Those platforms have turned “cake and balloons” into picture-perfect moments, and suddenly parents feel like they’re competing in a highlight reel they never signed up for.

That said…if you’ve been reading this little blog for any amount of time, you already know where I land. I love a good theme. I love a good party. I love crafting. And I really love getting friends and family together.

Yes, it’s a lot of work—but it also gives me a built-in deadline to actually finish my crafts. And three years in? My kid is fully on board. She’s been telling random strangers for months that she “has a birthday coming up.” So…here we are.

Which brings me to January. As in: six months before Lennon’s July birthday. My mom was already ready to start crafting, and I realized I needed to choose a theme that wouldn’t be completely rejected by summer.

I scanned our living room and landed on the one toy that had real staying power: her Barbie Camper. And just like that—Camp Lennon was born.

While Lennon loves every Disney princess, her favorite changes at lightning speed. Planning a character-themed party that far in advance felt risky. Camp, on the other hand? Safe. Timeless. Pink-approved.

Camp Setup

With a little help from Etsy, I purchased illustrated camp-themed clip art and created a Camp Lennon logo. That logo pretty much dictated every craft decision from that point on.

The year before, we had discovered the perfect park—picnic shelter, playground right next door, and just the right amount of shade. It was basically begging to be the site of Camp Lennon.

From there, I tried to carry the logo and theme through as many details as possible.

The birthday girl got her own Camp Lennon shirt (thanks, Zazzle), because obviously every camp needs a director.

One of the first DIYs I tackled were the camp pennant centerpieces. Each flag had a matching teepee on the back, and I anchored them in pastel-tinted jars filled with rocks. Practical and cute—my favorite combo.

My mom (camp MVP) made the favor “knapsacks” using bandanas and sticks. I’m still impressed.

We had:

• A knapsack + s’mores station

• A “Don’t Feed the Bears” scavenger hunt

• A Happy Trail-Mix Bar, complete with:

  • Grizzly Bears (gummy bears)

  • Teddy Bears (teddy grahams)

  • Catch of the Day (goldfish)

  • Rainbow Trout (multi-color goldfish)

  • Fish Bait (gummy worms)

Because if you’re going to do trail mix, you might as well commit to the bit.

When the weather forecast started looking questionable, I added an Arts & Crafts Table at the last minute. Campers could make necklaces, camp pennants, or canvas bags using felt stickers and fabric markers. Crisis averted.

For the cake, the birthday girl came prepared with a very clear vision she curated from photos online: “Pink with sprinkles.” A classic.

And yes, I was extremely proud of the container I found for my “dirt.” It blended so perfectly into the bark bowl that you almost miss it. Small wins matter.

So while I know big parties aren’t for everyone, this one was very us.