Make a Summer Camp Memory Book

For many young campers, there is often an abundance of excitement prior to attending camp. But there may also be a big letdown once the experience is over. To help children handle before-and-after camp transitions, have them create a summer camp memory book. All it takes is a few sheets of card stock, construction paper, markers, a computer, photographs and a handful of memories.

Several weeks before camp starts, have your child gather card stock and begin assembling the book. Page headings and subheadings can be created on the computer or handwritten. These pages can then be mounted onto colored construction paper if desired. Some pages can be filled in prior to leaving. Others will need to be added to after the experience is over.

Here are a few ideas:

• On the first page, have your child type or write “Summer Camp Memory Book,” along with his name, age, name of camp and dates of attendance. Then decorate the border.
• Make pages for “What I did to Prepare for Camp” and “Things I Packed.” Have him include a series of lines after the second entry for writing in a packing list. This list also can be used to help your child remember to pack all his belongings before returning home.
• Your child may want to include pages for keeping in touch with friends and loved ones. Have him create one entry titled “Letters to Send” that lists names and addresses of people he wants to write letters to while he’s away. Another entry could include “Letters and Packages Received.” One way to store letters he receives is to create a pocket by cutting an extra piece of cardstock in half and attaching it to the page with staples. Finally have him create a page called “Keep in Touch” with lines for filling in addresses and phone numbers of new friends made at camp.
• Another page should include things that happened along the way. Your child can format these entries before leaving home and either fill in the pages on the way or when he returns home. Headings could include how long it took to drive to camp, unusual things seen on the way and stops along the way. You may even consider adding a second page with similar entries for the ride home.
• Include a page for first impressions of camp, what he did, how he felt and new people met, and a page or two for daily experiences – food, activities, free time and more.
• Don’t forget pages that include the best and worst of experiences – best food, worst food, favorite activity, best camp friend, favorite counselor, the best and worst thing that happened and new things learned.

Be sure to give your child a camera and remind him to take a lot of pictures throughout his stay. Also take a few pictures of him packing and getting to and from camp. When he returns he can fill in the pages, paste in photos and illustrate other experiences.

To assemble the book, bind the pages together with a three-hole punch and secure with brads or yarn. In years to come, your child will have a great memory of summer camp!

Denise Yearian is the former editor of two parenting magazines and the mother of three children.