STEP 1: Building Blocks

Time to plan the fun!

Theme

I find all planning is easier if it’s based on a theme. It coordinates everything from your invitations to places, activities, swag, and more. Choose a theme that works well with your budget, interests, and grandkids.

Here are a few ideas:

WHAT IS YOUR THEME THIS YEAR?

Invitations

Every grandchild loves to receive their own invitation. Include your camp name, date and time, theme, and any other information.

Potential Styles:

• Online Design Site. There are several websites that can help you create a fabulous invitation using their templates and tools. Canva, Shutterfly, Walgreens, Photoshop are some popular sites to try. Then, print them out and put one in the snail mail for each one. Grandkids love to get real mail with their name on it!
• Hand Written. If you want to save some money or you have a creative flair, create your own! Even a hand-delivered, hand-written note works well.
• Verbal Announcement. You can spark the thrill of anticipation by making a snappy verbal invitation in person or via text, phone call, video call, or recorded message.

HOW WILL YOU INVITE YOUR GRANDKIDS?

Tee Shirts

Matching custom tee shirts add an extra dose of dazzle to your Grandkids Camp. We begin each camp by donning our designer duds! The grandkids are always thrilled to see what color the tee shirts will be each year, and we all wear them proudly everywhere we go! It also helps us keep track of our crew by simply spotting the brightly-colored tees!

These are a handful of design details:

• Logo. Showcase your camp name and logo (if you have one) on your tees.
• Year. Displaying the year is fun.
• Names. Every grand-sweetie fancies their own name, so printing it on their tee shirt makes it personalized especially for them.
• Numbers. If you prefer not to put names on your tees, another idea is to put the number corresponding to their birth order on instead.
• Order or DIY. You can design your tees online (Custom Ink, Rush Order Tees, Vista Print) or buy plain tees and sew, draw, or paint whatever you want on them.

WHAT IS YOUR TEE SHIRT DESIGN PLAN?

Swag Bags

This is a WOW element every year! I love assembling the swag bags! And the grand-glampers love unwrapping their treasures during Opening Ceremony! After putting on our matching tee shirts, each grandchild gets a swag bag full of goodies selected for the theme and plans of this camp. The bags and everything inside them are labeled with their names. Grandbabies get swag bags, too, even if their bags are filled with just diapers and wipes. Just watch your budget; it’s easy to get carried away when it comes to spoiling your grand-faves!

Here are some secrets to stunning swags:

• Bags. There are so many fun options for containing your swag items. Watch dollar stores, craft supply stores, amazon, anywhere. Get creative with things you already have or make your own. I have used drawstring backpacks (Amazon has some in bulk), fanny packs (these were awesome when we went to an amusement park, because they could keep a few important necessities at hand but not in their hands!)
• Treats. Grandkids eat. All the time. So stock them up with goodies and healthy snacks in the swag bags.
• Water Bottles. This is a grand-camping essential. Whatever water bottles you choose, label them well with each grandchild’s name.
• Prizes. Look to your camp theme, activities, destinations, and grandkids for ideas on entertaining toys, puzzles, games, camping accessories, or useful gadgets and gizmos connected to your camp plans. Ideas: pool towels, flip-flops, coloring/activity books, crayons/markers, compasses, flashlights, chapsticks, disposable cameras, or anything else! You can find fun swag at The Dollar Store or in bulk at Walmart (see the party isle), Zurchers (party supply store), or online.
• Whistles. I like to include whistles and teach them how to use them for safety.

WHAT ARE THE STYLE AND CONTENTS OF YOUR SWAG BAGS?