Camping / Campout Party

Boy by tent at camping party

Camping is a favorite tradition of many families. Make camping out even more fun with a camping themed birthday party. You can set up a tent in the yard or have a camp-in the the living room. Either way, your child will love a camping birthday party with friends!

Camping party supplies

Get everything you need for a fun camping party with this camping party kit.

Camping Party Invitations


Fill-in-the-blank invitations are quick and easy, and Amazon has some great choices for camping party invitations.

Free camping party invitation to printMake your own party invitations

Looking for a party invitation you can make yourself? Download this free camping party invitation, then print it on colored paper. Add your party details to the inside and you have a super easy and free camping party invitation.

Camping Party Decorations

Turn your home into the great outdoors! Move any house plants you have into the party room. Decorate with vines (made by twisting green streamers) along with plastic bugs and toy snakes. Use stuffed animals to for wildlife.

You can also set camping gear out in the room – backpacks, sleeping bags, lanterns, etc. Set the mood with a campfire in your living room (see below).

Make an artificial campfire

Things you need:

How to make it:

  • Cut cellophane into triangles to make flames
  • Arrange rocks in a circle for a firepit
  • Tape some of the flames to the fan
  • Put fan in the center of the firepit
  • Arrange lights around the fan
  • Arrange sticks or logs in a teepee shape over the fan and the lights
  • Tape the rest of the flames to the underside of the logs
  • Turn on the lights to make your fire glow
  • Turn on the fan to make your flames flicker

Camping Party Food and Snacks

Camping-style food is easy to make for a party. Go with hot dogs, chips and dip, potato salad, baked beans and lemonade. These are really easy to make up for a large group.

As a special treat, let the kids have smores. They’re easy to make in the microwave if you’re having an indoor party.

Indoor/Outdoor S’mores Maker

Camping Birthday Cakes

Camping in the Woods Cake

Bake a regular sheet cake, then decorate it with camping items for a 3 dimensional look:

  • Tent
    Put 2 graham crackers together to make a tent. Frost them if you like. Or, use Hershey bars for this.
  • Sleeping bags
    Fruit rollups rolled up make great sleeping bags. You can also roll one out inside your “tent”
  • Campfire
    Use pretzel sticks or Tootsie Rolls for logs and candy corn for flames. You can also use the birthday candles for real flames.
  • Pine trees
    Upside down sugar cones coated in green frosting
  • Rocks
    Add a few jellybean rocks around the campsite

Camping Cake Kit

Need a quick and easy camping party cake? Try this Camping Cake Kit with Light up Tent.

Camping Party Games and Activities

Hide & Seek
This is a fun outdoor game if you’ve got the space. You can play it indoors, but it can be chaotic during a party.

Frisbee
Fun at outdoor parties. Make sure you have enough space and keep the throwing area clear of passersby!

Bubbles
Kids love bubbles. They are easy, affordable, and fun!

Scavenger Hunt
Hide items around the house or outside and have kids find them. For younger kids or a party with guests of all ages, this works best if you give them a list of what to find. You can incude a picture of the item, too. Then each person finds one of each item, ensuring that younger guests aren’t left out.

For camping party scavenger hunts, hide plastic bugs and toy snakes, or other fun items that represent the great outdoors.

Obstacle Course
This is best for an outdoor party, though you can do a mini version inside. Be creative – use boxes, create tunnels, give them things to run around while they explore the “wilderness”.

Find the Wild Animals
This game works outside or indoors. Set stuffed animals around the area where they may not be easy to notice, but can be spotted. Give each guest a list of the animals (include a picture for small children), a pencil to mark items off, and a pair of binoculars. Let them try to find – but not disturb – each animal.

Camping Party Favors

Mini Uno cards party favorUno
Uno is a favorite game on many family campouts. Send camping party guests home with their own mini deck of Uno cards.

Flashlights
All campers need flashlights. Give them as party favors that guests can enjoy during the party.

Creepy Crawlies
Plastic bugs and toy snakes are always fun for kids, and they are affordable for you!

Binoculars
You can use toy binoculars in party games, then send them home with guests after the party.

Keychain compass party favorCompasses
Small compasses on a carabiner clip are a fun party favor for a camping party. Kids can clip them to backpacks or beltloops before they head out on their next adventure.

Bracelets
Kids love Silly Bandz style bracelets, and these Zany Bandz Camp Wig Wam Bracelets come in fun camping shapes.

Whether you set up a tent in the yard or have a camp-in in the living room, your child will love a camping birthday party with friends.