Our summer camp entertainment ideas, activities, and them inspiration are perfect for camps looking for unique programming ideas. We know camp directors face a few challenges: hundreds of kids needing to be entertained, running a complicated schedule, and having to do it all on a budget!
After over a decade of working with YMCAs, town Parks & Recs departments, public schools, and private daycares, we have our summer camp entertainment packages down to a science to make sure all of your campers are thrilled, parents are impressed, and you stay within your budget.
1. Foam Party
Programming Theme: Splash Day
Alternative Theme Ideas: Luau Party, Beach Day
Entertainment Package: We throw a foam party where campers dance to kids bop, take tons of silly photos, and get out all of their energy–all in our amazing foam pit! This “party in a box” model means you have ZERO PLANNING to do, which puts it at #1 for our list of summer camp entertainment ideas!
Bonus Summer Camp Entertainment Ideas for This Theme:
- Round it out to be a full splash day with more water activities
- Water play for younger kids
- Water balloon fights for older kids
- Water sponge dodgeball
- Pool time
Ages: 2 – Teen
Great For: Outdoor camps, camps without pool access
Don’t Recommend For: Camps with only indoor space; daycares that are only for infants and toddlers.
2. Pirate and Mermaid Summer Camp Entertainment
Programming Theme: Mermaids and Pirates
Alternative Theme Ideas: Adventure Day, Magic Day, Aquarium Day
Entertainment Package: We invite a mermaid or pirate of your choice for group shows and individual activities. Gather everyone around for mermaid story time or a pirate magic show, then bring by individual groups for mermaid glitter tattoos or pirate sword balloon twisting.
Bonus Summer Camp Entertainment Ideas for This Theme:
- Have campers dress up as mermaids and pirates.
- Hold a “talk like a pirate” contest all day–give each kid a sticker to start the day. If an adult catches them talking without a “pirate accent” they lose the sticker. Whoever can go the entire day talking like a pirate wins!
- If your camp has occasional pool access, this is also perfect for a pool day to keep groups busy while they’re out of the pool.
Ages: Our mermaid story time is perfect for ages 2-6, and our pirate magic show is perfect for ages 4-9. Invite one or both of them for a mix-and-match day that fits your needs.
Great For: Camps with younger kids (for mermaids); camps looking to keep kids busy on pool days (both mermaids and pirates); camps who love dress-up days (both mermaids and pirates).
Don’t Recommend Mermaid Story Time For: Camps that are primarily elementary and middle school (mermaid story time is best for younger kids)
Don’t Recommend Pirate Magic Show For: Camps that are mostly toddlers or PreK (magic needs more attention span than that)
3. Circus Camp Classes
Programming Theme: Circus Camp
Alternative Theme Ideas: Clown School, Carnival
Entertainment Package: Kenny the Clown comes and entertains the whole group with a 30min magic show, then takes groups for a juggling lesson using easy-to-juggle clown scarves. Bonus: add a second clown for speedy face painting or simple balloon twisting.
Bonus Summer Camp Entertainment Ideas for This Theme:
- Put on a talent show to create your own variety show as part of the camp circus!
- If you have snack time, consider renting a popcorn or cotton candy machine.
Ages: 4-9 for the magic show, 7-teen for juggling class. Learn more here.
Great For: Camps with a stage; arts camps; camps that can program different activities for different ages.
Don’t Recommend For: Daycares that are only for infants and toddlers
4. Balloon Class
Programming Theme: “Balloons Over [Camp Name]”
Alternative Theme Ideas: Clown School, Circus Camp, Carnival
Entertainment Package: One of our professional balloon twisters will come with enough supplies for groups of up to 15 kids to learn designs at once. Students will learn between 2-4 designs (depending on age and time alotted) and take home their creations.
Bonus Summer Camp Entertainment Ideas for This Theme:
- Have staff come to the class to twist along (and have fun!), as well as keep things running smoothly
- Include other balloon crafts like origami or paper mache hot air balloons
- Consider balloon-themed sports like water balloon fights, balloon-popping relay races, or water balloon dodge ball!
Ages: 7-teen for balloon twisting class, but professional balloon twisting time can be added so younger kids aren’t excluded. Learn more here.
Great For: Small-group breakouts, library camps, arts or STEM camps
Don’t Recommend For: Daycares that are only for infants and toddlers
5. Tie Dye Station
Programming Theme: Color Wars
Alternative Theme Ideas: Arts & Crafts Day, 60’s or 70’s Spirit Day
Entertainment Package: We set up a do-it-yourself tie dye station using spray-dye for a low-mess experience. Campers can bag their shirts immediately after creation and put them in their backpacks to avoid confusing mix-ups when picking up their shirt (no air-dry time required).
Bonus Summer Camp Entertainment Ideas for This Theme:
- Host the tie dye station for the first day of Color Wars to get everyone in the spirit, and let our office know at booking what colors your camp teams will be repping so we can bring the right colors for you
- Before dying the shirts, let kids get creative with Sharpies and draw their own designs in black (or let them write their name / group on the back like jerseys)
- Bust out all of your favorite craft activities like chalk art, weaving, or jewelry making for an amazing art day.
- Host a different decade every day of the week, and throw in airbrush tattoos (below) for 80’s or glitter tattoos for 90s/00s/Y2K
Ages: 5 – Teen
Great For: Camps that don’t typically have arts and crafts time; take-home projects
Don’t Recommend For: Camps with indoor-only space; camps that are nervous about kids potentially getting dye on clothing or floors.
6. Science Show & Slime Lab
Programming Theme: Mad Science
Alternative Theme Ideas: Kids in STEM, Slime Day, Science Museum
Entertainment Package: Our mad scientists will present the kids with a show (similar to a magic show but grounded in the scientific method) and follow it up with hands-on slime labs!
Bonus Summer Camp Entertainment Ideas for This Theme:
- Throw contests where the winning group(s) get to “slime” their camp counselors at the end of the day!
- Couple this with other STEM projects: paper boat races, pinewood derby, crystal growing, or seed starting!
- Make it a “science museum” day and bring astronomy, dinosaurs, or history into your programming with crafts or a movie screening.
- Combine it with the Bubble Show (below) for a Science Week
Ages: 5 – 10
Great For: Camps that like to schedule seated activities; arts camps looking for something out of the box and educational; camps with families who value multi-disciplinary activities.
Don’t Recommend For: Camps that focus on high-energy activities; camps that focus on toddlers and Pre-K only.
7. Bubble Show & Play
Programming Theme: Bubble Trouble
Alternative Theme Ideas: Splash Day, Kids in STEM, Science Week
Entertainment Package: Our Bubblologist comes and puts on a show that’s equal parts magic and science–all about bubbles!
Bonus Summer Camp Entertainment Ideas for This Theme:
- Kids love bubbles! Add a bubble station and bubble photo booth for multiple stations for every group to rotate through.
- Add crafts to your bubble day like DIY pipe cleaner bubble wands; “bubble painting” with bingo stampers; and bubble painting.
- Combine a bubble day, a foam party day, and pool day to create a whole splash week!
- Combine it with the Science Show (below) for a Science Week
Ages: 4-10
Great For: Camps that like to schedule seated activities; arts camps; camps with families who value multi-disciplinary activities.
Don’t Recommend For: Camps that are only indoors
8. Black Light Face Paint + DJ
Programming Theme: Club Kidz
Alternative Theme Ideas: Glow, Overnight Sleepover, Dance Party
Entertainment Package: We provide a DJ, party lighting, and black-light reactive face painting. Your summer camp is instantly transformed to a family-friendly night club!
Bonus Summer Camp Entertainment Ideas for This Theme:
- Have kids wear only black and white so the white glows under UV
- Couple morning black light face painting with a glowing mini golf field trip in the afternoon
- Add light painting or glow stick crafts earlier in the day and watch your creations come to life!
Ages: 4 – Teen
Great For: Camps with large indoor space where windows can be shut and lights can be turned off.
Don’t Recommend For: Camps that are only outdoors during the day.
9. LIT / CIT Paint Party
Programming Theme: Paint Party
Alternative Theme Ideas: Picasso Day, Day at the Museum, LIT/CIT Appreciation Day
Entertainment Package: We throw a paint party for your teens where we go step-by-step with a real art teacher to create masterpieces we can take home. (The most common paint party feedback we receive from camp directors is “I can’t believe how engaged the kids are”. If you’re struggling to keep tweens and teens off of phones, this is a great activity to have them lock in on the real world.)
Bonus Summer Camp Entertainment Ideas for This Theme:
- Bust out all of your favorite craft activities like tie dye (above), weaving, or jewelry making for an amazing art day.
- Have a “dress like a famous painting” costume contest and assign each kid a famous painting (Starry Night, Mona Lisa, The Scream, Andy Warhol’s Soup Cans, The Persistence of Memory) and give out awards for Most Fashionable, Most Creative, Best Acting, Most Artistic, and more!
- Host a chalk art contest where the LITs and CITs work with their groups to create an original piece of work, again handing out awards for Most Colorful, Best Teamwork, Most Artistic, and more!
Ages: tweens, teens, and adults.
Great For: Camps that like to schedule seated activities; arts camps; camps with families who value multi-disciplinary activities; camps with populations of tweens and teens looking for more mature pogramming.
Don’t Recommend For: Camps with limited space; camps that are nervous about kids potentially getting paint on clothing or floors; camps on a tight budget; camps with a focus on kids in pre-K or elementary school.
Categories: 6-9, Party Entertainment (CT MA RI NH), Party Ideas (CT MA RI NH), Party Planning Help, tweens