Cheap and Fun for Everyone: Kids Birthday Party Ideas!
When you think of a child’s birthday, a kids hiking party may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but it’s a fantastic way to create a fun party for your child and their friends. Not to mention, it’s really budget-friendly. It’s a fun way to get outside, enjoy nature, and celebrate. Plus it’s a great party ideas for teenage boys and teenage girls (who can be tricky to plan a party for at the best of times!). Read on for our best Birthday Hike ideas for kids.
What is a Hiking Party?
A hiking party is a great option for something interactive, energetic, and outdoorsy for a nature-oriented group. Hiking parties are also relatively easy to do, considering birthday hiking ideas are plentiful and relatively simple. The idea is that a group will go together on a planned walk. From there, you can decide to set up a picnic destination and bring food. And there are many different options for events and entertainment. The good thing about this kind of party is that the whole party is an event, so no one cares about filling the time. Just prepare what you want to do in advance and go on your hike!
How to Plan a Birthday Hike
The first step to any great party is to make cute invitations. A fantastic idea is to stay true to the outdoor theme and make o buy invitations that have a mountain theme or have little trees on them. There are some creative and easy DIY ways to achieve a really cute invitation. Any medium from paint to stamps can work well for this.
Once you’ve finalized your guest list and sent them out (with plenty of time to RSVP, of course) you’ll need to consider how many people are coming and adjust accordingly. Think about your food needs, water needs for the actual physical part of the walk, and plans for later after the walk, so it’s very important to know how many kiddos will show up.
Next, imagine the trajectory for the day. Perhaps starting with breakfast is a fun way to start the day with a hearty meal and celebration! Even something like birthday donuts or cinnamon rolls can be an exciting way to start things off. Add some fruit and some orange juice and you’re there. Next you want to set off on the hike itself. Of course, think about the temperature and time of day, when it warms up if it’s cold and when it still cools down if it’s hot. You may need to car pool on top depending on how many kids are coming along for the adventure, just be mindful of the seat.
One thing to consider is that keeping a hiking party small can be a great way to guide activities. And you can make sure everything is safe and involved. A large group at this type of party is less than ideal. Mostly because of the transportation of food and how it all gets there.
What Activities to Include on a Birthday Hike
Then, off you go! Enjoy your walk! Be sure to bring a first aid kit and extra water, just in case. Plan the distance and time and think about where you will end up. Perhaps this is a good place for a snack picnic and water break.
Another fun thing to do is to throw a scavenger hunt while on the hike itself. Everyone gets an empty backpack, a magnifying glass, some trail mix, and water, and the goal is to check off the entire list of hunted items. Everything from bees, butterflies, different types of flowers, and more. This is an engaging and exciting piece for children to interact with. They can store flowers in booklets in their backpacks as a memento from the day.
The game “Find It” is a great choice for an easy scavenger hunt. It also works great on family hikes and adventures!
Check them out other ideas for fun nature walking activities which you can include in your walk.
Depending on the age of the children, ending the walk in an area with a playground or large space for games can be a good option.
Best Food Options for a Birthday Hike
Food options for walking can be anything that is relatively easy to carry and easy to eat. A picnic of snacks and small bites or a full lunch at the end are both good ideas. You can make simple sandwiches or take out the guest of honor’s favorite restaurant. To-go deli salads and easy picnic meals are definitely the best way to go. Bring a cooler in the back of your car so that when you get back to the parking lot at the start of the hike, you can grab your food and set up the picnic on the benches or on some cute blankets.
A fun birthday hiking snack idea is to set up a trail mix bar in the back of the car or a park table. Organize water and small cups, along with different variations of trail mix so everyone can choose what they like. Be sure to have peanut-free and nut-free versions in case anyone is allergic or intolerant! You can even make a DIY trail mix for everyone by setting up a trail mix bar with ingredients to make any variation they choose.
Remember that when you get everyone home, they will want to have cake! There are some really fun ideas for hiking and mountain themed cakes. A round cake with a river icing through it and some tree and hill details can be a very on-theme option. Custom cookies are also a fun touch if you’re feeling like something a little fancy. Even consider pulling out a “dessert” trail mix bar for the cake part of the party and celebration, staying true to the theme.
The fun of the Hiking Party
A hiking party is a great way to get everyone out and about together to celebrate your child’s birthday. There are tons of birthday hike ideas available for this fun party option. The range of possibilities for this type of party allows you to make the whole party very cheap. Or splurge on small areas to spice it up a bit. All in all, hiking parties will be a good time for everyone and a great way to celebrate!
About the Author
Jane Sheriff is the founder, creative director, party planner and mother of three. She started Darling Celebrations in 2012 to share easy and beautiful ideas for celebrating life’s special events.
