Camping Party Decorations for Girls

Tents add to the camping atmosphere of a party.

Throw a camping-themed party just for the girls. Decorations create the atmosphere of a campout, whether the party is held in the backyard or inside as a sleepover. For camping parties, the decorations should bring the great outdoors to the party. No matter where you are, the party will have all the fun of a woodland camping trip.

Tents

Create makeshift tents with rope and bedsheets. Girls can sleep under the tents in sleeping bags at a slumber party or just use them as decorations to add ambiance to the party. Give the girls at the party craft glue, ribbons, buttons, fabric markers and fake jewels to decorate the exterior of the tents before you set them up. Tie a rope between two trees if outside or between two chair backs if inside. Put bricks or heavy books on the seats of the chairs to keep them upright. Drape a sheet over the rope to make the tent and keep the tent open by holding down the sides of the sheet on either side of the rope with bricks.

Campfire

For an indoor campfire without the danger of flames, use a fan-powered fabric torch bowl. They are available at party or novelty stores. In lieu of a purchased one, make a torch bowl by taping orange construction paper cut into triangles with wavy edges onto the edges of a coffee can. Insert a flashlight with a piece of orange or red cellophane taped over the bulb into the coffee can to light up the fake fire. Make "logs" by stacking empty paper towel or wrapping paper tubes around the light base.

Compass Invitations

Decorating for the camping party begins before the guests arrive when you send out the invitations. Enclose a compass with each party invitation and encourage the guests to bring their compass to the party. Create a treasure map of the house leading to a prize and have the party guests try to find the prize. For girls, the prize can be camping related, such as decorated canteens, or more feminine items like nail polish or lip gloss sticks.

Background Accents

For a decorative accent for an indoor party, surround the party area with potted plants. These plants give the illusion of a campout deep in the woods inside your living room. An alternative to potted plants is to tape a large piece of butcher paper to the wall and have the girls at the campout draw trees on it. This combines a craft project for the party with a decoration. Stack hiking backpacks in the corner. Add to the ambiance and make the party feel more like a real camping trip using food; serve trail mix and s'mores for snacks at the party.

References

• "A Positive Plan for Creating More Fun, Less Whining"; Karol Ladd; 2006
• "Perfect Kids' Parties: 12 Fantastic Theme Celebrations"; Karen Famini, et al.; 2006
• "Perfect Parties: Tips and Advice from a New York Party Planner"; Linnea Johansson, et al.; 2007