Water was the theme of the literacy camps my church planned and ran at the public libraries in Union Town and Marion. At first we out numbered the campers!
But as the word got out, our numbers increased everyday.
As the children arrived we had several games to keep them busy while we waited on the other children to arrive. The favorite was the "I Spy Bottles". I love the I SPY books and saw this idea in the Family Fun magazine and decided this would be good for the camps. You need a large bottle with a lid, (2 liter soft drink bottles will work, but a bottle with a large opening is even better), rice, and small trinkets to put inside. Because of the camp theme everything in our bottles had to do with water. But you can put anything in the bottle, you are only limited to what will fit through the opening. I put lots and lots of stuff in the bottles. I even put some SCRABBLE tiles in ours. After you have put everything in the bottle fill it with rice, but leave room so the rice and the objects inside can move around. As I gathered the items I kept a list of what was going in the bottles. Afterwards I made a "clue" sheet with a box next to each clue so it could be checked off as it was found. I even had words spelled out, some with the SCRABBLE tiles and some I just wrote on craft sticks. Here's an example of a few of the clues: □ Blue Sea Turtle □ Red Sea Turtle □ SWIMMING □ 1 Fish □ 2 Fish □ 3 Fish □ Make Some Lemonade □ W (scrabble tile) □ A □ T □ E □ R
To find the objects on the list just shake the bottle and the rice falls away revealing the items.
(I SPY!!!!)
"Needle in a Hay Stack" was another fun game. This is really simple, a tub full of shredded paper (hay) and words written on craft sticks (needle). You need two craft sticks for each word. Bury one stick in the paper and put the other in a cup. The children draw a stick then look for its match in the paper.
We gave each child a notebook to use as a journal and every day the children made journal entries. Some would draw pictures, some would write but most did both.
We did experiments!
(How many drops of water will fit on the head of a penny?)
We played charades and pretended to be aliens from ZORK.
We played water games!
Joyfully,
Elizabeth Ann
My first blog post was on June 03, 2010 and on June 26, 2010 I got my first COMMENT...
This is a baker's rack I found in it's Rusty/Chippy/Gloriosity state! 
I also added this great little chair, I think I will call this rustic-chic it has great curvy lines but with a little rustic/rusty iron goodness. The door/window isn't new but isn't wonderful? It has the same small panes on the bottom as it does on the top. I keep having to talk myself out of taking it back home with me..png)
The picture is a garage sale find that had a brown frame and a rose colored mat. I flipped the mat over then painted and distressed the frame. 
The white platter and the lamb were also thrift store finds. The PEACE and cross were gifts from dear friends. 
The cloche was purchased at 50% off and the rosary was another thrift store find. The contents inside were things I had around the house and yes that is a real fern. 
My most favorite item in this vignette is the real bird's nest that I've had a couple of years. Happily it was empty when it fell out of our crape myrtle ! When I'm not using it I store it in a plastic container to protect it. Mr. E.A. thinks I'm nuts, but he's used to my nuttiness. ;-) Now head over to 
I ran out of time yesterday to take pictures but I'm going back this afternoon. I'll post them tonight or in the morning so check back. Or better yet, go check it out in person and don't forget your 
