Hobbies And Interests
Newspaper Fashion Show
Bring out your campers' inner fashion designer by giving each person a stack of newspapers, scissors and masking tape. Set a timer for 20 minutes and instruct each person to make a wearable outfit using only the newspaper and tape. When time is up, each participant becomes a runway model as they put on their outfit and strut down the backyard camp runway. Toilet paper, paper bags or other household items may also be used in place of, or in conjunction with, the newspaper for an added element of creativity.
Pass the Parcel
Place a large candy bar or other sharable treat inside a small paper bag labeled "Share me!" Place the small bag inside another bag and write a silly activity to pantomime on the bag, such as, "Walk like a crab." Stuff that bag inside another paper bag and mark a different task on the outside. Continue creating a stack of bags until you have two activities per camper. Pass the parcel of bags around the campfire until someone yells "Stop!" When stop is called, the individual holding the bag must act out the activity on the bag. Once the activity has been completed, the camper removes the outer bag and passes the parcel to another camper. Continue the game until the first bag and treat is revealed.
Scavenger Hunt
Organize a backyard camp scavenger hunt by placing clues at various locations throughout the yard. Send participants to outdoor landmarks to find their next task, so they learn to recognize specific plants or trees while moving through the hunt. For instance, instruct participants in a yard with pine trees to go to the tree and collect a pine cone. Use riddles or rhymes to make participants put their minds to work while moving from clue to clue. Reward the first individual, or team, to complete each task from the scavenger hunt with a camping-themed prize like a flashlight.
Balloon Head Race
Pair campers off in teams of two. Equip each team with an inflated balloon and line the teams up behind a starting line. Mark the race course and a finish line somewhere across the yard. Ask each team to place the inflated balloon between their heads and hold it in place by tilting their heads. When told to do so, teams must work together to complete the race course while keeping the balloon secure using only their heads. If the balloon drops, the offending team must start over.