Audible Cues
Goalball and Beep Baseball are popular competitive sports for those who are blind or visually impaired. There are local, state, national and international leagues associated with both games. There is even a
Ideas for Interactive Play
According to my mentor, Ron Kinneman, creativity is the habit of taking two existing ideas and banging them together. He says the secret to getting ideas banging together is to first have a bunch of “borrowed”
Parachute Power
Take a large billowy mass of nylon, a group of children and what do you have? Instant fun and excitement with a parachute! Using a parachute draws children of all ages together in a
Capture the Flag
Capture the Flag is to camp as apple pie is to America. It’s easy and fun--all you need are some flags, some cones, and, if you want to get fancy, some color-coded armbands. We here at YMCA Camp Ernst
Brain Breaks
Last spring, when schools closed due to COVID-19, teachers and school boards, with resilience and speed, adjusted to provide online programs. Although these enabled the continuation of school and learning (and possibly an end to snow days in the future), the health effects of staring at a screen for hours on end is not beneficial.
A Basketful Of Ideas
Every month, I compile an e-newsletter and invite camp directors to submit information to be included in the publication. It’s seen as an honor for their ideas to be used, so I thought I would
Sugar Explosion
Hungry for a new programming idea? Camp counselor can create a pretend world where children are in a candy factory and play games centered on confectionary delights. Let their
Made For The Shade
On hot summer afternoons when the sun is baking the playing fields and a group’s turn for swimming is over, camp counselors wonder what they can do with restless campers. Here are
Human Foosball
Foosball--or table football--can be traced back to the original patent in the 1890s, according to Wikipedia. Aleandro Finistierre wanted to make a table form of soccer that would be fun for
50 Games Every Camp Counselor Should Know
Each person on a team throws a Frisbee, one at a time, to knock over all eight cones in a pyramid formation. The next person in line cannot throw until the previous Frisbee is retrieved.
Abracadabra
As counselors know, it’s easy to become so involved in getting campers to archery and making sure they go to the bathroom before bed, they forget to have fun with the campers.
Top 10 Rainy-Day Activities
1. Movie Motif
Whether it’s a hurricane, rain, snow or even a pajama party night, a great way to while away the hours is to have a theme movie day. We use The Bear Factory for stuffed animal toys and
Waterlogged On Land
A dive into a cold lake, a dip in the pool and a game of Marco Polo provide an opportunity to cool off on warm days. On an ordinary camp day, they are often the highlight.
Games For The Whole Gang
Looking for a way to pass the time with a group of campers? Whether it’s a few minutes or more than an hour, these activities will keep kids involved and interested.
The Skinny On Pickleball
Looking for a great camp sport that teaches sharing, cooperation, confidence and having fun with others? So was Liz Velazquez, founder and chairman of Light on the Mountain Camp in North Carolina.
Pioneer And Frontier Games
Looking to entertain campers on a budget? Try these activities that are sure to please both the wallet and the pickiest camper: Ring-To-Jug Toss With five wooden cross-stitch-type rings, participants
A Disc Golf Course In The Woods
The city of Franklin, Tenn. found a unique way to blend a parks sports facility with urban forestry by incorporating a low-impact disc-golf course into an underutilized area within a park.
Exercise The Mind
Earth, Air, Water On the trail and hiking in a single-file line, the person at the head of the line starts the game by saying to the person behind him or her either “earth,” “air,” or “water.” The second person has
Lumberjack Games
Amid a heaping pile of chicken fingers, French fries and barbecue sauce, the Beaver cabin campers anxiously discuss their afternoon activities.