How to Have a Kid-Themed Camping Party
Plan a kids party with a camping theme, complete with an overnight slumber party in sleeping bags and classic campfire snacks such as hot dogs and s'mores. Hold this type of party year-round indoors or include outdoor excursions, such as nature walks and scavenger hunts in warm-weather months. Twist every aspect of the party to the theme of camping and nature, from the decorations and classic camping food and drinks to the nature-inspired games and activities. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Choose camping-themed invitations or make your own with card stock for a personalized option. Select colored card stock and cut out sleeping bag or tent shapes for each guest invitation. Type or print out the party details, such as time, date and location and attach with tape or glue to the face of the invitations. Specify that the party is an overnight slumber party and each guest should bring a sleeping bag and use a backpack to pack belongings, just like for a real camping excursion.
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Decorate the party area with camping and outdoor-related décor items. Arrange large potted plants around the room for an outdoor feel and open windows in nice weather months so a breeze can circulate in the house. Create faux trees around the room by taping long, narrow sheets of brown paper to the wall and arranging a large bunch of green balloons above it. Use red-and-white checkered picnic cloths on the food tables and play a nature CD with animal noises, babbling brooks and other outdoor sounds.
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Prepare a sleeping area for the party guests, in a living room, rec room or den, to resemble an outdoor campground. Lay out the sleeping bags in a large circle around the perimeter of the room with large potted plants and in the center to create an outdoor feel. Use battery-operated camping lanterns for lighting. For a camping party with older children, have an adult set up several large tents in the backyard and spend the night outside for a real camping adventure.
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Serve a classic campfire menu for the party guests to enjoy. Prepare hot dogs, hamburgers, baked beans and chips for dinner and juice or water in canteens or bottles for drink choices. Use paper plates and plastic utensils and set up folding chairs and small stools where kids can sit as they eat to re-create a camping feel. Take kids outside in the backyard next to an adult-supervised fire or grill to toast marshmallows and s'mores for dessert. Toast marshmallows over a gas stove for an indoor option in case of rain or other bad weather.
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Plan outdoor party games, such as a nature scavenger hunt to entertain guests at the camping party. Draw a map of your backyard, by hand or on the computer, and scan and print out a copy for each guest. Write a list of clues regarding the scavenger items and hide nature items, such as pine cones, fake bugs and insects and colorful leaves. Include descriptions of other things to look for, such as certain types of plants or landmarks in the backyard. Weather permitting, take the kids on a nature walk at a nearby local park to observe plants, trees and local wildlife.
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Give each guest a party favor bag filled with camping-related items. Select a small, sturdy tote bag in green or brown and include a child-size flashlight, plastic compass and trail mix for a snack. Include a small notebook and pencil to bring on the nature walk so the child can write or draw about plants and animals they observe.
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Tips & Warnings
Provide adult supervision for any outdoor fires or backyard slumber parties for safety reasons.
References
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