The Best Easy & Fun Camping Party Ideas

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Super easy camping party ideas that can be used for an awesome birthday party or simply a fun backyard adventure for quality family time.

Play some games, prepare simple food and create some simple party decor, to make your camping party a huge success.

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These camping party ideas are perfect for those that love the camping experience or for those that love the idea of the experience but don’t get a chance to actually do it.

Setting up a campsite in your own backyard can be just as much fun as setting off on the real adventure.

Plus, turning it into a party with friends just adds to the experience.

It is such a fun idea, and the nature of the party can be tailored according to the age of the kids in attendance.

How To Host A Camping Party

There are several fun and exciting ways that you can host this party theme.

One option is that you can set up an entire backyard camping party, which includes tents, sleeping bags and a camp fire.

This would definitely excite the older kids and make them feel like they are going on a real camping trip.

Sleep either directly under the stars or in tents if you have enough small ones, or a large enough one for everyone.

Alternatively you could simply set up some decorations and themed birthday party food to resemble a camp. This is a fun way to have a camping party for smaller little campers who don’t want to be camping overnight.

The great thing is that these camping party ideas can be tailored to exactly how you want this camping party to be.

The ideas can be used for an entire camping set up, or just pick one of two favorite things to resemble a camp site.

Either way guests will love the relaxed feel that will be created.

The choice of how you set up your camping party is completely up to you, and may also depend on the type of party guests that you have in attendance.

If you do decide to go ahead and set up an entire camp site in your backyard, with kids camping out overnight, make sure you don’t forget the bug spray. You don’t want to have lots of your guests covered in mosquito bites!

Camping Themed Party Decorations

There are numerous fun camping themed party decorations that can be incorporated into an actual camp out party, and also a camp themed party.

The good news is that you also don’t need to spend a lot of money to make the decorations look amazing.

You will also be surprised at how many things you can put together from around your own home.

Camp Signs:

Start by setting up a sign welcoming guests to the camp grounds. From there have various small wooden signs that point to different areas of the camp ground.

These signs could be:

• Camp kitchen – for the party food table
• Toilet
• Camp fire – where you create a fire pit of a fake fire

Lanterns and Flashlights:

Place lot of lanterns and flashlights around the party area to give the feel of a camp ground.

If the party goes into the evening, these will also have a very practical use.

Camp Fire:

If you are having an actual camp out, then there will need to be a real fire of some description. If holding just a camp themed party, you can totally get away with a pretend campfire.

There are many other camping birthday party supplies that can be used in your party decor.

Party supplies can be obtained from party stores, but it is also a good idea to check out your local dollar store as they are a great way to find some bargains.

Camping Themed Party Food

A camping party should be relaxed, so it is perfectly acceptable to keep the food nice and simple. Hot dogs and burgers would be a great choice.

If having a real camp fire, you could also bake potatoes on the fire and set up lots of different toppings for guests to choose from.

Then it’s just a case of offering lots of fun party snacks.

Food To Toast:

This is a camping party, therefore you want to ensure you have at least a few food items that can be toasted over the fire (if you are having a real fire). This is also an easy way to incorporate a party activity. Just ensure there is proper supervision of young children around a camp fire.

There are many foods that can be cooked on the campfire including:

• Sausages
• Toast
• Marshmallows on a stick
• Bananas with chocolate wrapped in tin foil
• S’mores
• Corn on the cob

S’mores:

A S’mores station is definitely something you want to create at a campfire party. If you are choosing not to have a real fire at the party, it is still possible to melt smores using a Sterno smores station.

Ensure that you have lots of graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate so that your party guests can help themselves and make their own s’mores.

Worms In Dirt:

This has to be a favorite campfire party food perfect for the dessert table.

A worm dirt cup is simply a chocolate mousse pot, topped with crumbed chocolate cookies and a gummy worm placed on the top.

It’s simple, effective and fun.

Cupcakes:

Fire cupcakes would be perfect to have at a campfire party.

Simply swirl different colors onto the top of the cupcake to act as the campfire flame or create some cake toppers out of fondant that resemble flames.

Trail Mix Bar:

Little campers will have a lot of fun indulging in a trail mix bar and creating their own trail mix concoctions.

Easy foods to include in a trail mix bar include:

• Nuts
• Pretzels
• Dried fruit
• Seeds
• Small crackers
• Chocolate chips

Ensure that you have serving cups and utensils available for easy handling.

Camping Theme Birthday Cake:

If holding the party for a birthday, then a birthday cake is a must.

A campfire cake is also super easy to make and looks amazing.

If the kids are staying overnight, then have a plate of pancakes and fresh fruit to greet them in the morning.

They will love sitting around the fire and indulging in a fun breakfast.

Camping Party Activities And Games

Singing:

Whether you have a real fire or a fake campfire, it would be fun to sit around it and have a sing.

Maybe even toast some marshmallows at the same time!

If you know someone who plays the guitar, it would be a lot of fun to sing some songs together. This is an easy way for everyone to have a great time.

Sleeping Bag Race:

A sleeping bag race is the same as a sack race. If you have a large area, then this would be an awesome game to play.

Kids will especially love playing this, but it would cause a lot of laughs among the adults too!

Obstacle Course:

Depending how much room you have in your backyard, an obstacle course would be a lot of fun.

Set up a slide, hoops to jump through, something to crawl under and something to climb over.

It is easy to create a course with items that you already own with the kids backyard toys.

Nature Scavenger Hunt:

Kids seriously love scavenger hunts, and this is such an easy activity to undertake at a camping party.

Kids can either undertake the hunt individually or as a small group.

Prepare the hunt by either sourcing things in your yard for them to hunt or, place some small items around the yard for them to find.

Examples of nature things to find could be a colored flower, pinecone, stone, large leaf, small leaf, pebble etc.

Ensure that a list is pre-written for the kids to follow and tick off things as they find them.

Mosquito Bites:

This is a fun game that kids will enjoy playing.

To play simply pick a few words that are common to say such as “party”, “”birthday” or the birthday party child’s name. Make those words forbidden for one hour.

If anyone says the words then they are given a sticker (or mosquito bite). The winner is the player with the least stickers on them

Board Games:

Choose some simple board games that can be easily played. Set them up in different sections of the yard so guests can spread out. Board games are perfect if you are looking for some small group activities.

Of course there are numerous other party games for kids that can be used at any type of party.

Some of the the games are simply classic games, whilst others can be modified to include the party theme within the game.

Glow Sticks & Sparklers:

For a camping party that heads into the evening, glow sticks will be very popular. They can also be given out as party favors.

Have a heap of glow sticks available that the happy campers can help themselves to.

Under supervision, it would also be fun for the kids to enjoy some sparklers.

5 Real Life Camping Party Ideas

Whilst it’s great having a lot of camping party ideas to work with, sometimes it’s just nice being able to see the ideas in action.

These following party ideas are all camping parties that have been held. Take inspiration from them to help create your own awesome camping birthday party.

1. Rustic Camping Party

Source: Milk Breath and Margaritas.

The campfire cupcakes are particularly awesome and so clever!

2. Small Kids Camping Party

Source: Spaceships And Laser Beams 

This camping party looks so much fun. I love the mix of food that has been organised, and the wombat droppings made me chuckle! 

If you are looking for some camping party ideas that has a great variety of finger food, then you should definitely check out this post.

3. Camp In The Backyard Party

Source: TSJ Photography

This camping party encompasses everything you could want. It has amazing party decoration, fun favors, delicious food and has ideas for an camping area. 

You are not going to be short of camping party ideas here, and kids (and big kids) would love this party.

4. Tepee Camping Party

Source: Mary Janes and Galoshes

For some camping party ideas that go the whole hog, this one wont disappoint. There is even a campfire and tepee area set up for the kids to enjoy.

5. Adventure Little Campers

Source: And Everything Sweet. 

This party has lots of ideas for activities including a scavenger hunt, birdhouse decoration, butterfly wand and more. 

There are also a lot of ideas for some awesome easy themed camping food.

A camping party can certainly be tailored to suit guests of all ages. It is a relaxed party, where everyone can have a lot of fun.

These camping party ideas are simple to recreate and will help add that personal touch to your special event.

Need some ideas for a different theme? Check out the ultimate guide to easy party ideas for boys. You will have a ton of inspiration for different themes, games and more.

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