With much of the Upper Midwest blanketed in snow, it is fun to look towards spring and camping season. Once we dig out from the snow and ice, it will be time to go through our camping gear, including the games we pack in the RV.
When I think of camping, one of the things I always plan is GAMES to bring along. What games will we play in the morning before everyone is up, or when Dad is napping, or around the campfire at night, or even the yard during the day?
Having three adult kids, their camping experiences have been a bit different than that of our 12-year-old. No cell phone or tablet games for our adult kids when they were little. Now the 12-year-old typically tries to get online, but I prefer our camping trips have some simpler elements. Card games and board games are perfect for this!
What elements make a great game to pack in the RV? It is hard to find a game that checks all these boxes, but checking a few of them is good.
Small. It is ideal if the game is small in space it takes up, pieces it has, and price tag! Having a game piece accidentally land in the campfire is easier to swallow if the game is under $20 than if it is a $50 and up game (yes, some of our favorite home games are expensive). If the game is not small, it should check all the other boxes on the list.
Easy. Often Mike or I are tired or have enjoyed an adult beverage. If the game can be learned in just a few moments, that makes it a better camping game in my book.
Quick. While some of our favorite home games can take an hour or more to play (I’m looking at you, Catan and Ticket to Ride), I think a camping game is best if it is played in under 15 minutes. That way, the kids from the RV two sites over can join in for the next round, or we can more easily take a break and make some S’mores.
Multigenerational. The truly fabulous camping games are just as enjoyed by Grandma in her 70s as they are by Grandkid who is 10. Surly teens should even be able to enjoy!
Top camping games for the Friday family:
10. Boochie. Introduced to this yard game by a friend of our middle daughter about 15 years ago, you can still find this one on Amazon. It satisfies three of my four criteria for a great camping game – Grandma may not like the amount of bending or jumping! That said, kids love this outdoor game with a large dice, Velcro bracelet scoring system, throwing and jumping. One rolls a multi-sided foam dice, then follows the directions on it about how to throw a ball and ring to get it closest to the dice. The how adds to the fun, with throwing between your legs, or over your shoulder. It all packs into a neat, clear bag, and lived in our RV for about 15 years, with the kids playing it on every trip.
9. Spoons. Old-fashioned Spoons, all you need is a deck of cards and a spoon for every player but one. More fun with actual silverware (you hear the clanking) than plastic ware, this game is best played at a picnic table. This one somehow meets all the criteria!
8. Slapzi. This and the next two games are made by the same company, are in the $15 price range, fun for ages 5 through 95 and very quick and easy to play. Slapzi packs into a small rectangular box and is a card flipping game. The first one to slap the card that is related to the middle card takes that card. One game takes about five minutes, but Hazel and her friends have been known to play for over an hour.
7. Pairzi. A dice-rolling game made by the same company as Slapzi, players race to roll pairs, then they grab a pair of fun monster cards. When the monster cards are all paired up, the player with the most pairs wins. Two levels of play make this game fun for all.
6. Buildzi. My favorite of the -zi games, this one involves racing against one another to build an abstract figure out of three-dimensional plastic pieces. The satisfying crash comes at the end, when you disassemble your creations to go onto the next round. People who may not be traditionally good at games tend to be good at this one; Buildzi uses abstract reasoning. Fun for all, preschool through grandparents.
5. Set. My all-time favorite camping “card” game. This one is a logic game that is easy to learn, but hard to master, with two different levels of play. A panel of 9 cards are laid out, and players race against one another to find a “set” of three that satisfies certain criteria. This one gives your brain a workout!
4. Jenga. Whether the small, traditional set, or the large, outdoor set, one can see why this is a popular party game. Perfect for holding conversations while competing against one another, with another satisfying CRASH at the end. Look for the large, outdoor version at Anchor Campgrounds this season!
3. Yahtzee. Traditional Yahtzee satisfies all four of the criteria, with the added bonus of giving younger players a chance to practice their basic math. Look out for the large yard dice version of this at Anchor Campgrounds this season, too.
2. Ouisi. Pronounced “wee-see,” this is a new one to my list. This game is a noncompetitive game with beautifully photographed picture cards that one places while explaining the placement. Several modes of play exist, but all foster conversation and relaxation. This one hits all four of my criteria for a great camping game, but is a little pricier than the others in the $35 to $40 range. That said, the Ouisi Nature set is beautifully made and a great cross-generational game. Bring it in from the camper at the end of the season and play it at home over the winter. Ousi is that good!
1. Bags. Of course, this is the perfect camping game. Though not small enough to fit in a drawer in the RV, it will fit underneath in the garage. Look for sets of Bags (or “Corn Hole”) at Anchor Campgrounds. Everyone can enjoy this game, from preschoolers (move the line up!) to the older but still young-at-heart, all while conversing and having a great time. Bonus, you can even enjoy a beverage while playing!
Game closet lacking? Check out The Spooner General Store (Shopping & Specialty Retail - BUSINESS DIRECTORY - Spooner, Wisconsin ) for their game selection available for purchase, or the game closet at Anchor Campground’s office (coming in 2025), where you can borrow games to use. One of the best things about camping is the downtime to leave the worries of home at home and also foster connections – with nature, with your family, with others, or even spiritual connections. Games are a fabulous way to foster those family connections while enjoying your time at Anchor Campgrounds.
Happy Camping!
- Tammy Friday
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