Summer Camp Activities?!?

Greetings Fellow Camp People -

Hope everyone is doing well.  I am working on planning activities for our summer camp in 2010 and I was hoping to get a thread going with some good farm-related activities.  There were so many good ideas from the conference that I have to sort through, but I still thought this might be a new avenue to reach those who are in full-fledged planning mode.

So, as an offering, let me share with you an idea that my girlfriend, Hanna, gave me last night.  This was a project she did with children in Peace Corps in Honduras, and I am thinking it would work well with our 2-week day camp session.  It might be hard to pull off in a week.

At the beginning of the week, give each kid a disposable camera, label them, and instruct kids to take photos over the first few days of camp.  I think you would really have to drive home the point that they must be selective, as these are not digital and thus no unlimited capacity.  Then print off the pictures, bring them back for the kids, and let them choose their favorite (or two) of the bunch.  This print will be enlarged (by store) and matted (maybe by them) and eventually displayed on a basic easel that I want to have the kids build.  Where I work, we have a venue (Dairy Store) where we can display their photos, but ultimately I would like to see them be shown at the Farmer's Market or somewhere else more visible to others. 

Then there is the thought of maybe even holding a silent auction of the prints to raise money for the farm/camp.  So, if you let them do 2 prints each, they could keep one (which I think is important) and auction one off.  I find it hard to believe that this wouldn't at least pay for the cost of materials.  They also get an easel that they can take home after camp.

Curious to hear what people think.  Please share any ideas for tried-and-true or brand new projects/activities/games/etc!  Hope everyone is doing well.

Truly,
Andy Loughney
andyL@thelandsathillsidefarms.org
www.thelandsathillsidefarms.org