These summer camp theme ideas are perfect for kids of all ages. Plan a fun and educational summer at home with your family.
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Themes are a fun and easy way to plan your backyard summer camp. You can pick a theme for one day or week or plan your entire camp around one topic.
Why create a theme for your backyard summer camp? Themes create structure and prevent boredom. They make planning easier for you because everything goes together. And kids love the balance between doing a new activity and having a familiar topic so there are no big surprises.
For each theme, we recommend planning a mix of crafts, activities, and fun learning experiences. You could also make a snack that goes along with the camp theme. Books and videos are also great to add to your plans, especially if you need some quiet downtime each day.
We’ve put together a list of themes below and we’ll update this post weekly as we add new content to Backyard Summer Camp that you can use.
1. Pirates
Learn about historical pirates and have kids try their hands at common activities from the golden age of piracy. Add in a little bit of modern Hollywood fun and challenge your kids to decide what parts are fact and fiction.
- PLAY: 12 Pirate Games for Kids
- CRAFT: 23 Easy Pirate Crafts for Kids
- LEARN: 10 Educational Pirate Activities for Kids
- READ: 18 Pirate Books for Kids – Fiction and Nonfiction
Explore more pirate week ideas.
2. LEGO
LEGO is loved by kids all over the world. Plan activities that challenge your kids to get creative, whether that’s through creating works of art or building detailed structures.
- LEARN: 25 LEGO Learning Activities for Every Subject
- READ: 20 LEGO Books for Kids to Inspire Creativity
3. Space
Blast off from Earth and imagine what life might be like on a spaceship or living on a different planet. Learn about our solar system and encourage kids to dream big.
- PLAY: 15 Outer Space Printables for Kids
- LEARN: 36 Educational Space Activities for Kids
- READ: 24 Outer Space Books for Kids
Explore more space week ideas.
4. Farm
Imagine what life is like on a farm. Learn about your kids’ favorite animals or how food gets from the farm to your dinner table. A farm unit is perfect for indoor and outdoor activities.
- LEARN: 24 Educational Farm Activities for Preschoolers
- READ: 17 Fun and Educational Farm Books for Kids
5. Nature
Explore the world around you by studying plants and animals. Your family can focus on the things you might see in your own neighborhood or take a virtual tour of the world.
- PLAY: 12 Family Nature Walk Ideas
- CRAFT: 30 Fun Nature Crafts for Kids
- LEARN: 15 Backyard Nature Activities for Kids
- READ: 25 Nature Books for Kids
6. Cooking
Plan a cooking-themed week with simple, kid-friendly recipes that you can make together in your kitchen. Practice knife and fire safety, learn about health and enjoy some delicious treats.
7. Dinosaurs
Buddying archaeologists will love digging deep into prehistoric times to learn about dinosaurs. Teach your kids about a specific time period, focus on their favorite dinos, or get messy with some backyard expeditions.
- PLAY: 16 Dinosaur Games for Kids
- CRAFT: 21 Dinosaur Crafts for Kids
- LEARN: 20 Dinosaur Activities for Elementary Kids
- READ: 20 Dinosaur Books for Kids – Fiction and Nonfiction
Explore more dinosaur week ideas.
8. STEM
STEM stand for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Its cousin subject is STEAM, which adds Art. This theme is great for mixing types of activities together. Do a science experiment that turns into art. Use technology to do the math for programming.
9. Ocean
The underwater world of the ocean is filled with all kinds of wildlife, landscapes, and adventures. Explore the shore by doing beach activities, learn about ocean animals, or have fun learning about water.
- PLAY: 24 Sand and Beach-Themed Activities for Kids
- LEARN: 14 Creative Ocean Activities for Kids
- READ: 14 Beautiful Ocean Books for Kids
Explore more ocean week ideas.
10. Science
There’s no limit to the variety of activities for a science-themed summer camp. Choose a single topic (like geology, the study of rocks) or go broad and pick a variety of experiments and lessons.
11. Animals
Choose a favorite animal – or all of them. You could choose a theme, such as zoo animals or wildlife that’s native to where you live. Crafts and activities are a fun way to learn about animals and their habitats.
- CRAFT: 30 Animal Paper Plate Crafts
- CRAFT: 19 DIY Origami Animals Kids Will Love
- CRAFT: 23 DIY Bird Feeders To Attract Birds To Your Yard
- LEARN: Beginner Bird Watching with Kids
12. Bugs
Some bugs are creepy and crawly, but others are cute. Bug-loving kids will enjoy learning about both and exploring in nature to see which ones they can find in their own backyard.
- CRAFT: 25 Cute Garden Crafts to Make With Kids
- LEARN: 24 Bug Activities and Kids’ Craft Ideas
- READ: 15 Children’s Bug Books
13. Art
A series on art is limited only by your imagination. Teach your kids about famous artists and artwork. Explore creating in different mediums. Have fun with colors, shapes, and patterns.
- CRAFT: 25 Summer Art Activities for Kids
- CRAFT: 18 Kids’ Handprint and Finger Painting Ideas
- CRAFT: 40 Tie-Dye Projects to Color Your Summer
- LEARN: Art Activities for Kids to Learn About Famous Artists
14. Math
Math doesn’t have to be the boring class you disliked in middle school! Make math fun by doing activities and learning about how math can be used in everyday life. Topics could include sports, games, puzzles, and construction.
- PLAY: 5 Easy Math Games for Elementary Kids
- PLAY: 25 Engaging Counting Games
- LEARN: 14 Everyday Math Activities for Preschoolers at Home
- READ: 20 Fun Math Books with Stories for Kids
Now that you’ve got plenty of ideas, it’s time to decide which summer camp themes to try this summer. How do you choose?
Start by considering the topics your kids are most interested in. Narrow it down by looking at activities that fit those themes and choose the ones that you know you and your kids can do. (Maybe you already have the supplies or there’s a perfect field trip location nearby.)
If you still can’t decide, write down your top choices on slips of paper and choose one at random!
