Backyard Campout

If you are looking for a unique birthday party idea for your son, I have the answer! Last year when my son turned nine I wanted to throw him a party that would be something different from the norm. My son loves camping and so I decided to throw him a backyard campout! This party was a huge success, all the kids loved it. My husband and I had a good time also and this is saying something as birthday parties are usually on the stressful side.

I drew and water colored all the invitations myself. The inside read:

Your Invited to Camp (our last name) for (my son's name) 9th Birthday Celebration!

Join us for adventure in the great outdoors...We'll gather round the fire for stories & s'mores! Roasting hotdogs. Playing flashlight tag...
It'll be one of the best times you've had!

Saturday, July 11th 2009
6:00 p.m.- 10:00 a.m. (Sunday)
(our address)
(my son's name) backyard

RSVP to Camp Directors (my husband and I) (our phone number)

I also added in a slip of paper that said:

Please Bring The Following:

Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Pad
Pillow
Flashlight
Warm Pajamas
Change of Clothes

I decorated our kitchen table with checked table cloth, camp lantern, fake bugs, etc. Instead of cake, I made dirt cups! So fun. I decorated the goodie bags with a camp theme.

We started things off with the fishing game. We let the kids cast a real fishing pole. They thought that was pretty cool. We then built the camp fire and prepared for our hot dog roast.

My husband & kids made a tent pinata. I painted it. After the pinata, my son opened his gifts. Then we headed out back for "Bear Hunt". We played the "Bear Hunt" song on our cd player. The kids LOVED this and got nice and hyper afterward.

Lastly, we told ghost stories around the camp fire. All the kids slept in tents in our backyard. The next morning we made french toast for breakfast and the parents arrived to pick up their children. It was one of the best parties I have ever thrown.