How to Host a Campfire Storytelling Party

If Yellowstone or Yosemite aren t on the current agenda, then skip the big fish stories and bug spray and host a campfire storytelling party in your backyard.

Step1
Invitation: Send Girl Scout cookies or a miniature box of graham crackers with a note inviting guests for an evening filled with stories, snacks and s mores.


Step2
Atmosphere: think campground with a roaring bonfire, logs and rocks that form a circle around chairs. For additional lighting, go for hanging lanterns and candles. For extra credit, have blankets and sweatshirts on hand in case it gets a little chilly.


Step3
Snacks: Set up a s more station with mini s more grills or let guests heat their marshmallows over the open flame. Either way, include the essentials of cinnamon and regular graham crackers, chocolate and regular marshmallows, a variety of chocolate bars (milk, dark or white) and maybe a few more ingredients for decadence like caramel syrup, peanut butter or sliced bananas. If hosting a meal instead of snacks, it s all about the grill baby! See the resources below for grilling menus and recipes.


Step4
Storytelling: Put a twist on traditional storytelling and have guests place one topic and one key word into a hat when they arrive. Then let each guest pick two pieces of paper from the hat. Once everyone is seated, have one person start the story. They must include the two things that they drew from the hat into their story. When they feel that they have shared enough, they pass it on to the next person, who picks up the story where it was left off. They too must include their two items, and story continues like this around the circle.


Step5
Channel Your Inner Boy Scout: Test your knot-tying knowledge. Cut lengths of rope and print out a few knot diagrams (see resources). Give each contestant a piece of rope, call out the knot they are to tie and start the timer. (30 seconds is good.) The person who finishes the quickest gets a prize (like a Swiss army knife or pen).