Buggy Bug Catching Jars—Backyard Camping Activities

Kids will get the opportunity to meet and greet insects of all shapes and sizes, real and imagined with this fun activity that is part craft, part adventure.

You’ll Need

• Empty glass jars with lids
• Hammer and nail for puncturing lid
• Craft Paint—provide an assortment of colours
• Paint brushes
• Googly eyes
• Pipe cleaners, feathers, pompoms (optional)
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks

How to Make

1. Before the party, hammer a few holes into the lids of the jars using a nail to allow breathing holes.
2. Paint the lid of each jar to look like the insect of your choice. This can be a real or imagined insect.
3. Allow lid to dry.
4. Help kids add the eyes, wings and antennae using a hot glue gun.

Good to Know: Pre-paint the lids a base colour as they can take a little while to dry and may need two coats of paint. This could be a pre-camping activity to get them excited for the big night!

How to Play

1. Have the kids gather some grass, twigs, flowers and other items from the yard that they think will attract insects.
2. Add them to the jar.
3. Look for insects under rocks and around the base of trees.
4. Scoop an insect or two into the jar and screw the lid back on.
5. The kids can keep, watch and enjoy the insect(s) while camping in the backyard.
6. When it is time to go home, release the insect(s) back into nature. Clean the jar and keep it as a souvenir from your fun backyard camping experience. It is the perfect place for kids to store their most treasured possessions.

Thanks to our Savvy Storyteller Susannah from Creative Mama on a Dime for providing this party activity.

To get the full how-to with more pictures, click here.