Kids often delight in the outdoors, and with all that nature provides, any party with a nature theme is usually simple to arrange and a big hit with children. A camping party makes a great theme for a child's birthday, whether you go out into the wild, pitch a tent in your own back yard or hold an indoor camp out. Does this Spark an idea?
Real Camping
If you invite guests to a real camp out in the woods or in a state park, you may want to consider inviting only a small group or asking parents to accompany children younger than 10. Be sure you are prepared to keep track of all the children. Also, be sure to brief them on safety rules and have supplies in case of an emergency.
Because the setting and theme is the great outdoors, minimal decorations are required. A nice sign, tablecloth and a few balloons will suffice. Be sure to bring insect repellent, sunscreen and plenty of flashlights for guests to use.
If parents are coming, try to make sure everyone brings his own tent or see if you can provide them to parents who don't have one. Allow parents their own tent but try to have a large communal tent for children who wish to sleep together.
Bring outdoor toys for the children to choose from, such as balls, water balloons, a Frisbee or cardboard glider airplanes. As adults are setting up camp or meals, children can entertain themselves. For party activities, plan a scavenger hunt. Set up a table for nature crafts, such as making collages. Children can make art out of bits of interesting twigs, stones and leaves they find and take it home.
Keep food simple such as a bucket of fried chicken and potato salad, or let kids roast hot dogs over a campfire. As it darkens, plan some campfire stories or a sing-along.
Lots of camping theme party favors can be found at party supply stores such as plastic binoculars, gummy worms, rubber insects and plastic sunglasses. Wrap them in a bandanna and tie it at the top with twine to pass out to guests.
Back Yard Camping
Camping out in a back yard can be just as fun as going out into the wild--and safer for younger children. A fenced-in yard is ideal, especially if you can lock the gates to keep children in and strangers out.
Provide children with a larger tent so they can sleep together. If you think they are too young to spend the night outside by themselves, pitch a tent close by to keep an eye on them.
Keep decorations to a minimum to preserve the woodsy feel. If you have a porch, patio or picnic area, use this as the main decorating area. Add camping props such as lanterns, canteens, folding chairs and binoculars.
A lot of the same games you could play if camping in the woods can be played in the back yard. Unless you have a big, woodsy yard, you might wish to go for a nature hike one day and collect some items to use in nature crafts or scavenger hunts.
If you can't build a campfire on the ground in your yard, consider getting a small portable barbecue or hibachi. Let kids gather around it to roast hot dogs or marshmallows. Set a table up with other foods, such as potato salad, chips and vegetable sticks. Use tin pie plates for camping-style dishes.
If your property is safe for night exploration, give each child a flashlight for a game of flashlight tag. Shut off all porch lights to make the yard as dark as possible as kids chase each other.
Indoor Camping
You don't have to hold a camping party outdoors. An indoor party might be the best option for really young children, people who live in big cities or for those more comfortable with the great indoors.
Decorate the house like a forest with brown butcher paper or paper bags cut into the shape of trees, and use green construction paper cutouts or green balloons as leaves. Drape green crepe paper from tree to tree to look like vines. Bring some things from nature indoors, such as logs and twigs, stones and dried or silk leaves and scatter them around the room. Place stuffed animals around the room and use lanterns to illuminate the room.
Even indoor camp outs require campfire stories and songs. Purchase a fake fire from a party store or make one by putting a flashlight with a scrap of red cellophane over the light, secured by a rubber band. Place this under a pile of twigs and sticks or make fake logs by painting empty paper towel rolls dark brown. Another indoor activity after dark is to make shadow puppets. Instead of using tents, allow the kids to arrange sleeping bags around the fake fire.
Serve food like hot dogs and beans, ants on a log and microwaved s'mores. Get some items to do indoor nature crafts, such as leaf rubbings or nature collages.
