How to Make a Vacation Treasure Box

Making a vacation treasure box is a wonderful way for children to preserve mementos and memories of a favorite family vacation. It is a craft project, which actually begins on the trip. Children can take pictures and look for small objects to include in their box, along the route.Vacation treasure boxes can be as simple or involved as children choose to make them. This is a project that promotes creativity. When completed, it will provide family memories for years to come.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Small cardboard box (shoebox works best)
• Craft glue
• Scissors
• Crayons, markers or paint
• Paper to cover box (white or colored)
• Maps of traveled route
• Disposable camera
• Pictures of trip
• Postcards from areas visited
• Interesting objects found on trip
• Small notebook

1. Cover the outside of the box and lid with paper, maps, markers or paint. Using a combination of these materials will work as well. The inside of the box can be decorated, if desired. Smaller children may need assistance decorating their vacation treasure box.

2. Indicate towns and special places on the map or maps. Highlight the route traveled with a highlighter marker.

3. Arrange pictures, postcards and other small collected objects on the top and side of box. Glue into place and allow to dry completely.

4. Give each child a small notebook. Ask them to write about the trip. Suggest they explain what the items are, where each was found, places they visited and activities they took part in.

5. Place notebooks, additional maps and remaining collected treasures in the vacation box for safe keeping.

Tips & Warnings

• Maps can be actual road maps or maps obtained and printed from online travel websites. (Printed maps will be easier for younger children to work with due to their smaller size.)
• Materials such as beads, glitter, colored pencils and stencils can also be used to decorate the vacation treasure box.
• Supply each child with a disposable camera for the trip.
• Avoid creative disagreement. Allow each child to make their own vacation treasure box.

Resources

• Print a map from MapQuest.