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 camp activities to get everyone excited: Recreation games (31–40)
snack-eating contest
How about a candy-eating race—like the classic bread-eating race—during some downtime at your camp? After the barbecue, when everyone’s relaxing, you could play it as a snack-time game! Preparation is pretty simple: stretch a rope between two trees and clip snacks onto it with clothespins.
This bread-eating-race-style game, a staple of school sports days, can captivate not only kids but also adults who’ll find themselves getting nostalgic and totally into it.
For the treats, consider choosing mostly lightweight snacks like dagashi.
Cycle Day Camp
Environmental awareness is on the rise, and it seems the number of people who love bicycles is steadily growing.
City bikes are great, but nothing beats the feeling of riding full-out on an open road that stretches on forever.
A cycling camp where you cook simple camp meals and hang out with easygoing friends sounds like a lot of fun!
Bacon thief
Bacon Thief is a simple game.
Divide the group into one referee and two teams, and have the teams line up facing each other.
Place the “bacon” in the middle.
If you don’t have one, a ball or anything similar will do.
Assign each player on both sides a shared identifier, such as a number or letter, so that there’s a matching counterpart on the opposite team.
When the referee calls a name, the two players with the same name from both sides run to grab the bacon.
If a player manages to bring it back safely to their team’s side, they win!
Fatwood Hunting
Do you know what fatwood is? Here, “fat” refers to pine resin, and wood that’s saturated with this resin is called fatwood.
It has many uses—like making torches while camping or turning it into wood chips—and fatwood hunting is a popular pastime, a kind of treasure hunt for grown-up mountain fun.
It gives you a little sense of adventure and is a lot of fun.
The more people there are, the harder it gets! Finger Catch
The “Finger Catch Game,” which trains your reflexes and lets everyone have fun, is played with everyone standing in a circle.
Put the index finger of your right hand into the open palm of the person to your right, just lightly touching it.
In turn, participants chant, “Ka, ka, ka, catch,” and at the moment someone says “catch,” everyone tries to pull out the finger they had inserted.
At the same time, you must quickly grab the finger that’s been inserted into your own open hand before it escapes.
If you fail to pull your finger out or fail to catch your neighbor’s finger, you’re out.
The last person remaining wins.
The exact timing of saying “catch” is key.
It’s a game that tests concentration, timing, and careful observation of others.
Lyrics Shiritori Game
A fun game where you play shiritori using song lyrics.
Sing a line from a song, then continue with lyrics from another song that start with the last character of the previous line.
It’s great for everyone from kids to adults—you’ll recall familiar tunes and discover new ones.
Not only for people who love singing, it’s also a chance to encounter songs you don’t know.
Perfect for karaoke, parties, and school activities.
Even those who aren’t confident singers will naturally smile—simple yet surprisingly deep.
Put your musical knowledge and creativity to use and have fun playing!
Don’t make a sound! The Silent Game
The no-noise game, where even the slightest sound means you’re out, is a fun activity for everyone from small children to adults.
You can use anything as the subject, but simple, everyday items like plastic cups make preparation easy and help you enjoy it casually.
Try focusing your attention and being extremely careful to avoid making sounds while getting creative with tasks like stacking paper cups, wrapping with tissues, lining up juice cans, or folding aluminum foil.
Once you get used to the game, it’s also recommended to add a time limit or use paper bags to increase the difficulty.
Reverse Playback Telephone Game
You can’t tell what reversed audio is saying, so it just makes you laugh, right? How about trying a quirky game that uses reverse playback at your next camping trip? With a fun app that records and plays audio in reverse, it’s easy to create reversed clips! In the “Reverse Playback Telephone Game,” the first person listens to a reversed audio clip, then passes along what they heard to the next person, just like the classic telephone game.
The last person records what they heard into the app as-is.
Then you play the recording in reverse to see if it turns back into the original prompt.
It’s a blast, especially if you use camping-themed prompts to set the mood!
Super Mario game
The Super Mario series is a game that has sparked a boom not only in Japan but all around the world! Here’s a fun activity themed around Super Mario that people of all ages can enjoy.
Split the phrase into seven parts—“Su,” “per,” “Ma,” “ri,” “o,” “Super,” “Mario,” “Super Mario”—and say them in order; the next person then says “coin.” In the second round, they say two coins; in the third round, three coins, and so on.
If someone can’t say it correctly or gets the number of coins wrong, they’re out! The longer it goes on, the harder it gets.
It’s a game that’s sure to get everyone excited, whether you’re in a small group or a large one—give it a try!
Insect collecting
If you’re going to the effort of camping in nature, the best thing to do is enjoy activities that let you connect with it.
In the mountains, you’ll likely find many insects you don’t often see in everyday life.
If you’re not uncomfortable with bugs, why not try finding and observing some unusual ones?