Theme of the Week is a post where we ask readers like you to comment with ideas for a particular theme. What ideas and suggestions do you have? What game, craft, apparel choice, theme meal, evening activity, special event, song, skit, or anything else would you do at camp if your theme was…
Party in the USA
I’ll start it off with five suggestions. Think you got better ideas? Leave them in the comments area below.
- “Visit” Texas and do some trick roping, have a BBQ and/or do some line dancing.
- “Visit” Hawaii and learn to hula and have a luau with some Hawaiian music in the background.
- “Visit” Alaska and do a polar swim in the freezing morning water, have a relay race where the campers have their legs tied so they have to waddle like penguins, and have Alaskan salmon for dinner.
- “Visit” California and have a red carpet gala event, have a short film challenge and have a pool party.
- “Visit” New York during Fashion Week and have a runway model competition with counselors that have been dressed up by their cabin groups.
I am planning a summer day camp’s activities for the first time & i cannot tell you how instrumental your site has been in helping me to choose themes, plan activities, & get tons of “outside-the-box” ideas on a budget. I am LOVING the idea of having state themed days. I can do some creative things with this. Thanks for helping me feel a little less panicked!!
That is awesome to hear, Jessica. Thanks for the kind words.
These ideas are fabulous! Does anyone have any other state ideas in addition to the ones mentioned above?!?
Deanna, is there a specific state you need ideas for?
Do you have any recreation ideas and special program ideas?
Amelia, I’m not sure I understand your question. You mean additional ideas specific to a USA theme?
Yes I do. Sorry that was confusing
I think I am going to use this as my whole six weeks theme for our summer day camp. Each week will be a different city/state. I found a lot of things I can use for New York and Hawaii at oriential trade.
FYI – Penguins live in the Antarctic, not Alaska.
Ann, you are absolutely right. While there have been penguins found in Alaska the consensus by researchers is that they made it there most likely via fishing boats. They are not native to Alaska. Thank you for keeping me in check. 🙂
I love the Party in the USA theme! I am going to use it for a theme for a 2 week session at our day camp! We will visit a new state each day. Do you have any suggestions on other states “to visit”? I was thinking Louisiana for Mardi Gras and Florida for Disney world but need just a few more!
New York is famous for pizza making. Texas has a history of cowboys and raches. Arizona is a good place for cowboys as well. California has surfing and Hollywood. Hawaii has surfing and luaus. Fort Knox is in Kentucky (do something with gold).
What about a buckeye neckless for Ohio? Maybe football as your game. Neil Armstrong was from Wapakoneta, so maybe something space related. Just a few thoughts.
Great ideas. Thanks, Amy.
LOVE this idea! i used this list of landmarks from the magazine Parents to help me think of a few more ideas too. hope it helps someone else like it did me. =)… http://www.parents.com/fun/vacation/us-destinations/50-states-50-landmarks/
This is honestly the BEST site I have ever visted! Everything is so relevant, fresh, and intriguing – kids will be absolutely thrilled to hear these themes. I cannot emphasize how appreciative I am for this website. Again, thank you SO MUCH!!!!!
-Afra,
Thanks, Afra. I really appreciate that.
Why not New Mexico or yeah Florida for huge water games with the all camp. (by the way, the ideas are really great !)
Do you have any ideas for Nebraska?
Several summers ago our program theme was “Traveling Across the USA” – it was so much fun!! I used some food ideas from a book “Eat your way across the USA” Jane and Michael Stern and other activities and games from “Moving to Discover the USA” Mike Lee, Rhonda Clements.
Our afterschool program is doing this theme too. ‘Coast to coast & anywhere USA in between’. We have unique challenges though like very little $ to spend & it being winter in CT now, we can’t do water activities. I’m seeking some more ideas, but can’t find much out there. Any more activities ideas, anyobe? Please!?
Kai, join the Community Recreation Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/communityrec/ and ask this question there. You may get some answers right away.
Once you pick a state you can pick activities based on a theme of that state. FOr instance, during New York we will do lots of things with apples in honor of the big apple!
Good thought, Heather. Kind of like doing things with sunshine for Florida or making everything big with Texas.
Awesome site this was so helpful! I have preschoolers and school age kids during the summer so getting new ideas is fantastic. Thanks so much! Nancy
Thanks, Nancy. Glad you are finding the site helpful. 🙂