Ultimate Camping Party Ideas for All Ages

Who says you need a forest to throw a camping-themed birthday party? Whether you’re in your backyard or even indoors, you can bring the outdoors to life for kids who love nature. A camping birthday party is all about fun—imagine setting up tents, telling stories under string lights, and enjoying favorite activities like scavenger hunts or roasting marshmallows (yes, even at home!). The best part? You can celebrate any time, no matter the season or weather, making it a flexible idea for your child’s special day.

I’ve helped organize dozens of these parties, and the magic lies in creativity. If you’re tight on space, turn a living room into a campsite with blankets and fairy lights. Rainy day? No problem—staying outdoors isn’t mandatory when you can bring the adventure inside. The key is to focus on the camping vibe, whether you’re in a park, backyard, or living room. Every location works if you embrace the spirit of adventure!

Camp Out in Style: 11 Creative Party Ideas for Outdoor Fun

• Pitch the Perfect Tent Sleepover
• Create a S’mores Sensation
• Design Campground Chic Decor
• Build-Your-Own Trail Mix Bar
• Organize a Nature Scavenger Hunt
• Serve Classic Campfire Foods
• Set Up Rustic Table Displays
• Craft DIY Tin Lanterns
• Bake a Themed Camping Cake
• Play Classic Lawn Games
• Send Home S’mores Party Favors
• Ultimate Camping Party Ideas for All Ages

1. Pitch the Perfect Tent Sleepover

Transform your yard or driveway into a magical camping experience by setting up borrowed tents or an RV as the ultimate sleepover spot. As a parent who’s hosted many child’s birthday parties, I recommend stocking up on glow sticks and flashlights to keep the fun going after the sun goes down. For daytime celebrations, let kids simply hang out in the tent with games or an outdoorsy movie playing.

2. Create a S’mores Sensation

No camping experience is complete without roasting marshmallows! Set up a firepit with a DIY s’mores bar featuring salted caramel, Oreos, and peanut butter cups – watching kids experiment with different flavors to find their favorites is half the fun. For indoor camping parties, serve s’mores bars, cupcakes or cookies to capture that same sweet treat magic.

3. Design Campground Chic Decor

Turn your home into a campground with creative touches. I love making a personalized camp sign with the little one’s name, plus picnic and swimming area signs for that authentic feel. Scatter miniature trees, drape pinecone garlands, and use plaid tablecloths to complete the look. For indoor parties, craft a faux campfire from cardboard logs and orange tissue paper – these camping ideas bring the outdoors inside beautifully.

4. Build-Your-Own Trail Mix Bar

As a campground food staple, trail mix is perfect for hikes or quick snacks. Set up a station with pretzels, dried fruit, candies, nuts, Cheerios, mini marshmallows, Chex, and corn chips. Each child can fill their own bag to take home as the perfect party favor – it’s a hit every time!

5. Organize a Nature Scavenger Hunt

Encourage little ones to explore with an outdoor-themed hunt. Hide binoculars, flashlights, a stuffed bear, or picture of tent around your home. For outdoor parties, have guests search for nature items like rocks, seashells, leaves, or wildflowers, then draw what they find in their surroundings.

6. Serve Classic Campfire Foods

The fun campfire foods are what make camping special! Let kids roast hotdogs on a stick over the fire, or set up a table with bread, meats, cheeses, and pizza sauce to make mountain pies in pie irons. Indoor option? Try walking tacos, pasta salad, or barbecue sandwiches.

7. Set Up Rustic Table Displays

Create authentic camping vibes by serving foods in disposable metal pans with plastic silverware stored in small buckets. Add decorations like miniature trees or camping lanterns on the tables. Many campers already have these items in their camping gear – bonus!

8. Craft DIY Tin Lanterns

Essential camping gear like lanterns and flashlights become fun projects. Have kids decorate cleaned tin cans with paint in fun colors and simple patterns. Adults can help use a hammer and nails (or drill) to punch holes in the designs. Add a miniature candle and each child has a unique lantern to take home.

9. Bake a Themed Camping Cake

Match your dessert to the party’s theme with a creatively decorated cake. Try a chocolate cake with wafer cookie tents and melted orange candies as a campfire. Or design a camping-themed cake showing a full campsite with small trees, a river or pond, and bear or deer figurines for a woodland theme.

10. Play Classic Lawn Games

Lawn games bring endless fun to any camping trip or themed birthday celebration. Set up classics like cornhole and ladder ball, or get creative with capture the flag, lawn checkers, water balloons, or an obstacle course. For large parties, run multiple games simultaneously.

11. Send Home S’mores Party Favors

Let party guests continue the camping fun with DIY s’mores kits. Package graham crackers, marshmallows, and a miniature chocolate bar together, tied with twine and a camping-themed gift tag – the perfect camping treat to enjoy at home or on their next camping trip.