I'm pondering whether to head off camping at the end of May next year, but it also clashes with my son's 2nd birthday. Has anyone on the forum celebrated a youngster's birthday while camping? What did you do to make it special - bunting, cake with candles, pressies, special trip out or family meal?
We haven't camped on our DS birthday but have been away during it.
We did pretty much the same as at home, nice meal (you can go out if camping to save on the cooking), cake and a day out to a theme park. We took most of his presents but if you are tight on space could take 2-3 that you know he will love and be able to play with whilst away.
At 2 they love the simple things in life so pretty much anything that is fun will probably appeal
How about getting him some small token presents (like the party bag things you can get in supermarkets) and sending him on a treasure hunt or pirates treasure map around the site, with the little things at pit stops and a big gift at the final spot - that way you'll only have to take one of his larger gifts. We've taken o e of ours before but the camping trip was part of his birthday treat, he loved it.
We went away in April for our eldest daughter's 10th birthday this year, and she loved it! Slightly different at that age but she got to pick what the day's activities were - so we had a lovely day at Caerphilly castle, had a picnic lunch and then her favourite meal for dinner. The cake was picked up from the supermarket on the way back to the tent (top tip - unless you're going with a group, get a small cake. There really is a limit to how much cake you can eat before you are sick of it!).
Where are you planning on going? At two, a firm favourite with ours was the local farm activity centre - the sort of place you get to stroke a rabbit, feed a goat and play on the slides. Ahhh, simple pleasures!
We have far flung relatives so didn't have to please assorted grandparents etc, but if you feel obliged to do a family party he could always have an un-birthday when you get back.
We have camped on one of our children's birthday and gone with family and friends which they love as can't fit that many in our house and have them all sleep over! We blow up balloons, bunting and tie them to the tents and windbreakers and they open their pressies and cards as they tuck into a camp cooked fry up! They pick where to go for the day too so its's 'their' day. Then, in the evening, we have birthday cake, play games and sing round the camp fire and toast marshmellows. The children who have birthdays in February and March are gutted as it's too cold to camp outdoors, so they have indoor ones with their friends! Best birthdas ever and memories for life :)
------------- It always rains on tents. Rainstorms will travel thousands of miles, against prevailing winds for the opportunity to rain on a tent.
My niece had her 7th birthday while we were on a family camp a couple of years ago. We were two large tents and a caravan. After she'd gone to bed the night before, we blew up a lot of balloons and tied them to the canopies and guy ropes of the tents so they were there when she emerged in the morning.
She had her presents, including a spacehopper, which was very popular, over breakfast.
We did an enormous barbecue for dinner and my mum produced a cake which she'd baked for the occasion. She seemed to enjoy it and didn't complain about the lack of a party.
Every year we're away for my daughters birthday, she'd like to have it with her friends, so usually she has a small party before we leave. Any large presents are given then and then she gets smaller presents and cards when we're away.
Awning is decorated before she gets up with bunting and balloons and cards are put up on a string in there to keep them out the way.
We plan a special day out and get a cake.
Works quite well, tell her she's just like the Queen with two birthdays! Think I over compensate because we're away.
We've camped at a Farm park (with internal campsite) near us and taken birthday cake and the presents with us. I don't know which part of Essex you are but there is an animal/farm park near Stamford in Lincolnshire that has a campsite attached to it and may not be more than a couple of hours for you. It may be worth a look. They may do a birthday package as well.
My daughter's birthday is in August , so she has had a few birthdays camping .
I stashed her presents with the camping gear , we had balloons hanging in the tent , cake either brought from home or bought locally , if we were coastal we had a bbq and fire on the beach . She always loved her birthdays away .
A friend's daughter always celebrated her birthday at 1 particular car show. They would decorate the outside of the tent with banners and balloon's either late at night after she'd gone to bed or really early in the morning. She would have a big cake that she would share with everyone in our little group.
The last couple of years due to ill health she hasn't made to that show and the daughter said her birthday wasn't the same...
When my daughter was little her birthday was fairly movable - it was always on a weekend. In this situation I would probably celebrate it early, just to save the extra packing to be honest! But then I would make sure the actual day was spent doing the thing he's most likely to enjoy during the holiday, even if he doesn't know it's his birthday really!