backyard camping party!

[nowa]

DD seems to be on board with it! We may switch to a paw patrol theme, but for now backyard camping seems to be the winner. So party planners, help me think this through. We'll possibly have up to 25 kids (mostly 4 or 5 yrs old) and between 25-50 adults. That's how many will be invited anyway, so I can probably count on at least 15 kids and 20 adults. right?

-- I'll pitch a tent or two in the backyard. I'll have maybe 8-10 chairs, a table or two and some picnic blankets.
-- Have a couple games, like maybe a bean bag toss and something else? ideas? I might put up some sort of chalkboard thing on our fence for the kids to color.
-- Maybe some sort of camp craft as the favor to take home
-- Food will be hot dogs, pretzels, fruit and roasted marshmallows. What else? Since everyone's parents will be there, I figure we can roast them over our weber grill one or two at a time with parent supervision? Or maybe I'll just make some sort of s'mores desert instead.

But what if it rains!? I'm fine with moving the party inside, but kind of terrified of what 25 little kids will do to my house.

[lexus]

We went to a BBQ that had premade smores. The hostess lined a cookie sheet with graham crackers (well halves) then added a layer of chocolate chips and mini marshmallows. She broiled them until the marshmallows were brown and added the top graham crackers. I would do that for a big party.

What about binoculars or a small flashlight for a favor? I bet oriental trading has some.

[nowa]

Feb 2, 2016 20:28:01 GMT -5 lexus said:

We went to a BBQ that had premade smores. The hostess lined a cookie sheet with graham crackers (well halves) then added a layer of chocolate chips and mini marshmallows. She broiled them until the marshmallows were brown and added the top graham crackers. I would do that for a big party.

What about binoculars or a small flashlight for a favor? I bet oriental trading has some.

Great ideas! Thanks.

[vettymama]

That sounds like so much fun! I love the idea of doing premade smores.

[lattelady5]

Walmart had $1 Flashlights jn different colors in the camping section. They actually worked really well!

I think it sounds like a really fun party and kids will have fun running around outside. Go for it!

[momin2013]

I think it sounds like a really great idea!

For the smores, I think it depends whether or not you want the smore-making to be an activity too, or just a dessert. I personally would probably keep it as make-your-own, so it would be a fun activity for the parents and kids to do together.

I really like the mini flashlight idea for the favour.

As far as rain is concerned, yes, that would be a bummer. I guess if it were me I would just try to put that possibility out of my mind (but have the house kid/guest-ready just in case). You could always do the smores in the oven in that case.

[gastro]

We did a camping theme at DS's preschool last year (we are part of a coop and the parents do a themed day once a semester). The kids loved making their own trail mix - we had bags they could decorate and all sorts of things to make their own, so you could have a make your own trail mix bar.
The kids also loved having one of the moms sit by the "fire" and play the guitar for camp songs, if you or any of your adult friends play the guitar that might be fun for a few songs and a way to sing happy birthday.
If you need another craft we did make your own comets - basically you cut streamers of different colors and roll one end of them up with foil. They can toss those around.
Team do the smores in the oven....

[nicolewi]

Love the trail mix and guitar ideas!

Make-Your-Own S'mores would really be a huge mess, especially with that many people. Sticky, opening packages, watching that people don't get poked by sticks or too close to the fire, etc. I would do them in the oven. Also, there is that S'more Rice Krispy treat roll dessert going around the internet. You could just do something like that.

There's a make-your-own campfire snack online with pretzel sticks, halved red grapes, and cheese/carrots.

Glow stick necklaces would be fun and help keep track of the kids.

Ants on a log and cocktail weenies?

[lala]

We had a huge make your own s'more bar at our last birthday party and it was super fun and not a big deal. I had a huge tray with everyone ready - bowls of different marshmallows, different chocolate bars, peanut butter cups, Nutella, 3 kinds of graham crackers. Everything was opened and laid out. We had a certain number of sticks and everyone took turns. The kids loved it.

There were about 10 kids and 18 adults.