Old School & Proud: Why Camp Mákemáke Keeps It Classic

At Camp Mákemáke, we’re a little different.

While the world races toward faster screens, shorter attention spans, and constant notifications, we’ve chosen a different path—one paved with kite strings, creek trails, sack races, and the kind of play that doesn’t need Wi-Fi to be unforgettable.

We’re not trying to keep up with trends—we’re holding on tight to what truly matters.And yes, we’re proud to be old school.

Why Do We Do It the “Old-Fashioned” Way?

Because it works.Because it’s real.Because kids need it now more than ever.

We believe in play that doesn’t need charging. In conversations that don’t require Wi-Fi. In fun that’s built from imagination—not algorithms. At Camp Mákemáke, we yoyo, hula hoop, finger knit, fly kites, play dice and card games, strum instruments, and run sack races and tug-of-war—not because we’re stuck in the past, but because these timeless activities build something screens can’t: connection, creativity, coordination, and confidence.

What Makes Camp Mákemáke Old School (and Amazing!)

Classic Games That Keep Us Moving

We play Simon Says, sack races, tug-of-war, relay games, tic-tac-toe, capture the flag, and treasure hunts through the woods. These simple, high-energy games bring out laughter, teamwork, and just the right amount of friendly competition.

Timeless Toys & Tools

Our campers spin yo-yos, swirl hula hoops, toss beanbags, fly kites, and challenge each other in games of jacks, marbles, or tic-tac-toe scratched in the dirt. These are toys that last—and skills that stay with you.

Games of Chance, Strategy & Skill

We break out the dice games and card decks daily. Whether it’s Go Fish, Crazy Eights, Yahtzee, or a made-up game invented on the spot, these moments are about real interaction and lots of laughter.

Creative Arts & Crafting by Hand

We craft with yarn, glue, scissors, string, sticks, beads, fabric, paint, and anything else we can find. From finger knitting and tie-dye to collage-making and nature-inspired art, it’s all about the joy of creating something with your own two hands.

Clapping Games, Rhymes & Tongue Twisters

Campers pass down hand-clapping games, try to outdo each other with tongue twisters, and learn classic playground rhymes that have traveled across generations—because play is a kind of storytelling too.

Dress-Up & Make-BelieveSome days you’re a forest creature. Other days, a pirate, a space explorer, or a talking sandwich. With trunks full of costumes and a culture that celebrates silliness, our campers invent entire worlds and dive right into them.

Dance Routines & Camp PerformancesGot a new dance move? Want to make one up? Campers create their own routines, invent songs, and share them at campfires or just for fun. No pressure. No stage lights. Just pure joy.

Limericks, Poetry & Word PlayWe write goofy limericks, heartfelt haikus, silly camp songs, and collaborative poems. We believe language is a playground too—and every voice has a place in the chorus.

Music & Campfire Singing

At night, we gather around the fire with guitars, ukuleles, hand drums, and our voices. We sing the old favorites and the newly invented songs, share stories, and listen as the stars come out overhead. We also love singing songs on the bus rides and while hiking—because camp songs belong everywhere we go.

Nature, Every Day

Our campers sleep in tents under the trees—not in cabins—and wake up to the sound of wind and birds. We spend our days walking through creeks, spotting frogs, looking under stones, skimming stones across the water, and building forts from sticks and leaves.

No Screens. No Exceptions.

Camp Mákemáke has a simple rule: no phones, tablets, or screens of any kind.

This helps campers focus fully on the world around them—on the people they’re with, the games they’re playing, and the natural environment they’re exploring.

Without screens, kids experience more real conversations, more shared laughter, and more moments of creativity and connection. It’s a quiet kind of freedom that lets childhood unfold naturally.

The Magic of Low-Tech, High-Heart Living

We’re not anti-technology. We’re pro-childhood.

We want kids to know what it feels like to:

• Make up a dance routine just because

• Find a frog under a rock

• Write a poem and hear it read out loud

• Win a game of jacks

• Lose a game of cards and laugh anyway

• Fly a kite so high it disappears

• Fall asleep in a tent after singing around a fire

• Skip stones across the creek and build forts in the woods

• Sing camp songs loud on the bus and on the trail

These aren’t just activities. They’re memories in the making—skills, stories, and friendships that last long after the summer ends.

So yes—we’re old school. And we’re proud of it.Because the best parts of childhood don’t need updating.They just need space to thrive.