DIY Creative Camping

As the weather warms up, it’s time to get outdoors! Nature lovers, seasoned campers and those just starting out long for springtime camping adventures to enjoy the beauty of nature. This year, try some new springtime camping ideas – don’t forget to toast marshmallows over candlelight, add a creative playlist and always bring along your own DIY chemical-free bug spray.

Creative Spring Camping Ideas

Stargazing: Spend a night gazing up at the stars, identifying constellations and learning about the wonders of the universe.

Nature Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of items to find in nature, such as specific types of leaves, rocks or birds, and see who can spot the most.

Camping Cuisine: Try cooking new recipes over a campfire, such as Dutch oven meals or skillet dinners.

Outdoor Games: Bring along games like cornhole, ladder toss or a giant Jenga set to play in the great outdoors.

Wildlife Watching: Set up a bird feeder or binoculars to spot local wildlife, such as birds, deer or rabbits.

Marshmallows Over Candlelight

Gather Supplies: Marshmallows, candles, skewers or roasting sticks, and a fire pit or camping stove.

Setup: Place the candles in the fire pit or camping stove and light them.

Roast: Hold the marshmallow over the flame, rotating it every 10-15 seconds until toasted to your desired level of golden-ness.

Toast: Use the skewer or roasting stick to hold the marshmallow over the flame, toasting all sides.

Enjoy: Sandwich your toasted marshmallow between graham crackers and chocolate for a delicious s’more.

DIY Chemical-Free Bug Spray

Gather Supplies: Witch hazel, apple cider vinegar, water and essential oils (such as lemongrass, citronella or peppermint).

Mix: Combine one cup of witch hazel, one cup of apple cider vinegar, one cup of water and 10 to 15 drops of essential oils in a spray bottle.

Shake: Shake the mixture well to combine.

Use: Spray the DIY bug spray on your skin or clothing to repel mosquitoes and other bugs.

Creative Playlists

The playlist below is sure to bring a smile to your face and get you in the mood for a memorable spring camping trip. Mix up this bulleted list of humorous parody, nostalgic reflective, romantic and nature-inspired songs to add to your list.

Humorous Parody:

* “The Camping Song” (a parody of “The Safety Dance” by Men Without Hats)

* “The Bug Song” (a parody of “The Love Song” by Sara Bareilles)

* “I’m a Little S’more” (a parody of “I’m a Little Teapot”)

* “Camping in My Backpack” (a parody of “Walking in a Winter Wonderland”)

Nostalgic Reflective:

* “Kumbaya” by Peter, Paul and Mary

* “John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt” by Children’s Song

* “She’ll Be Comin’ ‘Round the Mountain” by Pete Seeger

* “This Land is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie

Romantic:

* “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac

* “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz

* “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri

* “First Day of My Life” by Bright Eyes

Nature-Inspired:

* “River Flows in You” by Yiruma

* “Moon River” by Andy Williams

* “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles

* “Feels Like the First Time” by Foreigner

Spring-Themed:

* “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles

* “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most” by Ella Fitzgerald

* “April Showers” by Louis Armstrong

* “Spring Awakening” by Duncan Sheik

Outdoor Adventure:

* “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver

* “Going Up the Country” by Canned Heat

* “On the Trail” by Roy Rogers

* “Home on the Range” by Johnny Cash

Campfire Classics:

* “Ghost Riders in the Sky” by Johnny Cash

* “Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show

* “Fishin’ in the Dark” by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

* “Country Roads” by John Denver

Final Tips:

Leave No Trace: Always practice leave no trace principles when camping, including packing out all trash and respecting wildlife.

Weather: Check the weather forecast beforehand and pack accordingly.

Charger: Don’t forget a portable charger for your devices and a backup power source, such as a battery pack or solar charger.

Above all, don’t forget to bring a sense of adventure and a willingness to try new things so you’ll be sure to have a fun and memorable experience! Happy camping!

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Susan B. B. Schabacker

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2018. Susan Schabacker was blessed to be adopted as a baby and made her journey from South Korea to Massachusetts where she arrived safely into her adoptive mother’s loving arms. She later moved to New Mexico and, after a few years, moved to Winston-Salem, NC, to study classical ballet at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts from the eighth grade through high school. Susan has lived in the Piedmont Triad area for nearly 20 years and had the opportunity to travel to Budapest, Hungary; London, UK; and Beijing, China, where she studied abroad through Elon University. In Stockholm, Sweden, she had a marketing internship at Hachette-Filipacchi, publisher of Elle and other magazines. She graduated with a B.A. in Corporate Communications and a minor in Dance from Elon University. Susan loves writing and is pleased to have written for Winston-Salem Journal’s "Teen Page," Triad Living, KernersvilleMagazine, and of course, Forsyth Mags. She is a co-author of a children’s book, Huckleberry Robin, based on a three-generation true family story. Susan is grateful for her faith, family, and friends and is happy and excited to be part of the Forsyth Mags team. She spreads the word about Forsyth magazines and enjoys reading and sharing them with her family and friends every month.

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