Fun activities that liven up a camp: recreational games
When you go camping, you set up the tent, have a barbecue, and then…
Huh? What should we do next? There’s actually a lot of time until sunset—this situation happens more often than you’d think.
So in this article, we’ll introduce fun activities, games, and recreational ideas for times like that.
They’re enjoyable for everyone from kids to adults, so be sure to check them out before you head out! Whether it’s an adults-only trip, a camp with a bunch of kids, or a family outing, if you know activities that anyone can enjoy regardless of age, you’ll be set even when there’s downtime during your camp!
Fun games that liven up a camp: Recreation games (1–10)
Gorilla FestivalNEW!
This is something like a dance called the Gorilla Festival that’s sure to get people excited around a campfire.
You sing while dancing like a gorilla, but the final dance part is pretty intense.
Depending on the leader’s instructions, that last intense section might even be extended.
When we push our limits, people get hyped, right? With the roaring fire and everyone’s energy up, this game is bound to be a blast.
Definitely give it a try.
If you upload a video beforehand, it’ll be easier for participants to practice.
Wild Beast Hunting Game
How about we all play a game where we shout together? In the “Wild Animal Hunt” game, the opening song is key.
Singing it together instantly livens up the atmosphere.
The rule is simple: at the end of the song, an animal’s name is called out, and everyone must quickly form groups with the same number of people as the number of syllables in that animal’s name, then hold hands.
It’s a game for kindergarten and nursery school children, but adults are more than welcome to join in too.
Gesture Game
The “gesture game” you often see on TV variety shows: Only the person doing the gestures sees the prompt, and they have to convey it using gestures without words, while the others guess what they’re doing.
You don’t need any special props, you can play it anywhere, and you don’t have to worry about the number of participants—perfect for camping and the like.
It gets even more exciting if you set rules and make it a team competition, such as a time limit for each round of gestures, bonus points for answering within the time, and a cap on the number of passes!
Greengrocer GameNEW!
In the “Greengrocer Game,” you keep to the rhythm and clap while saying “We have it!” for items you’d find at a greengrocer, and for items they don’t have, you don’t clap and you make an X with your arms.
Since it’s a greengrocer, they basically have vegetables, but they wouldn’t have things like TVs or books.
You can choose different themes to play, and by changing the speed you can adjust the difficulty.
Feel free to tweak the rules and get everyone hyped up! It’s a game that gets everyone laughing whether you nail it or mess up!
Piyo-Piyo-chanNEW!
“Piyo-Piyo-chan” is a game where you copy the person playing the parent bird while doing call and response.
When the parent bird says “Piyo-Piyo-chan,” the participants become little chicks and reply, “What is it?” As the parent bird says, “Can you do this and that?” and moves their body, the little chicks answer, “We can do this and that,” and imitate the movements.
If you can copy everything perfectly, you can become an adult bird! Start with simple movements and gradually make them more difficult.
Frisbee
How about really getting your body moving with a frisbee out in the vast great outdoors? It’s the kind of game you can only play in an open space.
All you need is a frisbee disc, so it’s easy and convenient.
You can toss it back and forth with someone like a game of catch, or set up a target and aim for it.
Just be careful not to hit anyone when you throw.
Epicenter GameNEW!
This is a game where one of the participants becomes the guesser and tries to identify the epicenter—that is, the person who first started the movement everyone is doing.
Everyone except the guesser sits in a circle, and the epicenter should pass along the movement without letting the guesser notice.
All participants must imitate the epicenter’s movement, so the epicenter might get a laugh by doing something goofy.
However, be careful: if the movement is too flashy, you’ll be found out.
Rotating the role of the epicenter can bring out each person’s personality and make the game more fun.