Over 6 million kids attend summer overnight camp every year.
And if you’re reading this, your child is likely about to be one of them. That’s really exciting.
You might even be looking back at your own overnight camp experience with fondness as you get your child ready for the adventure of the summer.
In this blog post, we’ll talk about some camp songs you can sing with your child to help them get ready for overnight camp. Of course, we can’t guarantee they’ll be sung at the camp your child is about to attend. But we do know that there will be some singing.
So, pull up your camp chair and tune your guitar. It’s time to go over some of the songs you learned as a kid.
1. Showtunes
Okay, this may seem out of left field, but hear us out. Many camps are either performing arts camps or will produce a musical during the summer. If your child’s summer camp falls in either of these categories, it might be a good time to brush up on your Broadway.
Grab the original cast album of the show they’re doing and play it while you do things around the house. Or, if you’re more musically inclined, you can rehearse some of the songs with your child.
If money’s tight and you don’t want to slap down $20 or more for a cast album, you’ll likely find some of the songs available on YouTube. And pro-tip: you’ll likely find all of the songs we talk about here on YouTube.
Even if your child isn’t banking on the lead role, it’s still a good idea to get them familiar with some of the music. They may even want to create dances or do a little performance for you before they go off. Encourage them to get their nervous energy out by bringing Broadway to you!
2. “Down By the Bay”
If you grew up in America, you’ll most likely have sung this song at some point. This one is best to rehearse with a large group of children, perhaps with your child’s class or with several neighborhood kids.
With this song comes some accompanying hand movements. The children will sit in a circle with their left hand tucked under their neighbor’s right hand. As the song goes on, they’ll slap their neighbor’s right hand (lightly!) as the slap goes around.
With this song and its game, you can improv as well and get the kids thinking about rhyming and phrases that fit in the song.
If you need a reminder of what this song sounds like, listen to it here.
3. “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain”
It’s likely your children have already sung this song at their school, and probably already know all the words. That makes it an excellent song to get ready for the summer with!
“She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain” is adapted from a Negro spiritual and was used by railway workers in the 1890s. Carl Sandburg included it in the 1927 songbook entitled “American Songbag,” showing how integral this song is within American culture.
One of the most fun aspects of this song is that the children can shout and respond while the song is being sung. Is there anything more satisfying than a hearty, “Yee-haw”?
Relive your childhood memories with this one. And if you need some guidance, you can click here to listen to it once more.
4. “Baby Shark”
“Baby Shark” has taken the world by storm recently, so there’s no doubt your kids will be singing it at the top of their lungs at camp. With fun accompanying motions, your kids will be ready to sing it, along with an acoustic guitar, at their camps.
Click here to brush up on the tune and the lyrics. But don’t be surprised if you’ll spend the entire day singing, “Baby shark do do do do do,” even while going about your adult life!
Overnight Camp Songs Get Your Child Ready for the Summer
Overnight camp songs are a great way to get your children in the mood for a summer at camp. Some children can be anxious about being away from their parents for so long, so this a great way to ease them in and get them excited.
If you’ve still not decided on where your child would like to attend camp for the summer, click here to request more information from us.
