Ultimate DIY Summer Camp Schedule for Kids

Last summer, I was juggling full-time work while my 5-year-old was booked in back-to-back summer camps. Most of my days were spent racing between meetings and dropping him off at different camp locations. This year looks completely different—and better.

Now that I’m a stay-at-home mom (yay!), my new Kindergartener told me he’s done with summer camps. His only requests? Spend time with me and go to the pool. You got it, buddy.

But I’m not a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of mom. Chaos and mess without a plan quickly overwhelm me. So, to keep our summer playful and stress-free, I’ve created a DIY summer camp at home routine that gives us structure while still leaving space for fun and flexibility.

My summer camp routine includes sensory activities for toddlers, crafts for kids, outdoor play ideas, fine motor activities and kids learning activities. I’m also including time in the day for chores, field trips, meals or snacks and quiet time. The best thing about a DIY summer camp at home is that it can be as flexible or as structured as you want it to be! It’s more budget friendly, and you can target learning to the age or grade of your child. Plus, kids THRIVE on structure – that’s a fact about how the brain learns!

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DIY Summer Camp Shirts (With Spray Tie Dye!)

Every camper needs an official summer camp shirt! Growing up, my mom would put together a calendar of free or low-cost activities that she shared with the neighborhood. We called it Camp Woodfield (our street name), and it helped me develop lifelong friendships and the best childhood core memories. I hope to create these kinds of memories with my child.

My kids are still young, so our camp shirts this year will be spray dyed. Find all of the details in this post here.

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Summer Schedule / Routine 2-3 Times Per Week

Time	Activity
7 – 9 am	Wake up & Get Dressed Breakfast & Chores
9 – 11 am	Craft Learning Journal Reading Challenge [SEE POST] Sensory Play / Outside Play
11 – 12 pm	Lunch & Change for Pool
12-3 pm	Pool & Snack. Shower at pool. Bring kids soap! Other ideas: Playdate or library visit
3-5	Quiet time for Kids Dinner Prep
5-7	Play Bedtime Routine

Field Trip Ideas (2 Times Per Week)

Our “field trip” days are low-pressure adventures close to home (within a 1.5-hour drive). These outings help break up the week and build in downtime for naps or quiet car time.

• Museums
• Aquariums
• Parks
• Nature Centers / Trails
• Libraries Near & Far (look for library events, too!)
• Puppet Theaters
• Theme Parks / Play Centers

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Weekly Theme Ideas for DIY Summer Camp

Theme	Sample Activities
Dinosaurs & Paleontology	Salt dough fossils, dino egg sensory play, paper plate dino craft
Under the Sea	Paper plate fish, blue water sensory bin, ocean songs
Space Explorers	Rocket crafts, moon sand, star counting game
Nature Week	Leaf rubbings, nature walks, bug hunts
Little Artists	Messy painting, DIY stamps, color mixing
Water & Bubble Play	Sponge toss, water table, ice cube painting

Behavior Routine for Summer Camp Schedule at Home

Structure helps kids feel safe and confident. Schools and summer camps use behavior charts to set clear expectations, so I made one for home too! Our simple summer behavior chart helps with:

• Reducing tantrums
• Positive reinforcement
• Goal-setting
• Daily routines

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Easy Dinner Routine for Summer Camp at Home

After a day of playing, the last thing I want to do is plan a big meal. I use this simple dinner routine to make my days and meal planning easier. And I don’t think my kid cares if we have pasta every week. Kids don’t need overly complicated menus. They just need FOOD!

Day	Meal
Monday	Crockpot night (usually Chicken Tinga or BBQ sandwiches)
Tuesday	Taco Tuesday
Wednesday	Leftovers / “Kid Food” (chicken nuggets, grilled cheese et.)
Thursday	Pasta night
Friday	Pizza / Frozen pizza
Saturday/Sunday	DAD’s in charge.

Other Recommended Crafts & Activities

Check out these other kids craft and activity ideas! From science and crafts, to cooking and travel, there is something for all ages to enjoy!

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