G6AdventuresUndoubtedly, our travel adventures often involve an incredibly on-the-go style of camping. For that reason, we don’t always get to just sit back and enjoy the campgrounds. But that doesn’t mean we don’t love that style of camping. We try to fit in at least a few relaxing camping trips each year. During those trips, we love to pack some outdoor campground games. Here are some of our favorites:
Kan Jam
Kan Jam might be one of the best outdoor campground games. It’s light and super compact. The rules are simple. And, for the most part, the whole family can play. Essentially, you have two “cans” and a frisbee. The “cans” are two flat pieces of plastic and each curve around to form a can. Each can has a cutout slot in the front of it.
Teams of two take turns throwing the frisbee toward the opposite can, scoring points if the disc hits or goes into the top of the can. The cans are placed about 50 feet apart. One player from each team stands next to each can. The player opposite the throwing player can hit the frisbee in air to deflect it into the can. The deflector cannot catch the frisbee but simply deflect it.
If the frisbee is deflected into the side of the can by the deflecting partner, the throw scores 1 point. If the frisbee hits the side of the can directly without being deflected, the throw scores 2 points. Or, if the frisbee goes inside the top of the can, deflected or not, or is deflected into the can’s slot, the throw scores 3 points. But, if the frisbee goes into the slot, without assistance, that team wins automatically.
The teams take turns throwing the frisbee and collecting points. The team that scores exactly 21 points wins. This has been a favorite of ours for over 7 years! It is a staple in our camper. The pieces take up nearly zero storage space. We can set it up and take it down in seconds. Everyone seriously loves it. Click here to pick up your Kan Jam game! Your family and campground friends will thank you!
Kubb
I cannot tell you how many times we’ve been asked about this game when we play it at a campground. Kubb is a Swedish game using wooden blocks and throwing sticks. This one is great if you have a large group, because you can play with up to 16 players.
Essentially, you have two teams. A player from the first team (Team 1) stands behind their baseline and tries to knock over base kubbs (blocks) from the other team’s (Team 2) side of the playing field using a throwing stick or baton. Team 2 then throws all the kubbs knocked over by Team 1 onto Team 1’s side of the field (now field kubbs). Team 2 then throws the baton, first knocking over any of the standing field kubbs. This continues back and forth between the teams.
The field kubb closest to the middle line of the field is where the throwing team can stand. So obviously if you’re on the opposite side, you want to try to knock over those closest to the middle as quickly as possible. The first team to knock over all the kubbs, including the opposing team’s king kubb, wins the game. If the throwing team accidentally knocks over the king kubb before knocking over the rest of the kubbs first, automatically loses.
Though a little more involved, it’s still a pretty simple-to-understand game once you start playing it. It takes up more room than Kan Jam in the camper because of the kubbs, but it’s not a huge amount of space. It’s a lot of fun, and I don’t think we’ve had a single person play it that didn’t have a blast. Plus, it’s fun to see and hear all the inquisitive looks and comments since it’s not a game you see often. It’s a great choice to add to your collection of outdoor campground games. This Kubb set includes all the pieces along with a carrying case for easy transport.
Fowling
Created in 2001 by a group on friends in Detroit, Michigan, fowling incorporates aspects of football, bowling and cornhole. This is another game that players and bystanders alike love, because you simply don’t see it everywhere.
In fowling, you have two boards similar in look and size to cornhole boards, except they don’t have holes in them. You set the boards up 48 feet apart (from the backs of each of the boards). On top of the boards, you place bowling pins arranged in the standard, triangular bowling pin formation. As in Kan Jam, you play with two teams of two. However, instead of players standing opposite each other, both stand next to the same board and throw at the opposite board.
Each player throws a football at the opposite team’s board trying to knock over the pins. The opposing team may not defend the throw. However, once the ball crosses the back of the opposing board, the defending team can grab or catch it.
There are three ways to win in fowling. If, on any player’s first throw of the game (with all pins still standing) knocks the red pin completely off the board without knocking over any of the other pins, that player’s team wins immediately. Or, if a player gets all ten pins down with one throw, their team wins (on any throw of the game). Finally, the first team to knock down all their pins.
Great game! Tons of fun! Doesn’t take up more storage space than cornhole. And will definitely strike up some conversations with your fellow campers. You can order your fowling game here.
Giant Connect 4
Who doesn’t love the classic game of Connect 4? It doesn’t get much easier in terms of game play. I would imagine that anyone who reads this has played the traditional Connect 4 and is familiar with its rules. And Giant Connect 4 plays exactly the same – just on a much larger scale. Two players play against one another – each using different colored discs. They take turns dropping their discs into the game frame. The first one to connect four of their corresponding color in a row – whether vertically, horizontally or diagonally – wins. It’s that simple folks!
The kids, in particular, love this campground game. It’s a great way to engage the kids, get them outside and off their devices, and have some family fun. Given the size of the Giant Connect 4 frame, it does take up a bit more storage space than the other campground games. Having said that, if you have room for it, I’d definitely recommend it.
Our family even adds a bit of a “challenge” twist to it. Before we play a round, someone gets to name a challenge. If you lose, you have to do the challenge. The challenge might be to run a lap around the campground loop. Or to do 20 burpees. Or to run around like a chicken. It adds another layer of fun and goofiness to it that our kids love.
You can order this 3-foot version, which comes with the frame, discs and case. Or, you could go even bigger with this 4-foot version that also includes disc holders. You really can’t go wrong with either!
BocceRoll
Now BocceRoll is a game that is just begging for campground use. This is currently a Kickstarter that we have already backed and waiting (maybe-not-so) patiently for its shipment. Within 24 hours of launching this Kickstarter, the pledges closed in on 1000% of the initial goal! If you’re a Skee-Ball fan, I think this might just be the campground game for you.
The game includes a bamboo mat that is attached to a cylindrical ramp. Beyond the ramp, you set up the five point targets as instructed. The first player rolls the pallina target ball. Then, the remaining players just roll the balls down the ramp and try to land them in the targets for points. You can also score points by landing closest to or touching the pallina. The first player/team to score 21 or over wins. You can play this as a 1, 2 or 4-player game.
The game mat rolls up and contains the remaining game pieces, making it easy to store and transport. Currently, the Kickstarter anticipates starting to ship in November 2023. I cannot tell you how excited we are to add this to our outdoor games and take it to our first campground.
If you don’t have already these outdoor campground games, you should definitely pick one or more up! With as much as we love exploring, we love a relaxing camping trip just as much. And those trips just don’t seem complete without throwing at least or or two of these in the camper! For more camping and trip essentials, click here. To follow our camping adventures, click here.
