Camping Party for 7-13 year olds The invitations were shaped like tents that opened for the information and directions to the party. We asked each guest to bring a sleeping bag, pillow, and favorite stuffed animal. We set up a tent in the back yard, and luckily we have a sliding door to our room and we faced the entrance to the tent to our door so they could use the restroom or if they got scared they could sleep inside.  Inside the tent we hung streamers, and placed books about stars and star charts for later. As guests arrived, we gave them each a "ditty" bag, they could decorate themselves. This was a brown paper bag they used as a party favor bag later. When all guests had arrived, we tie-dyed t-shirts, using only three colors to keep the mess to a minimum. I put the t-shirts in plastic bags so the color would soak in. My husband took the kids on a neighborhood hike, and we had a scavenger list of things to look for, on small notebooks. As he was taking them on the hike, I prepared dinner--pigs in a blanket, potato salad and watermelon, and lemonade. They came back, ate dinner, and did our next craft, God's Eyes or Ojos de Dios. This is made with two sticks and yarn woven around.  As they were working on the craft, I took the t-shirts out of their plastic bags and hung them on  a clothes line near the tent. (After they were asleep we put them in the dryer and re-hung them on the line)  We had dessert: S-mores done in the microwave (you could use a grill but we didn't want that mess) and opened presents.  Around nine thirty or ten they got ready for bed, and we had some great stories to read to them as they played in their sleeping bags. We opened the top of the tent and showed them how to look for stars using the guides.  We also gave them their favors of flashlights to use with their names written on with glitter pens.  This was a great birthday party, all the kids had a great time!!  In the morning, we made waffles and sent them home around nine. So we could rest!!