A sense of unity around the campfire! Lively stunt performance ideas to amp up the fun
The performances held during a campfire are called “stunts.” The unique atmosphere of gathering around a fire outdoors creates a different kind of excitement from performances held in a brightly lit room, which is part of their appeal.
Here are some easy-to-use ideas for stunts at campfires.
It’s important to plan the program while considering the balance and sequence of calm and active elements—ranging from activities that get everyone moving to more relaxed segments focused on talking or watching.
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A sense of unity around the campfire! Engaging stunt performance ideas (11–20)
Came Alone GameNEW!
This is a fun game you can play with a large group without any equipment.
Participants stand up in turn with their hands raised, saying “One person made it,” “Two people made it,” and so on as the number increases.
When it reaches five, it goes back to one.
Because you have to think about where the cutoff is for the next number and stand up quickly, it’s quite a brain workout, and it also builds a sense of unity that helps you get along even with people you don’t know well.
Give it a try!
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.
Command GameNEW!
Choose one person to give instructions, and everyone else lies down facing the same direction.
When that person gives a command by saying “Command: please do XX,” everyone must do the same action in accordance with that command.
Anything not prefaced with “Command” is not a command, so you must not follow it.
Continue the game while distinguishing whether something is a command or not.
If the person speaks quickly or phrases it naturally, you might find yourself obeying by mistake, but do your best not to be tricked!
Theme Talk
From a set of prepared themes, one is presented at random, and we share experiences and stories that match it, simply enjoying the conversation.
Because it’s hard to read facial expressions, it’s important to speak in a way that clearly conveys the atmosphere to everyone around, and to focus on picking up meaning from words.
The setting of talking around a fire also matters; the unique ambiance might bring out unexpected stories.
Let’s fully take in the quiet mood of the night, relax, and exchange words.
Octopus and tie gameNEW!
In this game, players form pairs.
One person is the Octopus, and the other is the Sea Bream.
They shake left hands.
While holding that position, the host says, “Ta, ta, ta, ta-ko,” and when “ta-ko” (Octopus) is called, the Octopus player uses their free right hand to slap the back of their partner’s left hand.
The person who isn’t called should quickly pull their left hand away to avoid being slapped.
It gets even more exciting if the host mixes in similar-sounding words as feints—like tansu (chest of drawers) or taki (waterfall)—not just tako and tai.
It’s a fun game that helps pairs feel closer to each other.
Saying the same things, doing the same things.NEW!
This game is a play activity where everyone holds hands and jumps, following what the leader says.
If the leader says, “Say the same, do the same,” you repeat exactly what the leader says and do the same action.
If the leader says, “Say the opposite, do the same,” you verbally say the opposite of what the leader said while performing the action the leader instructed.
Since everyone is holding hands, doing something different breaks the coordination and creates funny “huh?” moments, which is part of the fun.
You don’t need any preparation, so give it a try!
A Sense of Unity Around the Campfire! Crowd-Pleasing Stunt Performance Ideas (21–30)
Birthday chain
A classic icebreaker activity where you try to convey your intentions without speaking and see if it works.
Using only facial expressions and gestures, participants communicate their birthdays to each other and aim to line up in order of their birth dates.
During a campfire or skit, the only light may be the flames, making it harder to see others’ expressions and raising the difficulty.
Since everyone stops talking and proceeds in silence, it’s an activity that really lets you feel the quiet nighttime atmosphere and the sound of the fire burning.