10 Creative Outdoor Activities to do Today
Needing some new and fun things to do outside today? Check out these camp-inspired outdoor activities that require very few supplies and materials:
1. Nature Weaving
What you’ll need: 4 sturdy sticks, twine or string, things you find in nature We are always looking for fun new classes for our Fine Arts Center, and this summer’s class: weaving! Until you can make it to camp and give our weaving class a try, give this nature weaving a shot. You can find a great explanation on how to set up this stick loom and then how to weave in nature branches and flowers here.
2. Banana Slap
What you’ll need: banana peels and eye covering (like goggles) We play this game at camp, and it is really fun. You’ll want to wear something over your eyes (our campers wear swim goggles). To play, you’ll need to hold hands with a partner (find a sibling or a parent), and then each person needs to have a banana peel in the other hand. The object is to slap your family opponent in the face with the banana peel before they slap you.
3. Dry Land Synchronized Swimming
What you’ll need: your bathing suit, music You may not be able to jump into the camp pool right now, but it doesn’t mean you can’t do Synchronized Swimming. Work with your family to create a family dry land Synchro routine. Need some inspiration? Check out the Mermaids. Bonus: you’ll have content for the best TikTok video ever.
4. Make a Daisy Chain
What you’ll need: nature flowers or greenery Have you ever made a daisy chain before? I used to love making these. You might not be able to find daisys, but you can use almost any flower with flexible stems. At camp, we even use ivy. You can find a great tutorial on making a daisy chain or a daisy crown. Try different things (my boys like to make sashes to be royal kings).
5. Water Softball
What you’ll need: Kiddie pools or buckets, tarp, wiffle ball or other soft type of ball During Watersports Day, we always enjoy a good water softball game and you can play at home with just a few people. Have one of your parents be the pitcher and then have the rest of you run the bases. At camp, we put kiddie pools at all of the bases (but larger buckets would do just fine), and then the 3rd base to home plate line is a slip and slide (a tarp works just as well). Add in a sprinkler and you’re set! If you don’t have a wiffle ball and bat, then just use a softer ball and a thick stick for batting – works in a pinch!
6. Put on an Outdoor Broadway Show
What you’ll need: a script or notebook to write a script, props based on your script You may be longing for the Play Productions at camp, but no need to wait until the summer to brush up on your acting skills. Head to the backyard to put on your very own Backyard Broadway show. You can even do this by yourself (just search for some kid-friendly, one person plays – lots of options out there). Even better, contact some camp friends and put together one scene from a favorite play together, with each person acting out a different part; you can then put together the recorded clips to make an awesome video.
7. Build a Cabin Replica
What you’ll need: marshmallows (preferably some big and small), toothpicks See how well you can do recreating one of our tentalows by building one yourself. Grab marshmallows and lots of toothpicks and see if you can’t build mini versions of some of your favorite camp cabins. Once done with those, move on to the Shepherd’s Gazebo, Pavilion, Dining Hall, and more.
8. Make a Neighborhood Disc Golf Course
What you’ll need: Frisbee for each person playing We love a good Frisbee golf game at camp, so give it a shot in your own neighborhood. You can set targets based on different items in your neighborhood (a trashcan on the street, that tree in the neighbor’s yard, etc.). See how many throws it takes, and keep score. Just watch out for cars!
9. Do Some Outdoor Cooking
What you’ll need: ingredients and supplies based on your recipe of choice, campfire This is a great time to try out some new recipes…outside! We love Outdoor Cooking at camp; girls love taking it as a class or a seminar. Now is a great time to try out some outdoor recipes. For most recipes, you’ll need a fire, so make sure to get some adult help. There are so many fun recipes out there! Try banana boats or even pizza!
10. Put on a Traveling Zumba Party
What you’ll need: portable music player, possibly costumes Greystone girls LOVE Zumba, so why not take Zumba on the road with you…or even just in your backyard. You can really spice up Zumba in many different ways. Put on the sprinkler while doing your Zumba routine (you already like doing your Zumba moves in your swimsuit, so turning on the sprinklers isn’t that far of a stretch). Put on some costumes (unicorns, camo, togas, etc.) and have a themed Zumba event (why not Zoom with your camp friends at the same time?). Or, take that Zumba dancing on the road around your neighborhood – get yourself a loud music player, holler at your neighbors to join you in their front yard, and dance down your street.