A Backyard Campout Party

A Backyard Campout is so much fun, especially on a warm summer night!

Take a look at these fun ideas that are guaranteed to turn your party guests into happy little campers!

Camping Party Invitations

These little camping invitations from TinyPrints.com just capture this theme perfectly!

Just look at it and you can almost hear the crickets chirping! :)

You could also make your own camping party invitations by cutting a tent shape out of cardstock. Fold the tent flaps back to reveal all of the party details!

Dafont.com has some super cute free fonts that you can download that are outdoorsy and fun!

Note: Remember to include on your invitations any specific instructions, like "bring your sleeping bag and pillow," or "come with your spookiest ghost story!"

Campout Decorations

Decorating for a campout party is easy because nature does all of the work for you! The great outdoors is full of all of the campout essentials: trees, crickets chirping, starry skies...

Set up a tent big enough to sleep all of the kids that are coming, and put a fire pit nearby. (Make sure you have a water hose handy, just in case).

If you can, place some cut up logs around the fire for the kids to sit on throughout the party. If you don't have logs, use fold-up chairs.

To really set a fun camping atmosphere, add some camping string lights, lanterns, and tiki torches to your campsite.

Have the kids paint a pillowcase "flag" and post it at their campsite to make it more fun and personalized.

Campout Activities

• Build a campfire: Have the kids help you gather sticks and wood to help you build a campfire. They get a HUGE kick out of this, feeling like they really accomplished something terrific!
• Camping Scavenger Hunt: Fill a pillowcase with lots of camping goodies (glow sticks and necklaces, flashlights, midnight snacks, matching bandannas, etc.), and tie it to a tree hidden in the woods. Map out coordinates in your yard, give them each a compass, and as a team have them go on a hunt for "camping loot" that you've hidden. They'll love finding camping goodies that they can enjoy through the night!
• Flashlight Tag: A good, old-fashioned favorite for when it gets dark outside!
• Manhunt: Another old-fashioned favorite that they just love!
• Spooky Campfire Stories: Have everyone come prepared with a spooky story to share, or get a book of spooky stories that you can read to them.
• Roasting Marshmallows: What campout would be complete without roasting marshmallows?

Camping Party Favors

The goodies that were found during the Camping Scavenger Hunt (bandannas, flashlights, compasses, etc.) can be used for party favors.

Toss them all into pillow cases secured with twine and tie them on the end of a stick for each child to take home. You may want to throw in some new glow sticks and necklaces, since the ones they found during the hunt will be all used up.

Campout Party Food

• Trail Mix: Purchase it pre-made or make your own with peanuts, raisins, M & Ms, and cereal pieces.
• S'mores: Of course! These make for very happy campers!
• Foil Dinners: Wrap some food up in foil and cook over an open fire! Smoked sausage or chicken and potatoes are a good choice.
• Hot Dogs: These are super easy and a kid favorite. Skewer hot dogs and cook them over the open flame for real camping fun!

This is a super cool cake and it's incredibly easy to create!

Place the birthday candles around the Pop-Tart tent and it looks like tiki torches around a real campsite! The kids just absolutely love it.

Click here for instructions on how to make one just like it.

Camping Party Supplies

I am head over heels in love with the "Let's Go Camping" line party line from CelebrateExpress.com!

It is soooo flippin' cute and has all of the paper goods that you could possibly need for your party...at really great prices!

If the line is a little too young-looking for your taste, try these camo plates instead with some matching solid color napkins.

Perfect! :)

Camping Party Shopping Links

Visit these online shops to find everthing you could want for your campout party, and more! :)

TinyPrints.com Camping Party Invites

Amazon.com Flashlights, glow sticks, compasses, lanterns, tents, and more!

CelebrateExpress.com Camoflauge plates, napkins, camping partyware and more!

Links You Don't Want to Miss

More Kids Party Ideas

Fun Favors

Kids Party Invites