Try a camping theme for a boy's birthday party
By JANET ZIMMERMAN The Press-Enterprise | Posted: Friday, June 04, 2004
Scripps Howard News Service
When it comes to birthday parties, there's nothing like the great outdoors to put kids in the mood for fun -- especially boys.
One of the all-time classic themes -- the Back Yard Campout -- can be as entertaining for teens as it is for the younger set.
"It's a great theme because it's outdoorsy and it lends itself to a daytime or nighttime party," said Deanna Cook, author of "FamilyFun's Parties: 100 Party Plans for Birthdays, Holidays and Every Day."
Cook threw just such a party last year when her daughter turned 6. The key to success was in the details.
Decorating for such a party is easy and can often be done with props a family already owns. For instance, Cook pitched a tent in the back yard and placed a canoe on the grass nearby. She entertained her child's guests with a nature scavenger hunt and a game of flashlight tag, and let them help decorate the cake that looked like a campsite.
The theme can easily be tweaked into a teen party by toning down the activities and making it into a sleepover. "It works for many ages," Cook said.
And the menu is a cinch. All it takes is recreating some favorite camp foods, from hot dogs and s'mores to trail mix and lemonade.
Whatever they choose, parents should draw on their creativity, not their checkbooks, said Cook, a senior editor at the Disney-owned FamilyFun magazine.
The camping theme lends itself to one of the hallmarks of a great party -- personality. That means letting the honored guest help in the planning and execution, including choosing party favors and decorations, and helping make the food.
Goody bags can be filled with flashlights or canteens adorned with the guests' names, as well as a compass, trail mix or bug spray.
"You start with a theme and then everything just falls into place," said Penny Warner, author of numerous children's party and activity books, including "The Best Party Book: 1001 Creative Ideas for Fun Parties."
"Half the fun of a birthday party is doing it together and planning for it," Warner said. "It's like going on vacation, you think about it for weeks beforehand."
For invitations, use die-cuts from a scrapbook store, or cut tent-shaped cards from brown construction paper, with the fold at the top of the tent. Open the front of the tent and write the party details inside. Add a drawing of a kid in a sleeping bag. Punch holes in the front and tie the doors together with twine. Sample wording: "Bring your camping gear and appetites for an evening of fun at Camp Connor."
Place invites in a brown paper bag decorated with camping stickers; include a granola bar, pine cone or rubber snake in each. Or use a star-shaped hole punch on dark blue paper to create a nighttime sky, then glue yellow paper to the back so the stars shine through. Write the party details on the yellow side and glue a triangle-shaped tent to the blue side.
-- Menu:
GORP (Good Old Raisins and Peanuts)/ trail mix, chips and popcorn served in pie tins
Bug Juice (lemonade) served in personalized canteens
Pigs in a Blanket or hot dogs grilled over the campfire
Root Beer Baked Beans
Watermelon
Campout cake
-- Decor: Pitch a tent; light the area with lanterns; include a canoe, if you have one; play a CD of nature sounds; use a hibachi for the campfire, surrounded by camp chairs or logs.
-- Fun and games: For younger kids, have them guess how many glow-in-the-dark stars and planets are in a jar; play pin-the-mustard-and-ketchup on the hot dog or flashlight tag; go on a nature scavenger hunt; sing camp songs; make triangle-shaped picture frames out of Popsicle sticks, acorns and leaves, with a magnet on the back, and fill them with a Polaroid picture of the party guest in front of the tent. Older kids can stargaze, roast marshmallows, make Jiffy Pop, and tell ghost stories.
-- Favors: Tuck a compass, whistle, plastic canteen, flashlight, star chart, and GORP/trail mix into a small tackle box, fanny pack or a bandanna tied with raffia.
Sources: www.birthdaypartyideas.com; FamilyFun magazine; Penny Warner, author of "Kids' Outdoor Parties"; Susan Baltrus, author of "The Ultimate Birthday Party Book"; Suzanne Singleton, author of "Clever Party Planning: Parties for Kids, Teens and Adults."
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.shns.com.)
AP-NY-06-01-04 1233EDT
When it comes to birthday parties, there's nothing like the great outdoors to put kids in the mood for fun -- especially boys.
One of the all-time classic themes -- the Back Yard Campout -- can be as entertaining for teens as it is for the younger set.
"It's a great theme because it's outdoorsy and it lends itself to a daytime or nighttime party," said Deanna Cook, author of "FamilyFun's Parties: 100 Party Plans for Birthdays, Holidays and Every Day."
Cook threw just such a party last year when her daughter turned 6. The key to success was in the details.
Decorating for such a party is easy and can often be done with props a family already owns. For instance, Cook pitched a tent in the back yard and placed a canoe on the grass nearby. She entertained her child's guests with a nature scavenger hunt and a game of flashlight tag, and let them help decorate the cake that looked like a campsite.
The theme can easily be tweaked into a teen party by toning down the activities and making it into a sleepover. "It works for many ages," Cook said.
And the menu is a cinch. All it takes is recreating some favorite camp foods, from hot dogs and s'mores to trail mix and lemonade.
Whatever they choose, parents should draw on their creativity, not their checkbooks, said Cook, a senior editor at the Disney-owned FamilyFun magazine.
The camping theme lends itself to one of the hallmarks of a great party -- personality. That means letting the honored guest help in the planning and execution, including choosing party favors and decorations, and helping make the food.
Goody bags can be filled with flashlights or canteens adorned with the guests' names, as well as a compass, trail mix or bug spray.
"You start with a theme and then everything just falls into place," said Penny Warner, author of numerous children's party and activity books, including "The Best Party Book: 1001 Creative Ideas for Fun Parties."
"Half the fun of a birthday party is doing it together and planning for it," Warner said. "It's like going on vacation, you think about it for weeks beforehand."
For invitations, use die-cuts from a scrapbook store, or cut tent-shaped cards from brown construction paper, with the fold at the top of the tent. Open the front of the tent and write the party details inside. Add a drawing of a kid in a sleeping bag. Punch holes in the front and tie the doors together with twine. Sample wording: "Bring your camping gear and appetites for an evening of fun at Camp Connor."
Place invites in a brown paper bag decorated with camping stickers; include a granola bar, pine cone or rubber snake in each. Or use a star-shaped hole punch on dark blue paper to create a nighttime sky, then glue yellow paper to the back so the stars shine through. Write the party details on the yellow side and glue a triangle-shaped tent to the blue side.
-- Menu:
GORP (Good Old Raisins and Peanuts)/ trail mix, chips and popcorn served in pie tins
Bug Juice (lemonade) served in personalized canteens
Pigs in a Blanket or hot dogs grilled over the campfire
Root Beer Baked Beans
Watermelon
Campout cake
-- Decor: Pitch a tent; light the area with lanterns; include a canoe, if you have one; play a CD of nature sounds; use a hibachi for the campfire, surrounded by camp chairs or logs.
-- Fun and games: For younger kids, have them guess how many glow-in-the-dark stars and planets are in a jar; play pin-the-mustard-and-ketchup on the hot dog or flashlight tag; go on a nature scavenger hunt; sing camp songs; make triangle-shaped picture frames out of Popsicle sticks, acorns and leaves, with a magnet on the back, and fill them with a Polaroid picture of the party guest in front of the tent. Older kids can stargaze, roast marshmallows, make Jiffy Pop, and tell ghost stories.
-- Favors: Tuck a compass, whistle, plastic canteen, flashlight, star chart, and GORP/trail mix into a small tackle box, fanny pack or a bandanna tied with raffia.
Sources: www.birthdaypartyideas.com; FamilyFun magazine; Penny Warner, author of "Kids' Outdoor Parties"; Susan Baltrus, author of "The Ultimate Birthday Party Book"; Suzanne Singleton, author of "Clever Party Planning: Parties for Kids, Teens and Adults."
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.shns.com.)
AP-NY-06-01-04 1233EDT
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 0 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
