Once Upon a Book ~ I Know God is Near

I Know God is Near by Dian Curtis Regan

Summary: Straightforward text and illustrations portray with beautiful simplicity the concept that God is always near. The story focuses on a family gathering around a campfire as they sing songs and pray under the night sky.

Camping Indoor Discovery Center

Get out your camping supplies and pitch a indoor camp site! Put this in a place that you can keep it set up for several days so your LO's can enjoy it!

Indoor Camp Fire

Hot glue three or four empty paper towel tubes together and glue red, yellow and orange construction paper flames to the top of two tubes. We had a lot of fun getting the flames ready for the logs!

Indoor Tent

Drape a sheet over a table and have a indoor camping day! You could even have them nap there with sleeping bags if they still take naps {my girls gave it up when they were 1 :) } It is easy to take down and store while eating dinner then you can put it back up if that would be easier!

Paper Plate Canteen

Have your LO paint the backs of 2 paper plates, let dry. After the are dry staple or glue together and add yarn. Or if you have a real canteen put your LO drink in there for the day.

Snack Holder: Have your LO paint 2 paper plates front and back. Cut 1 in half and staple to the full sized plate. Punch 2 holes and string with yarn and let your LO stick their snack in there.

My LO wouldn't allow her pretty painting to be hole punched and cut so I don't have pictures! I figured it was easier not to cut them to have her break down in tears :) If you follow the directions you can make your own and if your LO feels the same way at least you'll have some pretty art work :)

Campfire Pokey (from Perpetual Preschool}

Sung to the tune of Hokey Pokey

You put your marshmallow in,

You take your marshmallow out,

You put your marshmallow in and you shake it all about,

You do the campfire pokey, and you turn yourself about,

That's what it's all about, hey!

{Substitute "marshmallow" with hot dog, potato, apple, popcorn, and anything else that you can roast over the campfire}

Final verse:

You put your whole dinner in,

You take your whole dinner out,

You put your whole dinner in, and you shake it all about,

You do the campfire pokey, and you turn yourself about,

That's what its all about, yum, yum!

Snack Options for Camping

Indoor S'mores: cinnamon crisp cereal or teddy grahams, mini marshmallows and chocolate chips.

Trail Mix: Mix up a bunch of your LO's favorite cereals, snack crackers, and you can add some nuts and mini chocolate chips too.

Want to see what's coming next (and books we've done in the past)? Click here to see our Once Upon a Book webpage!