist.
23. Volunteer. A great way to teach community spirit. Allow the kids to do a volunteer activity with preapproval.
24. Visit a nursing home. Visit a friend or family member in a nursing home. Plan in advance and prepare the children for the environment. Take a gift to the person your are visiting and let the kids give it to them.
25. Water Guns and Water Balloons Day. Have a special day for outdoor water play specifically for a water gun battle with water balloons.
26. Make a Gratitude Journal. This will continue even after Grandma Camp is over.
27. Play with Sidewalk Chalk. The rain will wash it away, or the water hose. Have fun!
28. Make Tie Die T-Shirts to remember Grandma Camp.
29. Grow cooking Herbs in containers. Let the kids take care of their own all summer. The older kids can even use the harvest herbs to learn to cook.
30. Make a Fairy Garden. See these ideas.
31. Visit the Public Library and do their Summer Reading Program.
32. Build a Blanket Fort on a rainy day.
33. Visit a local historic site. Most historic sites are usually free. Sometimes you can get free tickets at the local library depending on if it is a State or Federal historic site.
34. Stargaze at night. Spread a blanket on the ground and do some stargazing. Try to identify the star systems.
35. Play Frisbee.
36. Fly a kite.
37. Make a Coke float, like this.
38. Build a Time Capsule. Save this activity until the last week of Grandma Camp.
39. Do a science experiment or a few of them. These can be lots of fun.
40. Have a watermelon seed spitting contest, outdoors. A fun game for water play day.
41. Play Minute-to-win-it games.
42. Find shapes in the clouds.
43. Watch Fireworks.
44. Go to a berry farm and do some berry picking.
45. Play with Hula Hoops and Jump ropes.
46. Play card games.
47. Teach the kids to write a letter to a friend or family member who lives far away.
48. Have a coloring day. Break out the coloring crayons and coloring pencils and enjoy this relaxing activity.
49. Learn Sign language. You can find free classes on You tube.
50. Look at old photos and tell the kids their family history.

Host a successful Grandma summer camp this year using any of these 50 camp activity ideas.

More Grandma Camp Ideas

• Grandma Camp How-To Guide
• Grandma Camp Schedule and Chore chart Printable
• 25 Grandma Camp Field Trip Ideas
• 55 Random Acts of Kindness Kids Can Do
• 2024 Free Summer Reading Programs

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