They’re the most fun, the most magical, the most squirmy and they’re the future of camp. Here’s how to rock your preschool camp programming!

Pre-Schoolers are the little saplings of day camp. Show them and their families a good time, and you have an annuity that can last a decade.

That said, they are completely different on so many levels, compared to elementary and middle schoolers. Today we’ll deep dive into the world of the littlest people in our camps

Tune in to this episode to hear about camp programming, the arts, games, special events, facilitation tricks and MORE - all for the wee ones!

Enjoy!

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Day Camp Tip of the Week

Andy: Skip’s Rubber Duckie idea: Give every kid a rubber duckie, put them in the shallow part of the pool, and tell the kids to go and get them! It will get them right in the pool!

Sam: Perspective training - Line staff up, and every other one kneels down to give the staff the perspective of a pre-schooler looking up with their counsellors. That’s why we get down on one knee!

Tiff: Taking your current curriculum and make it age-appropriate for every level to make sure everyone feels seen and related to.

YOUR HOSTS:

• Andy Pritikin, Owner/Director - Liberty Lake Day Camp

• Tiffany Gratton-McDuffie, Executive Director - Purposeful Play

• Sam Thompson, Recreation Supervisor - Crystal Lake Park District

• Diana Vroman, Elementary Schools Site Director - Crystal Lake Park District

Sponsors:

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors who help make this Go Camp Pro podcast possible:

• AM Skier Insurance    http://www.amskier.com/

• Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS)   https://crs4rec.com/

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Sam’s Mega-List of Preschool Programming!

Camp programming for ages 3-6 years old

1. Everything is new to them. Small things are exciting.

2. It is about process not product. They don’t care if it looks good they enjoy making it.

3. Themes and props help their imagination take off. They are not worried about being cool yet.

4. They enjoy using things in non-traditional ways. I.E. Marble painting, finding things in nature to use in art. Doing art outside or under the picnic table.

5. Things they can’t do at home like glitter or glue, swimming, fun yaks.

6. You can’t hand out or post a schedule for them. So a verbal, here is how today will go. Then, First this, then that, reminders of just two things at a time.

7. 5 minute warnings so they aren’t jerked away from what they are doing. They can finish up and ease in to the next thing.

8. Age appropriate choices. So, this or that. They need to practice choosing.

9. Do the perspective training with your staff. It demonstrates why we get down to their level to talk, and make eye contact.

10. Pre-cut projects are for the parents not the kids. Keep those to a minimum.

11. They are very tactual. Young campers like silly putty, slime, ocean bags, stress balls. Fidgets. Gooey, squishy things, textures.

12. Slow down, be patient. Let them soak in and process each activity. Use teachable moments. It can be like herding cats.

13. Moving from one place to another they need a connection to each other or they will stray. Holding hands, during the pandemic a rope with knots every 6 feet. Of course small groups 1:6.

14. Stations work well for counselors to rotate the campers to. An instrument station, free art, meaning scrap paper to cut or glue, Hole punchers- you can use the dots for Christmas tree ornaments or mosaics. A creative station for theme play, like bringing a canoe inside to play in, or a space station with water cooler helmets.

15. Use only one instruction at a time. Too many instructions leads to confusion and frustration.

Art

1. Egg carton sidewalk chalk

2. Bubble painting

3. Marble painting

4. Finger painting

5. Slime

6. Handmade Koolaid Playdough

7. Ocean bags

8. Lava Lamps-water bottle with oil, glitter and sea confetti shapes.

9. Popsicle sticks for frames or houses.

10. Stringing Big beads-they still have problems with fine motor skills.

Games

1. Anything with water. Water balloons, sprinklers, Duck, Duck, Slash with water balls. Fun yaks.

2. Rolling down hills races.

3. Relays using the knot rope and cones at the other end for a visual marker.

4. Mummy wrap

5. Freeze tag

6. Freeze dance

7. Heads up seven up

8. The silent game works great on a bus ride back from a trip. They all fall asleep.

9. Four corners

10. Counselor Cheetos stick. The counselor puts on a hairnet, then you cover it in shaving cream. The campers take turns tossing round Cheetos and getting them to stick on their counselors head.

Special Events

1. They need to be part of the weekly Theme. The event should have dressing up, music, games, Props, and a special snack they can make like Dirt Cake, s’mores or puppy Chow.

2. Pirate day-Treasure hunt with ring pops as the treasure.

3. Summer snow ball fight with large marshmallows. This can be paired with the frozen movies and characters.

4. Talent Shows-usually each group doing a dance is the easiest for this age.

5. Cardboard Boat regatta.

6. Wild West with corn on the cob as the treat.

7. Fear factor- organized food fight with soft foods, spaghetti, pudding, mashed potatoes.

8. Super Heros day.

9. Halloween in July.

10. Minute to win it-stations with a task that they have a minute to complete.