If the children who are in your care during a summer camp program will be participating in many seated activities that require the use of a protective table covering, guide the campers in creating placemats. Purchase plain-colored flour sack towels and decorative materials that the campers can use to create personalized mats.
A Themed Activity To Break The Ice
The name of the camp and some of the activities that will be enjoyed during the summer can be used to inspire the campers to decorate their placements in a particular manner. Absorbent flour sack towels are suitable for use with paints, glue, adhesives, and natural and manufactured embellishments.
If the camp program focuses on the wilderness, collect some leaves and sticks that the children can use to decorate their flour sack towels. During the towel decorating activity, encourage the children to add some themed camp details to their towels and to include some unique accents that relate to their personal interests. At the conclusion of the project, instruct the children to share their creations with one another. This will inform each camper of some personal details about their peers.
A Protective Barrier
Flour sack towels contain woven strands that lay flat. Because a piece of sackcloth fabric is thin and smooth on both sides, a dual-layer of the clear film can be used to cover each mat and will not alter the appearance of each decorated towel.
A laminating film will preserve the materials that the children chose to decorate their mats. Purchase single laminating sheets or laminating sleeves. If you choose to use separate sheets, help each child lay their mat across one side of a sheet. Place another laminating sheet on top of the mat, with the adhesive side of the mat facing downward. After pressing the two pieces together, use scissors to trim excess film from the perimeter of each placemat.
If you buy laminating sleeves, carefully insert one towel into each sleeve. Seal the edges of each sleeve. Store the flour sack placemats in the room where the children will be seated frequently. During snacks, lunches, or crafting sessions, pass out the mats to the children. At the end of the camp program, allow the children to bring their mats home with them. The flour sack material can be framed or the children can continue using the mats as protective covers during messy activities that they participate in at home.