Camping Fun

Summer brings an avalanche of family events, challenging even the most creative parents, grandparents, teachers, and scout leaders to continue coming up with new ideas. School is ending or is already out. Vacation time is on the horizon. Picnics, vacations, and parties start filling calendars. The weather is beautiful, and everyone wants to enjoy the outdoors. In this series of columns, we help you fill your recreation time with fun; by offering games, recipes, and crafts to appeal to all ages, with the emphasis on children. As often as possible, the supplies for crafts and activities use simple everyday items that are easy to pack or already on hand. The activities described today are versatile and entertaining for everyone. Try them during your next camping trip, picnic, or scout meeting.

Clumsy Claws. Assemble a pair of large, clean gloves (such as gardening gloves), a paper or plastic grocery bag, and a supply of sugarless candy or gum. This is fun as a team activity, but may be played without equal numbers for teams, if the someone serves as a scorekeeper and times each player. Have the participants or teams line up. Place the candy/gum in the grocery bag, and place the gloves next to the bag on a bench or table. Select a location where the teams can line up. The first person on each team runs to the bench or table containing the bag and gloves; puts on the gloves, and attempts to take the candy/gum out of the bag, unwrap it, and put it in their mouth; before removing the gloves and running back to the line. Then, the next team member runs to the bench. This game produces many laughs. Adults enjoy it as a reunion icebreaker or picnic mixer. CAUTION: Children under three years of age do not have the manual dexterity to play this game with gloves on and may not be safe with candies and gums. Parental judgment and supervision is required.

Scavenger Jar. Assemble a large clean plastic jar, with a screw on lid, glue, and a felt tip marker for each person. An adult writes each child's name and the date, on the underside (inside) of the lid with a marker. Each child or family member will take their jar along on vacation or special trips. Each time you stop (or visit a special place), everyone looks for an item to add to their scavenger jar. Small children will need help. Older children need parental guidance to leave important plants and rocks in the natural habitat. Usually, there are many items available; such as a small pine cone, pretty rock, or tiny store bought souvenirs (try a fifty-cent piece of lava or a postcard). In parks and campgrounds, children may be able to take a brochure and cut out a picture of their favorite activity at that stop. Add the postcards and pictures to the rocks and pine cones. When the vacation is over, use the glue and pebbles to decorate the top of the jar. Each person will have a unique jar containing their special memories of this event. NOTE: There are no rules about what goes into the jar, except that it should not be perishable (such as food, ugh!). If you have a budding geologist who only wants rocks from every stop and a potential photo journalist who only wants a postcard/photo of every stop, everyone will have more fun when individual interests are encouraged. Some adults may prefer to observe the next activity, depending on agility. However, even the littlest tot can join in the fun.

Turtle Race. The turtle's shell is formed by a blanket, rug, or large towel. A group of three or more children or adults are instructed to get on their hands and knees on a reasonably soft surface. The beach, a grass play area, sandy volleyball court, or a smooth surface used for other court games works well. The organizer arranges the participants in a fairly tight group; all facing the same direction. Then, place the "shell" on the turtle. (Throw the blanket, rug, or towel over their backs, making sure the shell isn't too big to allow clear vision and let the turtle move easily.) The race may be set up as an obstacle course for the turtle to complete, while keeping his shell in place, and not losing any of his legs (people). Or, several turtles (groups of people) can race across a campsite to a goal line marked in the sand. Older children, or large groups, may want to combine the race with an obstacle course, by racing several turtles through an obstacle course. While this activity encourages cooperation and group experience, we don't recommend it as an independent activity. Very young children may get careless with the shell (blanket or towel). Adult supervision prevents accidental injury from crashing into things or tripping due to an improperly placed turtle shell.

As with all children's entertainment, adults must be responsible for supervising and conducting activities in a safe environment with appropriate caution. Take care and have fun!

This article is an example from a monthly column published in Camping & RV Magazine (no longer in print). It appeared in April 1996 (ISSN 1074-1461) issue. Ruth Radtke, Publisher, COMM-STRAT Publishing. Author retains electronic rights and reprint rights. Other columns are available with many other activities.

© Penny J. Leisch, 1996--This column also ran under the title of "Family Fun" in the Warner Wrangler newspaper, Tempe, Arizona. Author retained all rights.

©1996 Camping & RV Magazine, FNASR