A kids camping party theme is perfect for those warm sunny days and gets the kids out the house - less mess and damage.
I would suggest that this kids camping party theme is aimed at the over 7 age group as younger children might be scared of the dark.
Setting up camp outside is the best solution but if you haven't got a garden, don't worry as you could always go to a public camping ground, make use of a friend's garden or even use a terrace or a large room in your house.
Party Delights
One of my favorites for good value party-ware and favors. PartyBox
Another site worth checking for all those regular and not so regular party supplies. Jokers Masquerade Great for costumes for adults and kids. Fancy Dress Outfitters
Excellent value costumes and a great site to navigate.
US Suppliers
Shindigz.com
Party supplies at low prices and lots of fun and unusual items. Makesparties For party-ware and favors at rock bottom prices. Birthday in a Box Party-ware and favors and super all in one Kids Camping Party packs Buy Costumes Super choice of good value costumes.
-- Kids Camping Party --
Kids Camping Party Invitations
Your Kids Camping Party invitations could go something like this:
Calling All Ye Campers.....
Camper (name of birthday child) is turning 8
And you are invited to camp out late (use a rhyming word to go with the age)
Camp date: (date)
Report to Camp duty officer at: (address)
Camp opening hours: (time)
Tel: xxxxx
Latest camping news flash..... Skies will be clear and bright
Essential camping gear..... Sleeping bag, pillow, pajamas, toiletries etc and spooky story.
Tent invites. make the invites in the shape of a tent using strong craft paper. Have two front flaps which when opened, reveal the party details.
Bugs Everywhere Using simple plain card, decorate with loads of bug stickers. You can also buy some great personalized invites from the suppliers above.
Mini backpacks Buy some mini backpacks (key ring size are ideal). Write the details on oversized luggage labels and attach one to each backpack.
The campers don't really need to come dressed up but suggest they arrive in clothes suitable for the weather plus a change of clothes should they get wet.
As the campers arrive you could give them a cap or visor which they could decorate with stickers. Stick to two colors and the color of their cap will decide their team for the team games later on.
Alternatively a bandana or a bandana slap bracelet or arm band made of strips of colored cloth would be just as popular and won't cost you much.
-- Kids Camping Party --
Kids Camping Party Decorations
Erect the tents in advance unless you want to make it a team activity for older kids. Place the tents near to the house (if in your backyard) and near a door for easy access to the toilet. If setting up camp indoors, clear the room of all furniture to give as much space as possible. I find it is more fun and causes less anxiety if you can get have the kids in just one or two tents.
Make a large wooden sign at the entrance to the "Camp Site" and have other signs pointing the way to the toilets and showers, picnic area and wildlife trail.
Put up a chalk board with the "Camp Rules". Make rules such as "No playing with matches", "Throw away rubbish", "Be gentle with the animals" and so on.
Set the tents around a central seating area with the campfire as a centerpiece. Lay out low benches for sitting on or just use mats or planks of wood balanced on rocks.
Decorate the inside of the tents with streamers and balloons.
Around the edges of the camp, erect some citronella torches. These will keep the bugs away and add to the camp atmosphere.
Place cuddly toys in the tress and bushes for the younger kids to discover or for the older kids, hang plastic bugs around the camp. Use glow in the dark bugs and stars which will be fun later on when it gets dark.
Hang multi colored Chinese lanterns around the garden. Some kids just can't help playing with candles so be careful where you place them.
Set up a food table and cover with green or camouflage cloth. Use plastic tableware or tin plates and cups. Provide bug stickers for each child to personalize his/her own plate and mug. It saves muddling them up.
Bug juice Lemonade colored green with the odd plastic bug floating on the top.
Roasted marshmallows Perfect for a late night snack and one of my kids favorites. Place a marshmallow on the end of a wooden skewer (soak for one hour in water beforehand as it stops them burning) and hold a few inches about the camp fire flame until the marshmallow starts to melt. Remove from the flame and allow to cool for 30 seconds or so. NB the marshmallow can get extremely hot. I advise this to be an activity for older children only and under adult supervision.
Camp site cake Great if your pressed for time but always looks impressive. Using a packet cake mix, make one square or rectangular cake. Cover with green frosting to resemble grass and decorate with a small plastic camping set or you could just use plastic bugs. Make sure each child gets one with their slice of cake.
Log fire cake Make or purchase three or four chocolate log rolls and cover with chocolate frosting. Cover a plate or cake board with green dyed desiccated coconut for the grass and then prop the logs up in the center of it so they resemble a log fire. For the flames, insert some red, orange and yellow sweets such as M&M's around and under the logs and then place the candles around. Once lit it looks very impressive.
Personalized canes These are always extremely popular with boys and girls. Buy some cheap doweling rods from a hardware store and provide the campers with paints, glue, stickers and glitter to personalize their own walking stick.
First Aid kits Using empty film containers (clear are best) get the kids to design them with permanent marker pens. Make two small holes in the lid using a compass point and then thread through some string using a needle so that they can be worn around the neck. You might need to do that bit in advance as it is a bit fiddly. The kids can then insert a couple of Band-Aids and small cotton wool balls.
Boulder Art These are great for decorating the perimeter of the camp. In advance get some rocks or largish boulders. Provide the kids with paintbrushes and paint and get them to design the rocks. This is a great starter activity. Use water based paints if you don't want the grass to look too multi colored as it will wash off. Alternatively you could use small pebbles and stick on wool, eyes and scraps to make 'rock pets'.
Ghost story bonanza When it is getting dark, sit everyone round the camp fire or in a tent and get everyone to tell a ghost story. Some of the kids might not have one so make sure that you have a few up your sleeve. NB Watch out for kids who are not enjoying it and suggest another activity.
Campfire sing-along Dust off your vocal cords and get out the guitar (if you have one) and sing to your hearts content. If you have any portable musical instruments let the kids use them or make your own from tin cans and sticks.
Sparklers Always popular especially when it is dark.
Tent builder If the kids are old enough, get them to erect the tents in teams. Alternatively they could make totem pole tents out of bamboo canes and sheets (get old sheets from car boot sales).
Musical camping chairs/rocks Get the kids dancing round the chairs or the painted rocks (see camping activities) but make sure there is one less seat for the number of children. When the music stops each child has to find a chair/rock to sit on. The one who doesn't is out and can help with the music.
Wildlife trail In advance of the camping party, hide a variety of cuddly toys, plastic animals, nature objects (e.g. a shell, pine cone, homemade straw birds nest) around the camp area. Split the kids into teams and give each team a list of items to find plus a sack to put them in. First team to complete the list is the winner.
Flash light treasure hunt When it is just getting dark give each child a flash light and send them off in search of glow in the dark bugs. Use plastic ones that you have surreptitiously hung around the camping area. Do this game in pairs if the kids are a bit nervous of the dark.
Snake pit tug o' war Use a large paddling pool or sand box and fill with lots of rubber snakes. Organize the campers into two teams and get then tugging a rope over a snake pit! First team pulled into the snake pit is out. All
Feed the bear In advance make a large cardboard bears head with a big opening for the mouth. Hang it from a tree branch or a bush and get the campers to throw plastic food into its mouth. See who can get the most items in.
Bug Bites Issue each child with a strip of bug stickers and then it's each bug for himself! The aim of the game is to 'bite' someone by sticking a bug on their back without them noticing. At the end of the game the person with the least stickers is declared the champion bug but the person with the most stickers on their back gets to keep them!
Lucky dip tent Fill a small two man tent with loads of balloons and amongst them put some small prizes. Each child takes it in turns to be blindfolded and to enter the tent and to try and find a prize.
Fishing for gold Fill a paddling pool with water and a number of goldfish. Issue each child with a jam jar and net and get them to catch a fish which they can take home. Don't forget to provide small bags of fish food.
Flashlight Tag All my kids love this and on holiday usually a group of older teenagers will join in too. When it gets dark, give each child a flash light and split into two teams. The aim of the game is to tag as many players from the opposing team by shining a light at them. Once caught, they are take to base and need to be watched over by a chosen guard. However thy can be rescued by their team mates so the guard needs to be on the lookout with his flashlight. If the guard spots the rescuers, they too are put in the base camp.
Pinata Having a pinata is always a great success at kids parties. For some inspiring camping party animal pinatas, take a look at
For your Kids Camping Party favors, anything with an outdoor feel to it such as binoculars, glow in the dark items, caps and hats, balls and so on.
Below are some more suggestions:
