Two Things You (probably) Didn't Think About Taking to Summer Camp.

Two humble things find a number of uses at summer camp; clothespins and index cards.

I usually have a pocket full of index cards, and use them all day long to take notes, leave messages, and post reminders or notices for youth leaders. With clothespins or thumbtacks I can clip them to a tent flap, a branch, or pin them to our bulletin board.

Here’s ten ideas that you may find useful and fun:

1. Simple “where is” board.

Someone is usually trying to find me at camp, or I am looking for someone else. A simple “where is” note can help folks figure out where to look first.

2. Summer Camp Chore Chart

Here’s one idea your Senior Patrol Leader can use to assign patrol tasks for the day.

3. Notes and Notices

I can be reasonably sure a Scout will find a note clipped to his tent flap. I can use the same method to distribute mail from home or other information a particular Scout or youth leader needs.

4. Clothespin Catapult and/or Crossbow Contest

Check out the building ideas here. Looks like a great rainy-day activity.

5. Clothespin Tag

An inter-patrol challenge with the Senior Patrol Leader serving as umpire.

Each patrol starts with a number of clothespins. They are pinned on patrol member’s shirts (the patrol decides on the distribution of the pins, but each patrol member must have at least one pin).
The game starts and ends with a whistle blast (a five or ten minute time limit is usually sufficient).
When a Scout grabs a pin from another he kneels down and pins it to his shirt (while he is kneeling he cannot have a pin taken by anyone else).
Scouts cannot intentionally hold or touch another Scout, they can only touch clothespins.
The object of the game is to have the most clothespins pinned to shirts when the game ends.

6. Clothespin Obstacle Course

Two Scouts use 5 clothespins to attach themselves together and follow an obstacle course. The team who completes the course with the most pins still attached wins.

7. Clothespin Endurance Champion

Each Scout holds a clothespin pinched open between two fingers with their arm fully extended and elbow straight at shoulder level. The last Scout to hold this position wins.

8. Clothespin Hunt

A number of marked or colored clothespins are hidden around the campsite. The patrol who finds the most in a given time wins.

9. Clothespin Challenge

Which Scout or Patrol, in the opinion of their fellow Scouts, can create the best animal, gadget, or inventive use for clothespins by the end of the week? Whittling, a couple of Popsicle sticks from the trading post, some glue, lashings or the addition of other found objects – amazing things can be made from clothespins.