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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Feel the unity around the campfire! Lively skit performance ideas (1–10)
Where are you from?NEW!
Let’s all take on the challenge together to the tune of “Antagata Dokosa.” First, everyone holds hands in a circle around the campfire.
When the music starts, crouch down every time the lyrics say “sa.” That’s all there is to the game, but it’s surprisingly tricky.
Because “sa” appears so many times in the lyrics, you’ll find yourself crouching again right after you stand up, and some people may lose their balance.
Support each other and make it a success!
Sing the children’s song “Moero yo moero”NEW!
Let’s sing the children’s song “Moeroyo Moeroyo” and enjoy a campfire together! It’s a famous camp song with Japanese lyrics set to a French folk tune, and in Japan it has been sung since before the war by groups like the Boy Scouts.
It’s a short song, so it’s easy for first-timers to sing.
It’s also fun to speed up with each repeat.
Clapping your hands or stomping your feet to keep the rhythm with your body is also recommended.
Feel the flames powerfully lighting up the darkness through this song.
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.
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.
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!
Catch
This is a game that tests your concentration and reflexes so you can move quickly on cue and not miss the signal.
Make one hand into a tube shape and raise the index finger on your other hand; place your raised finger inside the tube-shaped hand of the person next to you.
Everyone connects in a circle like this.
When the leader gives the cue, “Catch,” the tube hand tries to catch the other person’s finger, while the raised finger tries to avoid being caught by moving quickly.
The tension of not knowing when the signal will come, combined with the complex rule of moving both hands rapidly at the same time, makes the game exciting.
Another highlight is how, while you’re waiting and focusing for the cue, you can feel the quiet atmosphere of the night with your whole body.
chorus
How about layering your voices in a large group to feel a sense of unity? It’s a classic activity whenever people gather, but doing it in the unique atmosphere around a campfire lets you experience a special excitement that’s different from everyday life.
Rather than formal choral pieces, songs that match the scene—like children’s songs themed around night or fire—are recommended to really highlight the mood.
Don’t focus on choral perfection; value the act of blending your voices with friends sharing the same moment and nurturing a shared sense of togetherness.