As the camping season gets good and fired up this year, I wanted to take a moment and reflect upon one of those things that makes going on a camping trip with a large group of people so fun - easy camping pranks. And there’s nothing that’s quite as good for the spirit as a good, hearty laugh.
The following pranks are some of the best I’ve found throughout the Internet, as well as a few that I’ve played along with friends on various camping trips through my life. When you grow up in the Northern Maine woods, camping becomes a way of life and one of the easiest ways to have some fun with friends on the weekend (away from parents). So pack up the fake bugs and whipped cream, and let’s go!
The Top 10 Easy Camping Pranks
I started out this list with a series of about five of my own favorite camping pranks that you can pull off with very little preparation (in most cases). However, if you spot one or two that may require a little bit of prep work, don’t let that discourage you because those are often the pranks that work best. A few of these only require a straight face! So, without further ado - here is this years list of the top 10 easy camping pranks.
#1 - Attack of the Birds (and Possibly Critters)
If you’ve ever sprinkled breadcrumbs or small bits of food near a campsite and observed that location over the next few hours, you know that it doesn’t take very much to attract nature’s smallest animals to that spot. Both birds and squirrels seem to have an uncanny ability to zone in on the smallest morsel of food that hits the forest floor. Taking advantage of this knowledge can be a very powerful think for the prankster camper. All you have to do is wait until an hour or so before dawn, creep out of your tent and sprinkle breadcrumbs all over the top of the tent of your victim(s). Go back to bed and wait. Within an hour or so, depending on the time of year (and the population of birds and chipmunks or squirrels in your area), you’ll start hearing fluttering wings and scampering feet all around the target tent! The poor campers inside won’t know what all the ruckus is about.
#2 - The Ranger Just Told Me…
There are a few variations to this prank, and each one is a riot. Every campground is maintained by a great crew of rangers or campground workers. Most of the time these workers are friendly and will answer questions or offer advice. One of the funniest “setup” gags is to walk off to go to the bathroom or get some water. Wait a while, and when you return to camp, tell everyone that the Ranger just told you that he’s alerting everyone that the local news just reported an escaped convict from a local prison (it helps if there’s a local prison, or if the campers are clueless about the local area). It’s best if you tell everyone this just before bed. As people crawl into their tents, they’ll be wondering about the news…possible fretting about spending a long night in an area where there could be an escaped madman. Wait about twenty minutes after everyone is settled in, and then all of a sudden start screaming, “Oh my god! It’s him! He’s here! Oh my god he’s coming!” Watch everyone scramble out of the tents with a frantic look on their faces.
#3 - The Bear Variation - another version of the Ranger prank is that the ranger told you there’s a bear that’s been ransacking tents and going after camper’s food, and in one case attacking a boy scout troop by tearing up a tent and pulling a camper into the woods. After about twenty minutes, creep out of your tent and then start grunting outside the target victim’s tent. After a little while, as you do one last grunt, slap the side of the tent as hard as you can. Just make sure the victims don’t have any weapons, because there’s a strong possibility of panic setting in! It’s hilarious - especially when they all scream.
#4 - The Critter Variation - This version of the Ranger prank involves telling everyone that the ranger reported that snakes have been creeping into sleeping bags (or small animals, spiders, etc…) When your victims aren’t paying attention to their tents, creep in and sneak pine cones or some other rough object into the foot of their sleeping bags. When everyone goes to crawl into bed, wait for the screams!
#5 - The Case of the Annoying Cricket
If you’ve ever had a cricket trapped inside your house, you know how annoying it can be at night. Catch a cricket by setting a light down on the ground at night and wait for them to come to it (they’re attracted to light). Capture one or two in a jar. Go into your victim’s tent (either that night or the next day) and release the crickets into the victim’s tent. Once night falls and those crickets start singing, the campers in that tent will never get any sleep. This has to be one of the funniest camping pranks I’ve ever witnessed, as the victims will start cursing the cricket and complaining, while you and your friends are rolling around in your tent in fits of laughter.
More Easy Camping Pranks
Can’t get enough camping pranks? The following will keep you occupied all throughout this camping season:
- Padlock the two zippers of the front tent flaps together so the campers can’t get out.
- Prepare breakfast for everyone, and slip a bit of hot sauce in the orange juice (mix well).
- Set up camping chairs for everyone, but carefully remove the nuts and bolts - watch as everyone collapses to the ground.
- Squirt toothpaste inside everyone’s shoes at night, and watch the fun in the morning as people slip their feet into their sneakers.
- Fill up water balloons, and have your friends help you stake out the victim’s tent in the morning. As your fellow campers arise from their slumber and exit, let them have it!
Tags: camping, camping pranks, easy camping pranks
