May is a time when the spring really feels like spring and the rising temperature makes people start to look forward to summertime escapades. A personal favourite of mine, and many others, is camping. There are about 250 campgrounds with more than 14,000 campsites in Alberta according to an article last year by The Edmonton Journal. Also mentioned in the article: camping was very popular last year, so if you and your party have plans to go, book the dates before it’s too late!

People tend to go camping for a multitude of reasons. Some people like to hike in the mountains or swim in the lakes. Others just want a break from their urban surroundings and so love to abscond to the wilderness. Generally though, board games are not one of the reasons to go camping, however, that doesn’t mean that they are entirely without a place in your camping trip. So here are a few games that can complement your camping nicely.

Hive

Hive is an excellent game for two players to bust out on a windy day because the components are weighty hexagons that I’m almost sure are indestructible (please don’t test this). The game plays a lot like chess in that players have access to multiple pieces that move differently, and, like chess, your goal is to put a member of royalty in a compromising position. In this case, your opponents queen bee. All you have to do is surround your opponent’s queen bee with tiles while avoiding having yours surrounded first. Hive is also insect themed, making it an appropriate game to play outside and one that you surely won’t be bugged by.

Love Letter

Micro-games are those in which you can play a full game of in a short amount of time. Love Letter is for two to four players and is perfect for filling in small gaps of waiting with a fun game of bluffing and deduction. The goal is to win a set amount of rounds by being the last survivor or by having the highest value card at the end of the round. For their turn a player draws a card from the deck and chooses which to play and which to keep. There is hardly any set-up to speak of, which makes jumping into a game of love letter easier than cold lake water.

Ultimate Werewolf

Werewolves are hiding in your village disguised as simple village folk. During the day, you and the other players discuss who you think they are. At night, however, the werewolves awaken and attack. I can’t think of a more appropriate game to play on a dark night by firelight. This game is great for large camping groups as there isn’t really an upper limit to the amount of people that can play. Given the atmospheric flickering of lights and shadows a campfire can provide, Ultimate Werewolf is a game that campers can really sink their teeth into.

It would be a mistake to not mention Spot it: Camping Edition during this post, just as it would be a mistake to not mention that a nice table cloth and fasteners can turn any picnic table into the board game pedestal of your dreams. Keep these games in mind for your next foray into the wilds. Happy camping!