Camp WWF Adventure Fun: Vegetable Soup Water Play

Get ready to splash, scoop, and stir up some summer fun! Today in Adventure Fun, we’re joining Camp Counselor Melody for a classic sensory favorite with a twist—Vegetable Soup Water Play.

This simple setup brings big-time imaginative play, with just a few household items and a splash of water.

Little campers will love pretending to wash, sort, and cook their own pretend soup—and grown-ups will love how it sneaks in learning skills like counting, sorting, and language development. 

What You’ll Need:

  • A 40 QT storage bin (or a water table if you have one)
  • Plastic play vegetables (or even real produce you’re ready to part with!)
  • Toy pots, pans, ladles, strainers, spoons—whatever’s in your play kitchen
  • Water

 Let’s Make Some (Pretend) Soup!

Prep your soup station.

Fill your bin or water table with water—just enough to let veggies float and utensils splash.

Add the ingredients.

Toss in your play vegetables: think corn on the cob, tomatoes, zucchini, potatoes, carrots, and more. Set the pots, pans, ladles, and spoons nearby to create a mini kitchen scene.

Start the fun.

Encourage your campers to “wash” the veggies, stir them in the pots, and pretend to cook up a delicious batch of veggie soup. They can serve it to you, to siblings, or to a nearby stuffed animal picnic.

Learning Through Play 

This isn’t just fun—it’s sneaky learning at its finest. Try these variations to boost the benefits:

  • Counting Practice: “Can you find 5 red vegetables?”
  • Color Sorting: “Let’s scoop out all the green veggies!”
  • Early Math: “If I put 2 carrots in and take 1 out, how many are left?”
  • Letter Sounds: “What letter does ‘corn’ start with?”
  • Spelling Challenge: “Can you spell the word ‘onion’ with sidewalk chalk?”
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Camp Counselor Tip: Bring a picnic blanket nearby and offer real veggie snacks or a thermos of actual soup for snack time after play. Bonus points for veggie-shaped crackers! 

Meet Camp Counselor Melody

Mom to two boys, former Pre-K and Special Education teacher turned small shop owner. Her goal is to create fun, easy, play-based learning activities that you can create at home or in the classroom. As well as creating intentional memories with your children! Her favorite WWF prints are Space and Construction. Connect with Melody on IG.

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