Camp Kindergarten Ideas and Tips

Are you looking for a fun way to make your new kindergarten students feel welcome in your classroom? Would you like to find a simple but engaging way to get to know your new students? Or are you on the lookout for a streamlined way to get important information to the parents of your incoming kindergarteners? I'm going to share some Camp Kindergarten ideas that will help you do all of these things with one set of resources!

What is Camp Kindergarten?

Camp Kindergarten can mean something different depending on where you teach. However, the main purpose is always the same: It’s a way to learn more about your incoming students and get them excited about kindergarten. 

As I’ve shared in a previous post, you can use fun outdoor-themed activities and printables to make Camp Kindergarten even more engaging for your new students. However, there are many different ways that you can incorporate Camp Kindergarten into your back-to-school plans. In this post, I’m going to share four of my favorite ways to use Camp Kindergarten printables to make the beginning of the school year a success.

4 Ideas for Using Camp Kindergarten

1. Kindergarten Registration

Depending on your school district, teachers may or may not be part of the actual kindergarten registration process. The timing of registration is also very different between districts. Some schools have a week-long registration process at the end of the school year where parents can come in at any time during the day to sign up their preschoolers for kindergarten the following year. Other schools have registration during the summer when teachers are on break.

You can still infuse a bit of Camp Kindergarten fun to the registration process! You could create packets that can be handed out to parents after completing the paperwork. For example, the registration staff could give parents a kit for completing the Camp Kindergarten crafts with their children at home.

You could also send home a packet of kindergarten readiness task cards. Parents are always curious about what their child needs to know before starting kindergarten. These task cards are easy for parents to flip through and practice with their kids before the first day of school. Every little bit of kindergarten preparation helps!

2. Kindergarten Roundup

Kindergarten roundup is slightly different from registration. In most schools, a kindergarten roundup is a way for teachers to screen incoming students on their readiness skills. In some schools, kindergarten roundup is combined with registration while in others it is a stand-alone event. Either way, kindergarten roundup almost always involves some amount of waiting for the families. 

You can give your incoming students something to do as they wait for their turn to be assessed. Camp Kindergarten stations are perfect for this! Students can complete crafts or number sense activities, which can also serve as another way to gauge where students are in their readiness and fine motor skills.

3. Jumpstart Kindergarten

Jumpstart, boot camp, summer school: No matter what you call it, Camp Kindergarten is a perfect theme to use if you have preschoolers getting a sneak peek of kindergarten during the summer. From s’mores to campfires, the themed activities fit right in to the summer months.

You can welcome your students to the program with their names on a cute Camp Kindergarten bulletin board. They can also create fun Camp Kindergarten hats as part of their first day. 

Jumpstart programs help students get a preview of what kindergarten will be like. Students can practice important skills like following directions, writing their name, and using school supplies safely. The themed Camp Kindergarten activities make this practice fun and engaging for the young preschoolers who will be attending. They’ll be excited to start kindergarten at the end of summer break!

4. Meet the Teacher Activity

Finally, you can use Camp Kindergarten activities to up the engagement factor at your open house or meet the teacher night! The camping-themed activities are the perfect way to say farewell to the summer and welcome the new school year. 

In addition to the stations I’ve already mentioned in this post, you could do a fun Bear Rescue activity as part of meet the teacher night. Students can fill out an application form, choose a bear, and then complete the rescue certificate. These bears are going to be your students’ reading buddies for the year! This is such a fun way to encourage students to read at home.

Students can circulate through the Camp Kindergarten stations during your meet the teacher event. At each station, you can have some information for parents to take home that relates to the activity. For example, at the counting bears station you could include a parent information handout about building number sense at home. 

Having families rotate through stations also gives you the chance to circulate and greet families individually, answering any questions they might have. Helping students and their families feel comfortable at the beginning of kindergarten is so important! This will set the tone for a successful school year.

Camp Kindergarten Printable Bundle

Would you like to use Camp Kindergarten as part of your back-to-school activities this year? I’ve put together a bundle that includes everything you need to have a successful Camp Kindergarten event, no matter how you choose to use these activities. You’ll be able to make a great first impression while saving time and sanity with these low-prep materials.

This bundle includes the themed Camp Kindergarten printables, parent handouts, readiness screeners, the bear rescue activity, and more! You’ll be able to mix and match the printables to suit your needs while creating a positive and memorable experience for your incoming kindergarten students.

If you’d like to take a closer look at everything included in this bundle, you can find it in the Teaching Exceptional Kinders shop or in my TPT store.

Save These Camp Kindergarten Ideas and Tips

Be sure to save this post so you can come back to it later! Just add the pin below to your favorite kindergarten board on Pinterest. You’ll be able to quickly find these tips and printables when you’re ready to welcome your new students to kindergarten.