Back to the Imaginarium
Ages 1–5Wholesome
Camping in the Living Room Dinner
Bring the outdoors inside for a cozy, fun family camping adventure — no woods required!
Who says you need to leave home to enjoy a camping adventure? Turn your living room into a camping paradise with an indoor camping-themed dinner! From roasting marshmallows to telling ghost stories, this cozy experience is sure to bring all the fun of the great outdoors into the comfort of your own home. Whether it's rainy outside or you're just looking for a new twist on family dinner night, this theme offers the perfect opportunity to create memories that'll last a lifetime.
Take breaks when needed according to the attention span of your children and your own. When this endeavor becomes a chore, the positive aspects of learning are lost. The point is to bond and learn surprising things from, and with, your family.
Gather Your Supplies
The Provisions
Props
- Blankets, pillows, and sheets for a makeshift tent or fort
- Chairs to drape sheets over for the tent structure
- Flashlights for campfire effect
- Paper towel rolls wrapped in red, yellow, and orange tissue paper for 'flames'
- Battery-operated candles or string lights for a warm glow
- Fake plants, indoor trees, or greenery for a forest feel
- Green paper or cardboard cutouts as alternative forest decor
- Sleeping bags or cozy blankets for the floor
- Glow-in-the-dark star stickers for indoor stargazing
Recipes & Food
- S'mores Nachos: Tortilla chips piled with mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, and graham cracker crumbles, baked until melted
- Hot Dogs: Traditional or with creative toppings like cheese, chili, or sautéed onions
- Campfire Stew: Veggies, meat (chicken or beef), broth, potatoes, and carrots — easy and hearty
- S'mores Pops: Marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers on sticks, toasted over the stove or broiler
- Baked beans as a side dish
Language & Music
- Tell spooky (but age-appropriate) campfire stories with a flashlight
- Sing classic campfire songs: 'Kumbaya,' 'She'll be Coming 'Round the Mountain,' 'The Campfire Song Song'
- Share funny or silly campfire stories to keep things lighthearted
- Talk about nature and what you'd see on a real camping trip
Peripherals
- Star projector or glow-in-the-dark star stickers for indoor stargazing
- Camping hats or outdoor adventure gear for dress-up
- Ghost story books or printed campfire stories
- Campfire song lyrics printed out for sing-alongs
Your Week of Wonder
The Five-Day Itinerary
1
Day 1
Plan the Indoor Campout
- Gather the family and talk about what makes camping fun
- Choose your campfire-inspired menu: s'mores nachos, hot dogs, campfire stew, s'mores pops
- Make a list of blankets, pillows, and sheets needed for the tent fort
- Gather flashlights, battery-operated candles, and string lights
- Prepare a simple dinner and talk about what you'd see on a real camping trip
2
Day 2
Build the Tent & Create the Campfire
- Build a makeshift tent: stack chairs and drape sheets over them, or build a fort from furniture
- Make 'flames' by rolling paper towel rolls and wrapping them in red, yellow, and orange tissue paper
- Place the 'flames' in a circle to form a campfire
- Add battery-operated candles or string lights for a warm glow
- Dim the lights and eat dinner inside the tent fort
- Practice singing a campfire song together
3
Day 3
Create the Forest & Stargazing Setup
- Place fake plants, indoor trees, or greenery around the tent for a forest feel
- If you don't have plants, use green paper or cardboard cutouts
- Set up glow-in-the-dark star stickers on the ceiling for indoor stargazing
- Lay out sleeping bags or cozy blankets on the floor
- Prepare dinner and tell a funny campfire story with a flashlight
4
Day 4
Campfire Songs & Story Practice
- Practice campfire songs: 'Kumbaya,' 'She'll be Coming 'Round the Mountain,' 'The Campfire Song Song'
- Prepare s'mores pops: stick marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers on sticks
- Toast marshmallows over the stove (with supervision) or under the broiler
- Have everyone wear pajamas and camping hats to get into the spirit
- During dinner, share your favorite spooky or silly campfire stories
5
Day 5
The Final Indoor Camping Dinner!
- Set up the full campsite: tent fort, campfire, forest decor, and sleeping bags
- Serve s'mores nachos: tortilla chips with marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers, baked until melted
- Make hot dogs with creative toppings and a side of baked beans
- Cook campfire stew with veggies, meat, potatoes, and carrots
- Serve s'mores pops for dessert and toast marshmallows together
- Turn off the lights, use flashlights, tell ghost stories, and stargaze on the ceiling
