Handworking at Maine Camps
September 17, 2024
We’re working less with our hands than in the past. Not including tapping and typing on our tech devices, we’re spending less time in carpentry, sewing and knitting, silversmithing, and beyond. It’s a shame because not only do these handmade projects look beautiful, they also enhance the lives of the makers who enjoy cognitive and emotional benefits.
Enter Maine Camps where campers have lots of hands-on opportunities for handwork. Maine Camps offer an extensive lineup of activities and teach skills so campers can create. Campers learn new skills and take pride in their projects. Hands-on creative activities are good for their brains and wellness.
Campers love creating colorful stained glass kaleidoscopes and dream catchers, metalsmithing beautiful silver jewelry, sewing and knitting fashions for themselves and for the camp’s theater productions, and working with leather to make wallets and keychains. At woodworking, they craft boxes, chess/checker boards, chairs, and even a ping pong table! They get to work with interesting materials including silver, copper, bronze, clay, fabric, wood, fire and more.
Here are just a few of the MANY ways campers work with their hands:
- Basketry
- Beading
- Blacksmithing
- Candle arts/wax sculpting
- Ceramics
- Duct tape crafts
- Enameling
- Knitting
- Leatherworking
- Painting
- Papier mache
- Photography
- Sewing
- Silversmithing
- Soap making
- Stone carving
- Woodworking
Maine campers take a hands on approach to having fun and learning at camp. High five for handwork!
Here’s an interesting article from The New York Times about the benefits of working with your hands.
Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools
Looking for the perfect Maine camp for your child? Try out our helpful tool where you can select a camp by choosing: type of camp (girls, boys or coed) and session length (1-8 weeks). It helps to narrow down a few camps to a manageable list that includes rates. Then you can research these camps in more depth. Next, be sure to contact our Maine Camp Guide, Laurie to discuss these camps as well as for free, year-round advice and assistance on choosing a great Maine summer camp for your child.