Summer holidays are the perfect time for kids to unwind, discover new interests and build life skills outside the classroom. For many parents choosing the right summer camp can be a big decision. With so many options, from outdoor adventure to art, science and wellness camps, you need to find one that matches your child’s personality, energy levels and interests.
The best camps are those that strike a healthy balance between fun and learning. For example, a camp that includes nature walks, gardening or simple food-based activities like fruit identification or vegetable sorting can be both engaging and educational.
Also consider the camp’s environment, is it safe, well organized and age appropriate? Does it have enough outdoor time, space for creative thinking and social interaction? A camp that allows kids to move, create, think and communicate freely can make their summer truly memorable and meaningful.
Summer camps encourage kids to try new things on their own, whether it's learning a skill or making a new friend. according to a study published in, Children (Basel) 2024, this helps them feel more confident and independent in daily life.
Camps bring children together from different backgrounds. As per a study published in, National Academies Press 2019, playing, learning, and working in groups teaches teamwork, sharing, and respectful communication.
With fun activities planned throughout the day, camps naturally reduce time spent on phones, TV, or tablets, helping kids stay active and alert.
Many camps include outdoor games, yoga, gardening, or even simple food-related tasks like fruit sorting. According to a study published in, Children (Basel) 2024, these gently teach the importance of exercise, nature, and healthy eating.
Art, music, storytelling, and nature-based activities allow children to express themselves freely and explore new interests outside school routines.
This fun race involves balancing fruits like bananas or guavas on a spoon while walking or running a short distance. It improves coordination and balance and ends with a snack! Such games also bring natural fruits into your child’s routine play, helping them associate food with fun and fitness.
Children are blindfolded and handed a common vegetable — they guess its name by touch or smell. This game enhances sensory awareness, memory, and vocabulary. It’s also a great way to build a connection with everyday foods used in Indian kitchens.
This simple art activity helps children make masks of fruits or vegetables using paper plates, colors, and craft material. It builds creativity, fine motor skills, and introduces your child to the idea that healthy foods can be fun and expressive.
Children are given a mix of common Indian seeds and asked to sort them into bowls. This quick game builds concentration, fine motor control, and gives them a closer look at the ingredients they’ve seen at home but never handled themselves.
Each child receives a bingo card with pictures of natural items like neem leaves, smooth stones, flower petals, or even pieces of fallen bark. As they find and collect the items, they mark them off. This game encourages observation and builds appreciation for nature.
Some camps design board games around good habits — where landing on ‘Eat a mango’ moves you forward, and ‘Too much cola’ sends you back. These games are entertaining while teaching kids about choices, food awareness, and health in a light, non-preachy way.
In this group game, music plays while children dance freely — when it stops, they have to freeze in a pose (like a mango, a tree, or a vegetable basket). This fun twist adds imagination and improves listening skills and control, all while making them giggle.
Children are shown cards with real images of Indian fruits and vegetables. They take turns flipping cards to make a pair. This classic game builds memory, vocabulary, and helps children connect with healthy foods in a visual, playful way.
When selecting a summer camp for your child, pay attention to the types of games offered. Camps that combine movement, imagination, and learning through familiar foods and nature are often the most impactful. These simple games help build life skills gently — teaching children about balance, healthy choices, teamwork, and creativity — all in a way that feels like play. Choose a camp that sparks joy, encourages curiosity, and helps your child come home a little brighter every day.