I used to have a party/event theme on the website with Smore’s and camping ideas, so I wanted to repost that here for you. I’ve had some women’s leaders asking about it, so I guess now is as good a time as any. A camping and/or Smore’s theme would be great for summer or even the fall.
I love this one because it can be so casual and relaxing. Simple and relaxing events make me happy. This theme I’m sharing makes for easy entertaining yet can turn out to be such a meaningful activity to build friendships and encourage each other.
It’s been forever since I’ve done S’mores outside over a real fire. Our family sometimes makes them indoors using sternos to heat the marshmallows. Frankly, I’m not big on marshmallows (unless they are in my hot chocolate), but I’m all for the graham crackers and chocolate!
Having a S’mores party around a campfire makes a great way to relax. It would make a good time to sing some songs, share some testimonies, and just catch up with each other.
Camping and S’mores Theme Concept
—Originally Posted June 25, 2014 as “I Want S’more (of Jesus)” women’s ministry theme
—Updated April 24, 2024
The event themes on the website can be used for showers, parties, women’s ministry retreats and activities, or church functions. Each theme will have one or several possible spiritual applications. I give you lots of info and ideas—You pick just a few to enhance your event. More ideas can be used for showers and parties, but less is always more for ministry events.
Theme Title Ideas
- Adventure!
- All Around the Campfire
- Backyard Glamping Night
- Barefoot in the Backyard (summer get-together)
- Becoming More (like Christ)
- Bonfire Night
- Boot Camp (training on a particular subject or skill)
- Camp Adventure
- Camp Out!
- Chill Out and Camp Out
- Desiring More (of Jesus)
- Fireside Fun
- Give Me More
- Glamping Night
- Happy Campers Party
- Happy Trails
- Hiking with Friends
- Hit the Trail
- Home Sweet Campsite
- Hungering for More
- Into the Wilderness
- Life’s More Fun with Jesus
- Longing for More
- More About Jesus
- More Like the Master
- More of Jesus
- More of the Word
- Rekindling the Fire
- S’more Fun
- S’more Love (bridal or baby shower)
- S’more of Jesus
- S’mores and Giggles
- S’mores and More Fun
- S’mores Ladies Night
- Summer Glamping Party
- Take a Hike!
- Under the Stars
- See the Woodland Event Theme for related ideas.
Spiritual and General Applications
- Focus on wanting more of Jesus.
- Focus on the melting and meshing of friendship
- Great for a casual late summer or fall theme.
- Great for a camping party or group trail hike.
Theme Verse Suggestions
“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” Psalm 42:1,2 (KJV)
—The word “hart” above means deer. Every time I quote this verse, people email or comment to tell me “heart” is spelled wrong. It’s not referring to that kind of heart, but to the animal.—
“Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” Psalm 73:25 (KJV)
“More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” Psalms 19:10 (KJV)
Devotional and Workshop Ideas
- I shared this little acrostic to give Jesus “more” with someone in my Facebook Group, so I’ll share it with you too.
- M – MEDITATION (getting into God’s Word and chewing on it more)
- O – OBEDIENCE (really listening to the Holy Spirit and the Word of God)
- R – REACHING (more telling about Jesus to others)
- E – ENCOURAGEMENT (more lifting others up by speech and actions)
- Camping Devotional Outline (
Download here.)- Tent – Protects us like Christ shelters us
- Mosquito Repellant – Like the Word – Repels Sin.
- Sleeping Bag – Rest in the Lord
- Canteen (or water bottles) – Drink from the Word
- Flashlight (or camping lantern) – See “more” of Jesus or let your light shine
- Binoculars – Getting Christ in focus
- My “More of Jesus” devotional originally written for this theme is in my “Trained & Able” devotional compilation available on Amazon.
Simple Decorating
- Nothing really needed other than a table to hold S’mores supplies.
- Have a basket of throw blankets handy if your event is outside and it’s cold or to use for seating.
- If you are hosting inside and want just a little decor, use camping for your inspiration. A few pieces such as a red plaid blanket, plaid thermoses, lantern, etc.
- See a Vintage Inspired Camping Party (Hostess with the Mostess website)
- See a Rustic Backyard Camping Party (Hostess with the Mostess website)
Ice Breakers
Music to Relax and Chill
Use music for your icebreakers, such as camp songs and choruses.
Tug of War
A good tug of war game is always fun for the younger ones or those athletic ones. You know your potential guests best so you will need to judge if they are up to it!
- Truth or Dare
- Play Truth or Dare around the fire (like kids do!) I shared this idea with my Facebook group a while ago, but thought I’d grab it and paste it here in case any of you want to try it.
- Make up index cards for your group—half that say “Truth”. Half that say “Dare”
- Everyone gets one. Then go around if they have “Truth”, they say a truth from God’s Word that means a lot to them and why.
- If they get “Dare”, they say something they wish they had the courage to do. Something they have never “dared” to do. Something they have never tried in their life. It could be something like witnessing to someone, it could be a trip they have never taken. It could be something funny like never having tasted something in particular.
- An OUT: If they don’t want to say something they hadn’t dared to do, they could name a biblical character that dared to do something for God (and what that person did for God too).
Music
- Campfire songs
- As the Deer…panteth after the water
- More About Jesus (Hewitt)
- More Like Jesus (Crosby)
Favors
- Perhaps skip the favor- It should be a relaxed get-together so my suggestion is to maybe don’t have a favor this time, but I will leave a few suggestions.
- If you are not actually making S’mores at your function, you could send a S’more favor home. Check out the different ways to package them online.
- Flashlights (for a ministry event, add a tag that says, “Let Me See More of Jesus”.)
- Download some light sayings that can be used for flashlight gift tags.
- Water bottle
- Individual packaged trail mix (nut free! Any typ of cereal, and of course Teddy Grahams, Bugles, mini pretzel rods, and raisins make a good nut free trail mix.)
Door Prizes
- Any summer item for summer get-together
- Any fall item for fall get-together
- Set of roasting skewers
- Gingham or plaid throw
- Gingham tablecloth
- Flashlight
- Backpack
- Thermos
- Compass
- Water bottle
- Fanny pack
- Set of roasting skewers
- Camping chair
- Cooler
- Devotional book
- Journal
- S’mores Kit Basket: Fill with chocolate bars, bag of marshmallows, box of graham crackers, cute package of napkins, small paper plates to match, and roasting skewers.
Invitation Wording Ideas
- S’more love is coming (baby shower)
- Join us for s’more fun!
- Join the Adventure!
- Here’s s’more good news…
- Take a Hike… (group hiking)
- There is nothing s’more fun than a new baby on the way! Join us… (baby shower)
- Everything is s’more fun with friends!
- Join us for s’more time together.
Just for Fun
- Go for a hike (or walk) together as a group.
- Share testimonies.
- Have someone bring their guitar for singing songs around the campfire.
- Make S’mores together
Food and Serving Ideas
- Make S’mores
- Roast Marshmallows
- Lemonade or ice tea for the summer
- Hot chocolate and coffee for the fall
- Chili
- Roast hot dogs
- Bear shape cookies
- Bear claws
- Trail Mix – Use Honeycomb Cereal, Teddy Grahams, Bugles, mini pretzel rods, and raisins. Skip the nuts in case of allergies.
- Trail Mix Bar
- Various dried fruits
- Seeds such as sunflower seeds (shelled)
- Small pretzel rods
- Honeycomb Cereal
- Teddy bear shaped crackers/cookies
- Bear, fish, or worm gummies
- Various sweet chips (butterscotch, chocolate, etc.)
- Small candies such as M&M’s.
- Again! Skip the nuts because of allergies!
- Camping “Food” which can be labeled.
- “Campfire Flames” – Cheetos or Cheese Puffs
- “Fishing Bait” – gummy worms
- “Forest Berries” – fruit snacks or fresh berries of any kind
- “Logs” – large pretzel rods (You can fancy them up by dipping them in chocolate)
- “Sleeping Bags” – rolled tortillas filled with meat and cheese or spread with cream cheese and crushed pineapple.
- “Tree Trunks” – pinwheels (Little Debbie type)
- “Trees” – broccoli heads and dip
- “Twigs” or “Driftwood” – small pretzel rods
- “Mossy Branches” (See directions from The Caterpillar Years Blog here.)
- See 6 Fun Camping Meals on the LL Bean website here.
Photo Source
Want the photo used for the title of this page? Find the original photo on Unsplash here.
Thanks for stopping by the blog. I hope you enjoy the ideas whether you are partying with friends and family or whether you are planning a ministry related event.
Have a lovely day,
Julia
