Boy Scout Camping Crafts: Camp Memory Box and Coffee Can Drum

Boy Scouts at Boy Scout Camp can make these two easy crafts that they can use as a great way to remember their time at camp with friends and fellow campers. The Camp Memory Box and Coffee Can Drum can be made with simple everyday materials and helps recycle metal coffee containers. The Memory Box can be used to keep small items in from camp or small toys from the childs room. The Drum can be played gently by younger boy scouts and junior scouts or put on display at home to remind you of camp.

Materials Needed for the Camp Memory Box Craft for Boy Scout Camp

The following are the arts and crafts items needed to make one Camp Memory Box craft:
Wooden box with lid
Wooden alphabet tiles (You can also use small foam letters and numbers for this project)
Acrylic paint: sunflower (dark yellow), brown and white
Wide paintbrush
Acrylic sealer spray
White craft glue

How to Make the Camp Memory Box for Boy Scout Camp

First you will need to squeeze out three pools of the acrylic paint, one of each color, about the size of a half dollar. You can use a piece of cardboard or a paper plate for this part to make clean up easier.

Drag the side of your wide paintbrush through one color and keep dragging it through the other color. The idea would be to blend and streak the colors, but don't mix them completely. Dragging the colors together will give your box an aged, streaky look. Paint the box and the lid, all the while dragging your paintbrush through the paint colors combining but not mixing.

Once the box is dry have an adult spray it using two coats of acrylic sealer. Let the box dry completely. Finally, use the white craft glue to attach the alphabet tiles or foam letters to spell out anything your child would like. They can use messages like "MY CAMP STUFF", their name, troop number or anything that is short. Let the letters dry completely before using.

Materials Needed for the Coffee Can Drum Craft for Boy Scout Camp

The following are the arts and crafts items needed to make one Coffee Can Drum craft:

Aluminum coffee can with plastic lid
2 sheets yellow construction paper
1 sheet tan felt
½ sheet magenta felt
Magenta yarn
1 rubber band
Scissors
Glue stick
White craft glue
2 wooden dowels
2 small foam balls
Blue yarn

How to Make the Coffee Can Drum for Boy Scout Camp

First, remove the plastic lid from the coffee can and set it aside for later.

Use the yellow construction paper to cover the side of the can. Use a glue stick to apply glue all over the construction paper then press on to the coffee can and let it dry.

Use the white craft glue to draw diagonal lines onto the yellow construction paper. Start at the bottom and go up at a slant to the top. Then go down from there at a slant, creating a triangle shape. Continue this pattern all the way around the can.

Using the magenta colored yarn follow the glue lines and apply the yarn to the can. Do not cut the yarn into pieces, just follow the lines and cut any excess yarn at the very end. Press the yarn into the glue as you go.

Lay the tan felt on a flat work surface. Use the white glue to cover the plastic lid all over the top and the sides of the plastic lid. Place the plastic lid upside down in the center of the tan felt. Use scissors to carefully trim around the plastic lid, leaving a 1-2" border. Place the felt-covered plastic lid onto the coffee can and secure it in place.

Wrap the rubber band around the coffee can at the top to secure the tan felt border to the side of the can. Gently pull the felt tight so that the top is smooth.

Cut two ½-inch wide strips from the magenta felt, there needs to be enough to cover the top and bottom of the can. Put it around the tan felt and cover the rubber band. Glue it in place with the white craft glue.

Making the Drum Sticks for the Coffee Can Drum

To make the drumsticks gently insert the end of a dowel into the foam ball or a round styrofoam ball. Remove the dowel and add some white glue in the hole and reinsert the dowel.

Cover the ball with white glue and wrap blue yarn around it until the ball is completely covered. Put some glue on the dowel just below the ball and wrap extra yarn around it. Trim and smooth the yarn in place with your fingers.

Allow everything to dry and enjoy your drum!