Camping is a great diversion from the normal routine of life. What makes camping fun and enjoyable are the many activities you can take part in. There are plenty of fun things to do day or night, on land or in the water.
Do your best Hank Williams impersonation by the campfire. Fireside karaoke is a fun way to have a laugh while camping. Bring along a popular songbook that lists chords and have each person pick a song. Duets, trios or the whole group can jump in at random. If everyone is game, have a talent show. Bring a CD player if nobody plays an instrument.
Scare the living daylights out of everyone by telling ghost stories. Before heading out on the trip, tell all the campers they'll be required to tell a ghost story so everyone has time to plan. If there are kids with you, accent the stories by hiding a CD player with random, pre-recorded noises such as wolf howls, screams or a hooting owl. Roasted marshmallows and smores are a perfect accompaniment.
Take a flashlight-stroll after midnight or before dawn. The outdoors are a different place after the sun goes down. Many of our forest friends are at their busiest after dark. Owls, salamanders, certain types of ants, raccoons and fireflies all prefer the midnight oil. Trout often come close to the shore in the evening and can be spotted with a quiet approach and a quick flash of light on the water's edge.
Turn your walk into a celestial observatory. Camping areas usually have less light and therefore better views of the stars. During the day, take a walk away from camp and find a good, open place to see the sky. When night falls, you can take your flashlight-stroll until everyone reaches the clearing. Ask everyone to turn out their lights and then watch for shooting stars, and name the constellations and the planets.
Enjoy the water in style by floating down the river on an inner-tube. You can purchase cheap inner-tubes at any sporting goods store. If heading down the river alone seems a lonely idea, have a group form an inner-tube ring by interlocking their legs. When it gets too warm, just tip yourself upside down before resuming your trip.
Play a game of lake volleyball. This can be done even without a net. With three to six people everyone will regularly get a turn. Wade out into waist-deep water and pass the ball back and forth with the goal being not to lose the ball. Diving for bad passes is half the fun. Soccer players can do the same, but instead try heading the ball. Frisbees and footballs can be interchanged to great effect.
