Search
Close this search box.

Share what kind of mom you are!

Get to know other mom types!

7 Camping Game Ideas

My family loves to go camping. There is something about getting away from the fast pace of everyday life and heading out into nature. Even backyard camping provides a great opportunity to bond. There’s time around the campfire for talk, but the way to make that sharing time the best is to spend time doing some camping activities together first. If you are planning on camping anytime soon you could probably use some new ideas on how to interact with each other besides charades.

There is something about getting away from the fast pace of everyday life and heading out into nature. Even backyard camping provides a great opportunity to bond. Click To Tweet

iMOM has you covered! Here are 7 camping game ideas that will not only add some creativity but hopefully some laughs, too!

1. Twig Castles

Kids love going to the beach and making sand castles, right? So the next time you go camping, start with the same concept but add a twist. Bring a bottle of white glue and scissors. Gather some small twigs and create a twig castle!

2. Catch, Don’t Catch

One camper goes into the middle of the circle with a ball. They go around the circle saying, “Catch” or “Don’t catch” to the campers. If a camper catches the ball and the person in the middle said, “Don’t catch,” they are out. For an extra challenge, speed it up or add an extra ball. The last person standing is the new middle person.

3. Group Storytelling

Mutual storytelling is a fun twist to the usual campfire “story time.” One person will begin the story with one line that serves to set the scene. Then the next person will add a line. Be creative and have fun!

4. Murder in the Dark

Place scraps of paper for the number of people playing in a bowl. One scrap has a black dot, one scrap has a star, and the other scraps of paper are blank. Everyone draws a scrap of paper and keeps it to themselves. The murderer is the one who draws the black dot and the detective is the one who draws the star. Those campers with the blank scraps of paper are the potential victims. The murderer must wink at the other campers to “kill” them without the detective noticing; however, once they receive the wink, they may die so all can see—without revealing the murderer. The game ends when the detective catches the murderer or the murderer kills everyone except the detective. *There can be an award for the most dramatic death.

5. Noah’s Ark

Noah’s Ark is a memory game for the whole family. Everyone sits in a circle and takes turns listing animals in Noah’s Ark in alphabetical order. The first person says, “I’m going on Noah’s Ark and I’m bringing two apes.” The next person says what the first person brought and adds something else to it, such as “I’m going on Noah’s Ark and I’m bringing two apes and two birds.” The game continues around the circle with everyone reciting the list in order and adding their own animals. If you make a mistake, you’re out of the game and you must move out of the circle. The last person in the circle wins.

6. Sing Songs

A traditional campfire sing-along can be fun for the whole family. Choose the songs and use pots and pans as instruments. You can even have a dancing contest around the fire.

7. Spud

This game is ideal for teenage campers. Every camper is assigned a number from 1 to the number of players.

  • Players form a close circle with one camper in the center who holds a ball (preferably a spongy, soft ball).
  • The camper throws the ball straight up and shouts out a number.
  • Everyone scatters except the camper whose number was called. He has to catch or retrieve the ball.
  • As soon as he has the ball, he yells “S-P-U-D” and everyone freezes.
  • The camper with the ball can then take up to 3 giant steps towards any camper he wants.
  • He then throws the ball at the camper.
  • The target camper can move all parts of his body to dodge the throw—except his feet.
  • If the camper is hit, he gets S otherwise, the thrower gets S.
  • Everyone gets back in a circle and whichever camper received a letter gets to throw the ball up for the next round.
  • When a camper reaches S-P-U-D, he is out of the game. Or, after a set time, the person with the least letters is the winner.

What are some of your best camping memories?

Sources: Camping Dude

ASK YOUR CHILD...

What’s the best way to keep a friendship going strong?

Get daily motherhood

ideas, insight, &inspiration

to your inbox!

Search