Once every year, typically near the end of June, the Earth reaches its maximum tilt towards the sun, resulting in the longest day of the year. It’s called the Summer Solstice, and it signifies the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere! Camping during this special time of year offers nature lovers the benefits of longer days, warmer weather, and abundant outdoor activities. Interested in celebrating the solstice outdoors this summer? Read on for the top 15 best summer solstice camping ideas, from ways to spend the longest day to how to set up an enjoyable campsite. Let’s get right into it!
Table Of Contents
- 1. Pick a Great Destination
- 2. Create a Comfortable Home Base
- 3. Watch the Sunrise
- 4. Set Up Some Shade
- 5. Plan a Nature Scavenger Hunt
- 6. Go On a Scenic Hike
- 7. Enjoy a High Noon Swim
- 8. Get Mindful With Yoga or Meditation
- 9. Learn the History of the Summer Solstice
- 10. Host a Solstice Feast
- 11. Play Campfire Games
- 12. Appreciate the Sunset
- 13. Tell Campfire Stories
- 14. Stargaze
- 15. Reflect on the Day
- Final Thoughts
1. Pick a Great Destination
There are endless options when it comes to where you can spend the summer solstice outdoors, from one of our beautiful national or state parks to more remote campsites on public land. To narrow down the list, start by considering the type of activities you and your camping crew enjoy. If you’re a group of avid rock climbers, a destination with plenty of climbing opportunities is a natural choice, while those who prefer the water might opt for a lakeside campground to partake in their favorite aquatic sports.
2. Create a Comfortable Home Base
Once you’ve picked the perfect destination and finally arrived at camp, start your trip off strong by creating a comfortable setup. Your campsite serves as the home base for all your adventures while outdoors, so make sure it’s a place you actually want to spend time at! Create a comfortable sleeping area with sleeping pads, plenty of blankets, and cozy pillows, set up a few camping chairs inside and outside of your tent, and hang lighting for functional ambiance. Decorating camping tents can be an activity in itself, so grab your decor and make it a fun morning!
3. Watch the Sunrise
On the day of the solstice, plan to wake up early to catch the sunrise. It’s the longest day of the year after all, so soak up every second of sun! Since you probably have a busy day planned, take the morning slow and see the sunrise from a scenic spot right at camp. Make it even better by brewing a cup of coffee to enjoy while you watch the day break.
4. Set Up Some Shade
Since the summer solstice falls in June, there’s a good chance you’ll be facing a strong sun, depending on the weather and location of your campsite. Be proactive by setting up plenty of shade at camp. Various tent accessories, like porch extensions and tent awnings, are a practical way to increase the amount of shade at your campsite so you can stay outside all day while enjoying protection from the sun.
5. Plan a Nature Scavenger Hunt
There’s no better way to immerse yourself in nature and learn about the ecosystems around you than by participating in a wilderness scavenger hunt. This activity is particularly awesome for the kids in your camping group, but adults can appreciate the hunt, too!
6. Go On a Scenic Hike
If a scavenger hunt isn’t quite your speed, go on a scenic hike instead. Hiking is one of the best ways to explore the outdoors, offering campers the many benefits of physical activity while offering awe-inspiring views of the environment. Plus, you may even run into some local wildlife on the trail, so don’t forget your camera!
7. Enjoy a High Noon Swim
By the time midday strikes on the summer solstice, you might be itching for an escape from the warm weather. If your campsite is near a body of water, like a river or lake, take a dip to cool off and enjoy the scenery from another point of view.
8. Get Mindful With Yoga or Meditation
Mindfulness activities like yoga and meditation are a great way to slow down and immerse yourself in your natural environment. Set up a yoga mat at your campsite and flow through a vinyasa practice or sit still and channel your meditative energy. Not only will this help you slow down, but it will also encourage you to appreciate the little things we might look past on an engrossing day outdoors.
9. Learn the History of the Summer Solstice
The summer solstice is more than just a signifier of a new season, it’s also a historically important time for numerous cultures around the globe. These communities often celebrate the solstice to pay homage to the cycles of nature, agriculture, and their various spiritual beliefs. Take some time out of your day to learn these beliefs and traditions for a more enriching solstice celebration.
10. Host a Solstice Feast
With a large appetite worked up from all the day’s activities and your newfound knowledge of the importance of the solstice, there’s no better time for a feast! If you haven’t already, set up your camp kitchen and get to work cooking up a nutritious and satisfying meal for you and your fellow campers. Opt for produce that’s in season to truly celebrate the start of summer.
11. Play Campfire Games
After dinner is the perfect time to get your campfire started! Once it’s lit, grab your chairs and gather your group to play some entertaining campfire games. From classic card games to word games and charades, this is a meaningful way to bond with your loved ones and make memories right at camp.
12. Appreciate the Sunset
As the sun starts to set, pause your games to appreciate the last rays of light from the longest day of the year. You can do this right from camp, or hike or drive to a nearby lookout for a better view.
13. Tell Campfire Stories
The day isn’t over just because the sun has set! To fill your evening, gather back around the fire to share campfire stories for a night of fun. Whether you want to tell spooky tales to scare your audience or share enlightening stories to exchange culture, campfires are the perfect place for this classic camping tradition.
14. Stargaze
As the last signs of the sun disappear beyond the horizon and the sky darkens, stargazing is naturally the next activity to check off your solstice celebration list. Grab a picnic blanket, a few snacks, and a star chart, and see what amazing things you can find in the night sky!
15. Reflect on the Day
Once you’ve made it back into your tent for the night, cuddle up in your sleeping bag and take some time to reflect on your day. You can either share your favorite memory made on this year’s solstice with your fellow campers or grab a journal and make an entry for a more personal time of reflection. Sharing your memories, whether through speaking them to others or writing them down permanently, is a great way to appreciate and remember them for years to come.
Final Thoughts
The summer solstice happens just once annually, creating the longest day of the year and offering nature lovers plenty of time to enjoy a memorable day outdoors. For campers looking to celebrate the occasion on their camping trip, there are endless ways to spend the day, from sharing stories around the campfire to hosting a solstice feast. Whether you’re ringing in the start of summer or on a regular weekend getaway, come back to the 15 ideas outlined above to ensure you always have something fun to do at camp!
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