Most fun Camping Games Today

The Best Camping Games

^{sources: David Z,ultimiatecampsite.com}

Next time when you go camping, try to play these fun games with people in your group or other campers. These activities can give you and your kids lots of laugh and a great way to build relationship with other campers.

1. Circle Jumping

Stand everyone in a circle with all hands clasped. One of the crowds lies down in the center with a rope as long as one-half the diameter of the circle.

To the end of the rope is tied a small weight like a sand bag. He whirls the weight around with the full length of rope revolving with increasing rapidity.

As it approaches the players, they hop up and let it pass under their feet. The one whose foot is touched is out of the game and the person who keeps out of the way of the rope the longest is the winner.

2. Wolf

Here is a Japanese game full of fun and action.

Place a dozen or more campers in line, and have each fellow place his hands firmly on the shoulders of the person in front of him.

Choose one of the fellows for the "Wolf." The first person at the head of the line is called the "Head" of the Serpent, and the last fellow is the "Tail."

The "Wolf" stands near the head of the Serpent until a signal is given. Then he tries to catch the "Tail" without touching any other part of the snake.

The others who form the body of the Serpent protect the "Tail" by wreathing about in all sorts of twists to prevent the "Wolf" from catching the "Tail." This must be done without breaking the line.

When the "Tail" is caught, the "Wolf" becomes the "Head," and the "Tail" becomes the "Wolf." The last person in line is the "Tail."

The game can be continued until every camper has been the "Wolf."

3. Rover, All Come Over

A line is marked dividing the campus. All the campers gather on one side. One person in the center endeavors to have them step over the line by calling out, "Rover, Rover, all come over!"

At the word "over" everybody is expected to run and cross the line, while the center man endeavors to catch one. The one caught must help him catch the others.

If any one runs over before the center man calls "over," he has to go to the aid of the catcher. When all are caught the game begins again.

4. German Bowling

Plant in the ground two posts, leaving at least 15 feet above ground.

Spike a 10-foot piece across the top. An ordinary ball used in bowling is used by plugging shut the holes and inserting a screw eye in one of the plugged holes.

Tie tightly to this screw eye a strong piece of rope.

A good-sized screw eye is fastened in the cross piece of the frame, and to this tie the ball. Nine bowling pins are used. The score is the same as bowling. The pins are knocked off by the return of the ball.

5. Water Baseball

The outfit required is a tennis ball, a broom stick and four rafts- one large and three small.

The batsman and catcher stand on the big raft. On a small raft, ten yards away, stands the pitcher and the other two rafts are placed at easy swimming distance for bases.

In striking, everything counts - bunt, swat or foul tip. The moment bat and ball come in contact the batsman starts for first base. There are five men on a side.

This game has lots of fun. Avoid remaining in fresh water too long as it has a tendency to weaken vitality.

Other Great Cooperative Camping Games

Fox & Squirrel

Description

1. Form a circle of people, about 3 feet apart from one another

2. Start the foxes and squirrel at different points in the circle

3. Players can only pass a “fox” to the person beside them, but the “squirrel” can be tossed anywhere in the circle

4. As the leader, you can call out a reversal once in a while

5. Have players call out what is being passed (“Fox, comin’ at ya”)

6. This game has no winners or teams but is still a lot of fun

Requirements

2 Playground balls (Foxes) 1 smaller ball (Squirrel)

Assassin

This is a game best played in a large group. We always played it with the 6-10 year olds at our summer camp. Sit all of the children in a circle, with legs crossed. Have all children put their heads down. one person (we always had at least one adult present) would walk around the circle and tap one child on the head. This person was the assassin. The child eliminates all other players by winking at them. If you are winked at, silently count to 10, then put your feet in the middle of the circle. We always had a few drama queens who would act as if they really had been shot, and clutch their chest, and shake and scream. very funny. if the assassin eliminates everyone, then they win. They can be "witnessed" as well. If a player thinks they know who the killer is, before they get winked at, they can say they have a suspect. Such as "I suspect that Sally is the assassin." If Sally is not the assassin, then the accusers are eliminated. A less brutal version is the sandman. same thing, except being winked at means you take a nap.

Celebrity Heads

Children stand out at the board. The teacher (or another child) then writes the names of 4 different people above the children's heads. If chalkboard is not available, write names on paper and flash the names to the group.

These people may be someone from the children's school or from a wider base, and can even be animals or inanimate objects.

The children then ask questions to find out 'who they are". The whole class answers with either "yes" or "no".

If a question is answered with a yes they can ask another question, if no, move on to next child! At the end of their go, they may guess who they are.

Human Knot

Description

Have the group make a large circle. (This game also works well as a race between several circles in larger groups.)

Have everyone put their left hand in the middle, and hold hands with someone in the circle, not directly next to them. Repeat with the right hand, and be sure to hold hands with a different person, who is not directly next to them. You can use 1-foot "buddy ropes" to reduce arm twisting if you like.

Then the group must use teamwork to unravel themselves into a cirlce again without coming disconnected.

Helpful Hint

To ensure that everyone is in the same circle, send a "pulse." One person begins by gently squeezing their right hand. The person who is squeezed gently squeezes their opposite hand, which passes the pulse to the next person. Continue until the first person has their second hand squeezed.

Requirements

Optional: Buddy ropes(lengths of rope about a foot long)

Objective

Use teambuilding to untangle the human knot!

Hot Chocolate River

Description

Lay two ropes on the ground horizontally (like =), with about seven giant steps in between. Have the campers line up on one side of the rope, and tell them that they are looking at a giant hot chocolate river. They must get thier entire team across the hot chocolate river, but it is too hot to swim across, and too deep to walk across. (Obviously, they cannot walk around the river, since it does not end just because the ropes do).

The only way to get across is by using the large, fluffy marshmallows that you provide (at my camp we use carpet squares, but anything will do, as long as it's not too big. Give the campers about eight or nine carpet squares, so that they have enough to get across with one or two left over. This isn't about physical abilities, but rather communication). Unfortunately, the current in the river is so strong that it actually sweeps the marshmallows away if someone is not holding them down (with a hand, foot, or other safe appendage). Also, the marshmallows swell up once they are placed in the river, and they become too heavy to move again, so they must remain where they are placed.

This seems like a simple exercise, but kids, especially middle schoolers, have a lot of trouble with it. It will take a good 45 minutes for them to begin to communicate with each other, and you will probably need another set of eyes to make sure that all the marshmallows are being anchored down.

Possible debrief options include: Team Responsibility (did it matter if only a few of you made it across the river?), Communication (the importance of checking on the person behind you before stepping onto the next marshmallow), and Individual Strenghths and Weaknesses. This is one of the best initiatives I have ever used in a ropes class, as it is pretty all-inclusive.

Requirements

2 ropes, or other way of marking off the river's edges. 8 or 9 carpet squares, tarp pieces, or anything else to use as marshmallows.

Objective

COMMUNICATION

Enjoy your outdoor camping!