Probably one of my most favorite parties I have ever planned has to be the Campout Party I did for my son, Ethan, when he turned 10.
This party allowed me to spread my creative wings but everything I did was super simple and lots of fun. I LOVE parties that do not end in crying or going into debt.
Since this was a camp theme, we weren't going for pretty and perfect. I took a large drop cloth and painted in black craft paint "Welcome to Camp Ethan" and hung it on the front porch.
I took an old pallet and cut out directional signs. With the same black craft paint I painted where everything could be found at the "campsite". This was placed near the front door so guests would see it as they were entering.
Just inside, I placed a large folding table with a basic checkered tablecloth often found on campsites. I made a "Camp Check-In" sign on plain old paper and put it in a simple frame. I bought lanterns and unfinished birdhouses from the dollar store for each kid to have. During the party the kids had the opportunity to paint their birdhouses.
I downloaded basic camp signs from Google images and printed them out. I pasted them on little wood squares from the dollar store and attached skinny wood sticks I found at Michael's for under a $1 each. These were placed all around the backyard.
For the cupcakes, I made cute camp fires. Simple chocolate cake and chocolate icing for the base, then white icing with a little red dye mixed in for the 'flames' and pretzels for the logs. Easiest cupcakes ever and they turned out so cute. Just be sure the cake is completely cooled before doing the icing or your flames will be runny. And who wants runny flames?
I have zero sewing skills so I recruited my sister for this little project. These teepee's were made of 3 PVC pipes and a drop cloth. Arrange the PVC in a tripod and sew the opening of the drop cloth small enough to hold them together. Then sew a loop at the bottom corners to go around the bottom of the PVC so it doesn't blow around. Done!
What is a campout without s'mores by the fire?
As the party favor we put together our favorite "Cowboy Cookies".
Recipe:
2 cups All-Purpose flour 1 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder 2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt 2 cups rolled oats
1 cup butter, softened 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup white sugar 1 cup m&m candies
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease baking sheets. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Gradually stir in the sifted ingredients. Stir in the rolled oats and chocolate chips. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before removing.
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