Camping Party for 11 Year Old Boys

Smores are great, but there's more you can do with chocolate and marshmallows.
We use to make banana boats.
Take a banana, peel away 1 strip of the peel.
Slice the inside lengthwise, stuff it with chocolate chips and mini marshmallows.
Fold the peel back in place, wrap it all up in foil and place it in the hot camp fire coals for 3-5 min.
Retrieve with tongs, let it cool off till you can touch it, then peel back the foil and peel strip and eat with a spoon.
It's chocolate y banana heaven!
You can prepare it ahead of time and let them cook and eat.

Lots of flash lights for flash light tag!

OH MAN!! CAN I COME?!!! This sounds like soooo much fun!!!

I don't have any ideas! I think this will be the bomb and you won't have to do much more!!

Make sure they have the bug spray!! :)

HAVE A BLAST!!!

I would make sure each boy has a whistle, and make a rule that if they hear YOUR whistle, then they all have to whistle back. That way, if one gets separated you will be able to locate him...

For fun, you could also get a trail guide that includes photos of animal markings/droppings. This time of year there should be plenty, and people LOVE to figure out what had been there.

You could also let them make their own ice cream. We did this at girl's camp once... you put the ingredients in a bag, then that bag goes into a bigger bag with ice and salt. You shake it until the ice cream is done... It's fun, and tastes great! I will try to look up the recipe and post it for you...
http://crafts.kaboose.com/ice-cream-in-a-bag.html <<<The half and half version tastes better than just milk... Also, use electrical tape (or other waterproof tape) to seal the small bag with the ice cream in it... If the water mixes into the ice cream, it tastes pretty nasty. :P

Doesn't sound like it could BE any more fun!
(I quietly salute you, as what you're describing would be my worst personal nightmare, and surely I would pack a lot of vodka! LOL)
Isn't there some sort of "pie" making device for making pies on the fire?
Bring some bug spray, sunscreen and a first aid kit as well!

That sounds soooo awesome!! I would bring glow sticks for when it gets dark :)

Bring a flint and steel to start the fire. All my boys love to make the spark.
You might want to check your state park before you decide on the geocaching. Most states don't allow it in the state parks.

The whistles are a must, and stress the buddy system too. Be sure to take a propane stove so you can still make S'mores in a burn ban! I just got a breakfast idea that I haven't had a chance to try yet: put each boy's name on a ziploc bag, they break 2 eggs into it, add their choice of breakfast burrito fillings (cheese, precooked bacon, picante sauce,etc), zip it up and shake well to mix, place into a large pot of boiling water, while cooking they place a tortilla on a paper plate, once cooked they just pour the contents onto the burrito--they have cooked their own breakfast and there is very little clean up!

The geocaching is a wonderful idea... we did that with my son's cub scout troop on a campout, and they loved it!

The way we did it was to pre-select a few nearby "sites", pre-load the coordinates in the GPSr, have a "goody bag" with age-appropriate items, (whistle, camping item, things like that) and let EACH boy lead the way and do the main search for one of the treasures.... that way, each boy got to man the GPSr and find their treasure. You also don't have to worry about them telling someone else about a public geocache that may later get compromised.

Another thing you could do would be a "scavenger hunt" or "bingo" type game... make up a gameboard with things commonly found in the area, and go on a short hike... they check them off as they see them. (Suggestions could be... bird, squirrel, flower, pinecone, stuff like that.) I wouldn't send them off on their own, but take them on a hike together. Or, give them a boundary where you can still see them.... all around the campsite, maybe?

Here are some state regulations on the burn ban if it is in that area... the park you are going to may have other regulations, so be sure to check.

http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/assets/public/implementation/...

Page 4 of this has info in campfires: "Outdoor burning is allowed when used solely for recreational or ceremonial purposes, in the noncommercial preparation of food, or exclusively as a means of generating warmth in cold weather. In other words, campfires, bonfires, and cooking fires are allowed."

is there anywhere they can fish? bird watching, identifying leaves and trees. most of the time boys can keep themselves busy in the wild :D

Have them bring bikes if you can. Boys love to just bike around. You really don't have to plan much, the kids will just love the freedom to mess around. I second the glow sticks but get ones they can wear around their neck. These are a great addition to a campout when you have kids. I also second the fishing. It's another thing my boys could do all day, but I personally don't get it. Badmitton is good if you already have it and you know you will have the space at the park. Some sites won't have room. Bring a soccer ball, a frisbee and a few other things like that. Have a great time!

Wonderful idea! That was my son's favorite birthday, the year we took him and his friends camping for his birthday. He still talks fondly of it and he is 23. We cooked cowboy stew or something over the fire and he called a year ago wanting that recipe because he thought it was so delicious!

be sure and take a couple of outdoorsy games. we used to have a game with a couple big hoops and some big throwing darts and the object was to roll the hoop and try and fly one of the darts thru while it was rolling. kind of like spear-chucking practice! have fun!

If there's a fishing spot nearby you should definitely do that! Otherwise, let them just run around and play =) that's the best part about camping, just being out in nature without a clock to live by!

Sounds like you have it pretty well covered. Maybe make a special meal together. Something where everyone can take part. It might be too much trouble but we would make homemade ice cream in tin cans when we camped. ....rolling them back and forth. Lastly, a good party favor could be a inexpensive flash light for each boy. What a great time you all are going to have!!