hit me with your best beach crafts/activities

[zoestargrove]

We are heading up to Maine with a few families for the first weekend in July. I'd love to prepare ahead some crafts or activities should the need arise. There could be up to 9 kids ages 4-8


thank you

[newg]

are you looking for indoor activities or outdoor??

I had DD bring her magnifing glass when we went to Hilton Head. She loved looking at the stuff along the beach with it. We also collected sea shells, which we are now going to glue to some cheap picture frames and hang them in the girls bathroom with some photos of our trip. You could always bring the frames along and do the gluing there.
We also bought some cheap kites and flew those a few days too. Not sure how easy/hard it is, maybe the kids could make their own kites??

[brittone2]

Nature bracelets (take some masking tape and tape it somewhat loosely around their wrist, sticky side OUT (away from skin). Add little doodads to it to decorate it.

Make a mobile out of shells that have holes in them (use sticks for the top, fishing line or string for the rest).

My friends have done plaster handprints and such right on the beach (using the sand as the "mold" for the project. Not sure if that's more than what you want to get into but it could be fun for the ages you mentioned.

[newg]

Nature bracelets (take some masking tape and tape it somewhat loosely around their wrist, sticky side OUT (away from skin). Add little doodads to it to decorate it.

Make a mobile out of shells that have holes in them (use sticks for the top, fishing line or string for the rest).

My friends have done plaster handprints and such right on the beach (using the sand as the "mold" for the project. Not sure if that's more than what you want to get into but it could be fun for the ages you mentioned.

What about some kind of scavenger hunt?

[zoestargrove]

are you looking for indoor activities or outdoor??

I had DD bring her magnifing glass when we went to Hilton Head. She loved looking at the stuff along the beach with it. We also collected sea shells, which we are now going to glue to some cheap picture frames and hang them in the girls bathroom with some photos of our trip. You could always bring the frames along and do the gluing there.
We also bought some cheap kites and flew those a few days too. Not sure how easy/hard it is, maybe the kids could make their own kites??

I didn't want to be that specific..because I didn't want to limit any great ideas. I love the magnifying glass idea. (and I could get a bunch of kites at the dollar store maybe and masking tape will be easy to bring along. thanks for the great ideas. Keep them coming.

I have a tub of plaster of paris...hmm, I'm off to investigate what they would entail.

When we went last year the trickiest time was when we were all back at the house -either after being at the beach all day in between taking showers and having dinner, and first thing in the morning when the adults were trying to get everything in order to go to the beach again.

[zoestargrove]

I love a good scavenger hunt and they are always popular.

[Jen841]

We have done vacations and we have theme days which is fun. We also plan a nightly activity. Anything with flashlights at night is a fun time with kids. Another thing that is a hit is a dance party. I have a mix 3 years old on my iPod that is recycled annually. It has YMCA, Electric Slide, Hokey Pokey,... Chicken Dance. Kite flying and make your own sundaes is always fun too.

Check for local activities. Where we are doing as movies on the beach night as well as bondfires on the beach. Now all I can think of is SMORES!

[ahisma]

Really, our kids (ages 2-12) all stay content with basic beach toys - shovel, boat, frisbee, etc.)

I have wanted to try plaster casting though. Here are some links:

http://artfulparent.wordpress.com/20...ster-of-paris/

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/home-...t-bass-668529/

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/home-...e-sand-665677/

Otherwise, campfires / smores on the beach are a hit. We usually eat breakfast (campfire pancakes) on the beach a few times a summer too.