Materials
Backpack filled with camping items such as flashlight, canteen, can of baked beans, pots and pans, binoculars, plastic tent stakes, rope, sunscreen, etc. What to do
- Talk about outdoor camping with the children. Ask if any of the children have geen on a camping trip and encourage them to tell the group what it was like. Explain that when we go camping out innature, we are away from such things as electricity, our own beds, etc. We want to take along the things that we will need, but not so many things that we become distracted from enjoyingnature.
- Pass the backpack around and have each child select one object from inside. The child tells the group what the object is, then some ways the object might be used on a camping trip.
- When each child has had a turn, have the children place all of the objects in the center of the group.
- Have all the children close their eyes. One child comes forward, removes an object from the pile and hides it. Ask the children to guess which object is missing.
- The game continues in this way until each child has had a turn to guess and to hide and object.
More to do
Dramatic play: Pitch a free standing dome tent in the dramatic play center, and add firewood, cookware, sleeping bags, backpacks and other camping supplies.
Snack: Make trail mix with raisins, dry cereal, granola, chocolate chips, etc.
Special days: Invite a local forest ranger to visit the classroom and discuss outdoor safety. Carla Scholl, Fairplay, CO | 
