The Notebook Song
An original camp song with actions and easy chords (C, F, G, Am). A catchy chorus to open evening programs, wake everyone up and liven up the bus.
- Age
- 4–16 yrs
- Players
- 5–200
- Duration
- 3–5 min
- Setting
- Indoors · Outdoors
- Equipment
- No equipment
- Prep
- No prep
- Energy
- High
Lyrics
Verse 1
In my backpack there's a notebook made of paper, full of games to play now and later. If it's raining here at camp or the sun has gone to bed, I open up my notebook and sing this song instead!
Chorus
Turn another page, turn another page, a brand new adventure starts right here. Turn another page, turn another page, the whole camp's singing loud and clear… Hey!
Verse 2
There's a page for water and a page to run, a page for the night-time and a page for fun. There's a page for the campfire and a page to sing, and a blank one waiting for what you will bring.
(Chorus)
Verse 3 (slow)
When the summer's over and you're heading home, keep your little notebook, you're never on your own. Every time you open it you'll be back once more right beside this fire, with the friends you're singing for.
(Final chorus, twice — the second time really loud)
Actions
-
"In my backpack" - thumbs on the straps of an imaginary backpack.
-
"A notebook made of paper" - press palms together and open them like a book.
-
"If it's raining" - fingers falling like raindrops. "The sun has gone to bed" - arms in a circle above your head, slowly sinking.
-
Chorus, "Turn another page" - right hand over left, miming turning a page, twice.
-
"A brand new adventure starts right here" - open arms to the sky, then point at the ground on "here".
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"The whole camp's singing" - arms over your neighbors' shoulders, swaying. "Hey!" - jump with arms up.
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Teach it in parts - the chorus first (learned in two rounds), then verse one. Verse three is sung slowly and softly, perfect for closing a campfire.
Variations & adaptations
Round
Split the group in two; the second half starts the chorus when the first reaches "a brand new adventure".
Faster and faster
Repeat the chorus three times, speeding up the rhythm and actions.
Your own verse
Each group writes a verse about their camp activities and performs it on the last night.
