Activities

Every camp needs activities. This page provides a checklist for getting started and a library of activities to choose from...

MWE Camps ACTIVITIES Checklist

Here are some examples of ACTIVITIES with the materials they require...

🎂 Birthday Celebration

Create a joint birthday celebration for anyone who has a birthday during camp (or that month!).

Materials needed:

party games
birthday treats - e.g. cake, etc.

🪷 The Buddha in My Heart: Exploring Refuge and Bodhicitta

Using a large piece of cotton fabric (3 m or 10 ft) that has the outline of a Buddha, kids can use paint or magic markers, glitter, yarn, jewels to express through words or pictures positive qualities aligned with the spirit of the Buddha’s life and path of Compassion, etc. This can be a project that progresses over the duration of the camp, and can be hung up in the children’s space near/behind the temporary shrine. (from KF Mexico Camp 2016)

Materials needed:

fabric - 3 m or 10 ft
scissors
art supplies for fabric decoration - paint, magic markers, glitter, yarn, jewels, etc.
yarn, clips or other means to hang the project

☸️ Equanimity Wheels

Using paper plates and construction paper kids draw or cut out images from magazines that make them feel happy, sad, angry, or scared, etc. and affix to the plate. The top of the plate is covered with paper with a hole cut out. The paper is affixed so it will turn and reveal the images underneath. The kids can talk about their emotions and how they change so quickly as they turn the wheel and see the images. (from KF Mexico Camp 2016)

Materials needed:

paper plates
magazines or similar from which images can be cut
scissors
OR markers or crayons for drawing images
paper fasteners, paper clip or thin wire for fastening spinning plates together

🍊 Fruit Mandalas

Collaboratively children create a large mandala from fruit and then eat it together. A very tactile and immediate lesson on the nature of impermanence, but also engenders spirit of cooperation and sharing. (from KF Mexico Camp 2016)

Materials needed:

cut fruit
table cloth or large platter(s)

🃏 Games with Borders

Children choose from a variety of “disabilities” like having their ankles tied to another child, not able to speak, blindfolded, etc. Then they will take part in different games or activities and then speak about what their challenges were and if and how they were able to overcome them. (from KF Mexico Camp 2016)

Materials needed:

blindfolds
ear plugs
masking or duct tape

🧶 Indras Net/Yarn Toss

Children sit in a circle and randomly toss a ball of yarn between one another creating a net. By taking turns pulling the yarn, standing, moving the circle clockwise, etc., the children will experience the interdependence of the “web” and will have to work as a team in order to keep the net from unraveling, setting a tone of cooperation and mutual respect to carry throughout the camp. It's fun to sing or play music while the yard ball is being tossed from person to person. (from KF Mexico Camp 2016)

Materials needed:

yarn ball(s)

📗 Journaling

Children create their own journals for use during camp. Every day the campers spend 10 minutes reflecting on their day in their journals. Those who cannot write can draw pictures. Provide a more in depth writing workshop for older kids. (from KF Mexico Camp 2016)

Materials needed:

paper
stapler or paper fasteners
OR other book making materials
writing implements

📿 Mala Making

Each child can make a full-length mala. This would coincide with a lesson about the Mani mantra, and the idea of focusing one’s awareness on the intention of compassionate activity of Body, Speech, and Mind. Each mala includes 7 or 21 or 108 beads. (from KF Mexico Camp 2016)

Materials needed:

lots of fishing wire or other thread for stringing malas
many beads

👹 Mask Making

Using papier mache, with recycled paper or newspaper, children make masks to use for a performance at the end of camp. The children can interpret one of the stories, or make their own play based on their experience of the camp. (from KF Mexico Camp 2016)

Materials needed:

recycled paper or newspaper
art supplies for mask decoration - crepe paper, paint, magic markers, glitter, yarn, jewels, etc.
bowl or large container for mixing
flour, wallpaper powder/paste, or white glue
water
vaseline, if using face or body for mask structure / mold
yard or string for tying mask on
(old bike helmets can also be used as the foundation for the masks, if available)

🫙 Meditation Bottles (aka Calm Jars)

Using clear plastic or small glass bottles, the kids will fill the bottles with water and glitter. The bottles can then be shaken and swirled, then set down to let the glitter settle and be used as a support for settling the mind in meditation. (from KF Mexico Camp 2016) Tutorial here.

Materials needed:

clear bottles or jars with tops
lots of glitter or glitter mixed with sand

🚶🏾‍♀️‍➡️Mindful Walks

Take children on a mindful walk. Tutorial here for these examples: Silent Walking, Silly Walking, Walk As If..., Appreciative Walking, Balancing Acts, and Classic Mindful Walking.

Materials needed:

none

🚩 Prayer Flags

Students create their own prayer flags for all beings happiness, using their own inspiration. (from KF Mexico Camp 2016) Tutorial here.

Materials needed:

paper or cloth rectangle for flags
art supplies for cloth or paper flag decoration - paint, magic markers, glitter, yarn, jewels, etc.
string or yard to string together and hang prayer flags

🗼Spaghetti Challenge

Using raw spaghetti, tape, and string students break into small groups to build a tower as high as they can in 20 minutes. It must be able to support one marshmallow (or something similar) for at least 15 seconds. (from KF Mexico Camp 2016) Tutorial here.

Materials needed:

raw spaghetti
scissors
scotch or masking tape
string
timer

👕 Tie Dying

Campers create a tie dye t-shirt at the beginning of the camp. This will identify them as part of the group, but also distinguish each one as unique with its own character and qualities. (from KF Mexico Camp 2016)

Materials needed:

white or light colored t-shirts
fabric dye, such as Rit
string or string or rubber bands for creating tie-dye patterns
buckets

🌳 Wishfulfilling Tree

At the beginning of the camp, children write aspirations for their time at the camp on slips of paper/cards and hang on a tree outside. On the last day, the kids reflect on what they have accomplished, what positive outcomes and surprises were experienced, and also what things they could work on for the future. (from KF Mexico Camp 2016)

Materials needed:

writing tool - markers, crayons, pens, etc.
slips of paper or cards
yarn, clips or other means to hang the project

Page updated

Report abuse