Summer Craft Ideas 2023

During my years teaching at a day care/preschool and teaching elementary Sunday school classes, I found that boys liked to create craft projects just as much as the girls. In the summer, many parts of the country have many nights that they are not able to go outside for activities due to heat advisories. Below are several craft ideas for your Ranger Kids and Discovery Rangers groups. There are also ideas for July 4^th crafts and water night activities. There are a couple of crafts that are just too good, so I decided to keep them from last year.

RANGER KIDS

I tried to select craft projects that K–2^nd graders could complete with little individual supervision. If you are the only leader with several boys, you will need crafts that boys can work on with some independence, allowing you to focus on the younger boys in the class.

Paper Plate Frog

The is a great craft that is very simple. The basic supplies of paper plates, green tempera paint, paintbrushes, construction paper (black, white, red, and green), black markers, and scissors will let your Ranger Kids make these cute little frogs. You may want to precut the small, black circles for the nose.

https://www.firefliesandmudpies.com/paper-plate-frog-craft/

https://www.firefliesandmudpies.com/wp-content/uploads/Paper-Plate-Frog-Template.pdf

DISCOVERY RANGERS

I tried to select craft projects that 3^rd–5^th graders could complete with little supervision. If you are the only leader with several boys, you will need crafts that boys can work on with some independence, allowing you to focus on the boys who may need extra help.

Paper Frog

Using green construction paper (dark and light green and red), black markers, wiggle eyes, scissors, staplers, and glue sticks to create these great little frogs will be great fun for Discovery Rangers. I added staplers to the supplies list because I would recommend having the boys staple the head and body sections instead of gluing.

https://www.easypeasyandfun.com/paper-frog-craft/

RANGER KIDS & DISCOVERY RANGERS

Paper Bag Platypus

I admit that I’ve always been fascinated by the platypus. Why did God feel creation needed this creature that looks like a cross between a beaver and a duck. I think the boys will love building their own platypuses. You don’t many supplies—small paper bags, construction paper, googly eyes, white glue, markers, scissors, and newspaper for stuffing—for this craft. The website has the templates for the feet and bills. If you want to paint the platypuses, then you will also need paint and paintbrushes. If you decide to paint, then you may need to make this a two-week project with painting on week one and assembling the platypuses on week two.

https://cookcleancraft.com/paper-bag-perry-the-platypus-craft/

Paper Bag Luminaries

If you do an end of the summer party or camping event, these might be a cool craft for the boys to make ahead of time. You’ll need white paper bags, tea light candles (battery powered candles would also work), eyelet setter tool, star template, pencil, and sand.

https://gigglesgalore.net/diy-white-paper-bag-luminaries

Water or Sand Crafts

RANGER KIDS & DISCOVERY RANGERS

Sponge Water Bombs

Use any color sponge, scissors, and fishing line to create these sponge bombs that any of the boys in your outpost will enjoy making and enjoy using even more. This might be a great activity to include the Girls Ministries clubs and have a water night activity during the summer.

https://www.houseofhepworths.com/2011/05/16/sponge-water-bombs/

Sand & Shell Art

This will be a fun craft for an outdoor end of the summer activity night. You’ll need cardstock, white glue, glitter glue, paint markers, seashells, and sand. With these supplies, let the boys’ imaginations go wild to create some fun sand and shell art.

https://www.happinessishomemade.net/kids-craft-summer-beach-themed-sand-shell-art/

Sandcastle Sand Art

These sandcastles can be made by any of the younger Royal Rangers boys. You’ll need the reproducible template, white glue, and sand. You can add foam sticker seashells or real seashells for embellishments. The website suggests applying the sand in a tub so that you can contain the sand. You could also do the craft outside.

https://makingmamamagic.blogspot.com/2014/07/sandcastle-sand-art.html

July 4^th Crafts

RANGER KIDS & DISCOVERY RANGERS

Edible Flag

This fruity flag will be a fun snack idea for any week leading up ot July 4^th. You can made one large edible flag or have each boy make his own. Be sure to find out about any allergies and make substitutions. For example, you could substitute raspberries for strawberries. You could use Twizzlers instead of strawberries.

https://inspired-motherhood.com/kids-celebrate-4th-of-july/?ref=pcrorganicgglunkwn&prid=pcseogglunkwn

July 4^th Skewers

I don’t think you will need a website for these. The picture is instruction enough. You’ll need long skewers, small marshmellow, strawberries or rapsberries, and blueberries. Let the boys build their own skewer snack. Be sure to find out about any allergies. You could use Twizzlers bites instead of strawberries or rapsberries.

Craft Stick Uncle Sam

There are several supplies for this craft: jumbo craft sticks, white glue, craft paint (red, blue, and white), foam brushes, scissors, cardstock or construction paper (white and pink), large wiggle eyes, and markers. Don’t forget to have small paper plates to use as palettes for the paint. Although this craft is typically more suited to Ranger Kids, your Discovery Rangers may enjoy it as well.

https://www.gluedtomycraftsblog.com/2015/05/popsicle-stick-uncle-sam-kid-craft.html

Patriotic Bingo

I thought it might be nice to keep this little game idea from last year. There are two different websites with different looks to the game boards. You just print and cut the piece out and let the boys play. It would work as a great transition activity because the boys could play it on their own while you are watching other boys demonstrate a part of their current skill merit. It is easy to get out while the boys are arriving if you have limited inside room for the boys to run around.

https://crazylittleprojects.com/patriotic-4th-of-july-bingo-game/

https://crazylittleprojects.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/PatrioticBingoBoards.pdf

https://www.thehousewifemodern.com/blog/free-printable-4th-july-patriotic-bingo/

Fireworks Painting

The supplies are basic: paper plates, paint (red, white, blue, yellow, green, etc.), scissors, toilet paper or paper towel rolls, construction paper or cardstock. You or the boys will need to cut fringe along one end of the toilet paper rolls. The fringe will spread out when the boys press them into the paint and then onto the construction paper. For a little extra sparkle, you could stir in glitter to the paint in the plates before the boys start making the fireworks.

https://www.happinessishomemade.net/4th-of-july-kids-craft-painting-fireworks/