Last summer, we held our very own garden science camp. It was brilliant fun, and we all learned a lot! It was a great way to spend time together away from screens and just generally work as a team to solve problems.
If your children love science, I’d definitely recommend trying a DIY science camp this summer, we’ll be doing it again, although maybe on a slightly smaller scale.
I’ve pulled together a list of 15 science experiments we really enjoyed, but if any don’t take your fancy, have a look at our other science projects for more ideas.
I’ve also got lots of easy ideas for science at home, with FREE printable instructions, so do check those out too!
Science Camp Week 1
Day 1 – Giant Bubbles
This is a great activity for kids of all ages as older children can experiment to find the perfect bubble mix of water, dish soap ( washing up liquid ), glycerine and cornflour for making extra-large bubbles.
This bubble recipe on Red Ted Art is a great starting point!
Day 2 – Heart Rate Investigation
Investigate the effect of exercise on heart rate in this fun science experiment. Children can also make their own super simple stethoscope, to listen to a friend’s heart.
Day 3 – Colour Changing Flowers
This simple summer science experiment works in just a few hours and is a great way to demonstrate the transport of water in plants.
Day 4 – Fizzy Science
Everyone loves a fizzy baking soda experiment. I just love playing with baking soda and vinegar as it’s such a visual experience for children and can be themed in lots of different ways. These witchy potions are great for Halloween, but perhaps for a summer camp fairy potions might work better.
Day 5 – Giant Viscosity Race
This large scale viscosity race is great fun. Children test the viscosity of different liquids by racing them down a giant ramp. As an extension activity, children can even make their own cardboard ramp, but remember, it’ll need to be waterproof!
Science Camp Week 2
Day 6 – Make your own slushy drinks
There are two ways to do this. For younger children, you can freeze fruit juice into ice cube trays and let them leave the cubes in different places to see where they melt the fastest. Once the ice starts to melt, children can then use a spoon to make it into a slushy drink.
For older children, use the salt and ice trick to make slushy drinks.
Day 7 – Make a Red Cabbage Indicator
Did you know you can make a pH indictor using red cabbage? Once kids have made the indicator, they can test different ( safe ) substances to see how they change colour. Baby wipes are a fun thing to test as well. Try a water based and non water based wipe.
Day 8 – Surface Tension Experiments
Try a magic milk experiment, race lolly sticks and lots more surface tension activities.
Day 9 – Make a Mini Water Cycle
Learn about the water cycle with this easy mini water cycle model. Children could even make a mini plastic bag water cycle to take home.
Day 10 – Skittles Experiment
Make a rainbow on a plate with this colourful skittles experiment.
Science Camp – Week 3
Day 11 – Candy Chromatography
Sticking with the candy theme, this candy chromatography experiment is great fun and super easy. All you need is some filter paper, paper clips, a container, water and colourful candies.
Day 12 – Make a Magnet Maze
Magnet mazes are great fun and a cool way to learn about magnetism. These can also be easily themed. Children could use their favourite characters from a book or TV show.
Day 13 – Rockets
You can’t have science camp without rockets! Film canister rockets are nice and easy but great fun to watch and a water powered bottle rocket would be a fantastic way to end science camp with a bang!
Day 14 – Zip Lines
Homemade zip lines keep kids busy for hours. Children could make a zip line for a favourite teddy or theme it. We once made a zip line for Jack to escape the giant, but this would also work for helping Rapunzel escape from her tower.
Day 15 – Candy House
Create a candy house for Hansel and Gretal or a new house for the three little pigs. My children just loved this activity. We started the day shopping for sweets that we thought would be good for the task and searching for sticky substances to stick everything together.
More Science Camp Experiments
Check out my pick and mix science camp with a selection of experiments you can print to make your very own science camp at home!
Oobleck on a giant scale is always fantastic fun, especially if you can walk on it!
Fantastic Fun and Learning has some brilliant homemade sprinkler ideas to try.
Last Updated on July 8, 2023 by Emma Vanstone
I was only wondering about your posting yesterday – but you’ve been amazing to do so much – am going to enjoy going through these properly later. *bows to your marvellousness*
Utterly impressive list of awesomeness! Definitely some I will be back to try out! 🙂
Wow! You are pretty amazing you know I wish you’d been around when my kids were little!
I have this crazy idea that I will be more organised after they are at school and will set up lots of science fun to do, so am off to pin this. Well done and thank you very much for the inspiration
It must be such fun to live in your house! Some brilliant ideas there! 🙂
These look so much fun – we do like a bit of experimenting in this house and really got into doing the Brownie Science badge – I shall remember these for a wet Saturday afternoon!
Gosh I missed so many of these! I’m now planning to make up for all the stuff I didn’t do in the last 5 weeks in the last 2 days!
Some really cool ideas there, thanks for sharing them with us x
Thanks Angie
What a fab roundup, and so great to have it all in one place. I’m showing my very inquistive 9 year old – she’ll love this!
Great, thanks Jen. x
These stuffs reminds my childhood. Should try with my kids 🙂 —- luke
These are going to be a great display for the next Halloween celebrations. Great experiments with some easy to find materials. Thank you Emma!
I could not find the recipe for the Giant Bubbles.