The Camping Club

Tin Can Totem Pole

Nothing sets the mood at summer camp like a totem pole, especially one flickering in the light of a bonfire. Make a tin can version for your backyard camp by painting your family portraits on coffee cans.

Watch a step-by-step video demonstration of this craft.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
Materials for a 5-person totem pole:
5 coffee cans, each with 2 plastic lids that fit
Can opener
Water-based exterior paints in a variety of colors
Paintbrushes
Craft knife
Scissors
4 clear plastic milk or water jugs, emptied and cleaned
Marker
Liquid laundry detergent bottle, empty and cleaned
Wooden dowel 7/8 inch in diameter and 48 inches long
Duct tape

Time needed: About 1 to 2 Hours
1. First, cut the bottom off each coffee can with a can opener, then give a can to each person to paint his or her portrait on.

2. While the paint is drying, choose the can that you want to put on top of your totem pole and set 1 of its 2 lids to the side. Use a craft knife to cut a quarter-size asterisk in the center of each of the other lids, then set the lids aside.

3. Next, use scissors to cut the ridged spout from each plastic jug (recycle the rest of the jug) and set aside the spouts.

4. Finally, draw the wings on the detergent bottle, as shown, and cut them out (recycle the rest of the bottle).

5. Once the cans are dry, place a lid on the top and bottom of each, using the uncut lid for the top of the can that will crown your totem pole. As shown in the diagram at left, wrap a thick layer of duct tape about 6 inches from the bottom end of the dowel, then add the cans, jug spouts, and wings.

6. Place the finished totem pole in your yard by pushing the dowel into the ground.

Click to Read more

Painted Pebbles

Turn a pile of stones into ornamental artworks that will spruce up a garden bed, a potted plant or a windowsill. CRAFT MATERIALS:
Small stones
Acrylic paint and brushes

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Start by scouting in the backyard for smooth stones in various shapes and sizes.

2. Imagine what each stone's shape lends itself to. For example, a wide, rounded stone would make a good fat cat. Or perhaps a group of stones will inspire a family of critters like a brood of ducklings.

3. Use the paints to realize your artistic vision.

Variations:
Use stones to create colorful and helpful markers for a vegetable or flower garden. Simply paint a carrot, some peas, or maybe a sunflower on a stone to place at the end of a plant's row.

Click to Read more

Picnic Game Table

You and your family will have lots of fun designing this outdoor picnic table together -- and then, year after year, you'll have lots of fun using the gameboards you've painted onto the tabletop.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
A small, unfinished picnic table
Pencil and ruler
Acrylic latex enamel paint
Paintbrushes
Square-shaped sponge (optional)
Polyurethane

Time needed: Weekend Project

1. Using a pencil and ruler, draw a design on the tabletop. We've included a checkerboard, a backgammon board, a sun, letters of the alphabet and numbers from zero to 20.

2. Once you are happy with the design, paint it on.

3. Paint the benches as you wish. We sponge-painted squares around geometric shapes.

4. Protect the table and benches with five coats of polyurethane (a parent's job).

Click to Read more

Macrame Bracelets

The groovy macramé I remember from 20 years ago is back in force, and I must admit I prefer this reincarnation. Woven from sleek hemp twine, rather than jute, it looks earthy and cool. And, when strung with beads (either store-bought or made from seeds and shells), it also makes a perfect bracelet for a best pal.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
Hemp cord, scissors, tape, beads and buttons.

HOW IT'S DONE:
1.To make a bracelet, you need two strands of hemp, one twice as long as the other. (The lengths will depend on the hemp's width, but a 60- and a 30-inch length should fit most kids' wrists.) Fold each strand in half. Hold the two midpoints together and tie a loop with them. Hang the loop over a nail or tape it to a board. You should now have four strands; put the shorter two in the middle.

2.Lay the left outside strand over the middle two strands (it should look like the number four), then under the right outside strand.

3. Bring the outside right strand under the middle two strands and up through the loop of the four. Pull the ends of the outside strands tight. This is the basic knot. To continue, simply alternate the side from which you start the knot.

4. To add a bead, slip it onto the middle two strands, then tie the knot. When your bracelet is done, slip a four-holed button onto the four strands (one strand in each hole), then knot each strand end and snip off any extra hemp.

CAMP CRAFTER'S TIP:
A fun variation on the basic knot is to make a twisted bracelet. To do this, don't alternate from outside strand to outside strand. Instead, make your knot starting with the same outside strand every time. Your weaving will twist around in a spiral.

Click to Read more

Stage a Play

One of life's great thrills is a stage curtain lifting--even if the curtain is a bedspread and the stage a garage floor. If you're long on neighborhood talent but short on plot ideas, take your script from stories the kids know. They can stick to the original or--for a fun twist--modernize or adapt it (What if Cinderella lived in the nineties or Clifford was a big red cat?).

Here's a short list of easy tales to stage:

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
STONE SOUP
RUMPELSTILTSKIN
THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT

Click to Read more

Do it Yourself Art Fair

Here's a chance to support your local artists: hold an art fair that showcases their creativity. In a backyard or at a local park, set up tables covered with newspaper or plastic tablecloths. Then, ask families to stock each site with supplies for a favorite art project, such as spin art, melted crayon paintings, candle-dipping, bead-making or sponge painting.

To jump-start the creative process, launch the event with a challenge to make a giant squirt painting. Spread a big sheet of white paper on the ground, hand everyone a squirt bottle or squirt gun full of thinned tempera paints, and stand back.

Consider setting up the fair as a charity project: charge admission or ask artists to sell their work and donate the proceeds.

Click to Read more

Dragon Kite

Constructed of bags, a hanger, and a dowel, this friendly dragon is cheaper yet just as durable as its store-bought cousins. And its acrobatics would make a Chinese warrior proud. CRAFT MATERIALS:
Plastic trash bags
Cellophane tape
Ruler
Pencil
String
Permanent markers
3/16-inch dowel (14 inches long)
Wire clothes hanger (light gauge)
Kite cord
Heavy needle
Large snap swivel

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Slice open a trash bag lengthwise and tape down the plastic sheet. Draw a 14-inch-diameter circle with a centerline and squared-off bottom, as in figure A. (Tip: Use a foot-long loop of string as a compass. Anchor the loop in place with a pencil's eraser end, insert a marker, pull the loop taut, and draw the circle.) Draw a 1-inch margin around the top and sides for tabs. Decorate with markers, if desired. Cut out the pattern and the tabs. Tape the dowel to the centerline of the kite's back, as shown.

2. Straighten the hanger, bend it around the top of the dowel and then down along the perimeter of the kite, as shown in figure A. Use bricks or books to hold the wire in place.

3. Starting at the top of the kite, tightly fold and tape the tabs around the wire, alternating from left to right (figure B). Trim the excess wire with wire cutters.

4. Place two pieces of tape (for reinforcement) across the centerline on the front of the kite, 1 inch down from the top and 3½ inches up from the bottom. Use a needle to poke the bridle -- a 3-foot length of cord -- through the upper piece of tape, alongside the dowel.

5. Loop the cord around the dowel, send the needle back through the plastic on the opposite side of the dowel, then thread the cord back through and around the dowel again. Secure the cord to itself with a triple knot. Repeat this process with the other end of the bridle at the lower taped point.

6. Attach the snap swivel 1¼ inches above the bridle's midpoint (figure C). Use a lark's head knot: fold the cord and thread it through the swivel's nonopening end; draw the loop of cord over the entire swivel, then pull tight. Tie the kite cord to the swivel's clasp.

7. For the tail, tape together five plastic strips (2 inches by 4 bag lengths each), tape them to the kite's bottom and decorate.

Tips:
HOW TO LAUNCH THE KITE: Despite that classic image from childhood, running is not the best way to launch a kite. Instead, release it from your hand as you slowly let out line or have a helper stand 100 feet downwind and release the kite as you reel in the line. (Be sure to be far away from power lines.) In strong winds, move the swivel up ½ inch on the bridle; in light, down ½ inch. If the kite spins and dives, lengthen the tail.

Click to Read more

Quill Pen

In the old days, writing students had to learn a lot more than penmanship, grammar and spelling--they also perfected the art of cutting their own quill pens. You can teach your kids this craft from the days of one-room schoolhouses (be sure to supervise the cutting). Feather quills can be found at craft supply stores.
1. Using an X-Acto knife, carefully cut the end of the quill at an angle. Be sure the feather is hollow so the ink will flow into it.

2. Carefully cut a small slit at the tip of the feather.

3. To write with the pen, dip the tip into a jar of ink, then dab it onto a piece of paper towel before writing. Dip and dab the pen as you are writing.

Click to Read more

Rapid Snow Slide

Create a downhill run for a snow tube thrill ride where, with each curve, the tube twists and the riders shriek with glee.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
Shovel
Inner tubes

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Start with a good sledding hill, then shovel snow into banks to form the sides of your curvy run. Be sure the track is wide enough for a tube.

2. Pack the slide with your feet or the back of a shovel and then get ready to ride. The more the track is used, the slicker the run will get.

Tips:
For the best ride, use a sturdy rubber inner tube. You can rent one from a river-rafting company or buy them from an auto-parts store like Pep Boys (call 800-PEP-BOYS for a location near you, $10 to $12 per tube).

Click to Read more

Snowgusta Mini Golf

Set up a course where players putt across a frosty green and the ever-changing conditions -- ice, slush, blizzards -keep the game exciting.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
Spray bottles
Green food coloring
Various obstacles
Scissors
Felt
Glue
Tape
Wooden dowels

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Stomp down an area around each hole (hard-packed snow holds color better than fluffy snow does).

2. Mix water and green food coloring in a spray bottle, then spray the mixture on the packed snow. (Note: Unless you want green jeans, don't lie or sit on the sprayed snow.)

3. Once the green is set, add wacky obstacles like these: pool toy rings or a hula hoop sunk halfway in the snow; a toboggan or skateboard upside down; a trash-can lid; a tunnel through the bottom of a snowman. And don't forget to make holes: recycled plastic containers sunk in the snow.

4. To make a flag, cut a triangle from one color of felt and a number from another. Glue them together. Then tape or staple the flag around a dowel or ski pole. If necessary, wrap a rubber band around the dowel under the flag to keep it from slipping.

Tips:
Use a rubber ball and hockey-stick "nine iron" (a broom also works) to sink aces like the pros.

Click to Read more

Paper Animals

Your child can create a whimsical paper pet Dr. Seuss would be proud of.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
Card stock
Scissors
Glue
Googly eyes

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Fold a piece of card stock in half. Draw an animal onto the paper so that some part of the top of it (head and tail, or back) is along the fold. Cut through both layers of paper, being careful to keep some of the fold intact. Attach the googly eyes using glue if they don't have adhesive backing. Now stand the animal up. If it splays apart, glue together the front and back of the head and tail, leaving the legs unglued (or in the case of an octopus, glue just the left and right arms and leave the bottom ones unglued).

Click to Read more

Margarine Tub Drum

Your child can sound off with this rhythmic noisemaker.

To make one, you'll need a small margarine tub and lid, colored duct tape, a 3/8-inch dowel cut to an 8-inch length, two 6-inch pieces of string and two wood beads.

First, decorate the tub and lid with shapes cut out of the tape. Use a craft knife (parents only) to cut a 3/8-inch hole through one side of the tub and slide the end of the dowel through it. With the dowel facing down, poke a small hole in each side of the tub. Thread a piece of string through each hole and knot the ends inside the tub. Tie a bead onto the free end of each piece of string. By rolling the dowel back and forth in his hands, your child can make his own one-drum salute.

Click to Read more

Perfect Treehouse

For kids, building a tree house can become an obsession. A private place to call their own, a high perch from which to watch the world, who can blame them?

Obviously, building a tree house is no small task--it must be done right for safety sake, and so you don't create an eyesore in your backyard. Hint: If you don't have much building experience, find a friend or family member who is handy, and willing to lend a weekend of his or her time. And then you must have a good stout tree with branches that spread in a V-shape, and is located away from power lines, the street, and other potential dangers. Before you start on a design, go to a building supply store to find out how much all of the materials will cost. Listed below are the materials needed and the estimated cost that we came up with (prices vary according to location and store).

Click to Read more

Stick Art

To make a winsome window decoration, take up a collection of natural beauties -- leaves, grass, flower petals, and ferns work well -- and help your child arrange them on the sticky side of a piece of clear Con-Tact paper. (You may want to tape down the Con-Tact paper to keep it from moving.) When he's done, place a second piece sticky-side down on top of the objects and press to seal it. Trim the edges (we cut ours into a circle), punch a hole in the top, and hang it in a window with a short length of ribbon. Be sure to check out our other nature-craft ideas for your toddler.

Click to Read more

Friendship Bracelets

In the summer, kids aren't simply best friends, they're inseparable. To prove to each other that their bond will last even past the start of the school year, your child and her pal can fill up their arms with a batch of friendship bracelets.

To make each bracelet, gather six 24-inch strands of embroidery thread.

1. Hold the strands together with the ends matched up, then tie an overhand knot 1 inch from an end. Tape the knot to a tabletop or anchor it in a closed drawer. Holding the free end, twist the bunch repeatedly in the same direction until it is tightly wound.

2. Pinch the twisted band in the center and fold it in half so that the free end matches up with the knotted end. Release the center--the band will automatically twist back on itself.

3. Slip the ends through the loop (the pinch point) at the opposite end of the band, tie a knot to secure the bracelet, knot again and trim the ends.

Click to Read more

Waterplay: Underwater Scope

Most of the really cool stuff that lives underwater is too small, too slimy and too delicate to capture alive—or to capture at all. This easy-to-make underwater scope makes catching the little critters irrelevant. Poke it in the water and look through for a clear, enlarged view of life beneath the surface. In creeks and streams, that might mean the creepy nymphs and insects that attach themselves to rocks (neat!); in the pool, that might mean your dad's hairy toes (yuck!).

DIRECTIONS: You'll need a food storage tub with a snap-on lid (like the kind yogurt comes in) and some plastic wrap. Cut off the tub's bottom and cut the center out of the tub's lid so that only the rim remains. Stretch the plastic wrap over the tub's top and snap the rim over it to secure it in place. Insert the plastic wrapped end into the water and look through the top.

WHY IT WORKS: When you stick the scope into the water, the water pressure pushes the plastic wrap into a concave magnifying lens.

Click to Read more

Decorate with Light Strands

It's easy to create a little ambience for an outdoor supper party or an evening storytelling hour. Just turn off the floodlights and plug in a strand or two of holiday lights. CRAFT MATERIALS:
Miniature low-heat outdoor holiday lights
Zip ties or plastic gutter clips

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Wrap the lights around a porch or fence railing, drape them over the shrubs, or string them between trees.

2. To secure them in place, use zip ties or plastic gutter clips. You can even put the lights on a timer so they automatically shut off at bedtime.

Click to Read more

Splatter Shirts

With a little inspiration from abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock, kids can splatter paint all over their T-shirts and brush up on their art history at the same time.
This free-form technique is especially appropriate for young artists: With a flick of the wrist, they'll have a wearable masterpiece.

First, hang one or more prewashed white T-shirts outside on a clothesline with clothespins (be sure the clothesline is far away from unintended targets). If the day is windy, it's a good idea to slip a rectangular piece of cardboard inside each shirt to keep it rigid.

Next, pour nontoxic fabric paints into disposable containers, such as aluminum pie plates or plastic lids, and let your children (dressed in smocks or old bathing suits ) dip paintbrushes into the paint and flick it onto the shirts. Don't worry about giving much artistic direction for this part. The flicking will come easily to children and will no doubt be accompanied by other imaginative techniques--dribbling, splattering, smearing or long-distance slings--just stay clear.

When the shirts are covered with dots, blots and lines, leave them on the clothesline to dry for about six hours. If you don't want the paint to run even more, take them down and allow them to dry flat. Wait at least three days before machine washing. For best results, refer to the fabric-paint package for specific washing directions.

Click to Read more

Star Gazing

Stargazing Heavenly lights have guided voyagers, inspired philosophers and entranced children for centuries. With some orientation, the mysterious pictures in the night canopy become easier to see. The best viewing conditions are on clear, moonless evenings. Pack a star chart (available at science stores), a flashlight (covering the lens with red cellophane will let you read the chart, yet keep your eyes adjusted to the dark) and a blanket.

For more detailed celestial information, another good star-tracking tool is a planisphere, a circular map of the night sky that rotates to show where the constellations are at a given day and time. (One source for these is The Nature Company, 800-607-7888.) Since star charts and planispheres are oriented to the north, lie on your back (head pointing north), give your eyes a few minutes to adjust, and let the wishing begin. The following are a few basic skylights even beginning stargazers can search out.

The Big Dipper is probably the best-recognized constellation. American children think of it as a ladle. (It's said that wishes made on it in summer won't fall out because the bowl is facing up.) Kids in other countries see different shapes: Polynesians call it the Rat; Poles call it the Wagon; English folks call it the Plow; and Hindus call it the Seven Wise Men. The Big Dipper is part of a larger constellation called the Great Bearits handle forms the bear's tail. The middle star on the handle has a tiny, faint companion star that was used by the ancient Arabs to test people's vision.

If you look at the bowl of the Big Dipper, you'll find two pointer stars that aim straight at Polaris, the North Star, which in turn forms the tip of the Little Dipper's handle. As any Girl Scout knows, if you can locate the North Star, you don't need a compass. In Pawnee creation myths, it's known as The Star That Does Not Move.

In addition to seeking out the 3,000 or so stars that are visible to the naked eye, stargazers can also search for planets by looking for starlike objects that do not twinkle. Satellites, too, are a rewarding quarry. They move steadily and slowly across the sky, which makes them easy to spot. If your group is lucky enough to spy shooting stars, you can explain that they are not actually stars but chunks of metal and stone called meteors.

Click to Read more

Lighthouse in a Bottle

Turn a plastic water bottle into a decorative lighthouse -- just the thing to brighten up a rainy summer day.

Watch a step-by-step video demonstration of this craft.

CRAFT MATERIALS:
1.5-liter sport water bottle
Craft knife
Aluminum foil
Red acrylic paint
Black tape
Play-Doh or clay
Flashlight
White craft foam
Clear packing tape

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Use a craft knife (adults only) to cut the bottle in half. Glue aluminum foil inside the cone-shaped portion of the top half (this creates a reflective dome), then use red acrylic paint to coat the outside of the foil-lined section.

2. When the paint is dry, apply 3-inch vertical strips of black tape, spaced evenly, around the unpainted portion of the bottle top.

3. In the bottom half of the bottle, pack a baseball-sized ball of Play-Doh or clay. Stand a flashlight upright in the clay and press down to secure it in place. Cut a notch down from the bottle's edge to allow access to the flashlight's switch, as shown.

4. Next, wrap an 11 1/2- by 10-inch sheet of white craft foam around the bottom half of the bottle (the foam will extend about 4 inches above the bottle) and note approximately where the flashlight switch opening is. Remove the foam and cut out a switch opening. Re-wrap the foam around the bottle and secure the overlapping ends with clear packing tape.

5. Finally, fit the cut edge of the bottle top just inside the foam sleeve and securely tape the foam to the bottle with colored tape.

Click to Read more