Gnome Homes

Gnome Homes

How long it’ll take:

30 minutes to 1 hour depending on camper's interest.

What the goal is:

Campers should walk away from this activity feeling more connected to natural resources with a sense of wonder.

What the objectives are:

Campers will use their own creative innovation to build tiny homes with natural resources.

What you’ll need:

An outdoor space that has items to build tiny living structures (ex. sticks, rocks, leaves, pine needles, dirt).

What you’ll do:

1. Circle the campers together and ask them to imagine their favorite animal in a tiny form (or a fairy/gnome). Explain that they will be building homes for them!

2. Tell campers that they must only use resources from nature. Ask them what is and is not considered natural. For example, if campers find a tennis ball or soda can, they would not be able to use them in their tiny homes.

3. Before collecting materials, set boundaries for the activity by walking around an area or pointing out landmarks that indicate the barrier.

4. Give campers 5-10 minutes to collect resources for their homes and set a smaller boundary for where they can begin building. Remind them of the 4 Ds for collecting material (Dead, downed, detached, diameter)

5. Give campers 15 minutes (or more if they are engaged) to build their tiny homes. In addition to building the basic features of a home (roof, walls, etc.), encourage campers to build fun features on their homes (ex: pools, pathways, slides, etc.). Observe and let their creativity shine!

6. When they've finished, circle up campers and get them ready to give a home tour! Have the group go around together and have each camper give a tour of the tiny home they made. Encourage campers to explain each feature of their home. If you are able, take pictures of the campers with their homes and share with their parents so they can always remember what they built!

7. Connecting to the leave what you find principle of LNT, have campers disassemble their tiny homes.

Variation: If campers are super engaged by this activity and they are allowed to keep their tiny homes up overnight, you can set aside time the next day (and additional days throughout the week) for them to continue working on their tiny homes and making them even more elaborate! Have a brainstorming session with the group to come up with ideas for additional features they can add to their homes. If you are out and about during the week, you can also encourage them to collect a few unique items at local parks, etc. (minding LNT principles) that they can add to their tiny homes later (pine cones, different colored fallen leaves, etc.).