Camping Birthday Party Ideas for a Fun-Filled Celebration

Whether you’re celebrating your child’s latest trip around the sun or looking for a fun way to honor a friend’s milestone birthday, choosing a theme is the first thing on your to-do list. If the birthday honoree loves nature, why not enjoy the great outdoors (even if you’re indoors!) with a camping birthday party?

Here, you’ll find tips on how to plan the perfect camping celebration. From easy food ideas to festive decor and giggle-inducing activities, you’ll set the scene for a nature-inspired party. Plus, we’ve highlighted some of our favorite camping birthday invitations to get guests ready for the big event.

5 Steps to Plan the Ultimate Camping Birthday Party

Ready to head out under the stars, share stories with friends, and snack on gooey s’mores? While you’ll certainly want some outdoor birthday party ideas for your shindig, keep in mind that a camping birthday party can also be hosted indoors if the elements simply aren’t cooperating. Here are five simple steps to plan an unforgettable celebration.

1. Consider Logistics

Design: Lori Danelle

Invitation Inspiration: Let’s Go Camping Invitation

There are lots of different ways to go about hosting a camping birthday party. If you want to get away without leaving the comforts of home, glamping is a great option. You can enjoy the great outdoors but still cozy up in a cabin or yurt with a comfy bed when it’s time to sleep. Plus, if you’re driving to your campsite, it’s easier to haul decorations and party supplies — and a cabin gives you plenty of room to store everything.

On the other hand, you could plan a backpacking camping trip if you really enjoy getting out into nature. For this type of camping birthday party, it’s best to travel light since you’ll have to carry everything. That means keeping things simple and focusing on outdoor activities rather than decor and an elaborate birthday cake. 

If you don’t have time to plan a full camping excursion, host a camping sleepover at home. This is especially practical if you’re hosting a kids’ birthday party. You can do indoor camping and have the little ones bring their sleeping bags to camp out on your living room floor. Alternatively, host the campout in your backyard and let the kids enjoy the great outdoors safely.

When you send out your birthday party invitations, be sure to let guests know what to expect, including information on what they need to pack. Update guests the week of the party with weather information in case they need to bring rain gear or plan for high heat.

2. Use Natural Decor and Keep It Minimal

Design: Lisa Travis

Invitation Inspiration: Sleepover Party Invitation

With most birthday parties, it’s fun to go big with balloon arches, confetti, and photo booths. But for a camping celebration, it’s better to keep things simple. You want to leave the environment better than you found it — which is why you should probably skip the glitter bombs and opt for eco-friendly party decorations to minimize your impact.

Of course, if you’re hosting a campout at home, you can incorporate nature-inspired outdoor party decor. Hang a pinecone garland above the birthday honoree’s tent. Use fresh flowers in mason jars to spruce up the picnic table where you’ll set out desserts. A printed tablecloth with tents, woodland creatures, or starry skies works well to set the scene. For a young child’s birthday, stuffed woodland animals add a magical feel and are easy to transport.

3. Enjoy Classic Camping Party Food 

Design: Signature Greenvelope

Invitation Inspiration: S’more Fun! Invitation

Keep things simple and serve birthday party food on biodegradable disposable plates and napkins for easy cleanup. If you’re venturing into the great outdoors, be sure to pack trash bags or bear canisters to keep everything secure. For celebrations in national forests, check regulations so you have everything you need to keep food safe during the party.

Classic camping fare like s’mores are always a big hit. Grab some graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate squares. Don’t forget the roasting skewers or make some with sticks if you don’t have metal ones. 

Feed happy campers animal-inspired treats like gummy worms and Teddy Grahams. Snack foods like trail mix and pretzels can keep little campers full while they run around and play. 

For a heartier meal, grill hot dogs or burgers over the fire or a small barbecue. Grilled vegetables and sides like baked potatoes are an easy way to add more substance to a classic camping meal. 

No birthday is complete without a few sweets. Make DIY s’mores cupcakes with cupcake toppers featuring woodland creatures. Or opt for a campfire cake that uses hard candy to mimic the look of flames and rolled wafers for logs.

4. Plan Fun Outdoor Activities

Design: Elizabeth Silver

Invitation Inspiration: Camp Buddy Invitation

When it comes to a camping birthday party, there are tons of ways to keep the kids entertained. Whether they’re old enough to adventure a bit on their own or you need to supervise smaller tots, try these fun things to do on a birthday.

You can’t go camping without roasting marshmallows around the fire pit. Set up a mini dessert table with s’mores supplies and let the kids roast their own. For smaller children, you can roast the marshmallows and let them layer on the chocolate and graham crackers. Older children will enjoy telling ghost stories by the fire.

The best part about camping is you can enjoy the great outdoors. If your camping spot is by a river or lake, teach the kids how to fish. For older kids, backpacking is an excellent way to fill the day and lets them burn off energy.

Other fun camping games include flashlight tag or a scavenger hunt. Flashlight tag is easy to set up — just hand out one flashlight to the kid who’s looking for the others. Instead of tagging their friends with their hands, they‘ll use the flashlight to point them out wherever they’re hiding.

Use printable scavenger hunt cards to encourage guests to find natural items like a pinecone, a round rock, or a piece of driftwood. Hand out themed prizes for the party games like a special flashlight, a camping tool, or a cool hat.

5. Send Guests Home With Camping Party Favors

Design: Signature Greenvelope

Invitation Inspiration: Happy Camper Invitation

Show your party guests how much you appreciate them with camping-themed birthday party favors.

Miniature s’mores gift bags or jars of DIY hot cocoa mix are a perfect way to recreate the magic of camping when they get back home. A custom camping mug, tin storage box, and keychain make practical and fun on-theme party favors. You can also fill a canvas bag with snack foods or laser-engraved wood carvings with the camper’s initials.

Get Ready for a Fantastic Camping Celebration

When you’re ready to invite guests to your camping birthday party, Greenvelope offers hundreds of digital invitations to choose from. Browse our selection of camping birthday invitations featuring festive designs like tents, woodland scenes, and mountainous backdrops. 

Customize the design by changing the color scheme and typography or upload a picture of the birthday honoree if it’s a photo invitation card. Once you’re finished, hit send to instantly deliver the invitation to your guest’s inboxes via text and email. You can easily keep track of RSVPs and send updates as needed. With online invites, the only “roughing it” you’ll be doing is in the great outdoors. Enjoy!