Summer games on a camping trip are fun. For me, I do not like to take up a large section of our packing space for entertainment. Mostly, our games need to fit in a corner. The prerequisites’ is in expensive and interesting. Frugal games for camping allow for creativity and money to be spent in other area’s .
Games such as cornhole, ladder ball, volleyball, and dart games can be costly at the store. If I do own one of these games it is because someone has bought them for us as a gift, or I found them at a yard sale or second hand shop. Sometimes even a second hand shop is expensive. For the wear and tear our games will get, I don’t mind if I spent a few dollars on the game and it breaks. Camping equipment amongst other needs can make expenses rise. Food prices, gas prices and other items have went up, which means camping needs to be less like home. More primitive camping means more savings. Bringing along games that promote a frugal summer trip will allow wiggle room for the other rising costs. Making a home away from home for a few days doesn’t need fancy fun.
One year, we bought a very nice badminton set, and by the end of summer….all of the rackets were broke and birdies were missing. After that is when I decided to pack creative, inexpensive games. The year we lost all of our Badminton rackets we camped several times and no one remembered how the game was broken. Homemade games work much better anyway and are sometimes more fun!
Frugal Summer Insect Scavenger Hunt
We have all boys’ and the insect scavenger hunt is one of the favorites. I don’t really use a paper for them to read and mark off. Rather, what I use is the insect field guide and look up bugs on the internet before we camp.
First, the only expense is the field guide. Finding deals on books is one of my favorite frugal summer activities. I have more time to research. In addition to time, I have more energy. The one I found was very affordable on Ebay. Second, this scavenger hunt is great for readers’ and non-readers’. Non-readers’ will be able to use the pictures from the field guide. A non-reader may need a little help from an older sibling locating the bug in the field guide.
Third, I love the simplicity of this scavenger hunt. Finally, I merely put together a list of bugs in the camping area and hand the children a field guide. Throughout the camping trip they are able to leisurely or aggressively hunt down all of the bugs on my list.
The list holds maybe 10-15 different bugs to locate. As we leave camping I will collect the papers and see who found what bugs. The kids love it because they get some freedom hunting and trapping bugs in their bug containers. For me, I like it because they are learning and the game cost me a few dollars.
Horseshoes and Bocce Ball
Every year we bring our Horseshoes and Bocce ball game. Usually, we set these two games up away from the cars though so no accident’s occur. These two games are great for areas that have less grass.
My husband and I have found it beneficial to try and save the games we do purchase from year to year. Bocce is a fun game for more than two kids.
Some games at the store can be very expensive.
Frisbee Tag and Tug of War
Frisbee tag is a very frugal summer camping game This easy game is great for an open field. First, there are four or more players divided up into two teams. The frisbee is placed in the middle of the two teams. Each team will have one person run for the frisbee. Whoever gets the frisbee first is “it” for that team. The first person will throw it to the second team member. Whoever does not have the frisbee is “tagged” by the opposite team to be out. The person that holds the frisbee is eligible to not be tagged.
Person with the frisbee can only hold onto it for 15 seconds. Frisbee has to be kept in play at all times. Whoever holds the frisbee at the end is the winners.
Tug of war is another great inexpensive game for families to play at camping. The only thing needed is a very long, strong rope, and 4 kids to play.
Kick the Can
A final frugal themed game is kick the can or cans. One can be used in play, or many it depends on the players. Six kids are needed for playing this game. Kick the can starts out like “hide and seek”. When the “it” person is done counting, they try to find the other kids. While looking they “guard’ the can at the same time. Whoever is able to knock over the can is the winner.
This is a great game to play early in the morning. Due to a lot of running around the kids’ may get hot later in the day. After lunch is usually swimming and hiking. In addition to some of the games listed above their are many more fun games or make your own!
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Thank you for the great ideas. I’m always looking for frugal, fun games. 🙂