Plan a Camping Birthday Party

If you would love to have a birthday event that will be thought of for a long time, then plan a camping birthday party. And, contrary to popular opinion, a camping party is fun for boys AND for girls, and the older kids relish it as well.

Of course, you need to theme your event to accommodate your crowd.

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There are numerous different themes that you can do for a camping party. The most popular themes are Military Camp event, Safari Camp event, Summer Camp event and Rocky Mountain party.

If you are hosting a military camp party, you can invite your guests to join you on a "special mission". And of course there are all kinds of ways to decorate with a military theme. Food can be as realistic as you want...although the majority of kids won't be fulfilled with MRE's, but if you can find them, they will really love trying them out. Don't forget to set up an obstacle course. It's just not camp without one!

Older Kids tend to like the Safari Camp party & the Summer Camp event. Both of these themes fare well with scavenger hunts which the older kids always love. The photo opportunities with the Safari Camp party can be fantastic. There are just so many neat ways that you can set up photos for the kids. You can purchase stand up figures like gorillas & tigers and the guests love it.

Naturally the Summer Camp party kind of gives you the opportunity to do all kinds of different things. Since many kids don't get to go to a summer camp they really enjoy finding out about it. You can want a dance, play volleyball or sit around the campfire and eat S'mores. The best scary stories always come from a summer camp event.

Rocky Mountain camp parties are a little more unique. Although you won't decorate quite so much unless you go with a western theme, you'll need the chance to offer some extra activities, like gemstone panning & diamond mining. Even grownups like to pan for gemstones!

Whichever theme you prefer, just use your resourcefulness and a little creativity and your event will be the talk of the town for a long long time!

Plan a Camping Birthday Party

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Saving Your Trip With Basic Camping Supplies

Camping trips are great. Camping allows you to have fun, adventure, and learning while embracing the challenge of living outdoors. Many people consider camping as a relaxing recreational activity in addition to a more rigorous sport such as mountain climbing or whitewater rafting.

Camping is also necessary for more serious intentions. Researchers and scientists, for example, set up camps near a volcano to study its geology. Soldiers set up a field camp during a prolonged mission.

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Whatever the purpose is, before heading out to a campsite, it is best to have a checklist of camping supplies. It's important to ensure that what you need is within your grasp. Remember that you may be out in a remote place, far from any convenience store or supply center. Imagine how frustrating would it be when you want to build a nice, warm campfire only to find out that the campsite you chose is devoid of dry twigs that can be used for fuel!

Aside from your camping equipment, you would need to carry along the following camping supplies:

1. Matches - Doing it the prehistoric way, striking flint and stone, can definitely be done, but lighting a campfire with a match is so much easier. Make sure that you purchase waterproof matches. If, for some reason, you can't obtain waterproof matches, then bring standard matches but store them in a waterproof container. You can also carry a butane lighter as an alternative.

2. Firewood - You are never guaranteed that you can get good firewood when you arrive at a campsite. Woods, twigs, and other sources of fuel might be damp or, worse, unavailable. Many campers usually bring a few dry logs for this purpose. You can keep the wood dry by covering it with a piece of tarp.

3. Drinking water - Bring along safe, clean bottled water. This is actually one of the most important camping supplies you should have with you. Bodies of water found in the wild are relatively clean and can be used for washing or bathing. They are not safe for drinking, however. If it is somehow impractical to bring bottled water during your camping, acquire a portable water purifier or pack some water purifier tablets.

4. Food - Food should be part of your camping supply pack. Unless if you are deliberately hunting game as camp food, bring along ready-to-eat and easy to prepare meals such as instant noodles and preserved goods. A good alternative is to bring MREs or Meals, Ready-to-Eat. Used by soldiers in the field, MREs are self-contained, individual field rations. They are available in many flavors. Each packed meal, which contains around 1,200 calories include a main course; a starchy side dish; crackers; a spread such as cheese or peanut butter; a dessert; a powdered beverage mix; an accessory packet that contains a plastic spoon, a beverage bag, moist napkins, coffee, and sugar; and a flameless heater to warm up the meal.

5. Utensils and tools - Camping involves a lot of cutting, skinning, shaving, and crushing. For this purpose, utensils and tools should also be part of camping supplies. Utensils include forks, spoon, knives, and the like. Tools to bring include a survival knife, a multipurpose pocket knife, a flathead and phillips screwdriver, a bottle opener, a can opener, scissors, tweezers, an awl, sharp razor blades, a small hammer, and pliers.

These are your basic camping supplies. Other supplies will probably be needed, depending on the condition and the requirements of your camping trip.

Saving Your Trip With Basic Camping Supplies

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10 Fun Camping Activities For Kids To Do On A Camping Trip

Camping is fun as it is your opportunity to break away from the hectic routine of city life. Imagine being able to breathe the fresh air while at the same time releasing and submitting yourself completely to nature. Besides adults, kids also enjoy going camping outdoors. However if your camping trip takes too long, they might get bored after a few days away from their television and computer. That could spell disaster. Don't fret though, below are 10 camping activities that would surely keep them entertained and occupied.

1. Get wet and go splashing. If you cannot find a good swimming spot, normally most of the camping parks would suggest where you could find a good and safe spot for you to swim, either a big lake or a small brook. Some of them might have their own swimming pools. Avoid the swimming pool at all costs and go swimming in a lake amidst nature. The experience that you'll get is indescribable. Some camping parks would offer a boat rental service, where you could rent a boat or canoe for a small fee. Your kids will have a blast. A word of caution, never leave your kids swimming by themselves. Be watchful at all times.

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2. Rent a bike and go biking together. Most camping sites have biking trails for you and your family to explore. Be adventurous. Riding bicycles is very enjoyable as you are able to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Ride slow and make sure that everybody is not left behind. Bring a map with you and plan your biking trip adventure before making the trip so that you know exactly where you are heading and where you want to be. Plan your time properly, so that you would be able to make the whole trip and back to your camp before it gets dark.

3. Go bird and animal watching. Most forest parks and camping sites have brochures or leaflets about the different types of animals that can be found around the area that are worth watching and to look out for. A fun thing to do is to buy books on wild animals before your camping trip and play a game with your children and see who can spot the animals first. Just be sure that you keep your children at a safe distance.

4. Play outdoor games such as tug-o-war or the classic sack race or just plain tag. Children love these games, especially when they're playing these games in the woods. Make sure that you are playing in a clear area to avoid unwanted accidents and also avoid making loud noises that might disturb other campers and especially the wildlife.

5. Go on a scavenger hunt. Who doesn't love to go on such quests and adventures. What's good about a scavenger hunt is that it involves the physical, which means you'll get yourself and your kids to exercise while having fun at the same time. Prior to the game, just warn the kids on the type of things that they should avoid, such as poison ivy, sumac, oak and other prickly plants that might be lurking in the woods. Also, you have to be sure that you teach your kids how to read maps. That could also be a different game and will be discussed below.

6. Teach your kids how to read maps and compasses. Educate them on the importance of navigation and explore the forest with them using the maps and compasses. Show them the location that they are at now on the map and where you guys are going. Get them to notice anything significant on your path, such as a tree with a weird shape or something that is out of the ordinary to identify. This should go hand in hand with your scavenger hunt.

7. What's camping without a campfire? This is a must to every camper out there. Your camping experience would not be complete without a campfire. This should be done at the end of the day before you go to sleep. Telling each other scary stories and jokes is recommended. Also, don't forget to bring a guitar and sing songs around the campfire. Other activities you can do around the campfire is to play word games and riddles while roasting your favourite marshmallows and hotdogs.

8. Another night activity that you can do is to watch the stars in the sky. This is both fun and educational. Get everyone to lie on an open field and appreciate the free light show in the sky. You can also bring a star chart and try to discover the famous constellations and other heavenly bodies. If you're lucky, you might catch a shooting star. Don't forget to make your wish though.

9. This next game is frowned upon by some campers, but you should bathe in the rain when it rains. This is recommended if the weather is not cold. Otherwise you might get sick. It's sort of depressing when it rains when you are out camping. Rather than complaining about it, take the opportunity to have fun in the rain and enjoy mother earth's natural shower. Not recommended when there is thunder and lightning.

10. Just simply enjoy the moment and relax. It might not be a big hit with the kids but it is the most appropriate time to bond with your family and enjoy everyone's company. Take your time to enjoy the nature, it's not everyday your family get to enjoy this holiday.

There are many other outdoor activities that you could enjoy doing when you go out camping. By no means that the 10 activities discussed above are complete. The most important thing to remember is to enjoy your time with your family. It's not everyday that you get this kind of opportunity. So, enjoy!

10 Fun Camping Activities For Kids To Do On A Camping Trip

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