Are You Hosting a Future Olympian at Summer Camp?

This year’s Summer Olympic games will be hosted in Paris, France. That may be a long way away from your camp. But you can still celebrate the spirit of the Olympics and inspire your campers this summer! 

At the heart of the Olympic Games is the spirit of a diverse group of people from nations all over the world uniting to share in a common experience. Through hard work and friendly competition – we celebrate the determination of these nations’ finest athletes and their willingness to rise and represent their homeland to the world. 

For a child, heading off to summer camp might feel like their very own version of the Olympic Games. They will be traveling somewhere new, learning about camp rules and customs that are different from what they have experienced at home, and they will certainly step out of their comfort zone at some point! The students and staff they meet will come from different and diverse backgrounds. 



It also takes a healthy dose of courage and determination to head off to camp, not knowing what lies in store! And yet, it is a wonderful opportunity for campers to safely explore and learn about the world around them. 

The similarities don’t stop there! Many traditional summer camp activities overlap with the Summer Olympic Games – including archery, canoeing, equestrian, rowing, sailing, swimming, and more! For all you know, you could be hosting a future Olympian at this year’s summer camp and your camp could be the spark that ignites their interest!

How can I incorporate the Olympics into my camp? 

There are a lot of ways to incorporate the Olympics into any sized camp, on any budget. Check out some of our ideas below! 

• Activities - If your camp has facilities where campers can learn about or participate in an Olympic Sport, be sure to highlight the Olympics when you introduce it!

• Storytelling – Talk about the journeys and the struggles that past or current Olympians have faced in a way that might relate to your campers’ own experiences.

• Meet & Greet – Invite a former Olympian to come speak at your camp and share their experiences.

• Host Your Own Games – Use the Olympics to introduce your own camp competition that will highlight different skills learned at camp!

• Invent a Game – Challenge campers to work together to invent their own sport and rules and demonstrate how it's done!

• Creative Writing – Write a song, poem or short story about an Olympic Sport or experience related to an athlete traveling to compete in the games.

• Get Crafty – Challenge campers to draw or color a picture that ties into the games!

Do you or your camp have a connection to the Olympics? Or is your camp planning on incorporating the Olympic Games into your 2024 summer activities?