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!
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Fun games to liven up your camp: Recreation games (21–30)
Outdoor activities: fun games everyone can play together!
This is a game called “Catch.” Choose one person to be the leader, and have the other participants form a circle.
Hold out your right hand with the palm facing up toward the person on your right, and place your left index finger on the palm of the person to your left.
When the leader says “Catch,” quickly close your right hand, and with your left hand, try to pull your index finger away so it doesn’t get caught.
The leader should vary the timing by stretching out “Ca, ca, caaaatch…” or throw in feints by saying something like “Cat!” instead.
It’s a simple game that helps break the ice and get everyone excited, even with people you’re meeting for the first time.
Playing cards at camp
How about enjoying a barbecue during the day and, when there’s still time before sunset, playing some card games? If you’re embracing camping as a digital detox, keep the recreation analog too! Playing cards is a classic pastime familiar to both kids and adults.
Simple, well-known games with easy rules—like Concentration, Old Maid, or Sevens—are great for getting a small group excited.
Even children and adults who usually play digital games are sure to get hooked on card games, saying “one more round, just one more!”
Back-to-back! Can we stand up?
It looks simple but gets everyone excited: a very simple game where you form a circle, sit back-to-back, and try to stand up.
Link arms with the people next to you and stand using only your legs—no hands.
It seems easy, but standing up using only leg strength, while also leaning against the person behind you, makes it hard for both sides to keep their balance, so you won’t stand up smoothly.
It might help to do it with loud, energetic calls or cheers.
Beef Tongue Game
The Gyutan Game is a simple activity that’s sure to captivate everyone from kids to adults.
It needs no equipment and really gets people fired up, so it’s perfect for camp recreation too! Players face each other with their palms together and clap in turn to the rhythm: “gyu, tan, gyu, tan, gyu-tan-tan…” As the number of “tan”s increases, anyone who falls behind the rhythm or messes up the order loses.
Once you get the hang of it, speeding up the tempo makes it even more exciting!
Werewolf game
If you’re camping with a large group, why not enjoy Werewolf as a communication game? Werewolf revolves around conversation and strategy between players, so you progress by interacting and negotiating with others.
The rules are simple: among players who have been assigned roles in advance, identify the werewolves.
Since only you can see your own role, deduce who the werewolves are through discussion and lead your team to victory! It’s a great game for downtime at camp or as a campfire activity.
tug-of-war sumo
This one-on-one “tug-of-war sumo” isn’t just ordinary tug-of-war; the tricky part is that it’s played in unstable positions.
Players stand on small chairs, cans, pieces of wood, and the like, and tug.
The person who falls off and puts a foot on the ground loses.
It’s a game that requires technique—loosening, pausing, and varying the pace—rather than just yanking hard.
If you pull too strongly, you might overdo it and end up falling off yourself—a self-inflicted defeat (lol).
Kick the can
As a recreation that’s sure to captivate everyone from kids to adults, we recommend playing Kick the Can! Place an empty can in the center of a circle, and once someone kicks it away, the game begins.
While one of the taggers returns the can to its original spot and counts, the other players hide behind buildings, trees, and so on.
The tagger guards the can while searching for hidden players; anyone found is caught and brought into the circle.
If someone manages to kick the can without being noticed by the tagger, the captured players are freed and the game restarts.
Since campgrounds offer plenty of hiding spots, if you’re playing with a large group, increasing the number of taggers to two or three can make it even more exciting.
Jump into a rock-paper-scissors game!
The “Rock-Paper-Scissors Jump Game,” which combines rock-paper-scissors with jumping, is a playful activity that helps children learn how to use their bodies while potentially improving their athletic ability.
Create waiting spots on the left and right, and have participants play rock-paper-scissors with the person next to them.
The winner then jumps while moving from their current waiting spot to the one on the opposite side.
It’s a simple game that repeats this process, so any child old enough to play rock-paper-scissors can join.
For the jumping styles, start with a “rock” jump keeping both feet together, then move to a “scissors” jump.
After that, switch to a gallop and finally to a “paper” jump.
Mölkky
Molkky is becoming a classic camping game.
In Molkky, you knock down pins called “skittles” that have numbers on them, and the first person to reach exactly 50 points wins.
It’s especially fun as a team game, so I highly recommend it.
If you knock down only one skittle, you score the number written on it; if you knock down multiple skittles, you score the number of skittles you toppled.
Be careful—if you go over 50, your score resets to 25.
Because you have to calculate your points and adjust your aim to match the situation, it’s surprisingly strategic.
Zoingo Boingo
It’s a toy that’s like a combination of a pogo stick and a balance ball.
You hold the handle and jump to play.
It really tests your balance.
If you can get several of them, setting a goal and racing would be fun, too.
Adults should definitely give it a try!