Toddler Theme: Camping

One of my toddler theme tricks is planning them around pertinent life events.  Take this week, for instance.  Our whole family came into town to explore Rocky Mountain National Park with us so it seemed like the perfect week for the Camping theme.  I mean, I barely have to do anything...it just happens! ;)

My most favorite theme week activity is a scavenger hunt except that with most theme weeks, I whittle it down to a simple singular item scavenger hunt -- shapes or yellow things, for instance.  But not this week...We did full-on just like when I was a kid nature scavenger hunts with a list and everything!  There are lots of free printables already floating around on the Internet and my favorite is the Hiking Scavenger Hunt printable from Make & Takes.  I pre-printed 3 of these sheets and put them in 3 separate brown lunch sacks with a pencil.  Mia got one kit on each hike and had great fun looking for all the items.      

Mia has really been into space and looking at the moon & stars so we let her stay up late a few nights to catch a glimpse of the Milky Way and the crescent moon.  Seeing stars like this is one of camping's sweetest perks.

Camping week art projects are the best.  Do you remember your own camp experiences growing up?  I pulled out my favorites from those days -- lanyard key chains and God's eyes made with found twigs.  I also picked up a woodland animals mask kit from Paper Source (link to the kit in the summary below).  These made for an easy afternoon gluing activity.  Nana brought pony beads & twine and they made lots of necklaces and bracelets together.

Mia's little sister Millie celebrated her 1st birthday this week and with all the family in town, we threw a joint party for both girls (Mia's birthday was just a couple of weeks ago).  Given that I like to make things really simple for myself, can you guess what their birthday party theme was?  Camp, of course!

A summary of all Camping week activities with links:

ACTIVITIES: Completed nature item scavenger hunts (get a free printable from Make and Takes blog), Stayed up past bedtime one night to star watch and view the Milky Way

ART PROJECTS: Made God's Eyes with yarn and found sticks, Created paper animal masks with this kit from Paper Source, Made lanyard key chains, Made pay bead necklaces & bracelets 

OUTINGS: Went on many hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park

SNACK: S'mores

BOOKS: This Moose Belongs to Me by Oliver Jeffers

BIBLE STORY: The Israelites camping in the desert for 40 years

BABY BONUS: Camp-themed 1st birthday party!!

If you'd like to share a photo of your kid doing theme week activities, you can email it to me (email button in the left menu) or tag me on your Facebook photo or use the hashtag #weeklytoddlerthemes on Instagram (if you are private, just make sure I'm following you or tag me in the photo).