Gag Gifts for Camping

Some people love camping -- raving about the great outdoors, getting closer to the nature, away from traffic and congestion and off the beaten path. If you have a friend like that who has a sense of humor, you might want to gently poke fun with a camping gag gift.

  1. Humorous T-Shirts

    • A t-shirt bearing the slogan "When hiking in bear country, remember: you don't need to outrun the bear, you just need to outrun at least one of your companions" will probably earn at least a chuckle, if not an outright belly laugh when your friend receives it. You will also find t-shirts bearing the legend "Support your local rescue team -- get lost." You might give a novice camper a t-shirt reading "I have reason to believe raccoons are mocking me." For a friend who reaches campsites via canoe or kayak, give a t-shirt that says "Paddle faster -- I hear banjos."

    Fake Scat

    • Thoughtfully provide your friend before the camping trip with an animal scat identification sheet (or with the book "Encyclopedia of Tracks and Scat"). During the night, place some fake bear or wolf scat just outside the door to his tent. Watch his reaction before revealing it wasn't really left by an animal.

    Road Kill

    • Laugh about camping cuisine by offering your friend a frying pan and a can labeled "Road Kill" when it's her turn to cook. Discuss the relative merits of raccoon vs. opossum and whether these taste best with ketchup, mustard or BBQ sauce. Or give your friend some jerky to eat on the hiking trails as she prepares to head out on a camping trip and label it "dried skunk."

    Toy Scorpion

    • One of the basic precautions for anyone camping in a desert climate, is to look inside their shoes before putting them on in the morning as scorpions may lurk there. Place a realistic, life-size scorpion in one of your friend's hiking boots. Be prepared to make amends for any frights with a can of beer or bar of chocolate that evening.