2023 Summer Camp Guide

weekly wonders

Week 1: KINDNESS

Kindness is at the heart of everything we do, what we promise, and who we are. Throughout the week, children will engage in various games and activities that promote kindness, such as: creating kindness rocks, playing the ‘Please Kind Neighbor’ card game, going on a gratitude scavenger hunt, and more! As we move through the week, we will be discussing how kindness is more than just a core value here at The Nest: it is the way of life. Perhaps the greatest lesson we have to teach ourselves and our children is to be kind, always. To round out our week, the children will experience a “Fun Friday” activity by using what they have learned about kindness to write pen pal-style letters to other children in our various Nest locations, spreading kindness across the map!

Week 2: WELLNESS

Wellness is a cornerstone of the programs we offer as we strive to nurture physical, mental, and emotional well-being in children as well as pave the foundations for wellness in their overall lives. Throughout the week, children will engage in various games and experiences that allow for children to be active not only in the physical aspect but also in strengthening their minds and overall sense of wellness. Some of these activities include: playing beachball hockey, solving Tangram puzzles, enjoying fruit smoothie popsicles, and more!

We also will spend some time channeling into our sense of self as we connect with our mind through meditation and Zen activities such as creating our own Zen gardens and calming stones. To round out our week, the children will experience a “Fun Friday” activity by using what they have learned about their overall wellness and well-being to participate in a Color Wars-inspired relay at their school.

Week 3: INNOVATION

At The Nest, we believe in continuous improvement in innovation through new experiences as we explore ways to take our best and make it better. Throughout the week, children will engage in various games and experiences that allow children the creative outlet to be innovators themselves as they explore ways to imagine, experiment, and invent. Some of these activities include: engineering a pom-pom catapult, creating a human version of the classic game ‘Hungry, Hungry, Hippos,’ participating in crab soccer, and more! To round out our week, the children will experience a “Fun Friday” activity by using what they have learned about innovation to participate in a mystery basket challenge. In this “Chopped” style challenge, children will have to create something using four of the mystery items provided to them. Their work will include naming their invention, developing a purpose, and trying it out. They will share their inventions in front of our panel of judges and receive recognition for their innovative creations!

Week 4: TEAMWORK

Though not defined as one of our core values, teamwork is something we value and think is an essential skill for children to experience and learn. Teamwork helps to promote the ability to work together with our others towards a common goal or a vision, even if our thoughts and opinions don’t always align. Throughout the week, children will engage in various games and activities that draw upon teamwork and working collaboratively with their peers. Some activities you can expect your child to experience this week are: creating their own paper mache pinata and human foosball soccer, as well as participating in various relay-inspired games such as over-under sponge relay, hula hoop pass, and more! To round out our week, the children will use what they have learned about teamwork and experience a “Fun Friday” activity by competing in an “Amazing Race” inspired activity where children will team up to successfully complete a variety of different games, challenges, and activities that require them to work together.

Week 5: IMAGINATION

Imagination is a key ingredient in lifelong success. It opens our minds to explore ideas, challenges us to take on different perspectives, and serves as our mind’s creative outlet. Without imagination, new ideas wouldn’t exist! Throughout the week, children will engage in various games and activities that require them to think creatively and use their imagination. Activities using forms of drama, theater, and mad lib stories are just a few of the things your child will experience this week.

This week’s “Fun Friday” experience includes white shirts, rubber bands, and lots of dye! That’s right … children will use their imaginative minds to create unique tye-dye designs on their summer camp t-shirts.

Week 6: NATURE

Nature is important to the growth and development of young minds as it allows children to connect with the outside world and ignite their five senses with the most authentic opportunities! Throughout the week, children will engage in various games and activities, such as: creating their nature symphony and mud sculptures and cooling off with sprinkler play to draw upon our curiosity and wonder of nature and all the wonderful gifts it can provide to us by taking our activities outside and providing opportunities for the campers to explore their outdoor learning environments. To round out the week, the children will use what they have learned about nature and experience a “Fun Friday” activity where our campers will engage in an outdoor Foam Dance Party!

Week 7: COMMUNITY

Community is an important part of who we are as young children and adults. It provides a sense of belonging, encourages social support amongst others, and gives us a sense of purpose. The people who make up our communities bring an individual identity that makes the community as a whole something unique and beautiful. Something to be celebrated! Throughout the week, children will engage in various games and activities that draw upon various cultural childhood games as we explore, discuss and learn about different cultures and communities around the world. Some of these activities include: table hockey from Canada, Tamburello from Italy, Hit The Coin from Brazil, and more! The “Fun Friday” activity to round out this week will call on the children to use what they have learned about community, diversity, and each culture to participate in our Second Annual Nest Games. Here children will showcase the different childhood games and activities from around the world and share some of their community games with us!

Week 8: COMMUNICATION

Communicating is something that we do each and every day. Whether it is verbal; the use of spoken words, or non-verbal; the use of facial expressions, body language, and written words, communication is a necessary skill for all seasons of life. Building quality communication skills helps promote peer to peer interactions, encourages collaboration, and the sharing thoughts, feelings, and ideas. Throughout the week, children will engage in various games and activities that require various strategies of communication to be successful. Activities such as: do as I say not as I do, Scategories, and broken telephone are just a few of the things you can expect your child to experience this week. To round out the week, the children will use what they have learned about communication and experience a “Fun Friday” activity where our campers will engage in a “Mission Impossible” inspired activity that calls on them to use their best communication skills to complete various challenges with their peers.

Week 9: ART OF LIVING

At The Nest, we believe one of our core responsibilities is to prepare young children with essential skills and abilities to not only be successful in academics but also in life. Teaching children basic life-skills, instilling value, and creating a sense of pride in the impact they have on the world is one of the most important jobs we have. It helps foster their ability to be active and influential people in our world; today, tomorrow, and always.

Throughout the week, children will engage in various games and activities that draw upon these life skills. These activities include making birdhouses, crafting our own pottery, making English muffin pizzas, and more! This week's “Fun Friday” activity takes our campers to “The Nest Camp Store,” where they will practice money management as they spend their Nest Dollars on prizes.

Week 10: FUN

Here at The Nest, we weave fun into everything we do. We believe fun turns work into play, is the best path to learning, and is essential to raising happy children. Throughout the week, children will engage in various games and activities that are engaging, exciting, and just plain FUN! These activities include a water balloon drop, egg and spoon races, a recycled fashion show, and more!

To celebrate another memorable summer and our final “Fun Friday” event, campers will help create their very our Camp Carnival. Each carnival will be full of games, laughter, and our annual end-of-summer Color Run!