Fun Family Campout Activities

Send your favorite camping activites to campoutcarolina@gmail.com.

• Go on a nature walk or hike to explore your campsite surroundings.
• Sing camp fire songs or make up new lyrics to some of your old favorites.
• Act out your favorite movie scene or create a skit of your own.
• Tell ghost stories, funny stories, legends, and stories with a moral.
• Make a camp art project (coloring books, finger painting, drawings of the nature you see, rubs and prints).
• Use a nature guide book to identify the plants and trees around you.
• Read your favorite book or magazine out loud with your family.
• Further explore your surroundings by playing a game of “I Spy.”
• Use a star chart to identify the stars and constellations in the sky. Find one here at http://www.midnightkite.com/starcharts.html
• Use a flashlight to create shadow puppets.
• Play flashlight tag.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure you have fun and spend time together!

Camping Recipes

Whether camping in the backyard or hiking into the woods, a universal favorite camping activity is eating.  Send your favorite camping recipes to campoutcarolina@gmail.com to help create a virtual Campout! Carolina cookbook.

Note: Most recipes below can be prepared using a basic camping stove or grill. 

Snacks

- GORP
Ingredients and Preparation:
good old raisins and peanuts, in whatever ratio you prefer

For variations on this traditional camping snack, add:
Cheerios
M&Ms
Banana Chips
Pretzels
Preparation:
Mix ingredients in the amount you like most.

Breakfast

- Campfire Muffins
Ingredients:
6 oranges
2 (7 oz) packages of muffin mix

Preparation:
Cut oranges in half.  Scoop out orange segments to eat separately.  Reserve the hollowed peel shells. Prepare muffin mix according to package directions.  Fill peel cups half full of batter.  Wrap each one loosely with heavy duty foil.  Place in hot coals, making sure the batter side stays face up.  Cook approximately 7-10 minutes, or until done.

- Potato Pancakes
Ingredients:
½ cup add-water-only pancake mix
1 ½ cup potato flakes
1 Tblsp. Onion flakes or granulated onion

Preparation:
At home: combine ingredients in a small reclosable bag or container.
At the campsite: Add just enough water to the container to make the mixture into an easily handled dough.  Form into balls, drop into lightly greased pan, and smash into patties.  Brown both sides and enjoy.  4 servings

- Backcountry Breakfast
Ingredients:
2/3 cup oatmeal
¼ cup powdered milk
1/3 cup raisins
1/3 cup chopped walnuts and sliced almonds
1 Tblsp brown sugar

Preparation:
At home: Mix ingredients thoroughly in a bowl and pour contents into a sealable container
At the campsite:  Dump mixture into a pot containing 2 cups of boiling water. Let contents sit for 2 minutes, then serve. 

Dinner

- Grilled Pizza
Ingredients:
Package of 6 Pitas
Jar of prepared pizza sauce
8 oz. package shredded mozzarella cheese
Favorite toppings

Preparation:
Place pita on the grill, or on top of a pot top to warm one side. Flip, add ingredients, and put back on the heat until cheese is melted and toppings are toasty.

- Easy Veggies
Ingredients:
Diced potatoes
Diced onions
Sliced carrots
Sliced bell pepper
Fresh mushrooms
Garlic powder (lots!)
Salt and pepper
(All of these ingredients can be dried if you need a meal that can be transported lightly)
Put one serving onto each square of foil. Seal the foil into a packet. Put on the coals (or on top of a pot lid) and turn a couple times to keep from burning. Takes about 1/2 hour or less depending upon the heat of the coals. These are delicious!

- Split Pea Soup recipe

1 cup split peas
1 tablespoon onion flakes
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1 /4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
At home: Combine all ingredients and place in a well-sealed container.
At the campsite: Add 3 cups water to a small pot, and bring to boil. Add pre-packaged ingredients and boil 30-45 minutes. If desired, add a few pieces of diced bacon or jerky to the pot. Stir occasionally to avoid sticking to the bottom. Serve when thick.