Can You Camp On A Trampoline?

Camping trips are awesome, right? You get to be at one with nature, sit around the campfire singing camping songs and telling ghost stories while making smores in the fire. And in the meantime, you also pick up a couple of essential survival skills.

But the truth is, many American kids do not enjoy it as much as they should these days. Let’s face it, kids these days are a lot lazier than before. They do not like too much of a challenge. And forcing them to go camping when they do not want to go might just end up causing them to resent you.

Well, what if you could camp on your trampoline? Let’s look at the possibilities.

Can You Camp on a Trampoline?

While camping is fun, it also takes a pretty heavy toll on you. And if you force someone to go camping, those two or three days might just be the worst days of his life. But does that mean your kids should not get to feel the joy of camping outdoors? As a parent myself, I would never accept it.

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As it turns out, you can send your kids camping in your backyard the next time he invites his friends for a sleepover. And if you have a trampoline in your backyard, that can be their camping zone. Sure, it won’t be the same as the real deal, but it might nudge him just enough to get him excited for a real camping trip later on.

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What is Campoline?

Did you know that there was a term for trampoline camping? For those that don’t know, camping on a trampoline is a very real thing, especially for homeowners who have had a trampoline for a while. The term – campoline.

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You see, kids get bored, and even though a trampoline is an exciting yard toy, your kids will outgrow it pretty fast. So, many parents let their kids go camping on their trampolines as a way to keep things fresh and exciting.

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How to Camp on a Trampoline

Now, when I say camping on your trampoline, I am using the term camping very loosely. It is simply a glorified sleepover, where instead of sleeping inside on your cozy bed, you are sleeping on the trampoline. Don’t worry; you can still make it cozy enough when you lie down for the night.

As with regular camping, camping on a trampoline requires you to get a couple of things in order. So, let me give you a quick rundown of the essential item checklist that you need for your campoline party.

Sleeping Bags or Mattresses

Sleeping on your trampoline might sound fun, but in reality, it is not very comfortable. So, you want to take your sleeping bag or mattress with you if you do not want to wake up with a sore bag. As a bonus, your sleeping bag will also keep you warm if it gets cold at night.

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Cushions and Pillows

It should go without saying, but you might also want to bring a couple of cushions with you. That way, you can curl up in them when you are looking up at the stars at night.

Flashlight and Rechargeable Lamp

Since you are camping on your backyard trampoline, unfortunately, lighting a campfire might not be an option. There are a lot of risks involved in making a fire in a residential neighborhood. Instead, you should bring a couple of flashlights or a rechargeable lamp to keep your surroundings illuminated.

Bug Spray

Nobody likes dealing with insects or mosquitos, but when you are sleeping outdoors, it is almost always a given. Thankfully, there is an easy fix for it. Just take a can of bug spray with you and spray it around the trampoline to repel them. It is surprising how much of a difference it can make in your camping experience.

Snacks

You don’t want to go camping without snacks, right? I mean, sure, your house is just a few steps away. But since you are out camping on your trampoline, it makes sense that you might want to have some snacks there. So, make sure you stock up on your favorite food that you can enjoy at your trampoline camp party.

Keep in mind, though, that I only listed the essentials here. And there are a lot of other things that you can add to this list if you want to enhance your experience. For a more comprehensive list, you can check out my article can you sleep on a trampoline?

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Trampoline Camping Ideas

By now, a trampoline camping trip should already start to sound pretty exciting. Well, sure, you can just go through the checklist and gather the stuff for a standard sleepover/campoline experience. But what if there were ways you could take things a step further.

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Here are a few trampoline camping ideas that can make your sleepover even more memorable.

1. Set up a Movie Theater

One of the easiest ways to spice up your trampoline camping night is by combining it with a movie night. Children love watching movies, and with the right steps, they can enjoy watching one under the open sky. Needless to say, you need a movie projector for this to work.

To make the movie screen, there are a couple of things you can do. The easiest way is to go out and buy a portable projector screen. But if you want, you can also hang a white cloth from a clothesline and aim the projector towards that. Voila, turn on the movie, and enjoy it with your family.

2. Put up a Tent

You do not need a tent on your trampoline if you don’t want it. But putting up a trampoline tent is always a good idea. Not only will it protect you against the sudden rain or rough wind, but it can also be a fun experience for the kids putting it up with their friends under your supervision.

If you do decide to put a tent on your trampoline, make sure you get a high-end trampoline tent. The regular outdoor tent that you use for your camping trips will not work on a trampoline. Trampoline tents are specifically designed to anchor to the safety poles of the trampoline.

3. Camping Games

Camping games are a memorable part of any outdoor camping trip. But if you are out in the woods, there are only a limited number of games you can play. Since you are on unfamiliar grounds, you do not want to wander too far from the group when you are playing a game.

But in your backyard, the story is different. You are in your home ground, and you have a lot more options when it comes to camping games. Two of my favorite backyard camping games are murder mystery and scavenger hunts. There are, of course, many other games you can play to make your trampoline camping more enjoyable.

4. Songs and Stories

A camping trip with songs or stories is a sorry affair. And just because you are camping in your backyard does not mean you should not partake in these activities. So, liven up your backyard trampoline camping adventure by telling ghost stories and singing along with your friends.

Since you already went through my essential items checklist, you should have a flashlight with you. Sit around in a circle and pass the flashlight around. Whoever has the flashlight must sing a song or share a story. This is a great way to connect more with your friends and family.

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Camping on a Trampoline Safety Tips

Just because you are camping on your trampoline does not mean you get to overlook your safety. Sure, you do not need to worry about bear attacks or other similar incidents, but there is still the risk of you falling off of the trampoline and breaking an arm.

The first tip is to make sure you are staying within the weight capacity of the trampoline. So, if you are sleeping with three of your friends on the trampoline, make sure your combined weight, along with the weight of whatever you bring on board, stays under the maximum weight limit of the trampoline.

You should also keep the safety net on when you are camping on the trampoline. The safety net will prevent anyone from falling off of the trampoline in their sleep. Sure, you get more freedom without the safety net, but frankly, it is not worth the risk.

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The Bottom Line

Camping on a trampoline might not be as challenging as camping outdoors, but it is definitely fun for the kids. And as an added bonus, it will get them excited about a real camping trip in the woods when you eventually get down to it. Hopefully, my article could help get you excited about camping on your trampoline. Good luck!