Plan your indoor camping holiday—complete with games and activities—with these helpful hints.
Were you counting down the days to the camping season? But had to put your camping plans on hold? Whatever the reason may be, it doesn’t mean you have to miss out on camping. You just need to try indoor camping (yeah, it's a thing). Not only is indoor camping hassle-free, but you also get to experience all the best parts of camping without the mosquitoes and lack of running water. Whether you’re an avid camping enthusiast or simply looking for a fun way to pass your time, indoor camping guarantees good times with your family. It is also one of the low-stress options available for people who are stuck at home. Moreover, you can even help flatten the curve and slow the spread of the coronavirus by camping indoors with your family.
Related: The Ultimate Guide To Backyard Camping
In this article, we’ll show you how you can create a fun indoor camping experience inside your cozy home.
1) Sleep in a real tent
Copyright:gpointstudio
Sleeping in a real tent is a must even if you are camping indoors. This can be particularly fun for children, and it helps to keep the feeling of camping alive. You can set one up in your living room. Check the size of your tent and then make the necessary space for setting it up by pushing items of furniture to the corner. Make the inside of the tent extra cozy by filling up with sleeping bags, cushions, pillows, and toys (if you've kids). But if you don't have a real tent then you can always try making one instead. Gather four chairs and place a large sheet over them.
Read about gears to help you sleep comfortably while camping.
2) Set up together
Copyright:gpointstudio
Part of the fun of camping indoors is helping each other set up everything. Don't do it alone! Doing things together keeps everyone engaged and occupied. That way you can avoid anyone getting bored (including yourself). If you have kids, ask them to choose a spot for tents, eating, games and (pretend) fire. Kids can also help fill the tent with their toys, pillows and sleeping bags. For added fun, you can even string up some lights. Be sure to gather everything and put all of them by the tent so you don't have to go too far every time you need something.
3) Prepare special camping meals
Photo by Conscious Design on Unsplash
It generally works well if you have plan your indoor camping to start early in the evening and carry it over through the next morning. So, this means, you need to prepare a dinner menu as the first meal of your indoor camping activity. Whenever you are preparing camping meals, remember that keeping your meal plan simple will keep you sane! Even if you are into cooking, it is better to avoid cooking meals that take hours to prepare. After all, there won't be much camping involved if you are spending most of your time in the kitchen. If you're having trouble deciding which meal to cook, you can look at this list of easy camping meal suggestions by The Adventure Bite. There are some meals on the list that are perfect for indoor camping! One example of such meals is making microwave s’ mores.
4) Have meals on your living room floor
Photo by Dhiren Rai on Unsplash
Another great way to make your indoor camping feel a lot more authentic and real is by having your meals on your living room floor. You want to replicate the scene of eating by the campfire as closely as possible even if you're staying indoors. So spread a large tablecloth on the floor and have your meals while sitting on it. And I know it can be very tempting to eat your meals on the kitchen table rather than on the floor. But you should understand that when you're camping indoors, it's always good to do things different from your normal routine. It's much more fun and exciting that way.
5) Enjoy Family Time Around a (Pretend) Campfire
Copyright:zzzdim
Every campsite needs a fire; it’s an unspoken rule! But making a real campfire is not possible when you're camping indoors. So, what you can do instead is build a (pretend) campfire with some blankets or pillows. Kids are great at pretending! You can also use flashlights to mimic the illumination. Once you have it ready, you can then ask everyone to gather around it in a circle and simply start telling the campsite stories. You can even make shadow puppets or play games like Telephone Game, Simon Says, Don't Blink, Truth or Dare, and Name that tune, etc.
Note: You can only build a real fire if you have a fireplace inside and the weather is chilly.
6) Stay Unplugged as Much as Possible
Copyright:gpointstudio
Since you'll be indoors the whole time, you might feel like checking your emails and Instagram posts. The use of technology is so prevalent these days that we are always using our mobile phones, laptops, and tablets all the time. So, indoor camping gives you the opportunity to unplug and spend quality time with your family. Consider turning off your TV, computers and other electronic gadgets. You don't always have to stay connected online. There are times when you need to just focus on yourself and those around you. And what better way to do that than by unplugging while indoor camping with your family.
Final Thoughts
While the times are stressful, you can do a lot to stay happy at home. To most of us, indoor camping might not seem as fun as actually camping outdoors. But it is the perfect activity to do with your family when going outside is not possible. If you are willing to give indoor camping a try, the tips mentioned above should help you get your indoor camping trip off to a good start. And lastly, don't forget to relax and have fun!
Have we missed anything? What are some of your favorite fun things to do as a family? Let us know in the comments down below.
Hungry for more?
