This week we will send the kids on a special mission. In secret agent camp, they will have a blast as they go on covert missions to crack secret codes and solve mysteries. They might even do a little learning along the way!
Secret Agent Camp – Day One
Listen to The Eleventh Hour online
You can also order it here from Amazon.
Activities
Create Your Own Identity
You have been selected to join the elite status of Special Agent. Every agent needs a secret identity for special covert missions and espionage. Today you will find out your secret code name, create your own identification badges and prepare your top-secret spy kit.
Print your Secret Agent Information Packet to get started!
Detective Game
Follow the clues to find out whole stole the cookies from the cookie jar. This scavenger hunt is easy to prepare and a ton of fun.
Materials:
- Mirror Image Message
- Clues throughout the house
- Cookies
Preparation:
- Print the Mirror Message
- Choose different objects that have a specific place (fork, socks, toothbrush) These will be the clues for the scavenger hunt.
- The mirror message leads them to someplace cool – the refrigerator. Then you will place one of the objects inside the refrigerator. For example, put in a pair of your child’s socks which leads them to their sock drawer in the sock drawer they find a toothbrush which leads them to the bathroom… continue placing items in different places around the house.
- For the final clue, point them in the direction of a family member who has a secret stash of cookies. In our house the culprit was Dad. After they catch him with the cookies, we all enjoy some together!
Snack
Cookies
After the kids discover who stole the cookie from the cookie jar, enjoy some delicious cookies.
Chocolate Covered Katie has a great list of healthy (and delicious) cookie recipes.
Secret Agent Camp – Day Two
Video
Learn more about what makes fingerprints so special – SciKids – See Your Own Fingerprints
Activities
Make Your Own Fingerprinting Kit
Materials:
- Paint Brush
- White Finger Print Powder (baby powder, powdered sugar, chalk dust)
- Black Finger Print Powder (cocoa powder)
- Scotch Tape
- Window
- Cookie Sheet
- White and Black Paper
Notes:
- To make your child’s fingerprints easier to lift, have them put a little lotion on before they begin.
- Since things can get a little messy with the fingerprinting powder, we limited ours to the cookie sheet and a designated window for easier clean-up.
Process:
- Press fingers onto a smooth surface.
- For a light-colored surface such as a mirror or window use a dark powder, for a dark surface use a light powder.
- Dip a brush into the fingerprint powder and tap off excess powder.
- Carefully dust the area where the fingerprints can be found.
- Use pieces of scotch tape to lift the fingerprint. Then place the tape on a piece of paper
Additional Fun:
- Make the activity more challenging by having the whole family add fingerprints.
- Then after you lift all of the prints, see if you can identify who each fingerprint belongs to by comparing them to everyone’s fingerprint card.
Fingerprint Comparison
Each person in the world has a unique set of fingerprints. Use this Fingerprint Analysis Guide to determine what type of fingerprint you have and compare it to the people in your family.
Fingerprint Art
Create a unique art project with your fingerprints!
Materials:
- Paper
- Ink pads
- Fine tip markers
Activity:
Use an ink pad to make fingerprints on a piece of paper. Then use a fine tip marker to turn your fingerprint into an animal, a flower, the sun, or anything else you can imagine! Head over to Rhythms of Play for an extensive list of Fingerprint Art Ideas.
For Additional Fingerprint fun, checkout these great activities!
Snack
Thumbprint Cookies
Thumbprint cookies are usually made with a basic sugar dough or shortbread dough and then filled with jam. They are the perfect cookie to do with kids because they are easy to make and involve everything kids love – rolling dough into balls, squishing dough with their fingers and sugar! My eight year old was able to make this basic thumbprint cookie recipe from The Salty Marshmallow almost completely on her own!
Here are some of my favorite thumbprint cookie recipes.
- Classic Thumbprint Cookies from Live Well Bake Often
- Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies with Sprinkles from Just a Taste
- Lemon Thumbprint Cookies from Cookies and Cups
- Nutella Thumbprint Cookies from Chew Out Loud
- Healthy 3 Ingredient Thumbprint Cookies from My Whole Food Life
You can take a shortcut and use premade sugar cookies. Simply combine the premade sugar cookie dough with 1/4 flour. Roll the sugar cookie dough into one inch balls, flatten the balls with your thumb. Then fill with 1 teaspoon of jam. Follow the baking instructions on the package.
Secret Agent Camp – Day Three
Podcast
The Unexplained Disappearance of Mars Patel – This mystery story is performed by kids and perfect for kids ages 8-12. Follow along as Mars Patel and his pals JP, Toothpick, and Caddie search for their two missing friends.
Mystery Sounds – On this Brains-On podcast, you will have to guess 11 mystery sounds.
Activities
Solve the Secret Codes
Your mission if you choose to accept it is to solve the secret riddle pages.
If you’re looking for more riddles and challenges to keep your kids busy, checkout these riddle books.
Laser Beam Challenge
Materials:
- yarn, streamers, or string
- bells (optional)
- obstacles (toys, fake insects and snakes)
- prizes
String yarn or streamers across a hallway in a zigzag pattern – These will be your laser beams. Place obstacles in the path to make it more challenging.
The object of the game is to weave through the laser beams to grab the prize without touching the laser beams or making the bells ring. If you successfully reach the other side, you will receive a prize. For added fun, time each person and see who can do the laser maze in the fastest time!
Snack
Taste Detective
For this snack activity your kids will identify the mystery food. My kids loved playing this game!
Materials:
- 5 – 10 different foods (pickles, strawberries, olives, peanuts, grapes)
- Blindfold
- Checklist of food and a pen
Activity:
- Cut each piece of food into bite-size pieces.
- Blindfold the taste detective and send the other agents into another room so they do not hear the answers.
- Give the taste detective a piece of food taste and then ask them to guess what they ate.
- Use the checklist to mark if they answered correctly.
After everyone has had a turn, reveal the mystery foods and enjoy a snack together. Kids also love making a mystery food tray for adults. Give them the opportunity to choose some foods for you to guess and continue the fun.
Secret Agent Camp –Day Four
Listen to these fun detective stories online.
Activities
Invisible Ink
Create your own secret messages with invisible ink. Try one of these invisible ink formulas to write your message.
Snack
Using store-bought biscuit dough, kids can easily make their own tasty pizza bombs for lunch or snack.
Secret Agent Camp –Day Five
Activities
Crack the Code
For the last day of spy camp kids will solve a serious of puzzles that lead to an afternoon picnic!
Make secret messages using the codes below. Each message will lead them to the next message. The final secret code will lead them to the picnic!
- Number Line Secret Code
- Secret Decoder Printable from Dabbles and Babbles
- Math Equation Code from No Time For Flashcards
- Read Every Second Letter –see example below
cgyo wtqo etvhze afpimruelpclwaxcre otjo sftinnfd gydoeuqr mneecxrt bchlsuue
go to the fireplace to find your next clue
Find even more ciphers and codes to use here
Make Your Own Secret Messages
After learning the different ways secret agents send messages, now it’s time for the kids to create their own. Use the different ciphers and codes to write secret messages for friends and family.
This secret code printable from Pickle Bums is a great place to start.
Snack
Spy Picnic Surprise
Additional Secret Agent Camp Activities For Kids
- FBI – Online Games for Kids
- Learn the Language of Espionage
- Number Detective Game Online
- Design Your Own Spy Gadget
- DIY Spy Glasses
