Friendship & Lanyard Bracelet Crafting

Innovation Hour

Materials Needed (per 10 campers):

Embroidery floss (variety of colors)
Plastic lanyard strings (variety of colors)
Scissors
Tape or clipboard to secure projects while working
Beads (optional for decoration)

Objective: Campers will learn basic knotting techniques to create personalized friendship bracelets and lanyards, developing fine motor skills, patience, creativity, and fostering social connections.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

Briefly introduce the history and tradition of friendship bracelets and lanyards.
Discuss the meaning of friendship bracelets as symbols of friendship and care.

2. Demonstration (10 minutes)

Clearly demonstrate basic knotting techniques for bracelets:
- DIY Friendship Bracelets: 5 Easy Projects
- 3 Easy Friendship Bracelets for Beginners
Demonstrate basic stitches for lanyards:
- How to Make a Box Stitch Lanyard
- How to Make a Spiral Lanyard
- 2x1 Twisty Lanyard Tutorial (expert level)
- Show campers how to secure their work with tape or a clipboard.
Counselors model how to combine colors creatively and add beads if desired.

3. Crafting Time (25 minutes)

Provide materials and allow campers to select colors and patterns.
Campers create their bracelets and lanyards, practicing knots and stitches demonstrated.
Counselors circulate to support campers needing additional assistance.

4. Sharing and Exchange (10 minutes)

Encourage campers to show their finished projects to peers.
Suggest exchanging bracelets and lanyards as tokens of friendship.
Celebrate campers’ creativity and collaborative spirit.

5. Clean Up (5 minutes)

Organize and store leftover materials neatly.
Campers ensure the workspace is clean.

Assessment:

Observe campers' participation, craftsmanship, and creativity.
Facilitate a brief discussion about what campers enjoyed and any challenges faced during crafting.