Even if it is well known that camping promises adventure and peace, however, having limited options for entertainment can make your camping experience get boring very quickly. And that’s where camping games come in. These games not only add excitement and fun to your trip but also create lasting memories with loved ones. Whether you are camping with family, friends, or strangers, these 10 camping games are perfect for all ages and skill levels. From classic games like Capture the Flag and Charades to lesser-known games like Frisbee Golf and Ghost in the Graveyard, we’ve got you covered.
These camping games are actually not all there is to camping entertainment and games to engage in but will only serve as pointers to some entertainment you should add to your list of other camping games you may have up your sleeves.
Scavenger Hunt
So, have you ever played Scavenger Hunt before? It’s a classic camping game that is always a hit with all ages. Essentially, a Scavenger Hunt is a game where you have to search for and collect a list of specific items within a certain timeframe. To make things more interesting, you can include items that can be found in the surrounding nature like pinecones, acorns, specific types of leaves, or rocks. Other items that can be added to the list are things that people might have with them at the campsite, such as a flashlight, a piece of rope, or a tent stake. The rules are pretty simple.
How to Play
First, divide your group into teams, and then give each team a list of items they need to find. The team that finds all the items on the list first or finds the most items within a given timeframe, wins.
Variations of Scavenger Hunt
One variation of the game is to have each team come up with its own list of items for the other team to find. This adds an extra element of creativity and strategy to the game. Another variation is to make it a photo scavenger hunt. In this version, each team has to take a photo of each item on the list instead of collecting them.
Capture the Flag
Capture the Flag is a classic game that has been played for generations. The objective of the game is to capture the other team’s flag and bring it back to your own base without getting caught. To set up the game in a camping environment, divide the playing area into two halves and designate a “jail” area on each side. Place a flag or object (like a bandana or towel) in each team’s base. The objective is to steal the other team’s flag and bring it back to your base without getting tagged and sent to jail.
How to Play
To play the game, divide players into two teams and assign each team to a side of the playing area. The teams then take turns trying to steal the other team’s flag and bring it back to their own base. If a player gets tagged by an opponent while in enemy territory, they must go to the other team’s jail. Players can be released from jail if a teammate successfully steals the enemy flag and brings it back to their own base, allowing all jailed teammates to return to the game.
The game ends when one team successfully captures the other team’s flag and brings it back to their own base, or when all players on one team are in jail.
Variations of Capture the Flag
To make the game more challenging, you can add additional rules, such as a time limit, a limit on the number of players in jail, or a “no crossing the center line” rule.
Giant Jenga
So, Giant Jenga is a larger version of the classic Jenga game, where players take turns removing wooden blocks from a tower without letting it collapse. In Giant Jenga, the blocks are much larger, which makes the tower more challenging and exciting to play.
To make the game, you’ll need to get some wood blocks, usually around 2×4 inch pieces. Cut them to a length of around 8-10 inches, and make sure you sand them down to avoid any rough edges that might make the game harder than it already is.
How to Play the Game
To play, you’ll first need to build the tower by stacking the blocks in rows of three, alternating the direction of the blocks with each layer. Once the tower is built, players take turns removing one block at a time from the tower and placing it on the top of the stack. The goal is to keep the tower standing as long as possible without knocking it over.
Variations of Giant Jenga
To make the game more interesting, you can add some variations. For example, you could write funny or challenging tasks on each block, and players have to perform the task if they remove that block without knocking the tower over. You could also play with a timer to add some pressure or have different point values for different blocks to make the game more strategic.
Cornhole
Cornhole is a game where players take turns throwing bean bags at a target board with a hole in it. The goal is to get the bean bags through the hole or as close to the hole as possible.
To make the game, you’ll need two boards that are around 2×4 feet in size, and two sets of bean bags, usually around 6-8 bags per set. The boards can be made out of wood or plastic, and you’ll need to cut a hole in the center of each board for the bean bags to go through.
How to Play
To play, you’ll need to set up the boards about 27 feet apart from each other. Each player takes turns throwing their bean bags at the opposing board, trying to get them through the hole or as close to it as possible. Points are scored based on where the bean bag lands on the board, with more points awarded for getting the bag through the hole. The first player to reach a certain point total (usually 21) wins the game.
Variation of Cornhole
You could add obstacles or other challenges to the playing field, or make the game more strategic by adding different point values to different parts of the board. Some people even play with different throwing styles, like throwing underhand or with a spin, to mix things up.
Ring Toss
Ring Toss is a game where players take turns tossing rings onto a set of pegs or stakes. The goal is to get the ring to land around the peg or stake, scoring points for each successful throw.
To make the game, you’ll need a set of plastic or wooden rings and a set of pegs or stakes. You can buy a pre-made set online or at a sporting goods store, or you can make your own by cutting dowels or stakes to the appropriate length and drilling holes in the top for the rings to land on.
How to Play
To play, you’ll need to set up the pegs or stakes a certain distance apart, usually around 10-15 feet. Players take turns tossing their rings at the pegs, scoring points for each successful throw. The first player to reach a certain point total (usually 21) wins the game.
Variations of Ring Toss
You could add obstacles or other challenges to the playing field, or make the game more strategic by adding different point values to different pegs or stakes. You could also play with different throwing styles or distances to mix things up.
Charades
Charades is a game where players take turns acting out a word or phrase without using any words or sounds, while the other players try to guess what they’re acting out. It’s a fun and creative way to get people laughing and interacting with each other.
How to Play
To play in a camping environment, you’ll need to first divide into teams, with each team taking turns to act out words or phrases. To make it more challenging and fun, you could choose themes or categories to stick to, such as animals, movies, or famous people. You could also make it camping-specific by using themes like camping equipment, wildlife, or outdoor activities.
To act out a word or phrase, the player will typically use hand gestures, facial expressions, and body language to give clues without using any words. The other players can shout out guesses until they get the correct answer, at which point the team scores a point.
Variations of Charades
To play a different variation of the same game, there are a few things you can do to mix things up. You could add a time limit to make it more challenging or make it a relay race where each team member acts out one word or phrase before passing it on to the next person. You could also make it more competitive by giving bonus points for more challenging words or phrases.
Ghost in the Graveyard
Ghost in the Graveyard is a game where one person is designated as the “ghost” and hides while the other players count to a designated number. It is one of the fun things to do while camping at night. Once the counting is over, the players set out to find the ghost. The first player to find the ghost yells “Ghost in the Graveyard!” and the other players run back to the designated base while the ghost tries to tag as many players as possible. The last player to be tagged becomes the ghost in the next round.
How to Play
To play in a camping environment, you’ll need to first designate a “graveyard” area, which could be a clearing or an open field. The ghost will hide somewhere within the graveyard while the other players count to a designated number, such as 30 or 60.
Once the counting is over, the players set out to find the ghost. The first player to find the ghost yells “Ghost in the Graveyard!” and the other players run back to the designated base while the ghost tries to tag as many players as possible. The last player to be tagged becomes the ghost in the next round.
Variations of Ghost In the Graveyard
There are a few things you can do to make the game more interesting. You could add obstacles or other challenges to the playing field, such as having to climb over fallen trees or dodge obstacles. You could also make it more competitive by giving points to the players who make it back to the base without being tagged, or by adding a time limit to each round.
Tug of War
Tug of War is a game where two teams pull on opposite ends of a rope, with the goal of pulling the other team across a designated line. It’s a simple and fun game that can be played by people of all ages and skill levels.
To set up the game in a camping environment, you’ll need a strong and sturdy rope, as well as a designated playing area with a clear dividing line. You could use cones or markers to mark the line, or simply use a natural boundary such as a creek or a fallen log.
How to Play
To play, divide into two teams and have each team take hold of one end of the rope. Make sure everyone is standing on a flat and even surface, and that there is plenty of space for the teams to pull without interfering with each other.
Once both teams are ready, the game begins! Each team pulls on the rope as hard as they can, trying to pull the other team across the designated line. The team that successfully pulls the other team across the line wins the round.
Variations of Tug of War
You could add more ropes to make it a multi-team competition, or add a time limit to make it more challenging. You could also make it more competitive by adding obstacles or challenges, such as having to pull the rope while balancing on a log or other uneven surfaces.
Frisbee Golf
Frisbee Golf is a game where players throw frisbees at a series of targets, with the goal of getting the frisbee into each target with as few throws as possible. It’s a fun and challenging game that can be played by people of all ages and skill levels.
To set up the game in a camping environment, you’ll need a series of targets, which could be baskets, cones, or other objects that the frisbee can be thrown into. You could also mark off designated tee areas with cones or markers.
How to Play
To play, divide into teams or play as individuals, and decide on a starting point. Each player takes turns throwing their frisbee towards the first target, trying to get it into the target with as few throws as possible. Once everyone has thrown their frisbee, they move on to the next target and repeat the process.
The player who completes the course with the fewest number of throws wins the game. If you’re playing in teams, you can add up the total number of throws for each team and the team with the lowest score wins.
Variations and Tips
You could add obstacles or challenges to the playing field, such as having to throw the frisbee through a narrow opening or around a tree. You could also make it more competitive by adding a time limit or by playing in teams with more or fewer players.
Telephone
Telephone is a game that involves passing a message from one person to another through a chain of players. The game starts with one person whispering a message to the person next to them, who then whispers the message to the next person, and so on until the message reaches the end of the chain. The final player then announces the message out loud, and everyone compares it to the original message to see how accurate it was.
How to Play
To play Telephone, you don’t need any special materials – just a group of people who are willing to participate. However, it’s a good idea to have a way to keep track of who has whispered the message to whom, such as by having everyone sit in a circle or by having each person stand in a line.
Tips and Variations
To make the game more fun and challenging, you can try a few variations of the basic rules. For example, you could:
- Add a time limit to each round, so that players have to pass the message as quickly as possible.
- Play with a theme, such as using only animal-related messages or movie quotes.
- Introduce intentional errors into the messages, to see if players can spot and correct them.
- Play in teams, and see which team can pass the message the most accurately and quickly.
Conclusion
Camping games are a great way to bring people together and have fun in the great outdoors. Whether you prefer classic games like charades and tug of war, or more active games like frisbee golf and giant Jenga, there’s a game for every taste and skill level. These games not only provide entertainment, but also help to build teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills. So next time you’re planning a camping trip or outdoor adventure, be sure to pack some games and get ready for a fun and memorable time engaging in these fun things to do while camping with friends and family!
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