The 10 Best Campfire Songs

Campfires aren't really proper campfires without some campfire songs. The campfire gives a location for gathering. Campfire songs bring a sense of community to the gathering. There are funny songs, silly songs, sad songs and thoughtful songs. Some campfire songs are pretty, some make you jump around and others tax your brain trying to remember a list of things you need to sing in the right order. S'mores, popcorn, hot dogs and pies from the pie iron are great but truly memorable campfires include campfire songs. Try this rotation of songs. The first ones get the ball rolling, the middle ones are brain taxers and the ones at the end help you wrap it up and head for the tents.

1. I Points to Myself This is a good icebreaker. It's easy to learn, funny and the motions are simple.

2. My Bonnie This is especially good if you have logs or chairs to sit on. This makes it easier to do the Bouncing Bonnie version. Have your participants alternate between sitting and standing on each successive word beginning with B! This can get hilarious.

3. On Top of Old Smokey This is a classic sing-along song that everybody knows. It's simple to learn and easy to sing, which are absolute requirements for any campfire song.

4. A Hole in the Bottom of the Sea Here comes the brain strain! Try remembering all the items related to that hole, in order!

5. Old MacDonald Now for a little respite from brain work. You don't absolutely have to do the entire re-hash every time around.

6. Ants Go Marching This one is even easier than Old MacDonald, but it's still fun and most people know it.

7. The Deacon Went Down This one comes with numerous lyrics for the verses and you can make up your own as you go along.

8. Green Grow the Rushes, Ho This is a very pretty song if you have a few people who can sing well and possibly harmonize.

9. Puff, the Magic Dragon Now for a thoughtful song. Again, almost everybody knows it and it can be quite pretty even if you're not Peter, Paul and Mary. This one will help you begin to wrap up the evening.

10. Taps Obviously, this is the capper for the evening's festivities. The lyrics are beautiful and thought provoking as the campers head off to their sleeping bags.

A well done campfire is something that can live in the memories of your campers for the rest of their lives. Camping, after all, is an activity that people engage in to make memories. Why not facilitate that process with a good selection of songs?