Make Camping Fun For The Whole Family
Summer vacation is in full swing now for most families. The initial excitement is starting to wear off and kids are getting antsy. Maybe they've even uttered the dreaded 2 words "I'm bored". Now is the time to get out of the house and make the most of those long summer days by going on a family camping adventure. While being stuck in a car for hours is not the most pleasant experience, there are so many fun things you can do as a family once you get to your final destination.
1. Get Ready, Set, Go!
Why not kick things off with an exhilarating game of Capture the Flag? It's the best way to burn stored up energy and take advantage of those wide open spaces. In case you don't remember the rules: Split up into two teams and designate an area for each. Each team hides a flag in their own area, and the object is to find the other team's flag and bring it back to your team's territory. Any player in the opposing team's territory can be tagged and put in "jail," and a teammate has to come tag them to rescue them. You must work as a team to win it all!
2. Nighttime is fun time.
When the sun goes down there is still lots of fun to be had with flashlight tag. It's like hide-and-seek — in the dark! Whoever is "It" has to shine their flashlight on the hider once they've been found. (Just be sure kids are old enough so they don't get lost too far away from your campsite.) Bringing along flashing necklaces will add even more suspense to the chase.
3. Scavenger Hunt
Kids may dread hearing the words Nature Hike. So instead call it the much more fun Scavenger Hunt. Make a list beforehand so kids can check off what they find along the way. Take a picture with your phone instead of dragging the biggest log you can find back to camp. Avoid tired kids by taking lots of little breaks. Make sitting on rocks feel much more comfortable for you and them by bring the EverRelief Inflatable Seat Cushion along with you. It folds up small and is so quick to inflate. Your weary rear end will thank you!
4. Hi Tech Time
If you've got bars on your phone it'll be a engaging time to go geocaching. Geocaching is an adventure game that uses a smartphone app. People from around the world create caches (or hiding places) and then place cache coordinates on the internet. Other app users visit the caches and sign a guest book or they take an item and leave an item. Before your trip, look for caches online near the area where you will be camping to see if there is a cache nearby. Then, use your smartphone app and head off to explore.
5. Cook It Up
Make the kids part of the meal by involving them in planning, preparing and cleaning up the food. You'll be amazed how much more they want to cook over a campfire than a kitchen stove. It's all part of the new experiences. Plus, if they have to transport the water from a distance away they will definitely be less wasteful.
6. S'mores Building Contest
Everyone's a winner in this contest. Bring a variety of options and let the kids imaginations wander. Replace graham crackers with chocolate chip cookies. Hide peanut butter cups in the marshmallows. Add sprinkles to the top. The sky is the limit for fun and delicious combinations.
Take advantage of good weather and vacation times to make memories that last a lifetime. It can be a lot of work planning out where to go and what to bring, but once you get there it'll all be worth it. It's the perfect way to unplug from the rest of the world and join together as a family. Let us know the fun games you like to play as a family when you're camping in the comments section below.