DIY Kites

INTRODUCTION: Younger campers will likely benefit from this activity being spread between a couple of days. Start with a 'stick hunt' on day 1 and help them know what they're looking for. You can organize other materials on Day 1 and then send them home with homework to bring whatever couldn't be found on Day 1. Writing down a list to give parents after Day 1 will be helpful and let parents know that this is a 'take home scavenger hunt' for kids...they should look for almost all of the materials on their own before asking for help. On Day 2 you can spend the day building and flying kites.

How long it’ll take:

1 hour (break up over 2 days if needed)

What the goal is:

Campers build and fly their own kites.

What the objectives are:

Campers learn to tie a square knot (or any other knot you want to teach campers that would work in this context) and learn how to use the wind to fly a kite.

What you’ll need: prep kids and families for this the day before so that campers can bring materials from home

• 2 sticks, one less than a foot long, one about 2 feet long (can be sticks from outside, dowels, pencils taped together, skewers or anything else that can be fashioned together)

• One of the following: newspaper, paper grocery bag, or 4 pieces of paper taped together into a big square

• One of the following: duct tape, masking tape, scotch tape, any strong tape

• Scissors

• A ruler

• Roll of string, yarn, or thin cordage (that can be cut)

• A small sturdy stick about 6-8 inches long (to be used as a handle)

• Markers

• Scraps of paper or fabric for the tail

• Large open space with moderate wind to fly the kites (avoid obstacles like trees and powerlines)

What you’ll do:

Build the frame

1. Take the 2 sticks (not the handle) and form a lowercase ‘t’ on a flat surface with the shorter stick laid across the longer one.

2. Tape the 2 sticks together. Make sure to use enough tape so that it is a sturdy connection but not too much so the kite doesn’t end up too heavy. Pro tip: cut/tear narrow strips of tape so you can more easily wrap them around the sticks.

Add the material to make the kite

1. Make sure your paper (e.g. newspaper, paper bag, paper taped together) is bigger than your kite frame.

2. 1. If you are using a bag, cut it open and lay it out flat.

   2. If you are using paper, tape enough together so that it is larger than the frame. Tape on both sides so that it is sturdy and make sure there are no holes or gaps for air to slip through, otherwise the wind won’t lift the kite.

2. lace the frame on top of the paper/plastic.

3. Use a marker/pen to mark where each tip of the frame lands on the paper/plastic.

4. Use a ruler to connect the 4 dots and make a diamond.

5. Draw a second diamond ~1 inch larger than the first.

6. Cut out the larger diamond.

7. Fold the paper/plastic along the inner diamond lines.

8. Securely tape the folded paper/plastic to each point of the frame.

Add the string

1. Tie the string around the crossed point in the middle of your frame. Use a square knot or whichever knot you want to teach.

2. Tape over the knot to make sure it is secure.

Create a handle

1. If you’re using a ball of string, reel out and cut an appropriate length of string so the kite will be able to fly high in the sky.

2. Tie the loose end of the string to the remaining short stick. This will be the handle.

3. Tape over the knot to make sure it is secure.

4. Wrap all the string around the handle so it doesn’t get tangled before you fly it.

Add a tail (prevents the kite from somersaulting in the air)

5. Measure and cut a length of string which is twice as long as your handle stick. Make sure it is not too long so that it is not too difficult to manage.

6. Tie one end of the string to the end of the longer stick in your frame (the bottom of the ‘t’).

7. Tape over the knot.

8. Tie your scrap material (e.g. strip of plastic, fabric, paper) to the other end of this string.

9. Tape over the knot.

10. Go fly your kites!

Tips for flying a kite:

• If you’re in a big enough space, hold your kite in the air by the crossbars and take a running start. Let go when you feel the wind start catching on the sails. Make sure you’ve let out enough string so the kite can rise up into the air. The timing is tricky, so keep practicing!

• Fly your kite on a moderately windy day. We’re like Goldilocks here -- too little wind and your kite won’t be able to get up in the air, too much wind and your risk breaking your kite.

• Watch out for trees and other obstacles which could tangle up your kite.

• Fly your kite in a large empty space like a beach or field. Things like power lines and houses disrupt the air current and make flying more difficult.