Supplies:

• Trays (one for each CAMPer)
• Containers
• Jars (plastic jar, mason jar or pickle jar)
• For Painted Light-Up Jars: Sponge, Paint, and Battery String-Lights
• For Lava Lamps: Water, Vegetable Oil, and Food Coloring
• For Alien Friends: Clay - OR - Pipe Cleaners (+ pom-poms and googly eyes)
• Kid Scissors
• Paint Markers
• Adhesive (tape, glue dots, etc.)
• Sequins, glitter, gems, etc.

Prep/ Set Up Details:

• Prep a tray for each camper to include their jar decoration materials
• Organize all shared supplies in containers (e.g., paint markers, clay, pom-poms, etc.)
• Prepare a few relevant fun facts or questions to enrich the activity discussion!
  • Did you know that our planet and solar system are in the Milky Way Galaxy?
  • And there are billions of other stars (besides our sun) in the Milky Way Galaxy - so many, in fact, that scientists are still not sure exactly how many

Preparing for younger CAMPers(ages 3-6):

• Pre-cut sponges
• Opt for less messy options (e.g. stickers, glue dots, etc.)

Preparing for older CAMPers (ages 7+) 

• Amp up the sparkle with glitter and sequins

Activity Instructions:

Counselor(s) Prep (30 minutes before)

Doors Open (5 minutes before)

Gather (right on time)

• When all CAMPers are seated, welcome everyone!
• Introduce yourself and any other Counselors assisting the activity
• Give CAMPers a brief overview of what to expect and show CAMPers a completed “demo” or what the final product of this craft can look like
• Briefly review the tools they’ll be using and highlight any tools/techniques that require either (1) special care or (2) direct Counselor intervention
  • E.g. “Scissor edges can be sharp, so take care to always grab them by their handles and set them down gently every time!”

Icebreaker (5 minutes)

• We’re going to play Nice to Meet Ya!
• Instruct all CAMPers and Counselors to sit in a circle
• Go around the circle having each participant tell everyone their name and their favorite food
• Counselors can go first to set an example for CAMPers 

Craft (25 minutes)

1. Create your galaxy jar:
   1. Painted Jar:
      1. Cut the sponge into 4 equal strips
      2. Use a paper plate to create a paint palette
      3. Use a sponge to dab TWO colors of paint onto the outside of your mason jar - allow this coat to dry
      4. Repeat with THREE colors of paint - allow this second coat to dry
      5. Add another coat of three colors - allow to dry
      6. Decorate the jar and lid with paint pens
         • Optional - you can add glitter or sequin to the inside or outside of your jar for added stellar galaxy magic!
      7. Add lights inside the jar and close the lid, leaving the control/ battery pack out
         
   2. Lava Lamp:
      1. Fill a pickle jar halfway with water
      2. Add food coloring (e.g. 1 drop green and 5 drops blue)
      3. Fill the rest of the jar with vegetable oil
      4. Decorate the jar and lid with paint pens
         • Optional - you can add glitter or sequin to the inside or outside of your jar for added stellar galaxy magic!
      5. Double check that the lid is closed tight and then give your lamp a shake!
         
2. Create an alien friend to glue to the top of your jar:
   1. Clay Alien:
      1. Make a ball for the head/ body
      2. Roll out four legs
      3. Roll 9 small balls (three balls in three colors) - flatten one of the colors to create the eyelids, layer the other two to create eyeballs and irises
      4. Group the legs and body, adding eyes to the head
      5. Create a smile by rolling to small/ thin lips and shaping them together and placing below the eyes
         
   2. Pipe Cleaner Alien:
      1. Wrap two pipe cleaners around a pencil to create coil-y antennas
      2. Cut half of a pipe cleaner into 2 pieces and bend them into legs
      3. Glue the antennas, legs, and a googly eye onto a pom-pom‍
3. ‍Play/ Perform (10 minutes)‍
   • Instruct all CAMPers to sit in a circle
   • Go around the circle and have each CAMPer introduce us to their space friend - they can make up a name, where they live, and where they are trying to travel to in space!

Wrap-Up/ Goodbyes (5 minutes)

‍Reset/ Cleanup (After - 10 minutes)