Use code KOLENSUMMER2315 to get $15 off this or any other scheduled camp! Valid until April 30th. 

Do you love American Girl? In this camp, campers will get to dive into the history behind their favourite American Girl characters. Through art, games and writing, campers will get to experience what it would have been like to be each girl, living in their specific time period. This will be a perfect way to kickstart a love of history in each camper! I am an experienced elementary school educator, summer camp leader and history lover. My own interest in history was nurtured through the American Girl series, and I aim to pass that on to each camper I work with this summer. Campers do not need to own American Girl dolls but some familiarity with the characters would help them make the most out of the camp. 

This camp is perfect whether you have taken my previous American Girl camp or not. All new girls and activities will be featured. 

Below is a more detailed breakdown of what each day will look like:

Day 1 - Courtney of the 1980's
The 80's were all about new technology and pop culture, from video games to fashion trends. We will embrace the spirit of the era through games based on music, candy and toy trends, create our own radical fashion accessories, experiment with DIY puffy paint and craft our own Pac-Man characters.  

Day 2 - Julie of the 1970's
The 70's were a time of change, innovation, and preserving over challenge. We will follow a true 70's trend by crafting a pet rock, play games based on 70's toys and slang terms, experiment with a groovy lava lamp, sing into disco-inspired microphones, play with sand art, and paint a peace sign. 

Day 3 - Nanea of the 1940's
The 40's were a difficult time of war and hardship, but also hope. We will travel to Nanea's home of Hawaii by looking at the history of surfing and making a mini surfboard that can really float, play games with common items and toys kids in this era would have had around the house, mix up a batch of silly putty, design our own stamp, learn about the events that occurred at Pearl Harbour and write a journal entry from the point of view of a child at the time, and make our own art to symbolize peace. 

Day 4 - Samantha of the 1900's
The 1900's were a time of changing social values and lifestyles. We will embrace the entertainment of the era by playing parlour games, fashioning puppet theatres and puppets so we can create our own puppet shows and crafting mini paper rocking horses. We will dress our dolls up with parasols and make mini teacups they can use for a tea party. Finally, we will discuss the inventions of this time and compare and contrast women's rights in the 1900s to today. 

Day 5 - Addy of the 1860's 
The 1860's were a time when people began to fight back against discrimination. We will learn about the historical hero Harriet Tubman, discover the hidden meanings in freedom quilts and make a paper version, and create an old-fashioned cloth doll. We will experience Addy's triumphs by participating in a fun trivia spelling game, making salt dough and molding letters out of it, creating and playing with a mancala board, and mixing up ice cream in a bag. At the end of camp, all players will be presented with a certificate recognizing a special strength they brought to camp.