Camp Art Activities to Try This Summer!
Whether you are planning a summer day camp or an after school art program here are some camp art activities for kids ages 7—12 that they will love. It’s important to remember that camp should have an emphasis on FUN. It can still be educational but these camp art activities are filled with fun! Check out the camp art activities below!
Camp Art Activities
These camp art activities can be used for day camps, after school programs, homeschool, and more. All of these camp art activities are geared towards kids ages 7-12.
Painting Projects
Watercolour resist with crayons
Splatter painting (can show artist Jackson Pollock)
Nature-inspired watercolours- paint outdoors and find something to draw and then paint
Painted rock animals
Abstract emotion painting - can paint to different types of music
Bubble painting
Salt and watercolour painting
Blow painting with straws
Stamped vegetable prints
Glow-in-the-dark painting
Click on the button below to check out my kids painting playlist on YouTube
Collage & Mixed Media
Magazine collage art
Torn-paper animal collages
Fabric scrap mosaic
Mixed-media self-portraits
Found object art (natural or recycled)
Rainbow paper strips collage
Travel postcard collage
Comic strip collaging
Textured paper landscapes
Drawing & Illustration
Blind contour drawing
Cartooning basics
Draw your dream home
Symmetry drawing - check out my symmetry drawing for primary students and middle schools students.
Create your own creature
Zentangle patterns - check out my popular zentangle resource here!
Optical illusion art
Drawing with your non-dominant hand
Storybook scene illustration
Crafts & DIY Projects
Friendship bracelets
Woven paper placemats
DIY camp journals or zine making
String art on cardboard
Tie-dye bandanas or shirts
Beaded keychains
Painted tote bags
Make magnets with air dry clay
Yarn-wrapped sticks
Lanyards or keychains
Textile & Fiber Arts
Macramé mini wall hangings
Finger knitting
Hand-sewn felt animals
Pom-pom making
Yarn painting
Sew a small stuffed animal or pillow
Weaving on a cardboard loom
Fabric stamping
Embroidery sampler -teach them different embroidery stitches
Theatre & Storytelling Art
Mask decorating
Create your own puppet
Design a costume
Make a theatre backdrop
Comic strip storytelling
Shadow puppet theatre
Paper bag puppets
Finger puppets from felt
Character flip books
Create a board game based on a story
Nature-Inspired Art
Nature rubbings (bark, leaves)
Clay nature impressions
Pinecone creatures
Pressed flower bookmarks
Twig sculptures
Nature weavings (on branches)
Bark painting - on fallen pieces of birch bark
DIY bird feeders with decorated cups
Sculpture & 3D Art
Papier-mâché masks
Clay pinch pots
Mini cardboard cities
Pipe cleaner sculptures
Toothpick and marshmallow towers
Recycled material robots
Wire and bead sculptures
Modelling with air-dry clay
Egg carton animals
Foil people or animals
Sensory Art
Slime colour mixing
Shaving cream marbling
Textured paint with sand or rice
Puffy paint creations
Edible paint art (pudding, yogurt)
Scented play dough sculpture
Water beads + loose parts mandalas
Fingerprint insects
Rainbow rice mandalas
Textured sensory drawing boards
Photography & Digital Art (if tech is available)
Photo scavenger hunt
Create a comic from photos
Nature photography walk
Silly selfie art with filters
Create digital stickers
Stop-motion animation
Digital landscape drawing
Camp logo design
Poster design for camp talent show
“Photo booth” with costumes and backdrops
Resources Mentioned:
Primary Symmetry Drawing Bundle - Save 30%
Middle School Symmetry Drawing Bundle -Save 30%
Seed Starter with Handmade Paper
Conclusion:
Planning for a summer art day camp or an after school art program can be a lot of fun. There is a lot of planning involved.
It is good to be overprepared as some activities are weather dependent, or kids might finish an art project early. Which is why I recommend having some early finisher activities like symmetry drawing ready.
You can check out my FREE symmetry drawing by clicking on the button below!