Camping Themed Party

A camping themed cook-out is a great event to host on a budget - prepare simple food and use elements from the outdoors for decoration. Hold the party around the fire pit in your backyard, or at a park where one is available. Offer several different yard games to play and when it gets dark, play flashlight tag... or if your budget is a bit more generous, rent a projector and a screen and watch a movie outdoors.

Invitations

These tent invitations are pretty easy and straightforward. Inspired by this post that has lots of other great camping party ideas. You'll need:

• Two triangles of the same size (small enough to fit in the envelope you are sending the invitations in). One should be a patterned paper and one should be a light, solid color. (one of each for each invitation)
• Small rectangles of solid color paper cut with jagged edges (one for each invitation)
• Small letter stamps (I've seen sets before at Michael's craft store for $1 or so)
  
• Black stamp pad
• Small brads (one for each invitation)
  
• Small pieces of hemp or twine
• Scissors
  
• Adhesive of your choice

1. First, stamp the letters you want on your "sign," the small rectangle of paper with jagged edges. You could stamp "A Party," "Camp-out," or the name of your party "camp" (e.g. Camp Sunshine).
2. Next, poke two holes in the top edges of your sign and thread the short piece of hemp through the holes to form a hanging sign. Secure the sign with the brad to the patterned paper only.
   
3. Once you have attached the sign to the front of the patterned paper, cut a slit down the middle of the triangle, almost reaching the sign. Fold back the sides of the paper to look like an open tent.
   
4. Apply adhesive to the back of your patterned triangle, than line it up with the solid triangle and adhere. You may need to trim the edges of triangles if they don't line up perfectly.
5. You're done! Sorry for the blurry picture... but I think you'll get the idea. Have fun with this invitation. Mix and match the papers, and don't worry about stamping the letters just right - it adds to the rustic camping look!
   

Activities

Camping activities are fun and easy.

• Go on a nature scavenger hunt, searching for items such as acorns, pine cones, and leaves. Whichever team collects the most items in the fastest amount of time wins. (Make sure all the items on your list are available in the area, and set boundaries for your guests' safety.)
• With the items from your scavenger hunt and some super glue, decorate bug habitats (like these ones) for take-home prizes. If lightning bugs are out, use the houses to collect them.
• Play Flash Light Tag, Capture the Flag, and other traditional outdoor games.
• Rent a projector and watch a movie under the stars.
  

Food

After roasting hot dogs over the fire, it's time to break out the marshmallows! Treat your guests to a S'mores Buffet, a fun twist on a classic treat. You can make your own graham crackers (healthier than store-bought and you can bake a variety of flavors like chocolate and cinnamon sugar).
Offer an assortment of chocolates such as milk, white, extra dark, and chocolate peanut butter cups.
You can also make your own marshmallows, using agave nectar instead of corn syrup. (I think it would also be fun to experiment with unique flavors like chocolate and salted caramel!)
If you like, you can also serve different fruits and nuts to top the s'mores. Guests will enjoy creating their own unique flavor combination. Chocolate peanut butter and dark chocolate coconut would be on the top of my list to try! Check out Birthday Girl's post for more S'more Buffet ideas. Using any ingredients, what s'more flavor would you create?

Favors

Send your guests home with "survival kits" (or hand them out at the beginning of the party). Fill inexpensive backpacks with fun and useful outdoor items such as granola bars, trail mix, glow sticks, flash lights, hand sanitizer, and other items you find at the dollar store.

Enjoy your camping party!