22 summer camp activities you can do at home — from a '90s camp kid and mom of 2

Having a common goal and shared space is a great way to bond. For bunk-living in spirit, consider piling the family into the living room for a night. L.L.Bean's graphic print sleeping bag can easily double as a cozy comforter after the "camp-in." For a different camping experience, use a kit like the Tote-A-Fort to set up colorful blankets over, under, and through your existing furniture.

A trip to the mailbox is a small joy for just about everyone right now. From a special drawing for a grandparent to a wistful love letter to your "girlfriend in Canada," what better time has there been to catch up with pen pals? This kit comes with all the items your older kids will need to K.I.T. (keep in touch, for the uninitiated), including rubber stamps and stickers.

For pre-writing kids, go with something simple: Take a new or old work of art and have them dictate a message that you can write on the back.

Card games were one of our more popular bunk time activities, and we didn't even realize that they were encouraging some cognitive exercise, not to mention fine-motor skills (anyone remember Spit?!). Try a three-pack of family-friendly card games by Melissa & Doug.

You and your kids can learn to make your own family uncomfortable with loud strumming and off-key singing. Know how to play already? Consider the mini guitar from Loog Guitars for easy teaching. It's eco-friendly and good for kids 3 years and up. Even if you're both totally new to the instrument, you can use the opportunity to bond while learning together.

It's social distancing to the max — at night and in your own backyard. A lightweight, portable telescope like Celestron's Travel Scope lets you and your kids to explore stars and planets. Need help motivating your preteen to join you? You can't go wrong with an astrology book as a lure.

A star projector can make for a thoroughly outside-brought-inside experience. Options run the celestial spectrum. The Discovery Kids Planetarium Projector and Learning Resources Shining Stars Projector — for kids as young as 3 — both have 24 image slides, including planets, constellations, and galaxies.

Your little one can make their own firefly using simple tools and an LED flashlight. Make it inside, test it outside. Pro tip: If you're lucky enough that fireflies visit your home, set this aside, keep things nice and dark, and get your mason jars ready.

The crown jewel of each summer at camp was Color War. Campers and counselors were divided into two teams, each assigned a color, and over the course of a week, they went head to head with games like obstacle courses and relay races. Both of these activities can be found in kits appropriate for little and big kids, like a carnival combo (rings, bean bags, and cones — oh my!), or dexterity-heavy outdoor games, like an egg and spoon race. It's a great way to do some team building and even sneak in some math if you keep score. At my camp, the whole week culminated in an hours-long sing-off, but don't tell your kids you heard that from me.

This one could be homemade or store-bought. These scavenger hunt cards can be used for indoor or outdoor competition, and the gist is basically to find random stuff! Not interested in DIY clues? Let preprinted pack do the dirty work for you, and since little kids love putting things in other things, hand them a bucket and even they can participate in the collection.

The only thing that motivated me to keep swimming at camp were the mysterious, slippery horrors that awaited me if my feet touched the bottom of the lake. I much preferred to spend waterfront time from the safety of my towel, playing with the sand. Just by grabbing a box of kinetic sand, the wonders of competitive sandcastles can now be part of your summer, even without the nightmarish but admittedly scenic lake nearby.

If you are interested in an overly intense water experience, consider putting it in balloons. The Bunch O Balloons is more appropriate for older children and boasts fast-filling and self-sealing balloons. And you can ship all the tiny balloon fragments to TerraCycle for recycling.

For the more STEM-oriented campers among us, bug collecting is the perfect way to get active outside. With a specialized kit like one from Nature Bound, kids can safely engage with the critters they find.

A small multi-activity table has done wonders for my own backyard. We don't have space to keep out a full sandbox or inflatable pool, but this versatile table that can hold sand and water, or convert to a simple table — sometimes you just need a place to sit and relax, after all. The Best Choice 3-in-1 table comes with two buckets, a removable top, and an adjustable umbrella. It's not particularly comfortable for adults, but there's plenty of room for kids and their imaginations! Don't forget to pair with a bag of toys.

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The most classic summer camp arts and crafts project may just be the friendship bracelet. My forté was knotting the strings into fish designs using contrasting colors. Some friends brought their Caboodle full of classic or alphabet beads. Trading sessions went down, and everyone sat around to gab, weave, and share. Nowadays, you can get a full kit with everything you need. Since it includes choking hazards, the set is best for ages 6 years and older.

At camp, I was not good at painting and I can't say that's changed much since. But I can tell you that one of my favorite paint mediums is rocks — it's simple and fun. It's a great activity for preschool-aged kids who love spending a little extra time finding and then returning said rocks in the wild. If this isn't an option, consider a kit that includes the rocks.

Talent shows were a BIG deal at my summer camp. Mostly, they were used so campers could create awkward skits meant to absolutely roast our beloved camp administrators. But there was also the occasional magician or dancers, and of course, someone knew how to juggle. For musical numbers, consider giving your kids some direction with a musical theater anthology — and if you're really brave, a wireless microphone. Don't forget the stage paints! The best-case scenario is worth the ruckus: Your kids spend several hours prepping, and you get to sit in the audience and relax.

Making a birdhouse is a classic summer project. It's an opportunity to do something simple, like decorating a premade house picked up from a craft store, or up the ante a little and help your child construct their own.

Another popular project is tie-dye. With a basic kit from Tulip, you can dye up to 30 projects and select from a number of color combinations, including Rainbow and Mermaid. This messy but delightful activity is a fun way to learn about color theory and patterns at any age.

It wasn't until I was writing this that I discovered bug juice is made by adding granulated sugar to dissolved sugar (not that this information will stop me from making it this summer, but there are low-sugar options out there if you're looking for an alternative). Start with a tub of Kool-Aid, then encourage your kids to add some fun elements like gummy worms.

Make your own popsicles or fruit pops with fresh ingredients you have at home. These flexible, stackable molds won't take up too much space in your freezer. Or you can go with one of the many fun options from Pop Molds, including rocket pops and watermelon shapes.

The recipe is as old as time itself: graham crackers + chocolate + marshmallow. Lucky for you, you exist in the 21st century where you have access not only to easy, portable outdoor campfires (and sticks you don't have to hunt and gather), but also a nice, compact, indoor roasting option.

You don't need much to make an ice cream social: a couple of favorite flavors and a topping or two. The one place where you can make an eco-friendly shift away from the summer camp version is by using reusable dessert bowls and spoons.