Yep, last summer, I thought I had it all figured out. I signed my kids up for summer camp, bought the labeled water bottles, packed the snacks, and poof — thought I was set.
Until Day 2. My youngest sobbed because he wanted to “stay home and build a volcano” instead. And you know what? That’s when it hit me… why not bring the camp to them?
So, I made a little plan. A week-long “summer camp at home” full of fun, themed days, and zero early drop-offs. And let me tell you — the kids LOVED it. Want to try it too? Here’s how I did it (and yes, I’ve got freebies for you on Drevio to make your life way easier).
1. Pick a Weekly Camp Theme (or Mix It Up Daily)
Summer Camp at Home to Enjoy with Your Family
Okay, the first step: decide if you want a full week under one theme (like Nature Explorers) or mix it up with a new theme each day (because sometimes, one theme just isn’t enough — hello, kids’ attention span).
Here are some of my favorite daily themes:
- Mad Scientist Monday – baking soda volcanoes, slime making
- Tropical Tuesday – Hawaiian luau, DIY leis, pineapple juice breaks
- Wildlife Wednesday – backyard bug hunt, paper plate animal masks
- Throwback Thursday – 90s dance party, tie-dye tees
- Fantasy Friday – fairies, dragons, and a magical treasure hunt
And no, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. I’ve got ready-to-use printables, invites, and activity sheets over at Drevio. Just download, print, and pretend you totally planned this weeks ago.
2. Keep It Easy With a Daily Schedule
Trust me, a loose schedule saves you from the “what do we do now?” spiral. I like to keep it chill — nothing military-style — just enough structure to keep the chaos low and the fun high.
Here’s my go-to summer camp daily flow:
- 9:00 AM – Morning Circle + Theme Intro
- 10:00 AM – Craft Time
- 11:00 AM – Snack + Free Play
- 1:00 PM – Main Activity or Game
- 3:00 PM – Cool Down with a Movie or Storytime
You can adjust for naps, playdates, or — let’s be real — your work calls. And yep, I’ve got editable schedules on Drevio you can personalize with your own flair.
3. Go Big on Crafts and Printables
This is where the real magic happens. Kids live for arts and crafts — especially the kind that makes a mess you don’t mind because it actually kept them busy for more than 20 minutes.
Some fun ideas:
- DIY camp badges (you can print mine or design your own)
- Cardboard forts for castle or jungle day
- Paper puppets for storytime theater
All super doable, and you can grab tons of free templates from Drevio. Because no one has time to draw a pirate ship from scratch.
4. Invite the Neighborhood (Or Keep It Family Only)
You can totally keep this in-house — or if you’ve got mom friends nearby, turn it into a mini co-op camp. Take turns hosting. Everyone brings snacks. It’s chaos… but the fun kind. Plus, the kids get that camp social vibe without ever leaving your street.
And of course, send out your own custom summer camp invitations (yes, even if it’s just for your cousins and their goldfish). I’ve made a bunch in Drevio that you can edit in Canva — easy peasy.
Need invitation ideas for your summer parties? Customize here for free!
5. Wrap It All Up With a Camp Showcase
At the end of the week, host a little camp “graduation.” Let the kids show off their crafts, perform a silly skit, or parade around in costumes. Maybe even hand out printable certificates (don’t worry — they’re on Drevio too).
It gives them something to look forward to and makes the whole thing feel like a big deal — which, honestly, it is. You just created memories out of sidewalk chalk, paper glue, and your kitchen table. That’s pretty amazing.
Ready to Plan Your Own Camp-at-Home Week?
Head over to Drevio.com and check out all the free resources I’ve uploaded for you — themed invites, editable schedules, printable games, and tons more.
Trust me, with a little prep (and a lot of coffee), you’ll be that mom who pulled off a full-on summer camp in her backyard.
And honestly? The kids won’t even miss the real thing.
