Try these artsy, hands-on crafts to awaken your campers’ imaginations and get them into the spirit of spring.

Bunny Puppets

Materials:

• Paper bag
• Three pipe cleaners
• Cotton ball
• Googly eyes
• Coloring materials
• Scrap construction paper
• Glue
• Tape

Directions:

• Explain to your campers that they will be making a puppet with a paper bag, and show them how the bottom part of the bag will form the bunny’s mouth.
• Have campers draw mouths, teeth sticking out, and any other desired facial details on their puppets.
• Give each child googly eyes to glue to their puppet’s head.
• Show the children how to cut the pipe cleaners in half and tape them to the bunny to make whiskers.
• Give each camper a cotton ball tail to glue to the back of their bunny puppet.
• Encourage campers to use scrap construction paper to make ears and a belly and glue them on to complete their bunnies.

Extend the fun:

Have your kids work in groups to put on a puppet show for younger campers.

Use large grocery bags to make giant puppets!

Tail Spinners

Materials:

• Paper plate
• Scissors
• Scrap construction paper
• Glue
• Coloring materials
• Hole puncher
• String

Directions:

• Give a paper plate to each child, and explain that they will make the paper plate into an animal’s tail by cutting it into a giant spiral.
• They should color and decorate their animal tails.
• Instruct them to use scrap construction paper to make a body and head for their animal and then tape them to their decorated tail.
• Encourage campers to add any other details to their animals, coloring and using the scrap construction paper if they wish.
• Have campers punch a hole in their tail spinner and attach string so that it can be hung up for display or to twirl in the spring breeze!

Paper Chain Animals

Materials:

• Construction paper cut into thin strips
• Glue sticks

Directions:

• Explain to your campers that they will be making an animal paper chain. Tell them that this craft will work best if they make an animal that has a long body, such as a snake, caterpillar, or dog.
• Show them how to form a paper chain by gluing one paper strip into a circle and then feeding another paper strip through the circle to intertwine the strips of construction paper, and then gluing that strip closed.
• Get your campers started on making their own chains and circulate to help if needed.
• Instruct the kids to make a face for their chain animal and glue it to one end of their chain. They can also add any details they wish (feet, polka dots) to complete their animals.

Amy Middleton has 25 years of experience as a teacher and camp director and knows how to make every moment count with campers. Her book, 50+ Nifty Ways to Keep Little Hands Busy, shares quality activities that provide simple, hands-on fun for kids.