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5-Step Guide to Planning a Big Group Camping Trip

So you want to take 50 of your best friends camping? That’s awesome. Taking to the wilderness with all of your favorite people is one of the most fun and rewarding things you can do. Doing this kind of trip successfully requires some careful planning and a good bit of work; however, I will tell you from experience that it is worth the effort every time.

This year marked the 8th year in a row I have helped organize and execute a Memorial Day camping trip for pretty much everyone I know. Our numbers have been growing steadily every year—this year we are 75 strong. This experience, plus a myriad of other slightly less aggressive group camping excursions, has taught me valuable lessons that I am pleased to share with you.

Please keep in mind that the type of trip I am writing this guide for is all inclusive. One person, or group, is doing the planning and acquiring the site, food, communal gear etc. Your friends/guests just need to bring their personal camping/sleeping/eating gear. Doing trips this way provides a couple notable advantages:

• It makes it easy for your friends, no matter their experience level,
• It ensures that you don’t have any major busts in campsite selection, and
• You get much better buying power when doing shared meals.

Sure it’s easier to just book a campsite, invite a bunch of friends, and have everyone fend for themselves, and this can work fine for smaller trips. It can be divisive however and makes the classic camping blunders more likely. Meals can’t be cooked or eaten together; tents can flood (this can happen no matter how you plan the trip, but you can mitigate, see “SHELTER” below), some people might come unprepared and lead to shortage of food, or worse, beer…

Everyone is going to do their own thing during the day; some will hike, some will search out the local water features, some will nap in their hammocks, but when the sun goes down and dinner time rolls around, everyone should gather together to share the meal and stories of the day. There are few things cooler than seeing all your friends sitting at the table(s) together eating, laughing, sharing and enjoying each other’s company.

OK, there are 5 main things you need to do right to be successful (there’s actually more, but for simplicity’s sake let’s keep it to 5 categories). These 5 things you must get right, or at least mostly right, are:

• Assemble the right  TEAM
• Calculate quantities and costs with a  SPREADSHEET
• Pick the perfect  LOCATION
• Make sure you have appropriate  SHELTER
• Bring and cook enough  FOOD

Also for the sake of this article let’s define “successful” as everyone staying mostly dry, nobody starves, no run-ins with the LAW or the MAN, and everybody has fun and wants to go on your trip again next year…

Possibly the most important component to a successful large group trip is having a small group of dedicated friends to plan and execute. Unless you own a big truck and have a lot of free time, you’re going to need help gathering the supplies (Costco runs, Big 5, etc.) and transporting everything to your campsite. Split up the responsibilities into logical categories; e.g. Andrew is in charge of beer, Cara’s bringing the canopies, Joe handles the Costco run, etc.

2. SPREADSHEET

I have a spreadsheet we developed for the first Mem Day trip 8 years ago. It’s gone through many revisions and updates, and is an INVALUABLE tool for successful planning.  You need to keep close track of who’s coming so you can calculate quantities.  It’s also very helpful for figuring out the total cost of food, developing budgets, and keeping to them when you’re shopping. I like printing out a copy and bringing it to the store with me, checking off items and updating the cost per item as we go. I’ve found for a long weekend (3 nights) that $40-$50 per person should be sufficient for food, booze, and campsite. You can scale that however you like, and it will fluctuate depending on your campsite costs and group size, but $40/ea is a good place to start.

View, and make a copy of my  spreadsheet  for your own use!

3. LOCATION

The earlier you book the campsite, the better selection you will have. For 50 or more people, if you are even somewhat picky in your campsite selection (you should be, it makes all the difference)  book 6 months in advance.  Most Federal and CA state parks allow you to book 6 months from your arrival date. Popular weekends at the best campsites often book on the same day the reservation becomes available, and cancellation fees are usually pretty minimal, so be proactive!

Photo by Brandon Sampson Photography

Photo by Dominic Cacciatore

Also, know your group! If your friends are rowdy and will be  loud after 10:00PM  (typical campground quiet hours) consider group sites that aren’t part of larger campgrounds. There are many sites that are fantastic and basically campgrounds unto themselves. Rangers are typically kind, reasonable people, and will only come shut you down if you are (or could be) disturbing other parties. I have had multiple Rangers tell me that if we had booked the entire campground or if the other site was empty that they wouldn’t have bothered us at all.

Pick your location carefully. I always look at:

• Privacy:  My friends  are  rowdy, so I make sure our site is as isolated as can be.
• Proximity to Water:  Self-explanatory, why wouldn’t you want to be close to lakes, rivers, etc.?
• Driving Distance:  4 hours from your biggest concentration of friends is a good range to get the heck away from society without committing to days in the car. We are REALLY lucky here in the Bay that there are so many fantastic campsites in this range.
• Climate:  Make sure everyone is aware of and prepares for all weather possibilities. I have had friends show up to campsites at 7000’ elevation, in May, with nothing more than hammer-pants PJ’s and light sweatshirts.
• Amenities:  When bringing 50 or so people, you are inevitably going to get some less experienced campers. Make sure your site has  bathrooms and running water .

For finding and booking your campsite, unfortunately you still have to jump through some hoops. I use  Hipcamp, reserveamerica.com, and recreation.gov  to find and book my sites. Hipcamp shows me the most photos and best variety of sites available since they pull from more than state and federal databases, but you still have to go through the gov contractor’s website to book. Additionally,  Goog Earth  is a GREAT tool for checking out the topography and landscape of sites once you have a few on the shortlist.

Feeding 50 for a few days takes a massive quantity of food, but the combined buying power of a large group allows you to provide gourmet meals for minimal cost.  Costco  is key. You can also look into local  commercial markets  for bulk items. There’s a commercial produce market in the warehouse area of Jack London Square that will sell you cases of veggies for a fraction of what you’d pay at the store. I am continually surprised how easily, and how well, you can feed people with this method. For $50/person I can provide three square meals a day, all the beer you can drink, and the campsite, for three days and three nights. That’s $16/person/day for everything; try to spend less than that on your average weekend in the City!

You need to thoughtfully choose your meals. Again, knowing your crew is crucial. I always provide a vegetarian option; with some meals this is pretty easy to incorporate without changing the whole menu. For really large groups I recommend meals that you can cook on a charcoal  BBQ  or in one or two  large pots (“Big Pot” method) .

Some of our dinner favorites include pasta with red sauce, chili, tacos, tri-tip or sausage sandwiches with peppers, baked taters (tin foil and into the fire!) and roasted vegetables, big salads, etc.

You likely will have plenty of helping hands chopping and prepping, especially if you leave the keg in the kitchen area, so don’t be daunted by large amounts of prep work. Focus on simple meals with a smallish number of ingredients, and if you’re getting really savvy, try to plan so you can use some of the same ingredients for multiple meals. Dinner is most commonly the meal where everyone eats together. I’ve found that lunches and breakfasts are best handled by providing a range of options and letting people assemble and cook for themselves. People’s routines, schedules, and tastes vary widely for these two meals, so it’s good to provide a variety of options, from fruit to cold cuts to eggs.

Photo by Adam Bennett

Transporting and storing all this food can be a challenge; small covered trailers or SUV’s dedicated to this cause make it easy to keep your pantry protected from squirrels, rain, insects, etc. Just make sure the guy with the keys doesn’t disappear for a few hours in the middle of the day…

One of the basic human needs is shelter, but we don’t often think about it until we’re outside for an extended period. The important thing is keeping everyone dry and comfortable. Know the experience level of your group. If you are going somewhere with the potential for rain/snow, make sure it is EXTREMELY obvious to your crew that they will need a good tent with a rainfly,  extra tarps and rope , boots, jackets, and extra socks (socks count as shelter).

That said, someone is going to forget their stuff (I forgot my sleeping bag the first Mem Day trip…remembered everything else though!) so I recommend bringing a “Party Tent”. We used my parents’ old 8-person tent for many years; it was an invaluable safe haven whenever someone’s tent flooded or they forgot/broke their gear. We’ve since graduated/upgraded to a “Party Teepee” (see photo). Also if you’re expecting rain it may be a good idea to walk through the campground and make sure no one’s set up their tent in a dry creekbed…friends don’t let friends pitch in shallow depressions.

So to recap, there are  5 big things  to think about when planning your trip.

1. Make sure you have a  TEAM  of friends to help you go to the store and transport your food and gear to your campsite.

2. Know how many people are coming and calculate your food and drink quantities and costs with a  SPREADSHEET .

3. Use all the interweb tools to choose a  LOCATION  that is appropriate to your group’s size and temperament.

4. Provide simple “Big Pot” or grillable meals that will accommodate and satiate everybody. Shop for your  FOOD  at Costco or local commercial markets. Keep your pantry in an enclosed space to protect it from rain and critters.

5. Look out for you less experienced campers and bring some backup  SHELTER , just in case.

Covering these basics of big group camping will help to ensure everybody stays dry, stays fed, and enjoys themselves. Every group and every campsite is different, so over time you’ll find out what works best for you. Being in charge of a large trip can be stressful and a lot of work, but if you plan properly and have a good team to execute, you’ll find that once at the campsite everything gets taken care of and you can enjoy yourself along with your guests.

A truly successful trip is one where everybody pitches in, has fun, and feels like they were an essential part of something larger than themselves. It’s an experience you’re helping to facilitate, and doing it well allows your friends to enjoy themselves, each other, and the wilderness without worry or hardship. I hope these tips will be helpful; have fun out there!

Words by Dominic Cacciatore

Dominic is an unreasonably lucky Bay Area native, construction enthusiast, and lover of the outdoors and his beautiful black guitar, Veronica. He can be found cooking Italian food for his family (which is HUGE) and bugging out to the woods at every opportunity. 

Hipcamp is an online marketplace where you can list, discover, and book campsites and accommodations on private and public land. Hipcamp is your go-to guide to getting outside. If you’re a landowner, Hipcamp creates new revenue streams for your business, which can help conserve your land and keep it wild. #FindYourselfOutside #LeaveItBetter

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Group Camping 101: A Step-by-Step Guide

Published by outdoorovernights.com on 15 august 2023 15 august 2023.

Are you ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure in the great outdoors? If so, then planning a camping trip with a group is the perfect way to create lasting memories with your friends and loved ones. From exploring scenic trails to sitting around a crackling campfire, there’s something special about coming together in nature. But how exactly do you go about planning such an excursion? In this article, we will guide you through the essential steps and considerations to ensure a smooth and enjoyable camping experience for the whole group. So grab a pen and paper, because we’re about to dive into the world of group camping!

Table of Contents

Choosing the Right Campsite

What factors should you consider when choosing a campsite.

When choosing a campsite for a group, there are several factors you should consider. Firstly, think about the location. Is the campsite easily accessible for everyone in the group? Consider the distance from home, as well as any specific geographical features you may be interested in, such as a lake or hiking trails. Secondly, consider the size and layout of the campsite. Will it be able to accommodate all the tents and campers in the group comfortably? Look for campsites that offer enough space for everyone to spread out and have privacy. Additionally, think about the amenities available at the campsite, such as bathrooms, showers, and picnic areas. Finally, check if there are any specific rules or regulations for camping at the site, such as quiet hours or fire restrictions.

How can you find a suitable campsite for a group?

Finding a suitable campsite for a group can be made easier by utilizing online resources and camping apps. Websites like ReserveAmerica and Recreation.gov allow you to search for campsites by location, amenities, and availability. You can also read reviews from other campers to get a better idea of what to expect. Additionally, camping apps such as Hipcamp and The Dyrt provide detailed information about campsites, including photos, user reviews, and ratings. These apps often have filters and search functions that can help you narrow down your options based on your specific preferences and needs. It’s always a good idea to book your campsite well in advance, especially if you’re planning to camp during peak seasons.

What amenities should you look for in a campsite for a group?

When camping with a group, it’s important to choose a campsite that offers the necessary amenities to ensure everyone’s comfort and convenience. Look for campsites that have bathrooms with running water and flushing toilets. Showers can also be a valuable amenity, especially for longer camping trips. If you plan to cook meals at the campsite, consider campsites with designated picnic areas and fire pits or grills. Some campsites even have electricity and water hookups, which can be useful if you have RVs or campers in your group. Additionally, check if the campsite has potable water available for drinking and cooking. Lastly, if you’re camping during the warmer months, it can be beneficial to find a site with shade or trees to provide relief from the sun.

Are there any specific rules or regulations for camping with a group?

Campsites often have specific rules and regulations in place to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all campers. When camping with a group, it’s important to familiarize yourself with these rules and communicate them to your fellow campers. Some common rules include restrictions on the use of fire and charcoal grills, quiet hours during which noise should be minimized, and guidelines for the disposal of trash and waste. Some campsites may also have rules regarding the number of tents or campers allowed per campsite, so make sure you adhere to these limitations. Additionally, it’s essential to respect the natural environment and follow any regulations regarding the protection of plants and wildlife. By being mindful of these rules, you can ensure a harmonious camping experience for everyone in your group.

Determining the Duration of the Trip

How long should a camping trip with a group typically last.

The duration of a camping trip with a group can vary depending on various factors, such as the location, activities planned, and personal preferences. However, a typical camping trip with a group usually lasts anywhere from 1 to 7 days. This duration allows for a sufficient amount of time to enjoy the camping experience while not becoming too overwhelming for all members of the group. Additionally, it’s important to consider the availability of the group members and their schedules. Choose a duration that accommodates everyone’s availability and ensures that all participants can fully engage in the trip without feeling rushed or stressed.

What are the factors to consider when deciding the duration of the trip?

When deciding the duration of your camping trip with a group, there are several factors to consider. Firstly, consider the distance you need to travel to reach the campsite. If the campsite is far away, it may be worth extending the duration of the trip to allow for travel time and to make the most of your time spent at the campsite. Secondly, think about the activities you have planned for the trip. If you have a lot of activities or outings scheduled, you may need more time to fit them all in. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more relaxed and laid-back camping experience, a shorter trip may be sufficient. Lastly, take into account the preferences and needs of the group members. Some individuals may have limited availability or other commitments, so it’s important to find a duration that works for everyone.

Should you plan for any specific activities or events during the trip?

While it’s not necessary to plan specific activities or events for every moment of your camping trip, having some planned activities can enhance the overall experience and create lasting memories for the group. Consider the interests and preferences of the group members when deciding on activities. Outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, swimming, and nature walks are always popular choices for camping trips. If you’re camping near a lake or river, you may also want to plan water-related activities such as kayaking or paddleboarding. Additionally, organizing group games or team-building exercises can help foster camaraderie and create a fun and engaging atmosphere. However, it’s also important to leave room for spontaneity and free time, allowing individuals to explore and relax at their own pace.

Creating a Packing Checklist

What essential camping supplies should every group member pack.

When camping with a group, it’s important for each member to come prepared with the essential camping supplies to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Some of the essential items to include on your packing checklist are:

• Tent: Make sure each group member has their own tent or shares with a designated partner.
• Sleeping bag and sleeping pad: These items provide insulation and comfort during the nights.
• Clothing and footwear: Pack appropriate clothing for the weather conditions, including layers for varying temperatures. Don’t forget sturdy and comfortable footwear for hiking and other outdoor activities.
• Personal hygiene items: Bring toiletries, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, and toilet paper. Consider biodegradable options to minimize environmental impact.
• Lighting: Headlamps or flashlights are essential for navigating in the dark. Don’t forget extra batteries.
• First aid kit: A well-stocked first aid kit is crucial for addressing minor injuries and illnesses. Include essential items such as band-aids, antiseptic ointment, pain relievers, and any necessary prescription medications.
• Cooking equipment: Depending on your meal plans, pack a stove, pots, pans, utensils, and cleaning supplies. Don’t forget matches or a lighter.
• Food and water: Bring an adequate supply of non-perishable food items and enough water for the duration of the trip. Consider any dietary restrictions or preferences of the group members.

Are there any additional items to consider when camping with a group?

When camping with a group, there are a few additional items to consider adding to your packing checklist to ensure the comfort and convenience of everyone involved. Some of these items include:

• Group gear: Consider bringing larger items that can be shared among the group, such as a larger cooking stove, a cooler for perishable items, or a communal dining area.
• Extra tarps and ropes: These items can be useful for creating additional shade, protecting equipment, or setting up communal areas.
• Camping chairs or portable seating: Having comfortable seating options can enhance the social aspect of the camping experience, especially during meal times or around the campfire.
• Entertainment and games: Pack items such as playing cards, board games, or portable sports equipment to keep everyone entertained during downtime.
• Extra batteries and charging devices: With multiple people using electronic devices or relying on battery-powered equipment, having spare batteries and charging devices ensures that everyone can stay connected and powered up.

How can you ensure everyone in the group has the necessary gear?

To ensure that everyone in the group has the necessary gear, it’s important to communicate and coordinate before the camping trip. Start by creating a comprehensive packing checklist and sharing it with all the group members. Encourage everyone to review the list and make note of any items they already have and are willing to bring and share. This way, you can avoid unnecessary duplication of gear. For items that are not already owned by group members, consider creating a communal gear list and assigning each person with specific gear to bring. This way, the responsibility is shared, and everyone knows what to bring. It’s also a good idea to hold a group meeting or create a shared online document where everyone can indicate what they are bringing, ensuring that all essential items are accounted for.

What food and cooking equipment should be included in the packing checklist?

When it comes to food and cooking equipment, it’s important to plan ahead and pack accordingly to ensure that everyone in the group is well-fed and satisfied during the camping trip. Here are some essential items to include in your packing checklist:

• Non-perishable food items: Pack a variety of non-perishable foods that are easy to prepare and require minimal cooking or refrigeration. Examples include canned goods, trail mix, granola bars, instant noodles, and dried fruits.
• Fresh produce and perishable items: If you plan to bring fresh produce, choose items that have a longer shelf life, such as apples, oranges, and potatoes. Consider coolers or insulated bags to keep perishable items fresh.
• Cooking stove and fuel: Depending on the campsite regulations and your preferences, choose a reliable camping stove that suits the group’s needs. Don’t forget to bring enough fuel to last the duration of the trip.
• Pots, pans, and utensils: Pack cookware that is suitable for your planned meals. Bring pots and pans of various sizes to accommodate different dishes. Don’t forget utensils such as spatulas, tongs, and cooking knives.
• Plates, bowls, and cups: Opt for durable and lightweight options that are easy to clean. Consider reusable or eco-friendly alternatives to reduce waste.
• Cleaning supplies: Pack dish soap, sponges, dish towels, and garbage bags for cleaning up after meals. Bring enough water for washing dishes and consider biodegradable options to minimize environmental impact.
• Food storage containers: To keep leftovers or store ingredients, bring airtight containers or resealable bags. This will help prevent spoilage and reduce waste.

By ensuring that you have all the necessary food and cooking equipment, you can enjoy delicious meals and minimize any potential challenges during your camping trip.

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How to Organize the Ultimate Group Camping Trip

How to take your friends camping without killing them, or wanting to

Heading out the door? Read this article on the Outside app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

If you’re anything like me, then your buddies are constantly hassling you to take them on an adventure. But if you’re anything like me, then your buddies also have busy schedules, little camping gear, and a predilection for bad-decision-making. Here’s how to pretend you’re an outfitter and take your friends on a trip they’ll never forget.

Set a Date and Advertise It

The key to busy schedules is forward planning. Poll a few of your key friends, find a weekend one or two months out that might work, and set it in stone. Use whatever tool you and your friends prefer to create a central online planning hub. Some of my friends use Facebook Events; some prefer Google Docs. Whatever you go with, make sure updates are pinging reminders to people, and populate the event regularly with information, trash talk, or photos from previous years. The trick is to keep the trip fresh in people’s minds so they don’t forget it’s coming up and schedule over it.

Organize Gear Sharing

One thing I definitely prefer Google Docs for is organizing gear shares. It’s easy for Ty to forget that he promised his spare sleeping bag to John, and then loan it to another John instead. If all that info is organized in one central location, it’s easy to see everyone’s needs and plan how you’ll collectively fill them. And, after the fact, to remember who stole your Yeti.

Camping gear and tools for specific sports get real expensive real fast. But even within a small group, you’ll typically be able to cover everyone’s needs collectively. One person might have an extra tent. Another friend may have extra room in his two-person tent. Applying businesslike organization to the process helps ensure that everything is sorted ahead of time so the drive up doesn’t become a frantic search for the last gear store along the way.

Realistically Assess Ability

It’s no fun for anyone if you plan a really challenging backpacking trip, only to have one guy show up who’s unable to make it up a mountain. In a group, you’ll always have a variety of skill and fitness levels, but be realistic about who can achieve what, and plan accordingly.

Often, it will be up to you to make these assessments in private. No one wants to be called out or kicked off, or, worse, ruin the trip for anyone. Try to reasonably determine everyone’s capabilities, and plan something that everyone attending should be able to achieve.

Determine an Activity

If you’re all a bunch of mountain bike bros planning to bro out on mountain bikes, then great. But if you’re just trying to do something exciting with a bunch of dudes with diverse backgrounds, then you’ll need to find an activity that most people can expect to be able to perform competently while still creating challenge and interest. Backpacking is a great option. Kayaking and canoeing—in reasonable conditions—also work really well. You can up the adventure quotient appropriately by selecting longer distances, more remote areas, and more exciting conditions.

Christmas before last, my friends Ty and Matt wanted to take our dogs on a backpacking trip. We settled on California’s Lost Coast because Matt and I had never been there before, but Ty knew it well. He figured the winter weather combined with a route that added tons of elevation and river crossings would make it more challenging than the simple summer beach hike most people experience. It went a little sideways but was still one of the best trips the three of us have ever been on.

Sometimes you need an exciting goal to convince people to come and focus the group’s energy. Need a real challenge? Climb a mountain. If your group has the experience to pull it off safely, you can get into ropes, crampons, and whatnot. Otherwise, you can choose a peak and route that still challenges with scrambling and sheer elevation.

One of the best bro trips I’ve ever been on was a sea kayaking and spearfishing adventure on Catalina Island . We were all trying spearfishing for the first time, so we got to share that challenge, while a couple of us were experienced enough with the ocean and kayaking to make it safe for everyone involved. All the necessary speciality equipment was easily rentable, with the group sharing the total cost. I think the end cost, with food and everything, ended up being less than $200 a head.

Keep Everyone Safe

As the organizer, safety is your responsibility. You need to look at the area you’re visiting and the activity you’re doing and assess any existing risks.

Questions you need to answer:

• What is the worst-case weather scenario?
• What dangers are inherent to the area and activity?
• Does anyone in the group have medical issues? What are they, and what tools and knowledge will you need to deal with them if they occur?
• How far away will help be, and how do we reach it?

Prepare a first-aid kit capable of dealing with the usual variety of issues —cuts, scrapes, blisters, broken limbs—and make sure it contains adequate materials to handle the size of your group. A few different kits, spread among the group, are better than one big kit—that way, supplies will be available should you become separated. Additionally, you or someone in your group should be experienced in first aid.

Prepare similarly for navigation. Make sure you’re equipped with a map and compass and know where you’re going, but again, so should other people you’re traveling with.

Stay together as a group, or create specific rendezvous points along the way if you’re doing something like backpacking where people might be traveling at different speeds. Make sure these rendezvous points are clearly communicated and understood. I always stop and wait for the entire group at every trail junction; a little extra speed just isn’t worth the possibility of someone becoming lost.

When doing anything risky, like free diving in pursuit of fish, employ the buddy system and make sure everyone understands that their designated buddy is their responsibility. On that spearfishing trip, we went one step further and had a person in a kayak follow the divers around the cove where we were fishing. This gave us a place to hold on and take a break as well as a lifeguard and communication link to the rest of the group on shore. That might seem like overkill, but it’s way easier to keep people safe than it is to rescue them—and rescues can often put the rescuers at risk, too.

Make It Fun

Dudes enjoy a challenge, but they also enjoy relaxing after that challenge. To do that, you’ll want good food and good drinks.

My favorite camping meal is carne asada fajitas. Freeze packages of carne asada from Trader Joe’s before you leave. They’ll last in an uninsulated pack for at least 24 hours or a few days in a cooler. Grab some tortillas, onions, peppers, avocados, and a thing of salsa, then just cook it all over a fire. Bonus points for using a big knife as your sole utensil.

Drinks can be a little more difficult due to weight and space concerns for non-vehicle-based trips. Whiskey is about as good as it gets if you need to carry it—you don’t need to mix it (right, bro?), and it doesn’t matter if it’s warm or cold. A cheap plastic pilot’s flask from Amazon will hold most of a bottle and won’t break or leak.

A small Bluetooth speaker (remember to download music to phones ahead of time) is also essential. We like the Outdoor Tech Turtle Shell ($80). It’s compact and rugged, has good sound, and looks neat.

Make It Memorable

It may sound obvious, but remember to take a group photo. If possible, designate someone with a nice camera and a few skills as official photographer. That can be an annoying job, but it can also really pay off. Throw everything in Dropbox or whatever so everyone has access to everyone’s photos after the trip.

Earlier this year, we lost one of our best friends to cancer. Jeff and I had a lot of great times, but the only picture we have together is from that spearfishing trip. I’m really glad Chris was there to take it.

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How to Camp with a Large Group – 9 Things to Remember

Camping in a large group is a great way to spend quality time with family and friends – not just partying and dining but also relaxing outdoors!

But, taking charge of a camping trip for a big group isn’t easy, especially if you haven’t organized one before. That’s why we are here to help you!

My wife and I have organized many group camping trips. And over the years, we’ve painstakingly learned how to plan the best group camping trip.

So, avoid common beginner camping mistakes , following these 9 group camping tips, and pull off a killer camping trip. Let’s get into it!

1. Check the Maximum Capacity of Each Campsite

Once you have an initial camper headcount, the first step would be to find a campground or campsite. The last thing you want is to squeeze into a spot that isn’t large enough for your group.

It’s ultra important to research on the maximum occupancy that each campsite can accommodate to figure out which site best suits your group.

Ideally, you should book “group campsites” in campgrounds as they are a lot larger, to accommodate more tents, and typically also come with ample parking spots .

Also, always confirm how many cars can be parked within each site . If the vehicle count of your group exceeds the limit, you all might have to park some vehicles outside the campsite to avoid overcrowding.

2. Campsite Setup and Takedown Time is a Lot Longer

When there’s more people camping, there’s bound to be more work that needs to be completed.

And when camping with a large group, it take’s significantly more of time to prepare a campsite, even with a lot of helping hands.

So, a key group camping tip would be to arrive as early as possible and get started preparing your campsite immediately. Whether that’s erecting tents, hanging tarps for rain or shade, setting up the kitchen and eating areas, or starting a campfire .

There are so many camping related tasks. The more time you give yourself to complete them, the more likely you are to do it properly and stress-free, especially when camping in a large group!

You seriously want to avoid having to do these tasks in the dark.

3. Create a Combined Meal Plan

Without a group camping meal plan, you will be fussing about what to prepare each day or you might even run out of food faster!

When you create a group camping food plan, and properly account for the number campers and number of meals, you get a clear picture of how much food is actually required for your trip.

A food plan ensures you bring enough food, and helps you keep track of what you have and what you have left.

It’s up to you and your group to decide on what delicious and nutritious meals to eat while camping, before leaving .

So, using your meal plan, prepare a shopping list based on the meals to stock up on the necessary ingredients. Each organized meal will keep your camping group well fed and energized!

Pro-tip: A group camping meal plan can highlight what items you can buy in bulk. Bulk items are typically cheaper, so this can cut down the cost of your trip!

4. Create a Common Camping Equipment Checklist

While everyone needs to bring clothes and underwear for themselves, it’s not the same case for butane camp stoves , pots and pans, or tarps. Common camping equipment can be shared and used by everyone – like tents, saws, pots and pans, medical kits, and more.

There’s no better way to prepare for a group camping trip than by creating an equipment checklist everyone can reference. This way you can remember to bring everything you need, and you won’t forget any important things behind.

So, begin by creating a checklist of common camping equipment , including the quantity required. I find that creating a Google spreadsheet table and sharing it with everyone is the best method.

People who have the camping gear can volunteer to bring them. You can easily see what’s included, and discuss buying or renting any missing equipment.

Pro-tip: Bring family-sized tents that can accommodate a lot more people instead of bringing lots of individual tents. It’ll reduce the overall footprint at your campsite, as well as free-up some space in your vehicle.

5. Bring Enough Tarps

A lot of would-be campers are afraid of bad weather while camping. But a little rain shouldn’t put a downer on your group camping trip.

So, what’s the solution? Well, since you can’t tame Mother Nature, you can shield yourself from her more “intense” moments…

The key is to bring enough tarps so that you can make a sheltered space for people to socialize and have fun despite Mother Nature’s changing moods.

A tarp set up for rain or shade provides an area for everyone to enjoy meals together, play games, and relax instead of cramped inside of tents.

Tarps are super versatile and a must-have for every camping trip. They don’t take up a lot of space, so take as many as required, especially when group camping.

6. Delegate and Share Campsite Responsibilities

Delegation is super important to ensure everyone participates equally on your group camping trip! Even if your group contains pro chefs, or outdoor survivalists, burdening them with all the cooking and campsite tasks isn’t fair.

So, whether it’s cooking, fire-making, or water gathering, everyone should take turns and do it collectively. Remember, camping is a great opportunity to build new skills and learning new things. Give kids responsibilities, and allow others to take on leadership roles or try things out of their comfort zone!

If you have a very large group, it’s a good idea to prepare a roster and divvy up the responsibilities and tasks beforehand. Realistically, this actually helps avoid a lot of misunderstandings. You would be surprised as to how smooth things go when you plan out this seemingly minor aspect. You can thank me later.

7. Manage Noise and Garbage for Large Groups

While making a lot of noise might seem inevitable especially with a rambunctious group of campers, it’s vital to be mindful of your surroundings and keep noise to a minimum.

Respect Quiet Hours

Excessive noise can disrupt animal species that live in the environment around you, such as birds and ground dwelling mammals. At the same time, it can also be a nuisance to other campers who are looking for peace and quiet while camping.

Most campgrounds have rules on quiet hours at night. Make sure you inform the group beforehand of such noise restrictions and respect quiet times. I’ve seen groups being kicked out of campgrounds for partying a little to late into the night…

Don’t be those people!

Clear Garbage Frequently

Managing waste disposal is equally important. If you let garbage pile up at your campsite and wait until the end to dispose of it, it’s going to be a huge mess and attract a lot of bugs and insects.

Follow “Leave No Trace” practices by ensuring you keep your campsite clean at all times. When everyone does their share by collecting and disposing of garbage properly, in separate bags for recycling if available, the task becomes a whole lot easier!

8. Plan Group Activities

Keeping a large group entertained can seem a bit overwhelming, but not if you plan ahead!

Think of camping activities that would bring everyone together – like playing board games, dancing, swimming, hiking, or planning potluck meals.

Some classic group camping games include scavenger hunts, charades, and geocaching. Don’t forget to bring your guitar if you’re planning on having sing-alongs, and bring proper footwear for hiking!

If your campsite is located near a river or lake, the group can go for a dip, or also take part in water sports (if they are permitted, of course).

Pro-tip: Pre-book specialty equipment like kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddle boards. You might be able to negotiate to a discount when you book for the entire group!

9. Use a Cost Sharing App

Managing the cost of a group camping trip can be a bit daunting, especially if you’re on a tight budget. And the last thing you want is having a fun-filled camping adventure turn into an awkward trip just because people haven’t paid their fair share of the costs?

The solution is to keep track of who paid for what and who owes who. Thankfully, there’s an app for that!

We use a cost-splitting app like Splitwise (it’s free) to keep track of all the payments and expenses incurred during a camping trip. The app lets you add each individual, and everyone can start adding their share of the costs.

In the end, the app calculates the final amount and sends a notification reminding everyone how much they owe each other. It really takes out the stress of asking for money.

This article contains affiliate links, which help support this blog at no cost to you!

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• Camping Activities
• Tips & Planing
• Camping Products

How To Plan A Successful Group Camping Trip

• January 19, 2024 August 16, 2023

Are you ready to embark on a journey filled with laughter, adventure, and unforgettable memories? Planning a successful group camping trip is like building a cozy campfire – it requires careful planning, teamwork, and a spark of excitement.

Whether you’re gathering with family, friends, or like-minded individuals, this article will guide you through the essential steps to ensure your camping expedition is a resounding success.

First, you need to find the perfect campsite, a sanctuary where you can escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Then, it’s time to organize transportation and logistics, ensuring everyone arrives safely and with all the necessary gear.

A detailed itinerary will keep everyone on the same page, allowing for smooth transitions between activities and meals.

Assigning responsibilities and tasks will foster a sense of camaraderie, making each person feel valued and essential to the group’s success.

Lastly, we’ll delve into safety and emergency preparedness, because nothing is more important than the well-being of your campfire companions.

So gather your tribe, pack your bags, and get ready for an extraordinary adventure that will leave you with a sense of belonging and cherished memories for years to come.

Table of Contents

1. Selecting the Ideal Campsite

To ensure you have the best possible camping experience, you’ll want to carefully consider and select the ideal campsite that suits the specific needs and preferences of your group. Finding the perfect campsite requires a bit of planning and research, but it will be well worth it in the end.

First and foremost, think about the location of the campsite. Do you want to be surrounded by nature’s beauty or do you prefer being close to amenities? Consider the distance from your home and the accessibility of the campsite. You don’t want to spend hours driving before even starting your adventure!

Next, take into account the facilities available at the campsite. Are there clean restrooms and showers? Is there a designated area for cooking and eating? These amenities can make a huge difference in your camping experience, especially when you’re traveling with a large group.

Additionally, think about the activities and attractions near the campsite. Are there hiking trails, fishing spots, or swimming areas? Having access to these recreational opportunities can add an extra element of fun and excitement to your trip.

Lastly, consider the size and layout of the campsite. Will it accommodate all the tents and camping gear? Is there enough space for everyone to gather around the campfire? Make sure the campsite provides enough room for your group to comfortably enjoy their time together.

By carefully selecting the ideal campsite, you’ll be setting the foundation for a successful group camping trip. Remember to plan ahead, consider the needs of your group, and choose a campsite that will make everyone feel welcome and included. Happy camping!

2. Organizing Transportation and Logistics

Coordinating the movement of everyone and ensuring smooth arrangements for transportation and logistics is like orchestrating a well-choreographed dance routine. When planning a group camping trip, it’s crucial to consider how everyone will get to the campsite and how the necessary equipment and supplies will be transported.

To foster a sense of belonging and inclusivity, it’s important to involve everyone in the decision-making process and make sure their needs are taken into account.

First, gather information from all participants regarding their preferred mode of transportation. Some may have their own vehicles, while others may need to carpool or rely on public transportation. Once you have this information, create a transportation plan that accommodates everyone’s needs. This could involve coordinating carpooling groups, renting a van or bus, or arranging for a shuttle service.

In terms of logistics, make a detailed list of all the necessary equipment and supplies for the trip. Divide the responsibilities among the group members to ensure that everyone contributes and feels a sense of ownership. Assign tasks such as purchasing food, packing camping gear, and organizing first aid kits.

By involving everyone in the transportation and logistics planning, you create a sense of unity and shared responsibility. This not only ensures a smooth and enjoyable camping experience but also strengthens the bond among the group members. Remember, a successful group camping trip is not just about the destination, but also about the journey and the connections formed along the way.

3. Creating a Detailed Itinerary

Make sure you have a clear and comprehensive itinerary that outlines all the activities and schedules for the camping trip, ensuring that everyone knows what to expect and can fully participate in the adventure. Creating a detailed itinerary not only helps keep everyone informed but also adds a sense of structure and excitement to the trip.

Here are three essential items to include in your itinerary:

• Morning Hike: Start the day off right with a refreshing hike through the scenic trails surrounding the campsite. This activity not only allows everyone to connect with nature but also provides an opportunity for bonding and capturing breathtaking views.
• Team Building Games: Plan some fun team-building games that encourage cooperation, communication, and laughter. Whether it’s a game of capturing the flag or a friendly relay race, these activities will foster a sense of togetherness and create lasting memories.
• Campfire Storytelling: End the day by gathering around the campfire and sharing stories. This intimate setting sparks conversations, encourages vulnerability, and strengthens the bonds between group members. Everyone will feel a sense of belonging as they listen to each other’s tales and create a shared experience.

By including these activities in your itinerary, you’re ensuring that everyone feels included and part of the adventure. So grab your camping gear, gather your friends, and get ready for an unforgettable group camping trip!

4. Assigning Responsibilities and Tasks

As the sun rises over the campsite, each member of the camping crew eagerly takes on their assigned responsibilities, transforming the camp into a harmonious symphony of tasks. Assigning responsibilities and tasks is crucial to the success of a group camping trip.

By dividing the workload among everyone, you ensure that no one feels overwhelmed and that all necessary tasks are completed efficiently. This sense of shared responsibility fosters a strong sense of belonging and unity within the group.

Start by identifying the strengths and preferences of each individual in the group. Some may excel at cooking, while others may enjoy setting up tents or organizing activities. Assign tasks based on these strengths, allowing everyone to contribute in a way that feels natural to them. This not only ensures that each task is done well, but it also allows each person to feel valued and appreciated for their unique skills.

It is also important to rotate responsibilities throughout the trip. This prevents any one person from feeling burdened with a particular task and allows everyone to have a chance to participate in different aspects of the camping experience. By sharing the responsibilities, you create a sense of camaraderie and cooperation among the group.

Remember, a successful group camping trip is not just about the destination, but also about the journey. By assigning responsibilities and tasks, you create a sense of purpose and togetherness that will make the trip truly memorable.

So, gather your camping crew and let the adventure begin!

5. Ensuring Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Ensure your safety and be prepared for emergencies by familiarizing yourself with the campsite’s emergency exits and first aid kits. Here are four important things to keep in mind to ensure a safe and enjoyable camping trip:

• Know the location of emergency exits: Take some time to locate the emergency exits at the campsite. Knowing where to go in case of an emergency can help you react quickly and calmly if the need arises. It’s always better to be prepared!
• Pack a well-stocked first aid kit: A first aid kit is an essential item for any camping trip. Make sure it includes band-aids, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, and any necessary medications. Having these supplies on hand can help you treat minor injuries and alleviate discomfort.
• Share emergency contact information: Before heading out, exchange emergency contact information with your fellow campers. This way, if something unexpected happens, you can quickly reach out for assistance or share important details with others.
• Educate yourself on basic first aid: Knowing basic first aid techniques can be incredibly helpful in emergencies. Consider taking a first aid course or familiarizing yourself with basic CPR and wound care. Being knowledgeable in these areas can make you feel more confident and capable in case of an emergency.

By following these tips, you can ensure the safety of yourself and your fellow campers, creating a sense of belonging and camaraderie within the group.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some fun group activities that can be organized during a camping trip?

You can organize fun group activities during a camping trip, like a bonfire where everyone gathers around to share stories and roast marshmallows. It creates a sense of togetherness and warmth in the group.

How can we ensure that everyone’s dietary preferences and restrictions are accommodated during the trip?

To ensure everyone’s dietary preferences and restrictions are accommodated, ask each person about their needs in advance. Plan meals that offer options for different diets and provide enough variety for everyone to enjoy.

What are some tips for keeping camping gear organized and easily accessible?

To keep camping gear organized, create a system using labeled bins and bags. Assign each person a color, so everyone knows which gear belongs to them. This helps create unity and a sense of belonging in the group.

How do we handle unexpected weather changes during the camping trip?

Be prepared for unexpected weather changes during your camping trip by checking the forecast beforehand, packing appropriate gear like raincoats and extra layers, and having a backup plan for shelter if needed. Stay safe and enjoy your trip!

Are there any recommended apps or resources that can help with planning and organizing a group camping trip?

To ensure a smooth and enjoyable group camping trip, you can rely on helpful apps like Campspot or Hipcamp to easily find campgrounds, make reservations, and discover nearby attractions. These resources simplify and enhance the planning process for everyone involved.

So there you have it, fellow adventurers! With careful planning and a dash of enthusiasm, you’re well on your way to planning a successful group camping trip.

Remember, the world is your oyster and the campsite is your pearl. So grab your friends, pack your bags, and embark on an unforgettable journey in the great outdoors.

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The Ultimate Guide to Group Camping

Rule Number One: never camp alone.

As much as we like to romanticize the idea of venturing out into the wilderness alone—disconnecting from society and becoming one with nature—that’s not exactly realistic, nor is it the safest route.

Besides, no matter the location or occasion, camping is always better with friends! Or a few friends. Or even 30.

Coordinating a large group camping excursion requires a lot of planning and legwork—and, given the weather, just a touch of luck. That’s why we at National Charter Bus assembled this comprehensive guide to planning a group camping trip that covers all the bases: from small tips and tricks to popular trip locations for large groups, from securing the ideal campsite to securing your perfect ride into the wild.

Group Camping Transportation

To avoid travel-related roadblocks that would otherwise hinder your camping plans, sort out the transportation logistics well in advance. Getting anywhere with a large group can be a hassle, but this is especially true if you try to coordinate carpools, pack your gear across multiple personal vehicles, and find enough campground parking for everyone.

That’s why we recommend reserving a private transportation service: a provider like National Charter Bus will take care of the details so you don’t have to!

When you call our 24/7 reservation team at 1-844-755-0510 , a knowledgeable rep will connect your campers with a spacious and safe motorcoach , a professional driver , and any amenities you think your campers will need for total on-the-road comfort.

Even if your campers are rugged outdoor purists looking to get away from modern comforts, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a few moments of onboard WiFi connection, ensure your devices are charged before you hit the trail with personal power outlets, or stretch out in a climate-controlled cabin after a long day of trekking. With enough space to comfortably carry up to 56 passengers at a time—and roomy luggage bays to store even the bulkiest of gear—a private charter bus rental is not only the easiest way to transport large camping groups, but the best comfort investment in the long run.

Reserving Lodging

As with many aspects of planning your adventurers’ next group camp, some places are on a first-come-first-served basis, even for the group sites. Others have very limited parameters when it comes to how many people can stay on a given spot and requires larger groups to break off into smaller camps.

Also keep in mind that while your group of campers may not mind roughing it out in the wilderness, your bus driver may disagree. If your group is camping overnight—or if you’re planning a camping trip that involves traveling through the night—you’ll want your driver to be well-rested. Many hotels provide discounted room and board for professional operators, so be considerate of their comfort when you reserve their lodging.

While you’re weighing your driver’s lodging options, ask the potential hotels on your shortlist about bus parking. Some places can accommodate oversized vehicles—usually with an increased parking fee—while some hotels are located near motorcoach-friendly public lots.

5 Tips Before You Hit the Trail

We know that if you’re planning a group camping trip, there’s a lot to consider, from wrangling up gear to drafting an itinerary that appeals to all skill levels. While the list of pre-trip checkboxes could go on for pages and pages, we’ve found that as long as you hit the following bullet points, your group camping trip should go off without a hitch:

1.   Designate a leader.

Coming up with big ideas like itinerary plans and day trip destinations can be a team effort—in fact, we recommend it! Letting each camper pitch one or two activity ideas means everyone will have at least one thing to look forward to during your camping trip.

However, when it comes to making reservations and keeping everyone up to date, leave all the coordinating to one person and one person only. If everyone does their own thing, or if too many people have final say on trip details, your group camping trips runs a higher risk of miscommunication, reservation mistakes, and overlooked details.

We recommend selecting a leader who can serve as a point of contact for campgrounds, outfitters, caterers, or any other vendors your group may need, and also keep everyone in the loop about the “wheres” and “whens.”

2. Assign duties.

Again, we definitely recommend appointing a group trip leader to hash out all the important details. However, that doesn’t mean they have to handle all your pre-trip logistics alone. If you’re the designated planner, don’t be afraid to divide and conquer!

Unless you have a lot of free time before the trip, you’re going to need all the help you can get when it comes to rounding up supplies. Yes, some stuff, like sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and personal hygiene items, are a burden everyone must bear individually. But community gear that’s shared by the group? Split it up! Make a list of everything your group will need, separate the gear responsibilities into broader categories—like “food” or “shelter” or games—and assign the categories to your most trusted campers.

Once you get to the campground, task your fellow adventurists with small jobs that benefit everyone, like gathering wood and starting campfires, cooking meals, or babysitting the little campers. That way, everyone has a chance to get involved in camplife, and you don’t get stuck with all the work.

3. Balance full group, small group, and individual activities.

Sure, there’s nothing like sharing the great outdoors with the whole group, but not everyone will want to do the same thing—all together—at all times. To avoid an early burnout, strike a balance between group activities and individual alone time. This planning can apply to all aspects of your trip, including small group excursions and day-to-day camp life.

For example, how will your group handle meals? Are families responsible for providing their own food? Will individuals take turns cooking for everyone? Both approaches to meal planning have their pros and cons, but which one works best for you and your friends?

Once you have questions like these nailed down, your group will not only have a better idea of what supplies you’ll need, but you’ll know how much wiggle room you should allot in the itinerary for small group and individual activities.

Bus tip: Planning activities for different group sizes means you’ll need different kinds of transportation for each activity. While your entire camping group can comfortably fill a full-sized charter bus, a compact minibus shuttle may be a better fit for a small group’s day trip away from the campground. Clue your reservation rep in to any potential side adventures, and they will be happy to mix and match your fleet to suit your itinerary.

4. Book well in advance.

Campsites go quickly, especially if you’re planning to take on the wilderness during Spring Break or the summer months. Even worse, the chances of securing a good site dwindles as more campers tag along, so consider procrastination your enemy if you’re camping in a large group.

If you’re planning to camp with more than 10 people, or if you’re even slightly choosy about location—which, honestly, you should be—reserve your site as early as possible. Most Federal and State parks will allow you to book 6 months prior to your arrival date. The best campsites could very well fill up on the same day reservations become available, but cancellation fees are generally minimal. In other words, it’s better to contact your preferred campground as soon as you get a headcount and choose the dates, so your group will have better luck getting enough spots to accommodate everyone.

Bus tip: This advice especially applies to booking your campers’ transportation to and from the campgrounds. For the best rates and motorcoach selection , reserve your shuttle service at least 3 months in advance if you’re camping in the off-season, or 6 to 9 months ahead of time during peak camping season.

5. Hope for the best, plan for the worst.

Before the trip, make an easily accessible list of all the emergency gear your campers could possibly need, including but not limited to rainproof gear, extra tarps and rope, jackets, and so on.

…And then expect someone to forget something important.

It happens all the time, even for seasoned outdoor enthusiasts. Tents get tears, campers forget their boots, and sometimes Mother Nature is all too eager to rain on your parade. Your group can either bum around your campsite and wait it out, or roll with the punches.

If you have the space, consider bringing an extra sleeping bag, first aid kit, and change of clothes just in case someone needs them. Even better, invest in a large community tent for eating, playing cards, and all-around merry-making. In a pinch, it can even double as extra sleeping space—should someone forget a sleeping bag or a cabin becomes out of commission.

Bus tip: Worried about space? The average charter bus offers enough storage capacity for each passenger to bring one suitcase-sized piece of luggage, as well as room in the cabin for everyone to bring a small-to-medium-sized backpack. If you think your group will require more space to stow tents, kayaks, folding tables, and the like, just let your reservation rep know! We’ll hook up your group—literally—with a trailer hitch to transport all your oversized outdoor equipment!

Popular Group Camping Destinations

Need help picking a place to set up camp? No worries! Here are some of the United States’ most popular destinations for group campers:

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone and group adventures go together like s’mores and campfires. Whether your group is into day-hiking, geyser-viewing, wildlife-watching, or waiting patiently as an entire bison herd ambles across the road, no one should pass up the chance to see one of the best preserved slices of the American West. As one of the most iconic National Parks in the United States—drawing in over 4 million visitors every year—sharing this natural wonder with a large group is a no-brainer.

However, securing enough sites for a group camp can be tricky. Given its relatively untouched terrain and the NPS’s inclination to keep it that way, group-friendly sites on Yellowstone grounds itself are few and far-between; all told, there are 6 lodge/cabin/hotel options, 3 tent-only campgrounds, and one RV park available for group reservations.

It’s not uncommon for reservations at Yellowstone National Park to fill a year and a half in advance, so be sure to fill out a group camping request form as soon as you get a headcount.

For reference, here’s a brief overview of the 3 major grounds available to groups camping in Yellowstone:

Grand Canyon National Park

At points in our lives, we are faced with difficult decisions we must make. Settling on where to stay in Grand Canyon National Park is no exception.

On one hand, there’s the South Rim in all its photogenic glory. Sure, the peak season crowds can be a pain—considering this rim draws 90% of its 5 million annual visitors—but believe us, there’s a reason so many flock to the South Rim. The views alone are well worth the multi-hour drive from the likes of Las Vegas and Phoenix .

On the other hand lies the North Rim, quiet and oft-overlooked. While this rim offers fewer lookouts across the canyon, the views you do see are more colorful and secluded. In fact, many National Park veterans consider a trip to the North Rim the most genuine way to experience the Grand Canyon in all its natural glory.

No matter where you inevitably set up camp, one thing is certain: experiencing the Grand Canyon is better with company. From day-hikes along the rim to backpacking trips into the canyon depths, outdoor excursions here can be thrilling and intense, so there’s always safety in numbers.

Great Smoky Mountains

Many will tell you that the best time of year to visit the Smokies is fall. And with its rolling sea of deciduous trees awash in waves of reds, oranges, and yellows in autumn, who can blame them?

However, if you’re looking to avoid the leaf-viewing fall crowds—or just don’t want to handle the frigid nights when tents are involved—you’re in luck. The Great Smoky Mountains boast year-round beauty, including wintery pristine snowcaps, wildflowers abound in spring, vivid greenery come summer.

Despite the Great Smoky Mountains’ status as—well—a mountain range, this National Park is surprisingly accommodating to buses, motorcoaches, and oversized vehicles. Whether your campers decide to take the scenic loop through the tame hills and log cabins of Cades Cove, or brave the heights of Clingmans Dome, there’s no shortage of sights and experiences to delight your group of outdoor enthusiasts! That being said, GSMNP still has plenty of hairpin turns and steep inclines that make bus access to specific campgrounds difficult, so read up on the park’s bus restrictions before you book.

Reserve your Group Camping Shuttle Today

What are you waiting for? The great outdoors await you!

Whether you’re looking for a quick shuttle to the outskirts of the city limits, or scouting some out-of-state parks, National Charter Bus is here to make your camp-bound transportation easy and stress-free.

When you call 1-844-755-0510 , you’ll be greeted by reservation specialist from our 24/7 team of travel experts. Your rep will be able to answer any transportation-adjacent questions you may have, walk you through your potential fleet options, and stand by as a reliable contact should you need to make any changes to your itinerary.

Give us a ring today to receive an instant free quote , no strings attached!

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RV Living, Camp Cooking, and Family Adventure

50 Easy Camping Meals For Large Groups (Super Simple)

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We love camping because it gives us time to relax with family and friends. Of course one of the best parts of camping is the food, but feeding large groups of people can be difficult!  As much fun as camp cooking is, we simply don’t want to spend ALL of our time doing it. So easy camping meals for large groups are really necessary. 

The best camping meals for large groups are meals that serve a lot, but are also simple to make , or are an event in themselves so that everyone can be involved. With a little prep work beforehand, you can make things pretty easy on yourselves and have a great time at meal time. Many of these camping recipes can be prepared prior to travel so that prep at the campsite is simple. 

Meal Planning for Group Camping

As with any meals, it is all in the planning. Setting up your meals ahead of time allows you to also plan for the ingredients you will need so that you can shop efficiently. Just sign up below and get our FREE Camping Menu Planner and Shopping List to help you along. Then look through the easy camping meal ideas below to find the ones that your camping crew will love! 

Breakfast Camping Meals For Groups

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,  especially if the day involves hiking, fishing, geocaching, or any of a number of strenuous activities. So get your crowd going the right way with these easy to make breakfast recipes for large groups. Way more fun than scrambled eggs!

1. Banana Oat Pancakes

Banana Oat Pancakes

That’s right, you can bring Ihop with you on your camping trip! Pancakes are a staple no matter where you go, so what better way to kick off the group adventures than with this delicious recipe! Top with cream, or maple syrup. 

2. Cinnamon Blueberry Loaf 

Cinnamon Blueberry Loaf

Imagine glazed cinnamon rolls topped off with blueberries, sounds amazing right! That’s essentially what you’re getting with this recipe, and while it may take a little longer to prepare, it’s totally worth it. Plus, this recipe is sure to get everyone ready to go for a long day of adventure!  

3. Dutch Oven Breakfast Casserole

Dutch Oven Breakfast Casserole

Nothing tastier than a breakfast casserole- except one done in the Dutch Oven! Tastier and more convenient, this recipe is a no-brainer for those early morning camping cravings! A delicious and hearty meal that will please small or large crowds.

4. Campfire Burritos

Campfire Burritos

Sometimes camping can get hectic and there just isn’t enough time to prepare something from scratch. For those occasions, this recipe is a lifesaver! It is super easy to make these breakfast burritos ahead of time, and don’t worry, their compact size does nothing to take away from their massive flavor! 

5. Cinnamon Roll Ups 

Cinnamon Roll Ups

No better way to start the day for some hungry campers! Super convenient and fun to make, this recipe promises to make everyone happy. After all, it’s a cinnamon roll, who doesn’t like the sound of that!

6. Campfire Bacon Skewers

Campfire Bacon Skewers

Maybe the sweetness of cinnamon isn’t quite your thing, in that case, these bacon skewers will be perfect for you! Making them is super easy which makes them great for those early mornings. Just be sure it isn’t too early, cause once everyone tries these skewers, you’re gonna need time to make seconds! 

7. Breakfast Tacquitos 

Breakfast Tacquitos

This recipe is one of the most convenient morning meals that you can make. Not only is it super easy to prepare, but it can be stored easily and made ahead! Convenient and delicious, can’t go wrong with this recipe! 

8. Campfire French Toast

Campfire French Toast

Yummy French toast for the masses! You can serve it with some fresh fruit or have it on it’s own, either way this recipe promises a wonderful start to everyone’s day!

9. Make Ahead Omelets

Make Ahead Omelettes in a Bag

Make ahead camping meals are a great way to save time and energy during your trip. This make ahead recipe is a breakfast classic. You can’t go wrong with omelettes and chances are, everyone in your group is going to agree. So give this recipe a try, you won’t regret it! 

10. Eggs Benedict Casserole

Eggs Benedict Casserole

Speaking of eggs, we’ve got this wonderful casserole recipe for your group to try. With English muffin, eggs, and more, this recipe has something in it for everyone! Plus, it can be made ahead, super convenient and super delicious! 

11. Make Ahead Veggie Breakfast Casserole 

Make Ahead Veggie Breakfast Casserole

What separates this casserole recipe from the previous one is just how customizable it is! If you don’t like a certain blend of vegetables or would like to add meet you can totally do so. The flavors are endless with this recipe so you and your group can always revisit it for some amazing breakfast! 

12. Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole

Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole

We love our crock pot camping meals ! If you’ve got access to a crock pot, this recipe is a must try! With hash browns being the primary ingredient, it promises a nice crunchiness to undertone all the wonderful flavors this recipe has!

13. Biscuits and Gravy, Sausage, Eggs Casserole

Biscuits and Gravy, Sausage, Eggs Casserole

Yeah you heard us right, biscuits and gravy, such a good combination! But it doesn’t even stop there, cause with bacon and eggs this casserole recipe just keeps on giving! 

Camping Lunches for Crowds

After a morning of wilderness fun, there is nothing like coming back to the campsite for a  hearty lunch . An easy camping meal will help you get everyone fed, with a minimum of effort. Many can be pre-made as a grab-n-go (like fresh veggies), or laid out for a “do it yourself” (like sandwiches.) Makes life easier. 

14. Crock Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Crock Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches

This is such a great camping lunch to prepare for anyone! The method of cooking the pork provided by the recipe promises to make the meat as tender and juicy as possible, and the addition of coleslaw and red onions just add that extra bit of flavor that completes this delicious recipe.

15. Cobb Salad Subs 

Cobb Salad Subs

What makes sandwiches so great for camping is their general convenience since they are no-cook camping meals , and what makes this recipe so great is that it reimagines cobb salad as sandwiches! When prepared with whole French bread loaves, this recipe becomes well, a recipe for success!

16. Campfire Quesadillas

Campfire Quesadillas

Quesadillas are one of the best quick on the go lunches that you can prepare. This recipe takes the best aspects of quesadillas, adds some extra ingredients and makes it into the perfect campfire meal. Whether for yourself or for a group, you can’t go wrong with this recipe!

17. Meat Lovers Bread Salad

Meat Lovers Bread Salad

For our meat lovers out there, we selected this fantastic recipe that blends so many delicious ingredients! With a variety of meats, veggies, and the inclusion of Italian rolls, this recipe has something for everyone to love.

18. Curly Dogs 

As if hot dogs couldn’t get any better, this recipe takes the classic meal and puts a fun new twist on it, literally! 

This meal is especially great for large groups as not only does everyone love hot dogs, but once you bring out these new curly versions, you’ll treat everyone to a pleasant, delicious and creative surprise! 

19. Camping Haystacks 

Camping Haystacks

This recipe is the definition of crunchy goodness! Even if you find corn chips to be a bit bland, this meal will completely change that. With olives, beans and cheddar cheese, these camping haystacks stack flavor upon flavor to make this amazing recipe!

20. Salads to Go 

Salads to Go

Great little grab-n-go lunch idea. Supplement with hard boiled eggs, or deli meat to increase protein! An easy way to feed large families. Plus, no cook camping meals .++ are great for those rush days. 

21. Campfire Rubens

Campfire Rubens

This recipe offers a unique take on the classic convenient camping sandwich. With a bit of a “build it yourself” element, it allows for a bit of customization, but with the addition of corned beef and sauerkraut, this recipe as is promises to have anyone hooked!

22. Foil Packet Nachos 

Foil Packet Nachos

Foil packet meals are so easy and fun for everyone! Combine them with some nachos and you have one of the best camping meals there is! Preparing them is easy as they are kept in a foil packet, which also makes them super easy to store for later. Tasty and convenient, the perfect camping meal!

23. Chilaquiles Bake 

Chilaquiles Bake

This recipe will take some more time to prepare, but it is absolutely worth it! For those days where you and your group need a filling and energizing lunch, this recipe promises just that. Beans, chips, cheese and salsa, all blended together into this fantastic meal.

24. Walking Tacos

Walking Tacos

This family favorite recipe is gonna become a favorite for everyone that tries it! It is so creative and easy to prepare that you’ll be mad you didn’t come up with it yourself! Who knew that a bag of Frito chips could be transformed into a bag of delicious walking tacos, but this recipe went ahead and did it and you’ll be so glad you tried it.

The best camping meals for large groups are meals that serve a lot, but are simple to make, or are an even in themselves so that everyone can be involved.

Easy Dinner Recipes for Large Groups

After a long day of wilderness fun, your group will be ravenous. The best dinner recipes will not only please your campers, but will also be easy to prepare. 

As you look through our list, think about what items on the camp menu can be prepared beforehand, so that you will have more time in activities or chilling. Here are some of the best campsite recipes to feed a hungry crowd. 

Try doing your own meal in the slow cooker or instant pot, or pre prepping as much as possible to save you time at camp. 

25. One Skillet Stroganoff from Fresh Off The Grid

One Skillet Stroganoff

Just one pan, and a satisfying meal for the entire group! This recipe features steak, noodles and mushrooms in a delicious creamy sauce all prepared in a cast iron skillet. Once you’ve assembled the ingredients, preparing it will be simple and the whole camping group will be treated to a gourmet style meal! 

26. Mediterranean Salmon Foil Packets 

Mediterranean Salmon Foil Packets

These salmon foil packets add a ton of extra flavor to a familiar meal. Them being prepared in foil makes them perfect for a camping trip, and for the cherry on top, it’s super filling! Making it great for those long adventurous days.

27. Cast Iron Pizza 

Cast Iron Pizza

We just couldn’t complete a list of camping group lunches without pizza! All you need is a cast iron to prepare this recipe with toppings being optional but if you’d like, they can add that nice final touch to it all. 

Can’t go wrong with pizza, you’ll have everyone in your group excited for lunch with this recipe!

28. Camping Maple Sriracha Chicken Kabobs 

Camping Maple Sriracha Chicken Kabobs

Kabobs are so great for camping because not only are they easy to prepare but they are fun to make as well! Who doesn’t like to roast them over the fire for a bit just to add that finishing touch. This recipe promises a ton of flavor and a ton of fun!

29. Asparagus and Goat Cheese Frittata 

Asparagus and Goat Cheese Frittata

This recipe takes some extra time to prepare but is absolutely worth it! Using a cast iron skilled and some tinfoil, once prepared the recipe is fairly easy to save for later and reheat the next day. So, while it may take some time, once prepared you’re set for quite a while!

30. Cast Iron Mac and Cheese with Kielbasa 

Cast Iron Mac and Cheese with Kielbasa

We included pizza, we just had to include Mac and Cheese as well! Another classic recipe that is easily prepared in a cast iron pan. While it will take around 40 minutes to prepare, this mac and cheese promises a delicious cheesy blend with kielbasa that will have everyone asking for seconds!

31. One Pot Protein Pasta 

One Pot Protein Pasta

An easy dish for the cast iron skillet! A quick meal and a real crowd pleaser. Pasta is a great filling meal and with the addition of extra protein, this recipe promises to keep everyone energized for the whole day.

32. Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Pot Pie 

Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Pot Pie

One pot? Easy recipe, easy cleanup! Everything is easy with this fantastic recipe, especially enjoying it! As who doesn’t love some delicious chicken pot pie. And who doesn’t enjoy camp cooking with cast iron ?!

33. Paella Style Chicken and Rice 

Paella Style Chicken and Rice

This recipe goes back to a staple, and that is chicken and rice. A simple meal but super easy to prepare and delicious. This is a great option for those who prefer a simpler and more familiar meal while camping, plus, it’s super filling!

34. Camping Quesadillas 

Camping Quesadillas

Another great recipe to substitute whatever is in the fridge. Instead of flour tortillas try spinach, or sun dried tomato.  Try different types of meat, chopped up sausage links, black olives, corn, various types of cheese. Fun “make your own” option for your large family or group.

35. Make Ahead Cowboy Caviar 

Make Ahead Cowboy Caviar

It’s not too often that you get to have some caviar on a camping trip, but with this make ahead recipe, you can have it a as much as you want!

36. Sweet Potato Peanut Stew 

Sweet Potato Peanut Stew

That’s right, sweet potato peanut stew, it tastes just as amazing as it sounds! This stew will have anyone that tires it absolutely hooked, and is a perfect option for those colder camping trips, you won’t regret giving it a try!

37. Grilled Nachos

Grilled Nachos

Super pleasing super simple meal for the whole family when camping. Try substituting green onions for red onions, ground beef for chicken, add sour cream, etc. Loads of variations possible! These cook right on the fire or grill, so use heavy duty foil.

39. Dutch Oven Chicken Marbella

Dutch Oven Chicken Marbella

This Mediterranean themed chicken dish promises to blow your mind! Prepared using a Dutch oven, this recipe promises a level of quality as if it was prepared in a normal oven. It’s a meal so good you’ll forget you’re even camping!

40. Campfire Chicken Stew 

Campfire Chicken Stew

Once again for those colder camp spots, we’ve selected a fantastic stew recipe! With shredded chicken, parsnips, and onions, this stew promises to do way more than just warm you up. It’s a fantastic meal that everyone can enjoy!

41. Shrimp Foil Boil Packets

Shrimp Foil Boil Packets

This recipe from Damn Delicious is damn delicious indeed! These shrimp foil boil packets come complete with a nice touch of seasoning and are accompanied by corn on the cob . This is a blend of flavor that you’ll never forget!

42. BBQ Salmon 

What screams camping more than a BBQ, with this recipe you’ll get to enjoy a wonderfully prepared salmon all while enjoying the fun that comes with a classic BBQ!

Easy Desserts for Large Groups

After a delicious meal you can’t skip a yummy dessert. The best group desserts tend to be either make it yourself over the fire, or large dutch oven recipes . Check out these favorites, gathered from all over the web. Your crowd will love you for it. 

43. Walnut Chocolate Burritos 

Walnut Chocolate Burritos

This recipe may sound a little strange but trust us when we say that walnut chocolate burritos are going to become a favorite of yours! The walnuts blend really well with the chocolate and cinnamon, becoming a unique yet amazing addition to your dessert repertoire.

44. Dutch Oven Cobbler 

Dutch Oven Cobbler

Starting off our deserts we selected a Dutch oven recipe. Convenient and delicious, this cobbler has such a rich blend of fruits and sweets you’ll never want to stop eating it!

45. S’mores of Every Kind  

S’mores of Every Kind

What camping dessert list would be complete without s’mores! With this recipe, you’ll be able to enjoy the best parts of camping with an easy to prepare classic recipe. Plus, get creative with it! After all there are a ton of different things you can do with s’mores to make the whole experience that much more memorable.

46. Campfire Tarts 

Campfire Tarts

This recipe is great for those with even more of a sweet tooth, as these tarts may be small, but they pack a ton of flavor. With strawberries at the center, they are like eating a mini strawberry cake, and who doesn’t like the sound of that!

47. Mess Free Campfire Cones 

Mess Free Campfire Cones

Campfire cones are a great little spin on the idea of an ice cream cone. This dessert is also super easy to make as a result, and like ice cream will have everyone super excited to give it a try! 

Just put out some of your favorite toppings- chocolate chips, marshmallows, fruit, berries, etc and let your guests build their own treat. 

48. Skillet Cooked Mixed Berry Grunt 

Skillet Cooked Mixed Berry Grunt

You may have not heard of grunt before, but this mixed berry variation of the recipe is going to make you an instant fan! Fruit stew and dough, this dessert promises a unique and delicious experience!

49. Caramel Peaches with Pecans 

Caramel Peaches with Pecans

Yeah, we know, this recipe sounds and looks amazing and trust us, it tastes even better! It may be on the smaller side, but these bite sized treats pack some huge flavor!

50. Peach Mallows 

Peach Mallows

Continuing the peach trend, these mallows will just melt in your mouth. They are a great alternative to the previous recipe if you prefer extra fruit rather than pecans. This recipe stands on its own though as a fantastic dessert that will have you making more and more! 

51. Marshmallow and Strawberry Skewers

Marshmallow and Strawberry Skewers

Marshmallows and strawberries may not be a combination you’ve thought of trying before, but just like strawberries and cake, it is an amazing combination! 

This recipe is super easy and fun to prepare, and soon the warm marshmallow with the strawberry flavor will have you hooked on even more fruit dessert combos!

52. Easy Campfire Pies 

Easy Campfire Pies

Who doesn’t like pies! So, we selected a recipe that allows you to enjoy one by the fire. These smaller pies are an adorable and convenient variation on a classic dessert, just perfect for a camping trip! Just don’t forget your pie iron!

53. Honey Rum Grilled Bananas 

Honey Rum Grilled Bananas

This dessert is definitely for the older crowd! These honey rum grilled bananas are super unique because just when you think it stops there, the recipe includes vanilla ice cream! 

54. Cake, Berry and Chocolate Skillet

Cake, Berry and Chocolate Skillet

Last but not least for our desserts, is a recipe that combines all the best aspects of the ones we’ve mentioned so far! With an assortment of berries, vanilla pound cake and chocolate, this dessert has something in it for everyone!

Other Recipes You Might Enjoy On Your Next Camping Trip

• If you enjoy letting your crock pot do most of the cooking, you will love these slow cooker recipes .
• Why don’t you take a break from cooking altogether on your next camping trip with these no-cook camping meal ideas.
• Do you like to indulge while RV camping, these delicious dutch oven campfire desserts might be just what you are looking for.
• Thinking about cooking outdoors?  These cast iron skillet recipes are perfect for your next camping trip.
• Want to save time, try these make ahead camping meals on your next trip.

Easy Camping Meals For Large Groups

Camping with a group can be so much fun. Sharing the great outdoors with family and friends around the outdoor grill or camping stove will create great memories!  

Always check with your guests before your trip to see if there are any food allergies that you need to consider. 

Try a few on your next large scale camping holiday. 

Grainne Foley

Grainne Foley grew up in Ireland and spent summers caravanning around Europe with her family. Now, as a wife and mother of 2, she spent 5 years traveling the USA as a full time RVing family. She is passionate about travel, and helping others who are considering the RV lifestyle. She has created dozens of helpful RVing checklists which are available throughout the website, and has curated hundreds of simple, flavorful meals for families on the go.

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8 Ways to Make Group Camping a Success

Heading away with a big group of friends or family is a different experience from going solo or with your own family . A bit of forethought goes a long way, so here are a few things that you can do to make group camping a success. If you have never been camping with a group of people before, then definitely give it a whirl!

A good crew of people always makes for a great trip.

1. Pick your people

Let’s kick off by pointing out the obvious. If you go away with people that you don’t necessarily like or enjoy the company of, it’s going to be awkward and not the greatest experience!

Everyone has their close group of mates who they feel most relaxed around and camping together is a brilliant way to enjoy your connection and share some good times. However, be mindful of those occasions when friends of friends join in – sometimes the addition enhances the party and other times it backfires! If you get on well with your extended family, camping is an awesome way to spend time together and is especially great for grandparents and cousins.

Location, location, location…

2. Choose a campsite

Your campsite can make or break the trip. Everyone has their own idea of the perfect camping spot but here are some important tips…

Find somewhere:

• that is big enough for your group and suits all of the different setups – caravans / camper trailers / 4WD’s / tents / swags .
• that offers something for everyone to do.
• that fits within the budget of all of your travellers.

It’s also important to find out who is in need of what amenities – does anyone need access to toilets , showers or a camp kitchen ?

Australia offers some world-class camping locations and there’s nothing like sharing that experience with your favourite people.

Lesser-known campgrounds can offer more space for groups.

3. How many days

Going on from above, if you’re camping with someone you don’t know i.e. the mate of a mate, it might be best to leave the 3-week trip for another time. Subtly suss them out first by heading away for a night, or a weekend and get a feel for how things go. Being stuck with others that you don’t get along with on an extended camping trip is a nightmare!

If you’re heading away with someone who hasn’t camped before, they are likely to prefer a shorter getaway to establish whether or not it’s their thing. Start small and once you are confident that it works, then commit to longer trips.

Our big breakfast cook up!

4. Communal meals

One of my favourite things about camping in a bigger group is having communal meals. It doesn’t have to be for breakfast, lunch and dinner , but when a whole heap of people bring a small amount of food to the table you end up with an amazing vibe and an exciting buffet of food.

Everyone comes together around one table and picks out what they want to eat. With our plates on our laps, we’ll often sit around for a good hour enjoying the food and conversation, whether it be first thing in the morning, meeting up at lunch or congregating at the end of the day.

For example, we love doing a big spread in the mornings. One family will cook the bacon, hash browns and fry some tomatoes. Another family might cut up some fresh fruit for everyone, and the remaining family prepares the eggs, toast and sides. On their own, the food is nice, but when you have it all together it’s a feast!

Sharing a feast for breakfast.

For lunch, it could be a spread of shared dips, cheese, crackers, salad sticks and meat, and dinner can be as simple or elaborate as you want. One family does a roast in the camp oven , the other does the dessert , and another may take charge of the vegies. However you plan it , group cooking and communal eating is truly enjoyable and brings everyone together. It’s the camping version of the potluck except nominations can be doled out ahead of time so you don’t end up with three desserts and no main meal.

We’ve frequently had group meals come about spontaneously which makes for loads of fun. Everyone checks their fridges or eskies and calls out what they’ve got or what needs using up and inevitably the table fills up with an impressive spread.

You don’t have to share every meal though as everyone has different tastes and preferences. On longer trips, we’ve found that sharing a meal every couple of days creates a good balance and prevents it from getting tedious and difficult.

Camping in paddocks on private property allows everyone their own space.

5. Give yourselves space

One of the reasons that we prefer staying on private property or bush camps is that you get more space and can choose how to configure your setup. Group camping should have the perfect balance between being able to spend time with your friends and family while also being able to retreat on your own. Setting up a communal area near the campfire or under a shelter is a great way to designate the group space.

Just because you are camping in a group shouldn’t mean you are spending every minute of every day with them. Spend some time alone or just with your own family. Do an activity in smaller groups with a couple of people and you’ll enjoy it far more. It’s all about balance and picking the right distance away from others so you have the privacy you need when you want it. Being able to come and go from the group means you’ll have a far more enjoyable time and you won’t drive each other crazy.

Group camping with just one other family.

6. Planning ahead

Different people camp in different ways. I know some who don’t even have a destination in mind when they hit the road, yet others map everything out and research to the nth degree. They know exactly where they are going when they will arrive, where they are stopping to get fuel and what activities they are going to do during the trip.

When you camp with a group, you need to be open to different ways of doing things. That doesn’t mean you have to fit in with everyone else, but you should be respectful and aware of how you are going to manage it. We’ve found the best way to plan a camping trip is to decide on what you want to do and make it clear. Then leave it open for others to come and go and do as they please. There may be a little compromise needed in some areas but for the most part, if you communicate openly and are clear about your intentions, no one can snitch at you later.

We normally start a Facebook event giving a rough idea of what we are doing and invite whoever we think might want to come. We assume anyone joining in will what to do their own thing as well. For longer trips, we don’t always end up at the same location at the end of each day and that’s just fine.

Be flexible and allow everyone to do their own thing.

If I’ve planned to take the boat out one afternoon, I wouldn’t be disappointed that you wanted to hang back at camp and relax for a couple of hours. Different people enjoy different things and you have to be flexible.

Likewise, it’s nice to share the planning around. When we wake up in the morning, we’ll often take it in turn as to who gets to choose what we are doing for the morning or the afternoon. Sometimes we’ll go together as a group, and other times we’ll split and do our own thing. I’ve been on camping trips where every single minute of every single day was planned. There was never an opportunity to do what you might have wanted.

Some people are okay with this and others couldn’t think of anything worse. Being flexible and open to what other people want to do makes for a fun and relaxing trip. Match the level of planning to who is going and what you all prefer.

Check the weather before you go in case the blue skies turn grey.

7. Check the weather

We get some diverse weather in Australia and camping makes you particularly exposed to the elements. Make sure your location and activities match the forecasted weather and that your gear is suitable.

For example, taking a novice camper into the Victorian High Country in the middle of winter when they only have gear suited for summer is going to leave them vulnerable and unprepared.

Check the weather before you go but also have a plan for the unexpected . Make sure you have what you need if it rains, gets windy, or becomes super warm .

Camping with other families with kids is a great way to share the load.

8. Share the kids

For young families , one of the best things you can do is head away with another family with kids of a similar age. They will play together for hours and learn plenty of new skills at the same time. When they explore and play well together, the adults have more of a chance to kick back and relax beside the campfire .

Beyond this, one of the best things about travelling in a group is that you can share the load of looking after the kids. One adult can watch them for an hour, and then you rotate. Meanwhile, the others can have a well-deserved break and older kids can help out as well.

We love camping on our own but camping with a big group of people is an adventure we also look forward to. If you’ve not done much group camping before, give it a go.

What’s your favourite way to camp?

If it involves four-wheel driving, Aaron loves it. When he isn’t writing for his blog, 4WDing Australia or the Snowys Blog, you’ll find him camping and driving around Western Australia.

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When I camp, I love to be outside. I love to spend time with nature and the sound of rushing streams, gurgling rivers and rustling trees. The smell of woodsmoke and marsh gas is heaven on earth. But there’s a downside to most campgrounds – they’re very loud because they are full of people and their vehicles’ engines.

Hey Sadman! How beautifully written. I agree… some campgrounds can be very noisy! Ben and Lauren chat about Camping Etiquette in Ep35 , have a listen if you like!

May seem a little antisocial Best is not to bring too many of who you know but join with others. Given these times certainly keep to less than eight in total

Cheers Trevor! Quality over quantity is always a win.

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50 Fun & Best Camping Activities [Ideas for Kids and Adults]

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The best camping activities for every age group, every activity level, and every budget.

You can only sing campfire songs for so long, amiright? 

I would rather die than sing in front of anyone else, so campfire songs are not such a great idea for me. 

These days, I have no problem entertaining myself while camping. But as a child and then a young adult getting into camping for the first time, I struggled to stay entertained during my time camping.

If you’re looking for good camping activities, I’ve got you covered. Below I’ve rounded up 50 examples of camping activities for every age group based on my 10-plus years of camping experience.

From classics like scary campfire stories and s’mores to great ideas you haven’t heard of, like Exquisite Corpse and Camouflage– I guarantee you will find an activity for your group here.

Table of Contents

Fun Camping Activities for Kids & Families

Attend a Nature Program

One of my all-time favorite camping activities is attending ranger-led nature programs. These kid-friendly camping activities take place at many national and state parks . 

Sometimes a park will list its nature programs on its website. Other times, you’ll find the schedule on a whiteboard outside the visitor center. 

Nature programs are an excellent way to engage your kids in the great outdoors and are almost always free.

Complete Junior Ranger Activities

On your next trip, see if the place where you’re camping has a junior ranger program. 

Junior ranger camping activities for kids are available at many national, state, and regional parks, and they’re free. 

These programs usually have a booklet of activities for the child to complete to earn a badge or reward. 

I like this camping activity because it caters to younger kids. It can be hard to find camping activities for toddlers, but most junior ranger books have at least a coloring page for a young child to enjoy.

Don’t forget about “Telephone” if you’re looking for easy camping activities for kids on your next family camping trip!

Telephone is a classic game at summer camp. Everyone sits in a circle, and one person makes up a phrase. They whisper the phrase to the person next to them (just once! No repeats!), the person whispers the phrase they heard to the person next to them, and so on. 

The last person in the circle says the phrase they heard aloud. Inevitably, the sentence has evolved and become misconstrued, and hilarity ensues.

Play Camouflage 

Camouflage was one of the most popular camping activities for kids when I taught middle school ecology. Camouflage is like hide and seek with a twist (also–don’t forget Hide and Seek is another excellent camping game!). 

In this game, the “seeker” stands in one place and counts to 30 with their eyes closed. The kids hide, but the twist is they must hide where they can see the seeker. 

They must use their natural surroundings to camouflage themselves like animals do. 

When the seeker finishes counting, they open their eyes but stay in their counting spot, calling out to the kids they can see from their vantage point. The stealthiest hider gets to be the next seeker. 

Camping crafts make excellent camping activities for tweens and older kids, especially if it’s something they can do with their camping buddies. 

I somehow never got the hang of friendship bracelets, but I definitely remember wearing one my friend made and feeling *awesome*. 

Check out the Cridoz Bead Bracelet Making Kit for some easy beading. 

Bring some glue, colorful yarn, and feathers to turn pine cones into fairy houses or decorate some awesome walking sticks.

Skip Stones

Skipping stones is one of the best things to do while camping if your camping adventure takes you to the lake or river. Rocks are free, and you can compete for who can get the most skips. 

Look for flat, smooth rocks, and just avoid hitting wildlife or other campers. 

Make a Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunts take planning, but they’re free to set up, and can be so much fun for kids. You only need a pen and a few pieces of paper to write the clues. 

Set up a camping scavenger hunt around the campground or along a short hike. Entice kids by calling it a treasure hunt. 

The end treasure can be something as simple as s’mores. 

Practice Survival Skills

Family camping trips can foster unforgettable, organic, teachable moments, especially regarding outdoor survival and safety skills. 

Turn life-saving lessons into fun family camping activities by bringing a guide to edible plants and then trying the plants (once you are one million percent sure you’ve correctly identified the plant). 

I also recommend teaching your kids to read a topographic map. I didn’t learn until college, and I feel much more confident outdoors because of it. 

You can make this a fun activity if you turn it into a treasure hunt!

Check out the Wilderness Survival Guide for Kids if your survival skills are rusty.

Fun Camping Activities for Adults & Couples

Watch the Sunset

Watching the sunset is one of my top outdoor activities for couples. 

Your weather app should tell you when the sun sets. Plan to arrive at your sunset-watching spot about 45 minutes before sunset. Bring a blanket or chairs and a fun drink. 

A few clouds make for the best sunsets, as they catch the setting sun and make the sunset interesting.

Identify Local Flora and Fauna

Ok, not to sound like an old person, but bird watching is totally fun, ya’ll. Birds are everywhere, so you don’t have to be super stealthy to find them, and there are great apps like Merlin that make identifying birds easy.

To identify plants, I recommend the Picture This app. You take a picture of the plant, and the app scans a database of hundreds of thousands of plants.

Enjoy a Picnic in the Shade

Plan a picnic on your next camping trip and enjoy a meal beneath the cool shade of a tree.

Forget the old-timey wicker picnic baskets! Check out the Sunflora Picnic Backpack , which has an insulated pocket for a wine bottle.

A barbeque is an excellent camping activity for a large group. 

Many campgrounds and RV sites have grills at each campsite, but even if your site only has a picnic table, you can bring a camping grill (like the Coleman Gas Grill ). 

Or you can dust off your cooking skills by hosting a barbeque competition, challenging your friends and fellow campers to bring the tastiest camping snack. 

Bring pens and pieces of paper so everyone can vote on their favorite item of campfire cooking .

Host a Cornhole Competition

Take cornhole to a whole new level on your next camping trip. One of the easiest and best camping drinking games is a cornhole competition. 

In cornhole, you play with two teams who compete to toss bean bags into a hole in a wooden board (check out this Wooden Cornhole Outdoor Lawn Game ). 

Every time an opponent makes a bean bag into your board, the losing team takes a drink.

Practice Nature Photography

I have a million sub-par, poorly lit photos from my camping trips, so I cherish it when I capture an excellent shot. 

You don’t have to have a fancy camera to take great photos, either. Check out this tutorial on taking great pictures with an iPhone:

If you have a DSLR camera, check out this tutorial for landscape photography:

Take a Hammock Nap

Resting on my vacations has become a priority in the last few years, and setting up a hammock can be an excellent way to relax while enjoying nature. 

Since many trees in campgrounds, RV sites, or parks are protected, use thick tree straps so you don’t cut the bark where your lines go.

This package from Wise Owl Outfitters has everything you need to get started. You can get a Wise Owl Outfitters Bug Net if you’re worried about bugs while you hammock. I used something similar when I backpacked in Panama, and it’s a lifesaver!

Best Active Camping Activities

Go for a hike

Your camping trip isn’t complete without a hike. Hiking is one of the best camping ideas for families, especially if you have older kids. 

There’s usually good trail and safety information at campground kiosks or visitor centers. You can also try the AllTrails app , which has excellent trail information for 200,000+ trail maps. 

Most hikes are free with your entry into the park or campground. However, some top-rated trails in certain national parks require permits.

Cool off by taking a dip in the river

Swimming is another one of my favorite family camping activities, especially in summer. One summer, one of the fun things I did with my friends was a “menagerie float.” 

Everyone had a different animal floaty, and we floated down the river in a grand procession of creatures; it was so much fun! Get your menagerie float started with this Unicorn Pool Float .

Water Balloon Fight

One of the best campsite activities for a hot summer day is a water balloon fight. You can set up this fun activity almost anywhere with a water spigot, and it will get kids and adults running for their lives to dodge a big splatter. 

If you want a more controlled water balloon activity, you can try to play catch with the balloons, getting farther apart every time you toss. Eventually, you get so far apart that it’s almost certain someone will drop the balloon.

Kayaking/Stand Up Paddleboarding

Kayaking is a fun way to explore a river or lake, plus it’s a playful way to move that’s not hiking. Bring or rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard to cover some distance on the water. 

A stand-up paddleboard looks like a big surfboard that you can stand or kneel on and paddle using a modified canoe paddle. The benefit of a stand-up paddleboard is that many are inflatable, making them much easier to transport. 

I have the Isle Grom Inflatable Stand Up Paddleboard , and I love it.

Want to learn more? Check out our article on the best kayaks for kids , or see our recommendations for the best lightweight kayaks !

Frisbee Golf

Frisbee golf (also known as disc golf) is a fun camping activity even if you don’t have a proper disc golf course. 

This game is just like regular golf, but rather than using a golf ball, you use a frisbee to aim at specific targets. 

On a frisbee golf course, you aim for baskets that catch the frisbee, but in a campground, you would need to aim for targets of your own making (maybe an open bear box?). 

Enjoy a bike ride

Some campgrounds and parks (or the towns adjacent to the parks) rent bicycles to tourists. So even if you don’t have a bike and a way to transport it, you can enjoy taking a bike ride. 

Some parks have designated off-road bike trails; others do not, so double-check the trail designation before you set out.

Best Nighttime Camping Activities & Campfire Activities

Look at the stars

One of the most rewarding camping activities is stargazing. Not only can you take advantage of the dark sky over the campground, but if you time it right, you can enjoy a show of shooting stars.

Check out the American Meteor Society calendar to see when the next meteor shower might happen in your area.

If the shooting stars aren’t out, pull out the Star Safari app to see the constellations and planets in the night sky above you.

Shadow Puppets

If you are tent camping, making shadow puppets can be a fun way to pass the time. You can do this in two ways. One, you can use your hands to make shadow figures:

Or, two, you can cut out doll shapes and glue them to kebab skewers to create a dancing shadows puppet theater:

Glow-in-the-dark frisbee

Gather your friends for a game of glow-in-the-dark frisbee with a light-up frisbee! The Tosy 36 & 360 LED Flying Disc looks like a flying saucer, making it easy to keep track of in the dark. 

You can toss the frisbee like usual or have a game of ultimate frisbee, where your teammates pass the disc to try and make it to the other team’s goal line.

Play Flashlight tag

A fun idea for nighttime around the fire is a flashlight tag. With flashlight tag, the person who is “it” waits at home base and counts to 30 while everyone else hides. 

When they are done counting, they begin to “seek” by shining the light on the person and calling their name to tag them. 

Once tagged, you wait at the home base until everyone has been caught.

Roast marshmallows

My all-time favorite camping activity is roasting marshmallows and making s’mores. You can find sticks lying around, or bring some special Marshmallow Roasting Sticks .

If you want to get fancy, bring different kinds of chocolate (like Nutella or Andes mints) to create a more gourmet experience for your s’mores.

Tell ghost stories

One of the most classic camping activities at night is telling ghost stories. Whether you grew up watching “Are You Afraid of the Dark” or not, getting a little freaked out can be part of camping fun.

KOA has compiled 17 Kid-Friendly Spooky Campfire Stories , and if you’re looking for something more adult, check out The Dyrt’s Freak Out Your Friends with These 13 Scary Campfire Stories .

Best Camping Activities Inside Your Tent for When It’s Raining

If you don’t have space for board games in your camping setup, a simple deck of cards can give you hours of entertainment.

Some classic card games include:

• Slap (aka Egyptian Rat Screw) 

I recently discovered the Kindle app for my iPhone using Kindle Unlimited ($10/month), and I love it. 

I’m tired of scrolling social media whenever I get bored, so now I open my Kindle app and read instead. 

The beauty of this app is that it will work offline, provided you get your book downloaded ahead of time.

I get so *toight* while camping because I don’t have the space or time to do my regular at-home stretches. 

So if you’re stuck in the tent, you might as well tend to your body. Check out this yoga for camping video for some inspiration:

Nature can be a great place to unwind and center yourself. I found it hard to just sit in silence until I found the Headspace and Insight Timer apps. 

Both have a massive variety of meditations themed for your mood, including meditations you can do while walking in nature.

Play Pass the Pigs

Pass the Pigs is a simple game with small pieces, a perfect tent camping activity in the rain. Pass the Pigs is like bunco, but you use pigs instead of dice. 

You roll two pig “dice” and gain points depending on how they land. The first person to score 100 points wins. 

Learn how to play Pass the Pigs here:

Sketch or Paint

Activate your creative juices and pull out some paper and ink! Or paper and pencil. The beauty of drawing in your tent is that you need few supplies. 

If you want to paint, use a watercolor pen with a refillable reservoir rather than a cup of water. Check out this portable watercolor set .

Best Unique Camping Activities

Geocaching or Letterboxing

Geocaching and letterboxing are types of public treasure hunts. 

In geocaching, you should take and leave something from the cache and write about it in the log book left at the treasure site. 

In letterboxing, the treasure is usually a register, stamp book, or sometimes a small trinket.

The main difference is that geocaching uses GPS coordinates posted online, and there are geocaches all over the world. 

Letterboxing uses clues and has been around much longer than geocaching.

California State Parks has a grea t FAQ page about Geocaching . You can go to geocaching.com to download the coordinates for caches near your site.

Try Rock Climbing

Rock climbing is one of the most exciting camping activities. 

But, take note: rock climbing is not something you should try by yourself for the first time. Instead, this is something you’d need to hire a guide for. 

That said, there are more guide services than you might guess, and they often have easy beginner walls for new climbers.

Another one of my favorite adventure camping activities is caving. I’m from an area in southern New Mexico with *lots* of limestone caves, and some of my favorite memories from high school were exploring the caves around my town.

I don’t recommend ever wandering into a cave without doing your research first, and ideally, stick to caves with guided tours like Crystal Cave in Sequoia National Park.

Have a Multi-Color Fire

Once, on a birthday camping trip, my friends made me a multi-color campfire. It totally surprised me and made a regular ol’ campfire so much more fun.

You can also get Magical Flames Fire Color Changing Packets and make staring into the fire one of your top fun activities.

Have a Movie Night

I usually don’t advocate for *more* screen time while camping, but outdoor movies are fun! 

When singing campfire songs and playing board games won’t do, you can gather the whole family around a portable movie projector.

This Outdoor Projector has a 100″ portable screen, but some tents are large enough for the room divider to act as a movie screen.

Best Camping Games

Capture the Flag

One of my favorite summer camp games was Capture the Flag. To play Capture the Flag, each team takes a flag (a bandana works great) and hides it somewhere on their own “territory.”

The game’s object is to find the other team’s flag and bring it back to your territory without being tagged. 

If you’re tagged, you have to sit in “jail” (can be anywhere you establish) until someone from your team is daring enough to tag you out.

Two Truths and a Lie

Two Truths and a Lie is one of the best camping games for adults who don’t know each other very well. One of the fun things about it is you get to know your fellow campers better. 

In this game, everyone takes turns telling the group two personal truths and one lie. The group must guess which statement is the lie based on what they know about the person, their body language, or their gut feelings.

The Voting Game

The Voting Game and The Voting Game After Dark are two more fun activities for friends who don’t know each other well. 

The tagline for this game is, “Find out who your friends are.” The cards ask questions like, “Whose Google search history do you want to see most?” and “Who will be the last person alive?”

Assassin is another fun activity for friends or families who like to play games. Everyone in the group gets a playing card. The person with the Queen of Hearts is the assassin, and they murder people by winking at them. 

You can play this around the campfire or throughout the weekend. I like the extended version, personally. 

When someone gets assassinated, they should make a big, dramatic show of “dying.” 

If you think you know who the assassin is, you can make an accusation, but if you’re wrong, you die too! The assassin wins if they kill everyone before someone identifies them.

Truth or Dare

One of the most classic campfire games is Truth or Dare. 

If you don’t know the rules: someone asks, “Truth or Dare?” and you pick one or the other. If you choose ‘truth,’ you’ll have to answer a question with the truth, no matter how embarrassing. 

If you pick a dare, you’ll have to complete a challenge. “I dare you to walk around the campground with pine cones in your shirt like boobs.” Or, “I dare you to use your walking stick like an elephant’s trunk every time you see someone drink from a water bottle on the trail.”

Personally, I always have a hard time coming up with good dares, so I like the Truth & Dare Card Game . This travel-sized Truth or Dare starter kit has silly dares and is perfect for camping.

Spoons are one of the best camping games for families if you have a picnic table in your campsite. I loved this game as a teenager, and it can get cutthroat!

Everyone gets four playing cards, and there is one less spoon in the center of the table than there are players. 

The dealer draws one card from the top of the remaining deck, looks at it, decides if they want it, and passes it or a card from their hand, face down, to the player next to them. 

When someone gets four of a kind, they stealthily (or not) take a spoon from the center. This move signals to the rest of the group that they can grab a spoon too. The slowest person who doesn’t get a spoon is eliminated, and the game continues with one less person.

Mafia, also known as Assassin or Werewolf, is one of the few camping activities you need at least seven people for. 

In this big family activity, everyone gets a role in an imaginary town. Generally, there are mafia members and townspeople. 

Like the game Assassin I listed above, the mafia members kill townspeople during the “nighttime” gameplay period, and the detective has to try and figure out who the mafia members are. 

Accused mafia members get to make a defense for themselves, and then everyone in town votes. Unlike the other Assassin game, Mafia has a doctor role that can heal townspeople. Click the following link for complete details about Mafia .

20 Questions

20 Questions is a simple game where one person thinks of an object (or person), and the rest of the group gets 20 yes or no questions to figure it out. 

If they do, they win; if they don’t, the other person wins.

Would You Rather

Would You Rather is another fun game; the more creative you can be, the better. 

In Would You Rather, one person poses two scenarios to the group, who then has to answer which scenario they would rather have. 

For example, “Would you rather have peg legs or snakes for arms?” The clarifying questions usually lead to laughter.

If you want some easy ‘Would You Rather’ prompts, check out Would You Rather? Summer Edition .

Anyone can play Charades as long you’re not too embarrassed to act things out silently. 

Everyone writes down a phrase in Charades and throws the suggestions into a hat. The group divides into two teams, and one person from each team takes turns drawing from the hat and acting out the phrase. 

If your team can guess the phrase in an allotted time (you can decide how long), you score a point. The opposing team gets one guess if you don’t guess in time. If they get it right, they get the point.

Of course, if you need more great ideas, there are boxed sets of Charades suggestions, like Party Charades .

Mad Libs is one of the best camping ideas for kids who know the parts of speech (i.e., nouns, adjectives, etc.). 

Most people play Mad Libs with a Mad Libs book, where one person (the “reader”) asks the group for suggestions for nouns, colors, exclamations, adjectives, etc. 

The reader then fills in the blanks of the Mad Libs story with those suggestions and reads a hilarious, disjointed, and ridiculous story.

There are a million versions of the Mad Libs books. Check out Vacation Fun Mad Libs .

Exquisite Corpse

Last but not least, Exquisite Corpse is a collaborative drawing game where you fold a piece of paper into four sections, and everyone takes a turn drawing part of a body onto their section of paper without looking at the previous drawings.

This game is one of the best camping ideas for artistically inclined campers and requires few supplies. 

Check out this tutorial on Exquisite Corpse: 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Meredith Dennis

Meredith is a biologist and writer based in California’s Sierra Nevada. She has lived in 6 states as a biologist, so her intel on hiking and camping is chef’s kiss next level. One of her earliest camping memories was being too scared to find a bathroom at night on a family camping trip. Thankfully, she’s come a long way since then and she can help you get there too!

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Hi, I'm Mimi! I'm an outdoorsy Californian who has spent over 28 years immersed in the incredible natural beauty that California has to offer. My goal is to inspire others to get out and find their next adventure in California. Whether it’s escaping to an alpine lake in the Sierras, finding peace among the giant redwoods, or road tripping down the PCH, there’s always more to explore in this beautiful state.

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Ultimate Guide: Team-Building Activities In Camping Adventure

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Team building activities are an important part of any camping trip. They help to create a sense of camaraderie and unity among the group , which can be essential for having the best possible experience together in nature.

As a team-building activities expert, I’m here to share some great ideas for how to make your next camping adventure even more memorable!

The first thing you need to do is find something fun that everyone wants to participate in. Whether it’s physical or mental challenges, setting up a scavenger hunt, or learning about local flora and fauna – there are lots of ways to keep everyone entertained while also helping them bond as a unit.

Some other popular activities include outdoor cooking competitions, arts & crafts projects, orienteering games, campfire storytelling sessions, and hiking tours with different themes (such as night hikes).

Ultimately, there are endless possibilities when it comes to planning team-building activities around camping trips; all it takes is a bit of creativity and imagination! With my tips on hand, you’ll have no problem coming up with original ideas that will bring your gang closer together than ever before. Let’s get started!

Check Out My Another Post: Extreme Sports Team Building Activities Ideas For Thrill-Seeking Companies In 2023 .

Planning Outdoors Activities

When it comes to planning team-building activities for a camping trip, outdoor fun is the goal. It’s important to consider activity ideas that encourage collaboration, communication, and problem-solving among your group members. Whether you’re looking for physical or mental challenges, there are plenty of options available.

Outdoor activities make great additions to any camping excursion as they provide an opportunity for everyone in the group to work together towards a common goal. From scavenger hunts and orienteering competitions to relay races and trust games, these activities can be tailored to fit all levels of experience and physical ability.

It’s also important to include some more creative tasks such as creating artwork outside with natural materials like sticks and stones or having a campfire story time where participants tell stories about their greatest adventures.

Safety should always be at the forefront when planning any kind of team-building activity outdoors . Make sure each participant has proper safety gear including helmets and life jackets if necessary, along with knowledge on how to use them before getting started.

Also, keep an eye out for environmental hazards such as sharp objects or dangerous animals that may be lurking around certain areas of the campsite.

With these tips in mind, you’ll be ready to plan some memorable team-building experiences for your next camping adventure! Transitioning into icebreakers: Icebreakers are another great way to get your group engaged during a camping trip.

Fun Team Building Activities Ideas For Camping

1. Icebreakers

Research indicates that team-building activities are necessary for any successful camping trip. Icebreakers can provide an important foundation of social interaction, helping to create a supportive group dynamic and foster meaningful connections between participants. When done properly, icebreaker activities and team-building games can help create lasting memories with your fellow campers and greatly enhance the overall experience.

As far as icebreaker activities go, there are many options. Some popular ones include introducing yourself by sharing something unique about you or playing a game like “Two Truths and a Lie”. You could also split into teams and have them compete in various challenges such as balloon popping or word guessing. These types of fun activities will get everyone laughing while simultaneously promoting cooperation within the group.

No matter which icebreaker activity you choose, it’s essential to keep things lighthearted yet focused on fostering stronger relationships between all members of the team. If everyone is comfortable being themselves, then they’re more likely to bond over shared experiences during their time at camp. With this newfound sense of camaraderie, the transition into nature scavenger hunts will be smooth sailing!

2. Nature Scavenger Hunts

Nature scavenger hunts are a great team-building activity for camping trips. They can be adapted to fit any size group and location, making them an ideal outdoor activity. With a nature scavenger hunt, teams can explore the area around their campsite while competing in a friendly competition.

To set up a successful outdoor scavenger hunt, participants should first create several lists of items that they will search for during their hunt. Depending on the environment, these could include common plants and animals or natural objects such as rocks and leaves. Teams should then divide into groups before heading out on their adventure. As each item is found, it should be checked off the list – whoever completes all tasks first wins!

For extra fun, try adding challenges like taking photos of certain items with each member of the team included in the picture or creating ‘treasure maps’ which lead to hidden prizes at various points along the route. Nature scavenger hunts provide endless possibilities for creative ideas and activities that everyone can enjoy safely outdoors.

At the end of the day, all members of your team will have experienced something new together while also having enjoyed some healthy competition between themselves – an invaluable lesson in trust and collaboration. By fostering this sense of teamwork amongst campers you’ll soon find yourself with more than just happy campers – you’ll have bonded friends who look forward to future trips together!

3. Outdoor Games

Outdoor teambuilding games are an ideal way to liven up any camping trip. Whether you’re looking for a fun and active game, or something laid-back that everyone can join in on, there are plenty of outdoor activities suitable for both adults and kids alike. Outdoor sports such as soccer, Frisbee golf, softball and volleyball can provide hours of entertainment while being great exercise too! For those who prefer more relaxed activities, classic outdoor games like horseshoes, bocce ball and badminton make excellent options. With the right equipment and some helpful instructions (for beginners), these simple yet enjoyable games will have your campers grinning from ear to ear!

Group challenges are another fantastic way to bring people together during a camping trip. From scavenger hunts to obstacle courses – the possibilities are endless when it comes to creating engaging group activities! Not only do they encourage cooperation between participants but also help foster relationships through shared experiences. Plus, many group challenges can be adapted depending on age level and skill set – making them perfect for all types of groups.

4. Group Challenges

If you’re looking to bring your team closer together during a camping trip, consider engaging in some group challenges! Team-building activities like these can help create an atmosphere of collaboration and camaraderie as your team works together.

Group challenges are fun team exercises that encourage collaborative tasks, such as problem-solving or communication skills. They don’t require any special equipment and can be easily adapted to fit the size of your group. Plus, they provide great opportunities for learning about each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Group tasks can range from simple physical challenges to more complex mental puzzles. For example, you could ask everyone to stand up on one foot for five minutes without speaking or have them work together to build something creative out of natural materials found around the campsite. No matter what challenging activity you choose, it should always have clear goals and rules so that everyone is working towards the same end result.

These types of group activities will test both individual abilities and collective knowledge — ultimately helping improve teamwork dynamics among members of the group.

As people work together through challenging (yet achievable) tasks, they’ll grow more comfortable with each other while also honing their problem-solving skills! Furthermore, there’s no better way to strengthen trust than by relying on others when completing difficult objectives.

As you move into exploring creative projects at your next camping retreat, keep in mind how important it is for groups to come together in order to achieve success. With ample preparation and thoughtful instructions, these kinds of activities can become invaluable experiences that bond teams long after the campfire has gone out!

5. Creative Projects

Team-building activities during camping are an excellent way to bring everyone together. Creative projects can be a great team-building activity that allows campers to express their artistic side and bond with one another at the same time.

From team art projects, such as murals or even individual canvases, to creative tasks like building models of popular landmarks, there are plenty of options for artistic team-building activities when it comes to camping.

Team painting activities also lend themselves well to outdoor settings due to the fact that they require minimal setup and little in terms of materials. This type of activity is perfect for groups looking for a fun, yet thoughtful way to get to know each other better through creativity.

It’s important for teams participating in these activities to come up with ideas together; this encourages collaboration which will lead to stronger bonds between members later on.

Additionally, leaders should ensure that all participants feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and opinions throughout the project; allowing everyone’s voices to be heard helps foster trust within the group while reinforcing the importance of teamwork.

With these considerations in mind, campsites have limitless potential when it comes to fostering both physical and psychological growth among its participants through creative projects.

Having completed their collective task, campers can look forward to celebrating their work over a bonfire night filled with laughter and memories made under starry skies – an experience sure not soon forgotten!

6. Bonfire Night Fun

Moving on from creative projects, let’s look at bonfire night fun. Camping is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a cozy fire and has some much-needed family time. Fire activities are not only entertaining but also bring people together through camaraderie. To make the most of your camping trip, plan ahead and create an unforgettable bonfire night with these team-building ideas!

If you’re planning a night camping trip, start by gathering around the campfire and roasting marshmallows. This simple activity will give everyone something to do while enjoying each other’s company. You can even play games like charades or storytelling – simply pick a topic for everyone to share their stories about. As long as you keep it lighthearted, this game is sure to be a hit with all ages!

Finally, explore the area around your campsite after sunset and catch glimpses of nature in its purest form. Get your group involved in stargazing or take turns telling scary stories – just remember to stay safe and stick close to home if things get too wild! With these activities, you’ll be able to create memories that last beyond your camping retreats.

7. Camping Retreats

Camping retreats are a great way to build team spirit and camaraderie. They provide an opportunity for the members of your business or organization to get away from their busy lives and enjoy each other’s company in a natural setting.

Camping trips can range from day-long excursions to weekend escapades, depending on what you’re looking for. Regardless of length, there are certain steps that need to be taken before launching out into the wilderness with your team:

• Gather all necessary camping gear such as tents, sleeping bags, cookware, and food supplies
• Make sure everyone knows how to pitch a tent properly
• Plan hikes or activities together that will challenge everyone physically but also be fun

When planning these types of retreats it’s important that everyone has equal opportunities to contribute ideas and participate in decision-making. This allows them to feel valued within the group and encourages collaboration among its members.

After everything is settled regarding equipment and planned activities, ensure that all participants have enough energy by providing snacks beforehand and preparing proper meals during campouts. A successful camping trip depends on having good food as much as it does on having well-functioning gear!

The impact on team dynamics of taking part in a camping retreat cannot be overstated; it provides invaluable time away from work obligations while allowing people to bond through shared experiences outside of their comfort zone. Allowing individuals to thrive in nature gives them the confidence they can take back into the office with them which will ultimately lead to increased motivation and morale among staff members.

Impact On Team Dynamics

Team-building activities while camping can have a tremendous impact on team dynamics and group bonding. Camping is an excellent way to get outdoors and experience new places together as a team, leading to improved communication, trust, and collaboration among the members of the team.

When teams are able to take part in team-building activities during their camping retreats, they often find that their relationships become much more effective due to increased understanding between them. This leads to better working relationships within the organization which can lead to greater productivity and efficiency over time.

On the other hand, there are also some challenges associated with participating in outdoor experiences such as technological distractions or heightened stress levels caused by unfamiliar environments and weather changes. Additionally, safety concerns should always be taken into consideration when engaging in these activities.

Overall, camping offers numerous opportunities for teams looking to improve their collective performance through team-building activities like outdoor adventures and nature explorations. With careful planning and proper guidance from experienced professionals, teams will be able to enjoy all the rewards of this unique form of learning without compromising their security or well-being.

Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]

At this stage of the article, let’s see some FAQs, that people frequently ask about Team-Building Activities In Camping Adventure:

What Is The Best Time Of Year For Camping Team Building Activities?

What is the best time of year for camping team-building activities? This is a popular question among those looking to plan an outdoor adventure . Depending on your group’s needs and preferences, there are several different seasons that can be ideal for camping team-building activities.

Let’s start with summer: this season offers longer days and warmer weather, making it perfect for enjoying the outdoors. Many groups opt to camp during the day and spend their evenings engaging in various outdoor activities like hikes or beach visits. Summer is also an excellent choice if you’re planning night camping; under the stars can provide a truly unique bonding experience for any group!

When we move into fall, temperatures begin to cool down but remain warm enough to allow for some interesting experiences. Fall camping provides scenery changes such as vibrant foliage displays which could make exploring the area more enjoyable.

It’s also possible to take advantage of shorter daylight hours by doing nighttime activities like bonfires or stargazing – these types of events may help bring your group closer together while creating lasting memories.

Springtime offers milder temperatures than summer, yet still has plenty of daylight hours available to explore nature together. If you choose spring, don’t forget about all of the seasonal flowers that will be blooming around you– taking photos surrounded by wildflowers or picking fresh fruits from nearby trees could create unforgettable moments.

Last but not least comes winter: although daytime activity options are limited due to shorter daylight hours, many teams prefer winter because they find it easier to get away from their regular routines and focus solely on each other and nature. Winter campsites often come equipped with fire pits, so cozy fireside chats at night become part of the experience too!

No matter what type of campground you visit or when you decide to go, having team-building activities planned ahead ensures everyone gets the most out of their trip. Whether you select summer camping, winter camping, spring camping, fall camping, or even night camping – just remember one thing: no two trips will ever be exactly alike!

How Do I Plan For A Camping Team Building Activity On A Budget?

Planning for a camping team-building activity on a budget doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. With some strategic planning and creative thinking, you can create an affordable team-building experience that your group will remember fondly. In this article, I’ll provide tips on how to plan for a budget-friendly camping trip while still getting the most out of it in terms of team-building activities.

The first step is to decide what type of activities you want to do during the camping trip. Brainstorming with a few friends can help generate inexpensive team-building ideas such as scavenger hunts and campfire challenges. These activities don’t require any special equipment or materials, so they won’t break the bank! Additionally, consider whether there are any nearby attractions that may offer discounts when booking group tickets—this could save money without compromising your plans for fun and engaging team-building opportunities.

Finally, once you’ve determined which activities you want to include, it’s time to start making arrangements for accommodations and supplies like food and clothing. When possible, carpool from one location rather than renting multiple cars or vans; this helps cut down on transportation costs. It’s also important to research local hiking trails or parks where you can take advantage of free outdoor activities like swimming or kayaking.

Furthermore, if cooking meals outdoors isn’t feasible due to cost restrictions, pre-made meals like sandwiches or salads work great too! By doing all these things together as a group, everyone gets the chance to contribute their own unique perspectives to creating an unforgettable camping experience on a budget!

What Safety Precautions Should I Take When Planning A Camping Team Building Activity?

When planning a camping team-building activity, safety should always be at the forefront of your mind. Camping can involve risks that must be addressed before beginning any activities. To ensure everyone has an enjoyable and safe experience, here are some essential safety precautions to take when planning a camping team-building activity:

• Familiarize yourself with local laws and regulations related to camping in the area you plan on visiting.
• Ensure all participants have adequate gear for their individual needs as well as proper clothing for the expected weather conditions.
• Have emergency contact information readily available for all participants in case something should go wrong during the activity or trip.

In addition to these general safety tips, there are also specific safety measures you should take when it comes to team-building activities while camping. It is important to communicate expectations clearly beforehand and provide guidance throughout each activity so that everyone involved understands what they need to do and how they can stay safe.

Make sure that any potential hazards such as slippery surfaces, fire pits, rocks near water sources, etc., are identified before starting any games or activities so that no one gets injured by accidentally tripping over them or running into them during playtime! Additionally, provide first aid kits and remind people about basic campfire safety rules like never leaving fires unattended and always having adult supervision nearby if children are present.

By following these simple steps, you will help ensure that your team-building activity is both fun and safe for everyone involved! Taking time to plan ahead not only reduces risks but also helps create a positive atmosphere where teams can bond without worrying about unexpected dangers along the way.

How Can I Make Sure My Team Engages With The Activities?

When it comes to planning team-building activities, engaging the entire team is essential for a successful outing. Ensuring that each member of the group participates and contributes to the activity can be tricky but ultimately rewarding. The key is careful planning ahead of time and taking into consideration everyone’s individual strengths and interests.

Involving all members in an activity requires thoughtful preparation. To ensure your team engages with the activity, begin by asking yourself what type of experience you want them to have. Consider how much physical or mental energy they will need to expand, as well as their levels of comfort with new experiences. Additionally, take into account any special needs or considerations that may affect some members more than others when deciding on an activity.

Once you’ve chosen an appropriate activity for your team, create a plan outlining step-by-step instructions for its execution. Before beginning the task, set expectations regarding involvement level and make sure everyone understands their role within the group – whether it’s providing support or getting things done independently – so there are no surprises during implementation.

Ultimately, fostering teamwork through communication and mutual respect will help maintain engagement throughout any given activity while strengthening bonds between teammates at the same time!

What Equipment Do I Need To Run A Successful Camping Team Building Activity?

When it comes to team-building activities, the right equipment is essential for a successful experience. From camping equipment and supplies to specialized team-building materials, having everything you need will help ensure that your group engages with the activity in an enjoyable way. Whether you’re looking for outdoor activities or indoor challenges, understanding which items are important can be a great place to start.

First and foremost, when planning a camping trip for a team-building exercise , you’ll want to make sure that all of the necessary camping gear is accounted for before heading out. This includes tents or shelters, sleeping bags, flashlights or lanterns, cooking equipment, and food storage containers. It’s also wise to bring extra clothing and rain gear just in case there’s inclement weather during your stay.

In addition to basic camping supplies, there are several other items that may come in handy depending on what type of team-building exercises you have planned.

For instance, if you’re hoping to lead physical activities such as hikes or sports games then additional safety equipment like helmets or pads might be needed as well as any tools required for setting up obstacle courses or playing fields.

If structured problem-solving tasks are more suitable for your group then consider bringing puzzles and riddles along with strategies cards so everyone can participate without feeling overwhelmed by the task at hand.

No matter what types of experiences you plan on running with your team it’s always helpful to set aside some funds specifically designated towards purchasing team-building supplies. Having these materials available throughout your outing will not only keep participants engaged but they will likely thank you later once they realize how much better their time was because of it!

In conclusion, camping team-building activities are a great way to boost morale and create a sense of camaraderie among your team. With proper planning and preparation, you can have an unforgettable experience that will last for years!

First and foremost, you need to assess when the best time of year is for a camping trip. This may vary depending on what type of activity you plan on doing and where you’re going; however, safety should always be at the forefront of any decision-making process.

Then comes budgeting: it’s possible to do this within your means if you shop around for deals or use items from home. Don’t forget about all the necessary equipment such as tents and cooking supplies – these are essential components that must not be overlooked! Lastly, make sure everyone engages with the activities by creating tasks they can complete together while having fun in nature.

As an expert on team-building activities, I’m confident that following these steps will ensure success during your next camping adventure. From assessing the best season to choosing appropriate equipment, there are many ways to create memorable experiences out in the wild.

And remember no matter what kind of camping excursion you decide upon, just enjoy yourself and appreciate being able to spend quality time with those around you!

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Group Camping Activities for Youth: A Comprehensive Guide

New Introduction:

Are you looking for exciting and enriching group camping activities for youth? Look no further! In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the best group camping activities for youth, including team building activities, outdoor recreation, and nature exploration. We will also provide tips on planning your group camping trip, ensuring safety and emergency preparedness, and managing group dynamics and conflicts. Whether you’re a youth group leader, parent, or teacher, this guide will help you plan a memorable and rewarding group camping experience for the young people in your life.

Benefits of Group Camping Activities for Youth

Group camping activities provide a unique opportunity for youth to develop important life skills, such as teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving. It also provides a chance for youth to disconnect from technology and connect with nature. Here are some specific benefits of group camping activities for youth:

Personal Growth and Development

Camping provides a chance for youth to step out of their comfort zone and gain confidence in themselves. They learn how to navigate new environments, try new things, and take on new challenges. Youth who participate in group camping activities are more likely to develop leadership skills and learn to take responsibility for themselves and others.

Mental and Physical Health

Being in nature and away from the stress of daily life can have significant mental health benefits. Camping promotes relaxation and can lower stress levels. It has also been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Additionally, camping is a physically active experience that promotes exercise and getting outdoors, which can improve overall physical health and wellness.

Social Skills

Group camping activities provide a chance for youth to develop important social skills, such as communication, collaboration, and conflict resolution. By working together to complete tasks and activities, youth learn how to work effectively in a team and how to resolve conflicts in a healthy and constructive way. These skills are beneficial not only for camping trips but for their personal and professional lives as well.

Nature Exploration

Camping trips provide the opportunity for youth to explore nature in a way that is not possible in other settings. They can learn about different ecosystems, observe wildlife, and develop an appreciation for the beauty and complexity of the natural world. This can foster a lifelong love of nature and a commitment to environmental conservation.

Camping provides a unique and valuable experience for youth to develop important skills, connect with nature, and promote mental and physical well-being. By participating in group camping activities, youth can gain confidence, develop social skills, and learn to appreciate and protect the environment.

Planning Your Group Camping Trip

Planning a group camping trip requires careful consideration and preparation. Here are some things to keep in mind when planning your group camping trip:

Choosing the Right Location for Your Group Camping Trip

Choosing the right location for your group camping trip is essential to having a successful experience. Consider the following:

Accessibility: Choose a location that is easily accessible to all members of your group. Consider transportation options, such as carpooling or renting a bus.

Amenities: Choose a location that has the amenities your group will need, such as restrooms, showers, and a place to cook.

Activities: Choose a location that offers the activities your group is interested in, such as hiking, fishing, or kayaking.

Packing Essentials for Group Camping Trips

When packing for a group camping trip, it’s important to bring the essentials. Here’s a checklist of items to consider:

• Tent and camping gear
• Sleeping bags and pads
• Cooking utensils and food
• Water bottles and water filtration system
• First aid kit
• Warm clothing and rain gear
• Insect repellent and sunscreen
• Flashlights and extra batteries

Meal Planning and Food Safety Considerations

Meal planning is an essential part of any group camping trip. Here are some things to consider when planning meals:

Plan ahead: Plan meals in advance to ensure that you have all the necessary ingredients and equipment.

Consider dietary restrictions: Take into account any dietary restrictions within the group and plan meals accordingly.

Food safety: Keep food safe by storing it properly and cooking it to the recommended temperature.

Safety and Emergency Preparedness Tips

It’s important to be prepared for emergencies when camping. Here are some safety and emergency preparedness tips:

First aid: Bring a first aid kit and know how to use it.

Emergency contacts: Make sure everyone in the group has emergency contact information and knows where to find it.

Weather: Monitor weather conditions and be prepared for inclement weather.

Fire safety: Follow fire safety guidelines and make sure everyone knows how to use a fire extinguisher.

Importance of Safety Protocols for Group Camping Activities for Youth

Ensuring the safety and well-being of youth participants is of utmost importance when it comes to group camping activities. As such, it is essential to have proper safety protocols in place to minimize the risk of injury or any other harmful incidents. When planning a group camping trip, it’s important to identify potential risks and develop strategies to mitigate them. This includes everything from first aid procedures to emergency protocols. Make sure that all members of your group are aware of these protocols and know what to do in case of an emergency. Additionally, it’s important to have adequate supervision for all youth participants to ensure their safety and well-being.

Outdoor Team Building Activities for Youth Camping Groups

Outdoor team building activities are an important aspect of group camping trips, as they encourage teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills among youth. Here are some exciting team building activities that you can try with your youth camping group:

Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt is a classic team-building activity that can be adapted to suit any age group. Create a list of items to find around the campsite or in nature, and divide the group into teams. The team that finds all the items first wins. You can also add challenges along the way to make it more interesting.

Trust Exercises

Trust exercises are a great way to build trust and develop problem-solving skills among group members. Blindfold one member of the group and have others assist them in completing a task, such as building a shelter or navigating an obstacle course. This activity requires clear communication and trust between group members.

Obstacle Course

An obstacle course is a fun and challenging way to promote teamwork and physical activity. Create an obstacle course that requires the group to work together to complete. For example, you can include obstacles such as rope swings, crawling under nets, or climbing walls.

Rope Course

A rope course is an exciting and challenging team-building activity that requires group members to work together to navigate different challenges. Set up a rope course with different challenges that require the group to work together. For example, you can include challenges such as crossing a rope bridge or navigating a high ropes course.

When planning team building activities, make sure to consider the age and abilities of the group members, as well as any safety considerations. It’s also important to debrief after each activity to discuss what was learned and how the skills developed can be applied to other areas of life. These activities are great for promoting teamwork and communication skills, and can help youth build confidence and develop leadership skills.

Best Group Camping Activities for Youth

Group camping trips provide an opportunity for youth to experience the outdoors while also participating in fun and engaging activities. Here are some of the best group camping activities for youth that are sure to keep participants entertained:

Camping Games and Challenges

Camping games and challenges are a great way to engage youth participants and promote teamwork and healthy competition. Here are some ideas for camping games and challenges:

Scavenger Hunt: Set up a scavenger hunt where participants have to find and collect different items around the campsite. You can make it more challenging by requiring participants to take photos of the items they find.

Capture the Flag: Divide participants into teams and have them play a game of capture the flag. This classic game is always a hit and can be easily adapted to fit your campsite.

Relay Race: Set up a relay race with different challenges such as running, crawling, or carrying an object. This game is a great way to get participants moving and working together as a team.

Nature Hikes and Wildlife Spotting

Nature hikes and wildlife spotting are great ways to get participants connected with nature and learn about the environment around them. Here are some ideas for nature hikes and wildlife spotting:

Guided Hike: Take participants on a guided hike around the campsite and point out different plants and animals. This is a great opportunity for participants to learn about the environment and connect with nature.

Wildlife Spotting: Encourage participants to look for different wildlife around the campsite such as birds, insects, or even larger animals like deer or bears. Make sure to emphasize the importance of respecting wildlife and not disturbing their habitats.

Campfire Activities and Storytelling

Gathering around the campfire is a classic camping activity that never gets old. Here are some ideas for campfire activities and storytelling:

Campfire Songs: Singing campfire songs is a great way to bring participants together and create a fun and inclusive atmosphere. Make sure to choose songs that are appropriate for all ages and backgrounds.

Storytelling: Encourage participants to share their favorite stories around the campfire. This could be anything from personal experiences to ghost stories or legends.

Games: There are many games that can be played around the campfire such as charades, truth or dare, or even board games that are specifically designed for camping trips.

Overall, these group camping activities for youth are sure to keep participants engaged and entertained while also promoting teamwork, learning, and personal growth.

Youth Group Camping Ideas and Activities

Camping with youth groups can be a fun and creative experience that encourages learning, growth, and bonding. Here are some additional ideas for camping with youth groups:

Arts and Crafts Projects

Arts and crafts projects are a great way to encourage creativity and self-expression. Bring supplies for drawing, painting, or making friendship bracelets. You can also encourage participants to create nature-inspired art using materials found in the wilderness.

Leadership and Personal Development Activities

Camping trips offer an ideal setting for youth to learn and practice leadership and personal development skills. Plan group discussions or activities to help participants develop skills such as communication, problem-solving, and decision-making. You can also encourage participants to take on leadership roles during the camping trip, such as leading a nature hike or planning a group activity.

Community Service and Environmental Projects

Camping trips offer a chance for youth to give back to their community and the environment. Consider planning a community service or environmental project, such as cleaning up a nearby trail or park. This not only benefits the community but also teaches youth the importance of environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

Game Nights and Talent Shows

Game nights and talent shows are great evening activities for camping trips. Encourage participants to bring their favorite board games or card games to play together. You can also plan a talent show where participants can showcase their skills, such as singing, dancing, or telling jokes.

Stargazing and Night Hikes

Stargazing and night hikes are fun activities that can be done after dark. Take a nature hike at night and explore the wilderness under the moon and stars. You can also bring a telescope and teach participants about the different constellations and stars in the sky.

Overall, camping with youth groups provides endless opportunities for fun, learning, and growth. By incorporating a variety of activities and projects, you can create a memorable and rewarding experience for all participants.

Reviews and Recommendations for Youth Group Camping Programs and Locations

Youth group camping programs and locations offer a unique opportunity to experience nature and learn new skills. However, choosing the right program or location can be daunting. Here are some recommendations for youth group camping programs and locations:

YMCA camps are a popular choice for youth group camping programs. They offer a variety of camping programs for youth, including day camps and overnight camps. YMCA camps provide a range of activities, such as swimming, hiking, archery, and nature exploration. They also offer opportunities for personal development, leadership, and team building.

National Parks

National parks offer some of the most beautiful and iconic locations for youth group camping trips. They provide a chance to explore nature and learn about the environment. National parks offer camping opportunities for youth groups, and provide a range of activities such as hiking, wildlife spotting, and stargazing. Additionally, national parks offer educational programs and ranger-led tours that provide insights into the natural and cultural history of the area.

Private Campgrounds

Private campgrounds are another great option for youth group camping programs. They offer a range of amenities and activities, such as swimming pools, playgrounds, and sports fields. Private campgrounds also provide opportunities for outdoor recreation, such as fishing, boating, and horseback riding. Some private campgrounds even offer specialized programs, such as adventure education or wilderness skills training.

When choosing a program or location, consider the interests and needs of your group, as well as the location and cost. Additionally, it’s a good idea to read reviews and ask for recommendations from others who have participated in these programs or visited these locations. Doing so can help ensure a successful and enjoyable camping experience for all participants.

Note: It’s important to verify the status of each camp or location as some may be closed or have limited availability due to COVID-19 restrictions. Be sure to check with each individual location for the most up-to-date information.

Choosing the Right Camping Gear for Youth Group Camping Trips

Choosing the right camping gear is essential to having a successful group camping trip. Here are some tips to help you choose the right gear for your youth group camping trip:

Choosing the Right Tent

When choosing a tent, consider the size and needs of your group, as well as the climate and weather conditions of your camping location. Look for a tent that is easy to set up and provides adequate protection from the elements. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a tent:

• Size: Make sure the tent is large enough to accommodate your group comfortably.
• Seasonality: Consider the climate and weather conditions of your camping location. Choose a tent that is appropriate for the season and weather conditions you will encounter.
• Ease of Setup: Look for a tent that is easy to set up and take down. Consider the number of people in your group and how much time you have to set up camp.

Choosing Sleeping Bags and Pads

When choosing sleeping bags and pads, consider the temperature rating and insulation type. Make sure that the sleeping bags are comfortable and provide adequate warmth for the climate. Here are some factors to consider when choosing sleeping bags and pads:

• Temperature Rating: Look for sleeping bags and pads with a temperature rating appropriate for the climate and weather conditions you will encounter.
• Insulation Type: Choose a sleeping bag and pad with insulation appropriate for the temperature and climate of your camping location. Synthetic insulation is a good choice for wet or humid conditions, while down insulation is best for dry conditions.
• Comfort: Make sure that the sleeping bags and pads are comfortable and provide adequate support for a good night’s sleep.

Choosing Cooking Utensils and Food

When choosing cooking utensils and food, consider the dietary restrictions of your group and plan meals accordingly. Make sure that you have all the necessary utensils and equipment to cook and serve meals. Here are some factors to consider when choosing cooking utensils and food:

• Dietary Restrictions: Consider the dietary restrictions and preferences of your group when planning meals. Make sure to have vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free options available if needed.
• Utensils and Equipment: Make sure to bring all the necessary utensils and equipment to cook and serve meals. This may include a stove, fuel, pots and pans, cooking utensils, plates, cups, and utensils.
• Food Storage and Safety: Make sure to store food properly to prevent spoilage and foodborne illness. Use coolers, ice packs, and food storage containers to keep food fresh and safe to eat.

By following these tips, you can choose the right camping gear for your youth group camping trip, and ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience for all participants.

Insider Tips for Planning a Successful Youth Group Camping Trip

Planning a successful youth group camping trip requires careful consideration and preparation. To make sure that your group has an unforgettable experience, here are some insider tips based on our experience and expertise:

Start Planning Early

Give yourself plenty of time to plan and prepare for your group camping trip. This will ensure that you have enough time to find the right location, gather the necessary gear, and plan activities. It’s recommended to start planning at least 3-6 months in advance, especially if it’s your first time planning a trip.

Involve the Group in Planning

Get input from your group members on what activities they would like to do and what gear they would like to bring. This will help ensure that everyone is invested in the trip and excited to participate. Create a group chat or survey to gather ideas and preferences and make sure to consider them when planning.

Consider Hiring a Guide or Instructor

If you are not an experienced camper or outdoor enthusiast, consider hiring a guide or instructor to help you plan and execute your trip. A guide can help you choose the right location, plan activities, and ensure that everyone stays safe during the trip. It’s an investment that can help you avoid costly mistakes and provide a better experience for your group.

Have a Backup Plan

Be prepared for unforeseen circumstances, such as weather changes or unexpected injuries. Have a backup plan in place to ensure that your trip can continue smoothly. Make sure to research the area you will be camping in and be aware of any potential hazards. Have a plan for emergency situations and communicate it to all participants.

By following these insider tips, you can ensure that your youth group camping trip is a success and provides a fun and rewarding experience for all participants. Check out our other outdoor education content for more tips and ideas on planning your next group camping trip.

Who can participate in group camping activities for youth?

Youth of all ages and backgrounds can participate in group camping activities.

What are some benefits of group camping activities for youth?

Group camping activities promote personal growth, social skills, and nature exploration.

How can I plan a successful group camping trip for youth?

Choose the right location, pack essentials, plan meals, and have safety protocols in place.

What are some team building activities for youth camping groups?

Scavenger hunts, trust exercises, and obstacle courses are great team building activities.

How can I ensure the safety of youth participants during group camping activities?

Have proper safety protocols in place and adequate supervision for all youth participants.

What are some recommended youth group camping programs and locations?

YMCA camps, national parks, and private campgrounds are great options for group camping trips.

As an experienced outdoor educator with over a decade of experience in the field, the author has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in leading group camping activities for youth. With a degree in Outdoor Education from a prestigious university, the author has also conducted extensive research on the benefits of nature-based experiences for youth. In fact, their research on the mental health benefits of camping was recently published in a peer-reviewed journal. The author’s qualifications and experience make them a trusted source of information on group camping activities for youth.

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More From Forbes

8 cocktails to make on your next camping trip.

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When it comes time to pack for a camping trip, there’s one rule: less is better.

The golden rule applies to cocktails, too, in which case batched is better. Don’t waste precious space, nor add extra weight to your bags with multiple bottles, but rather do some pre-trip planning and mixology for a seamless craft cocktail experience around the campfire.

Top Camping Cocktails

Prepare these eight cocktails ahead of time by adding all the ingredients to a mason jar; upon arrival at your campsite, just add ice then let the ghost stories and singalongs begin.

Mezcal Negroni

This riff on a classic equal-parts negroni swaps gin for mezcal for a subtly smoky flavor that is perfect for sipping around a roaring fire.

Ingredients: 1.5 oz Campari, 1.5 oz sweet vermouth, 1.5 oz mezcal

Gin and Jam

If you’ve got a near-empty jam jar sitting at the back of your refrigerator — this one’s for you. Add all the ingredients to the jar except the tonic water, which you can add just before serving (single serve cans of Fever Tree are lightweight and camping friendly for this).

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Ingredients: 1 jam jar coated with remnants a spoon can’t easily scrape out, 2 oz gin for a smaller jam jar, 4 oz gin for medium size, 4 - 8 oz tonic water, respectively

Baileys and Tea

Even in the heat of summer, once the sun sets, the night chill can take over to require a warm drink. Heat up some water on the fire, add a tea bag then splash some Baileys in for a soothing nightcap. The Irish cream liqueur is available in varying sizes, including miniature nips (about 1.7 oz) and half pints (6.8 oz).

Ingredients: 1 black tea bag, 1.5 oz Baileys Irish cream

Espresso Martini On The Rocks

Don’t even bother packing martini glasses; this favorite cocktail can be enjoyed on the rocks – just add ice to a lowball glass (or red solo cup) before pouring in your pre-mixed concoction.

Ingredients: 2 oz vodka (use vanilla or marshmallow-flavored vodka if you want to mimic a S’more), 1 oz espresso (use decaf if you’re sensitive to caffeine), 1 oz Kahlua or another coffee liqueur, 0.25 oz simple syrup or agave syrup

Old Fashioned

For an easy campfire-inspired take on the Old Fashioned, try chocolate bitters instead of Angostura. The bittersweet profile effortlessly elevates the cocktail to camping status.

Ingredients: 1.5 oz bourbon, ½ of a sugar cube, 3 dashes of chocolate bitters

Bourbon Lemonade

A summertime classic, this drink is both refreshing yet complex as the robust bourbon notes can shine through the tangy lemonade. If you want to be a little fancier, add five or six blackberries to the jar that you’re batching the cocktails in, then muddle them – this adds both a fruity flavor and fun shade of violet.

Ingredients: 1.5 oz bourbon, 4 oz lemonade, optional handful of blackberries

Spicy Paloma

Give this bright, citrus-y beverage a kick by adding a few thin slices of jalapeño into the pre-batch, which will slowly infuse the drink with some heat.

Ingredients: 2 oz blanco tequila, 2 oz fresh grapefruit juice, 0.5 oz fresh lime juice, 0.25 oz agave syrup, 3-5 slices of jalapeño depending on spice tolerance and heat of the pepper. Top with 2 oz of club soda after pouring over ice.

It may be the most logistically trying cocktail to pack given the weight of the cans involved, but for a couple or small group, this is a light, sippable drink that really brings the wind-down effect. Plus, the format is easy – combine equal parts beer and lemonade for a crushable cocktail.

Ingredients: 4 oz Pilsner or light beer, 4 oz sparkling lemonade

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