The theme of camping, hiking, and sleepovers in the woods may not seem timely for a September storytime, but there were lots of great ideas on this topic on a PUBYAC posting. So, if you don’t want to do a camping-themed storytime now, file this away for next summer!
For a craft project, the kids could make binoculars out of toilet tissue cardboard rolls. Tape the rolls together, and use a string or piece of yarn to hang the “binoculars” around your neck. Decorate with markers or colored paper. Another easy craft is to make bird feeders.
For a more elaborate program attracting a wide range of children, pitch a tent and let kids take turns going into the tent to pick out a sticker. You could make a fake “campfire” out of flashlights hidden under some logs, with red, orange, and yellow tissue paper flames attached to the logs. Almost any craft that involves making a forest animal, fish, or insect would be great for a camping storytime, like Bear paperbag puppets or butterflies made out of coffee filters and pipecleaners.
For a snack, have s’mores – you can buy pre-packaged from Ritz if you don’t want to make your own. Also on our theme are gummy worms! Or if you are more into healthy snacks, make Trail Mix – be sure to omit peanuts as many children are allergic.
Allen, Julia. MY FIRST CAMPING TRIP.
Baker, Keith. MEET MR. AND MRS. GREEN.
Bauer, Marion. WHEN I GO CAMPING WITH GRANDMA.
Birdseye, Tom. OH YEAH!
Boynton, Sandra. HESTER IN THE WILD.
Brown, Marc. ARTHUR’S FIRST SLEEPOVER.
Brown, Marc. ARTHUR GOES TO CAMP.
Brown, Mary. LET’S GO CAMPING WITH MR. SILLYPANTS.
Carlson, Nancy. ARNIE GOES TO CAMP.
Chesworth, Michael. THIS IS THE STORY OF ARCHIBALD FRISBY.
Christelow, Eileen. JEROME CAMPS OUT.
Cousins, Lucy. MAISY GOES CAMPING.
Cristaldi, Kathryn. PRINCESS LULU GOES TO CAMP.
Cummings, Pat. PETEY MORONI’S CAMP RUNAMOK DIARY.
Danziger, Paula. WHAT A TRIP, AMBER BROWN.
Delton, Judy. MY MOM MADE ME GO TO CAMP.
Gauthier, Bertrand. ZACHARY IN CAMPING OUT.
Gifaldi, David. BEN, KING OF THE RIVER.
Giff, Patricia. RONALD MORGAN GOES TO CAMP.
Gould, Deborah. CAMPING IN THE TEMPLE OF THE SUN.
Hafner, Marylin. MOLLY AND EMMETT’S CAMPING ADVENTURE.
Henkes, Kevin. BAILEY GOES CAMPING.
Himmelman, John. LIGHTS OUT!
Hoban, Lillian. ARTHUR’S CAMP OUT.
Holabird, Katharine. ANGELINA AND HENRY.
Huneck, Stephen. SALLY GOES TO THE MOUNTAINS.
Koontz, Robin. CHICAGO AND THE CAT: THE CAMPING TRIP.
Lamont, Bette. ISLAND TIME.
Lyon, George. A DAY AT DAMP CAMP.
Marshall, James. THE CUT-UPS AT CAMP CUSTER.
McCully, Emily A. MONK CAMPS OUT.
McPhail, David. PIG PIG GOES TO CAMP.
Nordqvist, Sven. FESTUS AND MERCURY GO CAMPING.
Parish, Peggy. AMELIA BEDELIA GOES CAMPING.
Parr, Todd. OTTO GOES TO CAMP.
Paterson, Brian. ZIGBY CAMPS OUT.
Pringle, Laurence. BEAR HUG.
Raffi. SHAKE MY SILLIES OUT.
Roche, P. K. WEBSTER AND ARNOLD GO CAMPING.
Rosen, Michael. WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT.
Ruurs, Margriet. WHEN WE GO CAMPING.
Rylant, Cynthia. HENRY AND MUDGE AND THE STARRY NIGHT.
Say, Allen. THE LOST LAKE.
Seligson, Susan. AMOS CAMPS OUT.
Singer, Marilyn. QUIET NIGHT.
Spohn, David. STARRY NIGHT.
Stock, Catherine. SOPHIE’S KNAPSACK.
Sturges, Philemon. TEN FLASHING FIREFLIES.
Tafuri, Nancy. DO NOT DISTURB.
Van Dusen, Chris. A CAMPING SPREE WITH MR. MAGEE.
Warren, Cathy. THE TEN-ALARM CAMP OUT.
Weiss, Nicki. BATTLE DAY AT CAMP DELMONT.
Williams, Vera. THREE DAYS ON A RIVER IN A RED CANOE.
Winters, Kay. WHERE ARE THE BEARS?
Wolff, Ashley. STELLA & ROY GO CAMPING.
Yolen, Jane. GIANTS GO CAMPING.
Songs: (go to www.enchantedlearning.com for lyrics to most of these)
“A-Camping We Will Go” “The Ants Go Marching” “Found a Peanut” “Cabin In The Wood” “Do Your Ears Hang Low?”