All this week we have been encouraging our readers to experience the great outdoors.  And I can hear your question now.. “But Hens – what can we do on stormy days?”  Yes, I know exactly what you mean… those days when it’s fun to stay inside and just enjoy time with each other.  This summer, our family discovered a board game that’s multi-generational, teaches about the great outdoors and best of all, it’s a lot of fun.  Are you ready to CAMP?

We came across CAMP while looking for a new game to take with us on family camping trips.  It sounded fun, but was it really geared for preschoolers through grandparents?  We set up the game for the first time at a family get-together and it was a hit.  Because there are four levels of difficulty to choose from, our 3- and 6-year olds could play at separate levels, while the “science buffs” played at another level, all at the same time!  The variety of outdoor and wildlife questions was refreshing, and we learned something new from the Fun Facts cards every round.  The topics range from bird migration to ice fishing – something for everyone!

The object of the game is simple: be the first person to move around the board and make it back to the campfire.  If you land on a set of green footprints you have the chance to answer a Camp Card question, and if you answer correctly you can roll again.  If you land on a Camp Clubhouse symbol, you move to the Clubhouse and read a Fun Fact for all to hear.  Since the Clubhouse is near the middle of the route to the finish, you want to jump there during the first half of the game, but you don’t want to get sent back the second half.  For our family, those Fun Facts made the Clubhouse enjoyable each time we were sent back.  During the game if you happen to be the lucky holder of the Compass Card, you have the chance to take the short cut to the finish.  That’s it!

So if you’re looking for something fun to add to your family’s game night, or if you’re starting to shop for Christmas or birthday gifts, give CAMP a try.  It received a Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Children’s Products of 2007 award and a 2007 iParenting Media Award. There are booster packs available (I’m going to need those) and also an award winning Camp Travel Edition.

To top it off, Education Outdoors, the creator of CAMP, has committed to donating a percentage of their profits to organizations that are geared toward educating children and families about the great outdoors.  Go Wild and have fun!

We found our game at REI, but it’s available at lots of retail locations as well as at Amazon.com.  The price is $24.99.  You could also enter for a chance to win one of six copies of the game right here on Five Hens this week.  Click here to find out how to enter.